Love Became Theirs by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

" She spread her hands expressively.
    "I'll work with you if you talk to me as you do now," Alice promised. "All the others just tried to teach me about verbs and adjectives."
    "There's more to life than verbs and adjectives," Rona agreed solemnly. "In another year or so you'll be getting proposals of marriage, and you'll have to know how to refuse in such a way that they know you mean it – " She shuddered suddenly as memories came back to her, and for a moment she stared into space.
    "Miss Johnson?" Alice held out her hand. "What's the matter?"
    "Nothing," Rona said, giving herself a mental shake. "What I meant was that you must refuse charmingly, so that the man doesn't become angry, but continues to be your slave, while he begs you to change your mind."
    Alice's eyes were shining.
    "That's the sort of thing I want to learn," she said.
    "Perhaps we should keep it to ourselves for a while," Rona suggested. "Otherwise your father may think I'm teaching you the wrong things and send me away."
    "He won't do that," Alice said cheerfully. "He'll be so relieved to have a governess that I like."
    Rona laughed.
    "Stop being such a little tyrant," she said. "If you're going to be a charming young lady, start by treating your father more kindly."
    Alice considered. It was clearly a new idea to her that fathers needed to be treated kindly.
    "I'll think about it," she said at last.
    "That will do for the moment. Now I must go to see him, and tell him we've reached an agreement."
    Suddenly Alice dropped her grown up ways and became a child again, throwing her arms about Rona, and hugging her as though she would prevent her leaving.
    "You have come to save me when I was feeling desperate," she said. "If you go home to fetch your luggage, do you promise to come back this afternoon? I can't help thinking that I'm dreaming and suddenly you will disappear."
    "I promise to return as soon as I've collected my things from home."
    She bent down and kissed Alice on the cheek. Then she ran down the stairs and back to the room where the Earl was sitting at his desk. When Rona entered the room he looked up.
    "Well?" he asked.
    "Alice and I are delighted with each other, and if you engage me I'm going back now to fetch my luggage."
    "Excellent!" exclaimed the Earl. "Now, about your salary."
    "Let's discuss it when I come back," Rona replied. "I have a lot of packing to do and I have promised your daughter I'll return as quickly as I can."
    She hurried away as she finished speaking and the Earl stared at the closed door.
    Then he put his hand up to his forehead. He wasn't used to young women who flew out of the door before he said they could go, and he certainly was not used to a governess who shrugged aside any mention of money.
    At least she was different, he thought hopefully.
    *
    Luck was with Rona. She arrived home to find her parents still out. If she acted fast she had enough time to leave without discovery.
    Her maid was out as well, which left her to pack for herself, but meant one less pair of curious eyes.
    She took some of her best clothes, in case she needed to look smart when they were abroad. At the same time she was wise enough to put in some of her more simple dresses, so that she could occasionally look like a governess.
    Then she sat down at the writing-table in her bedroom and wrote a letter to her father.
    Darling Mama and Papa, please forgive me for leaving like this, but I simply cannot do as you wish and marry Lord Robert. Don't worry about me. I am safe.
    I love you both, and I will miss you, but you will understand that for the moment I cannot see Lord Robert.
    Your very affectionate daughter, Rona 'There is one thing at any rate I will teach her,' Rona told herself , 'and that is that men can be very deceptive and before one promises them anything, one must know exactly who they are and what they feel in their own hearts.'
    She put the letter in an envelope.
    Then, picking up one of her cases she took it downstairs and told