The Island of Love (Camfield Series No. 15) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sun and what there was was rather pale and watery but because her skin was very white and flawless, Lydia could understand her fears and replied:
    “Yes, of course!”
    After they had changed seats the Lady said:
    “It is certainly unusual for me not to be travelling in a private train, or at least have a carriage to myself, but I only decided at the very last minute that I felt well enough to attend a Ball which is taking place tonight.”
    Lydia smiled.
    “You must mean the Christmas Ball at the Marquess of Roehampton’s house.”
    The Lady raised her eye-brows.
    “Do you know him?”
    “My father, who is Sir Robert Westbury, lives very near him.”
    The Lady stared at her. Then she said: “Westbury? You are not saying—you cannot be the girl who is to marry the Earl of Royston?”
    “That is my sister.”
    “Oh!”
    For a moment it seemed there was nothing more to say. Then as if she felt she must talk the Lady said: “I am the Countess of Milbourne and the Earl is a very old friend of mine.”
    The way she said it with a deliberate stress on the word ‘friend’ made Lydia think that the Countess had been more than friendly at one time with the Earl.
    Then as if she could not prevent herself the Countess continued:
    “It was certainly a shock and a surprise to everybody, especially the Earl’s old friends, that he should become engaged, so precipitately and without any warning!”
    “My sister is very beautiful.”
    Lydia thought as she spoke that the Countess, if she had not had herself strictly under control, would have snorted.
    Instead she said:
    “The Earl has always vowed he had no intention of marrying until he was very much older. Of course, your sister must have persuaded him to think otherwise.”
    There was certainly a spiteful sting in the Lady’s words. Then she asked:
    “How old is your sister?”
    “She is eighteen.”
    “Oh, dear! I cannot help feeling sorry for the poor child! I am afraid the dear Earl, much as we all love him, will lead any woman, however experienced, however sophisticated, a dance once he is married! But a girl of eighteen ...!”
    She threw up her suede-gloved hands in horror and Lydia knew she was in fact, delighted that Heloise was so young and in consequence quite incapable of amusing the Earl and keeping him faithful.
    It was an idea that had already gone through her mind.
    Although she thought it extremely incorrect for the Countess to speak in such a manner because of her curiosity she could not help encouraging her.
    “Do tell me about the Earl of Royston,” she begged, “I have seen him many times, but I have actually never met him.”
    “You have never met him?” the Countess exclaimed. “Then I assure you, Miss Westbury, you are in for a surprise! He is different from other men, very, very different!”
    “In what way?”
    “I suppose, because he behaves as if he owns the world and everything in it, that one almost begins to believe it is true.”
    The Countess paused before she went on:
    “In the case of other men that would make them conceited and pompous, but with the Earl it seems so natural to him to have everything his own way that we just give in and treat him as omnipotent.”
    She laughed as she spoke and it made her look very pretty.
    At the same time there was a look in her eyes that was malicious, and Lydia knew she was longing to be spiteful, both about the Earl and his engagement.
    “Have you known His Lordship for a very long time?” she asked.
    “For years!” the Countess answered. “As I said, we are very old friends, so I shall be interested, very interested to meet your sister and find out what special attributes she has that have been so sadly lacking in all the other women who have in the past made themselves very much a part of Hunter’s life.”
    The nickname slipped out by mistake, and immediately the Countess said firmly:
    “Of course, as I have said, the Earl is a law unto himself, and therefore one cannot judge him