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

do!"
    "Banty dear, whatever is the matter?" Lavina asked.
    "You cannot sleep here. It is disgraceful. I never heard of such a thing."
    She looked sharply at the footmen, who were regarding her in amazement.
    "What are you doing here? Take yourselves off, and somebody tell your master that I wish to see him without delay."
    Their jaws dropped, and they looked at each other, wondering who was brave enough to inform the Marquis that a woman had sent for him as though he were an under servant.
    Luckily for everyone's peace of mind the Marquis himself put in an appearance at that moment. In seconds every footman in the place had vanished.
    "I came to assure myself of your comfort," he said courteously to Lavina. "But I see your servants have arrived, and so all is well."
    "All is certainly not well," Mrs Banty said, glaring at him. "I was never more shocked in my life."
    Lavina held her breath, certain that this was disaster. The Marquis would never tolerate being spoken to in this manner, by a woman and a servant.
    But instead of being offended he regarded Mrs Banty mildly.
    "May I ask in what manner I have offended?" he asked.
    "This apartment is totally inappropriate for Lady Lavina."
    "It is the apartment of the mistress of the house. I meant to do her honour."
    "But she is not yet the mistress of the house, and it is therefore scandalous for her to be in a bedroom that connects with your own."
    "Indeed it does not," the Marquis said, astonished.
    "It connects with this dressing room," Mrs Banty said, opening the door, and indicating another door on the far side of the dressing-room.
    "Beyond that door lies Your Lordship's apartment," she said in a voice of thunder.
    "Well yes," he agreed, "but you will observe that there are two beds in the dressing room, and I imagine that you will occupy one, and the maid will occupy the other.
    "Were I to attempt to creep through this room with the intention of assaulting Lady Lavina's honour, I feel sure that you would prevent me. Besides, the door to my apartment is locked."
    But Mrs Banty was made of stern stuff, and did not relent.
    "I have no doubt that Your Lordship has a key."
    "Which I shall be happy to give to you."
    "How do I know that you don't have another key?"
    "Very well," said the Marquis. "I will give you a pistol, and if you find me creeping through the dressing room you have my permission to shoot me."
    Mrs Banty glared.
    "Banty dear," begged Lavina, "please leave this. He's making fun of you."
    "He thinks he is," Mrs Banty declared. "He thinks I wouldn't shoot him."
    Incredibly, Lord Elswick's lips twitched.
    "On the contrary," he said, "I feel fairly sure that you would. But if you would agree a compromise ma'am, suppose I send for the estate carpenter and instruct him to put some bolts on the door leading to my room. Once you have slid them home, Lady Lavina would be perfectly safe from my evil intentions."
    Mrs Banty graciously signalled her assent to this negotiated settlement, and returned to her task, unpacking Lavina's wardrobe.
    "My Lord, I apologise," Lavina said distractedly, anxious to protect her dresser from the Marquis' wrath, "Mrs Banty is very protective of me – "
    "Do not," he said, his hand over his eyes, "even consider apologising for Mrs Banty. I would not have missed meeting her for the world."
    "But the way she spoke to you – "
    "Reminded me of my old governess. I was rather fond of her. Now I must hasten to give the order for those bolts. If she were to return and find the job not done, I would fear for my life."
    "Ah, but you have not yet given her the pistol," Lavina reminded him, amused.
    "I feel sure she has one of her own somewhere."
    He hurried out, leaving Lavina looking after him, wondering at this man who kept revealing different sides of himself.
*
    When the Earl collected his daughter to take her down to dinner his eyes popped with admiration.
    "You look wonderful, my darling," he said.
    "Doesn't she!" exclaimed Mrs Banty, who had