The Scots Never Forget by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788670258
Publisher: PublishDrive
Published: 2017-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

As luncheon finished, the two elderly lady guests told the Duchess that they were going into the garden.

“Yes, do that,” the Duchess replied, “and I will join you a little later.”

She then turned to Pepita and Jeanie, who were following them and said in a harsh voice,

“I want to speak to you, Miss Linford.”

“I will take Jeanie to Mrs. Sutherland, Your Grace,” Pepita replied, “and then I will come to the drawing room.”

The Duchess did not reply. She merely walked ahead with the usual disdainful air that she always assumed when she was speaking to the children or Pepita.

Wondering what the Duchess could have to say to her, Pepita hurried Jeanie down the passage to the housekeeper’s room.

“I want to go out in the garden, Aunt Pepita!” Jeanie cried.

“We will in a few minutes,” Pepita answered her.

“I want to go now!” the child protested.

Pepita promised that she would not be long and, when she reached the housekeeper’s room, she was relieved to find that Mrs. Sutherland was there.

“Will you look after her Ladyship for a few minutes, Mrs. Sutherland?” she asked. “Her Grace wants me.”

She thought that there was an apprehensive look on the housekeeper s face, but she did not say anything and held out her hand towards Jeanie.

“I’ve somethin’ really very excitin’ to show to your Ladyship,” she said ingratiatingly.

“What is it?” Jeanie enquired.

“Two wee kittens born just last night.”

Pepita did not need to listen to any more. She was sure that Jeanie would be enthralled and quite happy until she returned.

She realised that she must not keep the Duchess waiting and she hurried back down the long passage to the drawing room.

The sun coming through the windows made her think that like Jeanie she would far sooner be in the garden than having what she was certain would be an uncomfortable interview with the Duchess.

She closed the door behind her and walked towards the fireplace.

As she expected, the Duchess was sitting in her usual chair on the right hand side of the mantelpiece.

She was looking even more disagreeable than usual and, Pepita thought, although she knew that it was uncharitable, exceedingly plain.

When she reached the Duchess, she curtseyed and decided that it would be correct not to sit down until she was asked to do so.

There was a perceptible pause before the Duchess said,

“I want to talk to you, Miss Linford,”

Pepita did not reply and again there was a pause before the Duchess said almost grudgingly,

“You can sit.”

“Thank you,” Pepita replied quietly.

She chose the chair nearest to where the Duchess was sitting. It had a straight back and she sat upright in it with her hands clasped together in her lap.

She could feel very clearly the vibrations of hatred coming towards her from the Duchess and she wondered if anybody else would have been able to feel them in the same way.

But perhaps in fact she had what her father called an ‘intuition’ about people that was exceptional.

At last, after what seemed a long pause, the

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