Love in the Highlands Read Online Free PDF Page B

Marquis, as though he could not believe his ears. "Of course it inconveniences me. But I've given my word, and when I say I'll do a thing, then I do it properly. Rooms will be prepared for you, and I will expect you tonight."
    He turned a hard look on Lavina.
    "You will not, under any circumstances, marry Prince Stanislaus, because I will take whatever steps are necessary to thwart him. You have my word on that."
    "I – thank you," she stammered. There was something in his look that almost frightened her.
    "Do you understand?" he repeated. "I will do anything that is necessary. Anything."
    For a moment Lavina was too taken aback to speak, Lord Elswick's manner was so strange. It was as though he were looking through her towards a far horizon, where he could see something that he wanted, and which had nothing to do with her.
    To her relief he resumed speaking in a more normal voice.
    "We must go about this properly, and be prepared for any eventuality. The Queen will be annoyed, no question about that. She will also, probably, be suspicious."
    "Yes, I'm afraid she will," the Earl agreed with a sigh.
    "She'll set people to watch us, and report back to her how we behave. If you come and stay here it will look more convincing. Have you heard from her yet?"
    He shot this question out suddenly at the Earl.
    "She's had no chance to reach me," he replied. "I left London too quickly."
    "If she doesn't find you at home in London she will send her messenger to Ringwood Place. She had better not find you there either.
    "In fact it's best if a notice appears in The Times as soon as possible. We can do that by telegram."
    "I've never sent a telegram before," said the Earl, who
    was nervous of new-fangled inventions.
    "I send them sometimes, or rather, my secretary does it for me. The local newspaper office has a cable facility by which they transmit news to London, so we'll use them."
    He sat down at his desk and began to write the announcement. The Earl passed the time by looking around some of the books. He was not an imaginative man, and he had completely missed the currents of emotion and agitation that had swirled between Lavina and the Marquis.
    Lord Elswick took advantage of the Earl's absorption to indicate for Lavina to sit beside him so that he could talk to her in a low voice.
    "It is as well that you understand me," he said quietly. "In a moment my secretary will arrive, and I will give him the announcement. Once that has been sent off, the die is cast. Do you realise what that means?"
    "Of course," Lavina said.
    "I'm not sure that you do. It means that I will not be made a fool of. When our engagement is announced it will last until I say otherwise. I and I alone will decide when and how it is terminated. Is that quite clear?"
    Lavina did not answer. She was outraged at this manner of talking to her and longed to put this arrogant man in his place. But she did not dare. She needed his help too badly.
    After a few moments of silence he looked up and saw her face, full of outrage.
    "Be as angry at me as you like," he said coolly. "I care nothing for that, so don't bother to tell me about it. I am not fooling, madam. If you want my help you will do as I say, in every particular. Swear to that now or so help me, I'll turn you out to meet your fate."
    "I have no choice," she said in a voice of deep mortification.
    "On the contrary, you do have a choice. You can tell me to go to the devil."
    "And marry Prince Stanislaus?" she asked bitterly. "I would rather die."
    The Marquis shrugged.
    "Oh, I don't think so. One says these things, but one doesn't die you know. Life goes on, somehow. Are you going to give me the promise I want, or shall I tear up this announcement?"
    "I promise," she said in a low voice.
    "Good, then we understand each other. You will find me a most attentive and devoted fiancé, and I expect the same from you. That will be necessary if we are to carry this off."
    Without waiting for her to answer he held up the