Wish for Love by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd
Published: 2013-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

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All through luncheon Jeremy talked while Mariota and her father listened.

He had been longing to relate what had happened in London and how exciting it had been.

“I was very fortunate in finding two men I knew when I went to the tailors,” he said. “One of them was Maynard, who you will remember, Papa. He used to live about five miles away when we were children. The other was a man who stayed with the Squire for the hunting last year and who came to dinner. Do you remember?”

“I remember,” Mariota answered him.

She recalled what a struggle it had been to produce a meal that was to Jeremy’s satisfaction and which had not only cost money they could not afford but also a great deal of imagination.

However, the meal had in fact been excellent and old Jacob had made a great effort to put on one of the liveried coats with its silver buttons that were kept for smart occasions, then waited quite creditably if rather slowly.

“They seemed delighted to see me,” Jeremy went on, “and advised me which clothes to buy. Then they took me off to their Club and entertained me the whole time I was in London.”

“How wonderful for you!” Mariota exclaimed, thinking in that case he would not have had to spend all the precious money.

As if he was aware what she was thinking, he said,

“You are quite right. I spent very little, except on my clothes.”

“You certainly look very smart,” Lord Fordcombe said as if he had noticed them for the first time, “but why did you want new clothes all of a sudden?”

“I had grown out of my others, Papa, and I either had to borrow yours or go naked.”

“Then I am very glad you bought some new ones,” his father replied. “Tell me what you saw in London.”

Because it had obviously not occurred to him to wonder where Jeremy had obtained the money to expend on new clothes, Mariota sighed with relief.

Jeremy launched into a long description of the theatres he had attended with his friends and the dance halls they had taken him to later and the uncomfortable moment passed.

In the short time he had been away, Jeremy had certainly filled every moment of it with amusement and she wondered how long it would be before he would feel he must go back for more.

When her father returned to his study, Jeremy said,

“Lady Elizabeth is a very attractive girl. I would like to see more of her.”

“I should not waste your time,” Mariota piped up.

“What do you mean by that?” Jeremy enquired.

“Lady Coddington told me that she inherited a great fortune from her American Godmother and I am certain that if you pursued her to Madresfield, the Duke would think that you were a fortune-hunter and send you packing.”

“I was not thinking of marrying her! I just thought that she was attractive. I would have liked to invite her to luncheon, only I did not dare. But actually she said she would

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