Love Became Theirs (6 page)

"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 the footman to bring down the others.

There were, in fact, four large cases and a vanity case which contained some of her jewellery.

She left the letter she had written to her father on his writing-desk, while the footman was bringing down her luggage, and another summoned a cab. When she was ready to leave, she said loudly to the driver,

"Take me to Kensington station."

She knew that instruction would be repeated to her father when he returned.

The cab set off. When they had almost reached Oxford Street she called to the driver, "I've changed my mind. Take me to Berkeley Square."

As soon as she arrived she knew they were waiting for her. The door was opened immediately. She ran upstairs to the sitting room. As soon as she opened the door, Alice gave a cry of joy and excitement and ran towards her.

"You have come! You have come!" she cried. "I was afraid it was just a dream and I would never see you again."

"I promised to return, and here I am."

"But people don't always keep their promises," said Alice. "Mama promised never to leave me, but then she died."

There was a forlorn note in her voice that told Rona all she needed to know about the girl's loneliness.

"But you must not blame your mother for that," she said gently. "Things happen that are beyond our control. We will talk about this later. First, where am I to sleep tonight?"

"In my room," Alice said eagerly. "While we're away they'll prepare a proper room for you."

A truckle bed had been moved into Alice's pleasant room, but it proved to be rather uncomfortable when Rona tried it.

"No, I'm sleeping there," Alice said quickly. "You're having my bed."

It was almost as though she was afraid her new friend might take offence and leave. Rona smiled, feeling pleased that she was already winning Alice's confidence.

A message came from the Earl to say that he hoped they would both dine with him that evening. Rona put on her plainest dress and the glasses. She did not intend to wear them for ever, but it would be safer to look dowdy until they were in France.

To complete the effect she brushed her hair straight back, so that it lay flat against her head, and fixed it into a neat bun at the nape of her neck.

She hardly knew the person who looked back at her from the mirror. She had braced herself for the glasses, the dreary clothes, and the even drearier hair.

There was something else. This pale woman with the set face and disillusioned eyes was a stranger, and yet herself. She had been born some time in the last few hours, and now she would not go away.

She was the person who would be living her life in future. And she made Rona realise that she had no idea what that future held.

But she would face it with courage.

Harlequin had told her that she could do so and following his precepts was now all that she had left of him.

Most of Alice's clothes had been packed, but Rona went through the few that were left and chose a blue dress that was pretty and simple. Then she brushed the girl's hair until it shone, leaving it to flow freely down to her shoulders.

At last they were ready to go downstairs.

The Earl looked up as they came in, and she thought she caught a look of surprise on his face as he saw her, looking even more drab than before.

"Ladies," he said, "shall we go in to dinner?"

As Alice went ahead he detained Rona a moment.

"I think I understand what you're doing," he said. "But it doesn't work."

"Sir?"

"Nothing is going to make you look plain, Miss Johnson," he told her with a hint of a smile.

"I am only trying to look like a governess," she said with a hint of severity.

He gave her his arm. "Let us go in."

In truth Rona was on hot coals lest her parents should find her before she could leave the country. How lucky that they were leaving so soon.

In the meantime she must do all she could to convince the Earl that she was the right person for his daughter.

Over dinner it was she who kept the conversation going, sensing that father and daughter, for all their affection, had very little notion of what to say to each other. Skilfully she drew him out to talk about France, and prompted Alice into asking him questions. This was not hard as the girl was now in a fever of anticipation.

The Earl and his daughter were soon chattering happily together, and Rona regarded them with satisfaction.

"Papa, Miss Johnson says I will need lots of new dresses, and she will help me choose them."

"Indeed? And who will help me pay for them? Don't look like that, my darling, I'm only joking."

The conversation took a different turn. Alice began talking about her mother, sounding a little wistful.

"We were so happy then, weren't we, Papa?"

The Earl nodded.

"And sometimes Uncle Peter would come and stay with us. Oh, Miss Johnson, is something the matter?"

"No," she said quickly. "I simply dropped my spoon into the bowl. Go on with what you were saying."

"Uncle Peter is Mama's brother, and he's wonderful. I wish we saw him more often."

"He visits us when he can," her father said. "But you know him – here, there and everywhere."

"You said you were going to bar him from the house," Alice said.

"I did not," said the Earl, sounding harassed. "In a moment of exasperation I said I
ought
to bar him from the house. But I've never done so."

To Rona he added,

"While Alice is so fond of that reprobate, I could never bar him."

"But why is he a reprobate, sir?" Rona asked, amused.

"Oh, he lives a rather wild, undisciplined life," said the Earl vaguely.

"Lots of ladies," Alice confided gravely.

"Alice!" exclaimed the Earl, scandalised.

"But Papa, it's no secret. Last time Uncle Peter was staying with us, this terribly angry man came to the door. I could hear the row from upstairs – "

"You didn't hear anything," said her father, moved to firmness at last. "Miss Johnson I beg you not to think too badly of us. My brother-in-law is a notorious flirt, but that's the worst you can say of him. Now Alice, that's enough. You should go to bed early, because if you oversleep tomorrow I shall leave you behind."

