letter with the foreign postmark but her father – such was his sense of propriety – had divulged nothing of its contents.
Now she waited apprehensively while her father settled his pince-nez on his nose and began to read.
"Dear Doctor Carlton,
I write on behalf of my client, Mademoiselle FeliceDelisle. Mademoiselle Delisle wishes to thank you for yourletter of June. She apologises for not replying sooner. Shealso apologises for not writing herself.
She has been cast down with grief since hearing of theinjuries to her fiancé Hugo. She understands that you areexpecting him home by September at least.
She wishes me to advise you that she intends to travelto England in November to be with him.
Her feelings for Earl Hugo remain unchanged."
The doctor removed his pince-nez and looked at the Earl. "It is signed by a Monsieur Phillipe Fronard, notary at law," he said.
The Earl lifted his head. His features were impassive and his voice when he spoke betrayed nothing.
"It seems then that I am to have a wife after all."
"This surely calls for another toast!" said the doctor.
The Earl gave a quick smile. "Indeed." He turned his head towards where Jacina sat at the window. "Miss Carlton, will you join us?"
"I – I only have tea here, my Lord."
"I am sure tea will prove equal to the task," said the Earl.
With a trembling hand, Jacina lifted her china teacup from its tray.
"To my future wife, Felice Delisle," proposed the Earl.
"To your wife," echoed the doctor.
"To your wife," said Jacina in a low voice.
She took a sip of tea. It was cold. She put down her cup and turned her face to the window. Her eyes were misty and she fiercely blinked away the incipient tears. She was cross with herself for being so affected. She was not one of those girls who had nothing but romance and embroidery to occupy their minds! She was luckier than most. Her father often allowed her to be involved in his work. She had the opportunity to make herself truly useful.
'Jacina Carlton, you are not to be a silly fool,' she told herself.
She heard the Earl rise and make his excuses. He had other castle business to attend to.
"As do I," smiled the doctor. "Some of the families on the Ruven estate are also my patients."
"We have much to discuss on other occasions," said the Earl.
Jarrold escorted the doctor and his daughter to the entrance, where their gig had been brought round to the bottom of the steps.
Jacina was very quiet as she and her father drove home. She turned her head only once, to catch a last glimpse of the castle. It looked so imposing on its ridge above the trees.
A disturbing thought crossed her mind as she looked back.
It would be better for her if she never saw the castle or the Earl again!
CHAPTER THREE
A week later Jacina and her father sat at breakfast in their little parlour.
At the doctor's elbow was a pile of books. Doctor Carlton was interested in epidemiology and, to Jacina's amusement, often had his head in a book all through breakfast.
This morning however the books remained closed. The doctor coughed and regarded Jacina over the top of his pince nez.
"Jacina."
"Yes, Papa?"
"I have found employment for you."
She looked at him quizzically. "Yes, Papa?"
"It is connected with the Earl."
Jacina toyed with her teaspoon. "Oh?"
Her father had been twice to sup at the castle, but each time Jacina had declined the invitation, pleading a headache.
"He is a proud man and does not like to accept help," explained the doctor, "but even he has to admit that the one thing he cannot do for himself is read the newspapers. Yesterday he asked whether I knew of anyone who might come to the castle and read to him. Without a second thought I suggested you."
"Oh, Papa," burst out Jacina, "I wish you had not!"
The doctor looked astonished. "Why Jacina, what possible reason could you have to refuse?"
Jacina stared into her cup. She had resolved not to return to Castle Ruven until she believed herself to be
Now she waited apprehensively while her father settled his pince-nez on his nose and began to read.
"Dear Doctor Carlton,
I write on behalf of my client, Mademoiselle FeliceDelisle. Mademoiselle Delisle wishes to thank you for yourletter of June. She apologises for not replying sooner. Shealso apologises for not writing herself.
She has been cast down with grief since hearing of theinjuries to her fiancé Hugo. She understands that you areexpecting him home by September at least.
She wishes me to advise you that she intends to travelto England in November to be with him.
Her feelings for Earl Hugo remain unchanged."
The doctor removed his pince-nez and looked at the Earl. "It is signed by a Monsieur Phillipe Fronard, notary at law," he said.
The Earl lifted his head. His features were impassive and his voice when he spoke betrayed nothing.
"It seems then that I am to have a wife after all."
"This surely calls for another toast!" said the doctor.
The Earl gave a quick smile. "Indeed." He turned his head towards where Jacina sat at the window. "Miss Carlton, will you join us?"
"I – I only have tea here, my Lord."
"I am sure tea will prove equal to the task," said the Earl.
With a trembling hand, Jacina lifted her china teacup from its tray.
"To my future wife, Felice Delisle," proposed the Earl.
"To your wife," echoed the doctor.
"To your wife," said Jacina in a low voice.
She took a sip of tea. It was cold. She put down her cup and turned her face to the window. Her eyes were misty and she fiercely blinked away the incipient tears. She was cross with herself for being so affected. She was not one of those girls who had nothing but romance and embroidery to occupy their minds! She was luckier than most. Her father often allowed her to be involved in his work. She had the opportunity to make herself truly useful.
'Jacina Carlton, you are not to be a silly fool,' she told herself.
She heard the Earl rise and make his excuses. He had other castle business to attend to.
"As do I," smiled the doctor. "Some of the families on the Ruven estate are also my patients."
"We have much to discuss on other occasions," said the Earl.
Jarrold escorted the doctor and his daughter to the entrance, where their gig had been brought round to the bottom of the steps.
Jacina was very quiet as she and her father drove home. She turned her head only once, to catch a last glimpse of the castle. It looked so imposing on its ridge above the trees.
A disturbing thought crossed her mind as she looked back.
It would be better for her if she never saw the castle or the Earl again!
CHAPTER THREE
A week later Jacina and her father sat at breakfast in their little parlour.
At the doctor's elbow was a pile of books. Doctor Carlton was interested in epidemiology and, to Jacina's amusement, often had his head in a book all through breakfast.
This morning however the books remained closed. The doctor coughed and regarded Jacina over the top of his pince nez.
"Jacina."
"Yes, Papa?"
"I have found employment for you."
She looked at him quizzically. "Yes, Papa?"
"It is connected with the Earl."
Jacina toyed with her teaspoon. "Oh?"
Her father had been twice to sup at the castle, but each time Jacina had declined the invitation, pleading a headache.
"He is a proud man and does not like to accept help," explained the doctor, "but even he has to admit that the one thing he cannot do for himself is read the newspapers. Yesterday he asked whether I knew of anyone who might come to the castle and read to him. Without a second thought I suggested you."
"Oh, Papa," burst out Jacina, "I wish you had not!"
The doctor looked astonished. "Why Jacina, what possible reason could you have to refuse?"
Jacina stared into her cup. She had resolved not to return to Castle Ruven until she believed herself to be
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