Love in the Highlands by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page A

gallantly, taking her hand and leading her through the front door.
    As soon as they were inside, Lavina said urgently.
    "I must speak to you."
    "Has something happened?"
    "Yes, something terrible. The Queen has written to Papa."
    "Saying what?"
    "I don't know, I didn't allow him to open it."
    "You didn't allow – ?"
    "It would have been fatal," she said hurriedly, missing his implication. "Once he has read that letter he must obey the orders contained within it. As it is, he hasn't even received it."
    "I thought you just said that he had."
    "It arrived at the house, but we didn't."
    He frowned.
    "Didn't what?"
    "Arrive at the house."
    "Lady Lavina, you must forgive me for appearing dull-witted but I was under the impression that you had been home, and if you have not I'm at a loss to understand how you knew the letter was there."
    "Of course we've been home."
    The Marquis passed his hand over his eyes.
    "Perhaps we began this conversation at the wrong point," he said faintly. "I have been used to starting at the beginning, but clearly you have devised another method."
    Lavina stamped her foot.
    "I wish you would stop talking nonsense. My meaning is perfectly clear."
    "Not, unfortunately, to me. Did this letter arrive or did it not?"
    "Yes, it arrived while we were here with you, and was waiting for us when we returned home. But Papa must not receive it, so I handed it back to the butler and we left at once.
    "When the Queen's Messenger returns he will be informed that we never came back at all, and he must bring the letter on to deliver it here."
    "Where he will find us all assembled to greet him," the Marquis said, his eye gleaming with appreciation. "Well done! Now that we have sorted out your somewhat tangled explanation, I am proud of you."
    If he meant to placate Lavina by these words he was mistaken. Praise was pleasant, of course, but how dare he patronise her! Did he think she cared whether he was proud of her or not?
    "Where are the maid and dresser you threatened me with?" the Marquis asked.
    "They are following immediately. Since haste was important we left ahead of them."
    "Then one of my maids shall show you to your room. You have the room always occupied by the mistress of the house."
    Lavina soon discovered that what he called a 'room' was, in fact, a palatial apartment. Built on a corner, it had large windows on two sides, flooding it with light.
    The furniture was all valuable, antique, but well kept. Dominating the room was a vast four poster bed, hung with honey coloured silk damask, and with a richly carved gold cornice.
    Over the fireplace was a huge mirror set in a cream and gold frame that matched the bed. The ceiling too was a match. Everywhere Lavina looked she saw gold, from the chandelier to the chairs.
    It was breathtaking. Evidently the Marchioness of
    Elswick was expected to live in style.
    The maid showed her around, pointing out the private bathroom, and the door that led to a dressing room.
    One of the great windows looked out over the entrance, and to her relief Lavina saw the coach bringing her servants, followed by a fourgon piled with luggage.
    "Thank goodness," she murmured.
    She was more relieved than she could have said, for now she could employ her most formidable weapon in the strangest situation in which she had ever found herself. Her beauty, her glamour, her magnificence.
    With these she could face the Marquis. And he would come off worse. She promised herself that.
*
    Mrs Banty's entrance into her domain was made with almost as much ceremony as Lavina's. Dressed in black bombazine, her head adorned by a black straw bonnet, trimmed with black lace, she made a haughty progress up the grand staircase, and along the corridor to Her Ladyship's apartment.
    Jill, Lavina's personal maid, crept along in the rear like a lady-in-waiting.
    Behind them came troops of footmen bearing luggage, which they proceeded to set on the floor, until halted by a commanding voice.
    "This will not