An Unexpected Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

a few minutes later Sir Michael joined her.
    He seemed eager to talk, but Ravina suddenly felt weary of making conversation. She closed her eyes and let the swaying carriage lull her.
    But her mind would not relax. All she could see wereSir Richard Crawford’s dark angry eyes.
    All she could hear was the ringing accusation in his voice – that she was flirting unwisely with Sir Michael and that her parents would be appalled.
    â€œOh, odious man!” she thought. “At least Sir Michael has been nothing but charming to me all the way from London. He might be a bit boring, but at least he has the manners of a gentleman. ”
    At long last, Ravina could tell by the slowing of the horses that they had reached their destination. She opened her eyes to find Sir Michael gazing eagerly from the window.
    â€œAh, Lady Ravina, we have arrived at the Priory. May I impose on you to have your first look and tell me what you think?”
    Ravina pulled up the blind and looked out.
    The horses were walking slowly up a long straight drive laid out with formal gardens on each side.
    In front of them was the old stone house, its walls covered with a bright red creeper that had been pruned back neatly from the mullioned windows.
    Even from a distance, Ravina could see that the whole place gave the appearance of being repaired and restored.
    A fine new gravelled area in front of the main door had been recently raked into neat patterns. Everything looked spick and span. Even the flowerbeds were arranged neatly in rows with all the reds in one area and blues and whites in another.
    â€œGoodness!” Ravina exclaimed. “I thought as we came down the drive that George must have driven to the wrong house.
    â€œI remember often peeping through the gates of the Priory when I was young. The drive was always overgrown with tall weeds and the house looked run down, almost a ruin. Now look at it. Anyone would be delighted to call it home.”
    Sir Michael laughed with pleasure, his rugged face appearing much younger.
    â€œYou are saying exactly the right things, Lady Ravina,” he told her. “I will be very hurt if you do not come over for lunch tomorrow, because I have a thousand questions to ask you and frankly I shall find it impossible to do any more to the house until I have sought your help and advice.”
    â€œThank you, but I am sure my help will not be needed, although I am complimented that you think it will.”
    â€œAnd you will stay for a few nights soon? We have plenty of rooms. I am sure your cousin will come too so you would be well chaperoned.”
    Ravina nodded and smiled sweetly, but did not reply.
    She had forgotten Dulcie. But of course, she could go with her to the Priory.
    That wretched Sir Richard Crawford could not have been more wrong. If she was well chaperoned, there would be no reason for her not to stay at the Priory.
    Sir Michael jumped down from the carriage when they arrived and with many more warm words of thanks, stood waving as George turned the carriage and shook the horses into a trot.
    Ravina sat back with a sigh. In fifteen minutes they would reach Curbishley Hall. She was longing for a nice cup of tea and the comfort of her own room.
    George swung the team out of the gates and flicked thewhip to urge them on. It was uphill for a few miles and the team was tired and needed all his attention.
    That was a pity because if he had glanced behind him, he would have noticed a man riding a foam-flecked horse, standing hidden behind a clump of bushes.
    The same man who had spoken to him in the courtyard of the hotel at lunchtime.
    But even George’s sharp eyes would not have picked out another shape – a solitary grey horse and rider, outlined for a second against the crest of a rise before they merged into the trees and vanished from view.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Ravina’s irritation vanished like an early mist as the coach finally crested the last hill and began the long