Love Drives In by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page B

unpleasantness.
    "He should have informed me," the woman went on accusingly, "that he required a secretary. I would have found him one who would be, I am quite sure, far more capable of doing his very difficult work than you are."
    She was being very rude. But Dorina knew that in her position, it would be a mistake to be rude in return.
    She therefore said,
    "I am sure, madam, you know your way about the house and the butler will bring you any refreshment you require. I will tell his Lordship as soon as he arrives home that you are waiting for him."
    "I will be very surprised," the woman retorted, "if you do anything efficiently. You are far too young and far too inexperienced for this work, and I will tell him so as soon as he comes back."
    With that she went out slamming the door behind her.
    Dorina was astonished that anyone so smartly dressed, who was obviously of some importance, should behave in such a way.
    When a few moments later, the butler appeared she asked,
    "Who was that lady? She was very upset not to find his Lordship at home."
    Henly laughed.
    "Upset, is the right word," he replied. "She's been scowling at me as if it is my fault he's forgotten the appointment."
    "Who is she?" Dorina enquired.
    "Lady Musgrove. She's been after his Lordship for some months. If you ask me she fancies herself as a Countess and there's not a person in this house who's not praying it won't happen."
    "She certainly seemed annoyed and surprised to find me here," Dorina replied.
    "Of course she was," Henly answered. "You're far too pretty for her Ladyship's liking, and I know now why she snapped at me in the drawing room."
    Dorina laughed.
    "Surely it cannot concern her who the Earl has as his secretary," she said. "He could hardly manage without one."
    "Of course not," the butler agreed. "But Miss Barnes is about fifty. She's a good worker but she doesn't look as good as you do. You're like a bit of sunshine in the early morning."
    Dorina laughed.
    "That is the nicest compliment I have ever received," she said. "I would love to be a bit of sunshine, and I hope I've helped his Lordship with this huge amount of correspondence. Just look at what has arrived this morning and someone has to answer them for him."
    "Well, her Ladyship thinks you're too pretty to be useful behind a desk," the butler said. "If you ask me it would be a disaster for us all if his Lordship married her, as she wants him to do."
    Dorina could understand that.
    After the way Lady Musgrove had spoken to her, she was quite certain that she could not manage the household in the way her mother had always done.
    As she had said so often,
    "If the servants are happy, their master is happy. Always remember that, darling, and it is something which should be written in every rich man's and woman's diary."
    Dorina had laughed at the time and her father did too.
    But she knew that all the servants at home were devoted to them both.
    They had been unceasingly kind to her from the time she left the pram and toddled into the kitchen.
    'Henly is right,' she thought to herself. 'The Earl must not marry a woman like that, who might not only offend his staff at home, but the people who work for him in other parts of the world. It was very important that the Earl should choose the right wife.'
    But she did not allow herself to think too much about who the right wife might be.
    She was still working on the correspondence, when Lady Musgrove reappeared.
    "Exactly when did his Lordship depart?" she snapped.
    "I am afraid I have no information," Dorina replied, "as he left before I came down to breakfast."
    Lady Musgrove stared at her.
    "Are you staying here in the house?" she asked in astonishment.
    "When I applied for the job, I explained to his Lordship that I had only just returned home from the continent," Dorina told her. "He therefore offered me a room until I found somewhere else."
    "All I can say is that you should do so as quickly as possible," Lady Musgrove replied. "It is not