"
Papa!
" Alice squealed.

"Goodnight, my Lord," said Rona, laughing.

When he was alone the Earl went to sit in his library with a brandy, and think over the events of the day, and in particular to think about Miss Johnson.

'One of the most extraordinary young women I've ever met,' he mused, with a smile on his broad, kindly face. 'She certainly swept through this place like a whirlwind. Ah well, it's time I was going to bed too, otherwise I'll set a poor example tomorrow morning.'

As he rose from his seat, he heard the sound of the front door bell.

'Who can that be at this time of night?' he wondered.

He heard the door being opened, Benson giving a pleased exclamation, then the sound of a familiar voice. The Earl grinned. The next moment he was in the hall, advancing on the tall young man, his hand outstretched.

"Peter! By all that's wonderful! Come in my boy!"

The young man grinned back and embraced the Earl heartily.

"Giles! You thought you'd got rid of me, didn't you?" he cried. "But, like a bad penny, I always turn up."

"Thank goodness for that!" the Earl said sincerely, for despite his strictures he was fond of his late wife's infamous brother.

"Benson, bring some more brandy to the library," the Earl called. "And tell the housekeeper to make up Mr. Carlton's usual room."

When the two men were settled in deep leather armchairs, the Earl surveyed his young brother-in-law with satisfaction.

"Talk of the devil," he said. "We were discussing you over dinner tonight?"

"We?"

"Alice was telling her new governess all about you. Including 'ladies'."

"Alice doesn't know
all
about me and ladies," said Peter in alarm. "At least, I hope she doesn't. Anyway, I'm a reformed character."

"Again?" the Earl enquired.

They both laughed.

Peter leaned back against the leather, closing his eyes, and the Earl thought that nobody could blame the women who sighed for him. He was ridiculously handsome, with a tall, lithe figure and elegant movements. His face was lean, with fine features and a wide, mobile mouth that laughed readily.

"Alice will be sad not to see more of you," said the Earl. "You know what a favourite you are with her. But we're going to France tomorrow morning."

Peter yawned and opened his eyes. "I could always tag along," he suggested sleepily. "If you could bear to have me."

"You know better than to say that. Of course you can come, and be welcome. We're staying with the Thierre family, and I know they're fond of you."

"Tell me about the new governess."

"She's extraordinary. I've never known anyone like her. She's much too young and pretty, although she tries to pretend she isn't."

"What does Alice think? I remember she was being a bit difficult about governesses."

"That's the extraordinary thing. Alice loves her, and I must admit that she handles the child very cleverly. At dinner tonight she was telling her all about Paris, not the monuments, like other governesses, but the dress shops."

"So Alice was listening to that?" said Peter with a grin.

"With both ears."

"Then you should watch out for your wallet."

"I've already said goodbye to my wallet. Miss Johnson has promised Alice that I'm going to buy her a wardrobe full of French fashions. And she kept slipping in French words and phrases, so that Alice had to ask her what she meant. I think she's beginning to want to learn the language."

"She sounds like a paragon, this governess. I can't wait to meet her."

"You will behave yourself like a gentleman," said the Earl quickly. "I don't want her driven out because you tried to flirt with her."

"My dear fellow, I never flirt with governesses. I consider it unchivalrous."

"Good. Mind you, she's not like a governess at all. She's definitely a lady, and a very cultured one. I can't help wondering why someone so pretty and clever has to earn her own living."

Peter sat up, suddenly alert.

"Pretty," he mused.

"Yes, I told you."

"You've told me several times. Is there more to this than meets the eye?"

"I don't know what you mean." But the Earl coughed self-consciously.

"You ought to marry again, I've always said so. I know you were devoted to Valerie, but she's been dead for four years."

"I've only known this young lady a few hours," said the Earl, sounding harassed.

"Sometimes that's all it takes," Peter said reflectively. "Or even less. All right, old boy, I won't hound you about her, but I hope you will be very happy."

"Peter – "

"I'll shut up! Not another word."

"Get yourself to bed," the Earl growled. "We all have to be up early."

*

Rona was downstairs ahead of Alice next morning as she wanted to have a private word with the Earl. She found him already at the table in the breakfast room. He looked up and smiled at her.

"Good morning," he said. "You are very punctual, and that's something I always appreciate in a woman."

"My father was furious if anyone kept him waiting," Rona replied, "so I am well trained at being on time."

"That reminds me, I haven't asked you who your father is, or where he lives."

Rona had helped herself to the eggs and bacon which were on the sideboard. As she put her plate down on the table, she said,

"A new world is opening its arms to me. I want to think about the future and not the past."

The Earl gave a rueful smile.

"In other words," he said, "you're telling me to mind my own business. Very well, because you're such a success with my daughter I'll try to do everything as you wish, and not be over curious."