The Temptation of Torilla by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland [Barbara Cartland]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781782130598
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.Ebooks ltd
Published: 2012-06-27T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

The ball at Lady Melchester’s was even more fantastic and extravagant than the other parties at which Torilla had been present since she arrived in London.

The Countess had however protested against Beryl and Torilla attending it.

“I cannot bear that Melchester woman!” she groaned disparagingly. “She is fast and her love affairs are a scandal. I cannot imagine why you should wish to accept her over-pressing invitations.”

“She gives good parties, Mama, and all my friends will be there,” Beryl replied simply, shrugging her beautifully rounded shoulders.

“She has nothing but money to recommend her,” the Countess snapped, “but of course, I know that most of your friends care for little else.”

Beryl laughed good-humouredly.

“That is because it is something that most of them lack.”

She gave a little self-satisfied sigh.

“One comforting thought is that no one can say that about Gallen.”

“No, indeed,” the Countess agreed, her voice softening, “and I am sure, Beryl, if you play your cards right, he will prove a very generous husband.”

“I will make sure of that!”

Torilla put down the book she was reading and, rising from the sofa in the drawing room, she walked to the window.

She found it not only embarrassing but also hurtful to listen to Beryl and her mother talking in such a manner about the Marquis.

She had thought many hard things about him herself, but it was different in the case of Beryl, who had no grounds for criticising him, or the Countess, who was quite obviously jubilant at the idea of such an advantageous marriage.

It suddenly struck her that the reason why he looked cynical was that the women he knew talked in such a hard and calculating manner and he was well aware of it.

Where she was concerned he was more perceptive and more intuitive than she had imagined any man could be. If he knew what she was thinking, surely he must be well aware also of Beryl’s thoughts?

More and more as she saw them together she found herself praying that if her cousin was to marry the Marquis as she intended she would grow to love him.

‘How can Beryl contemplate,’ Torilla asked herself, ‘the sort of marriage that exists between her father and mother?’

The Countess never missed an opportunity of criticising the Earl and a day never passed without her saying something cutting and unkind, which revealed all too clearly her feelings towards him.

Torilla wondered if Beryl would become the same sort of woman and she had a feeling she would.

Marriage, however rich the bridegroom might be, however luxurious their surroundings, could be nothing but a farce if the two people concerned in it did not love each other.

She could remember the tenderness in her mother’s voice when she spoke to her father and could recall the look of adoration in the Vicar’s eyes when her mother rose every time he returned home to kiss him.

Torilla could not imagine Beryl worrying over the Marquis, seeking in every way to make him happy and sacrificing her own desires and interests for his.

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