Love Became Theirs (8 page)

Alice clapped her hands and gave a cry.

"Papa, you are not to be mean, and I will buy you a lovely present. And I'm going to learn to be
a woman of
distinction
, like Miss Johnson. And you will be very proud of me."

"Miss Johnson, I'm amazed," said the Earl. "How have you transformed this imp in so little time?"

"That's a secret," Rona answered, with a smile at Alice.

Peter Carlton had been listening to all this with interest. Now he spoke to the Earl.

"You know, old fellow, I think you're soon going to get the biggest shock of your life.

"If all shocks are as pleasant as this," said the Earl, "I'm going to look forward to them."

Lord Lancing's party was to stay with Monsieur Armand Thierre and his family in their elegant home on the Champs Elysees.

While Monsieur Thierre had no title he was one of the most influential men, not only in Paris but anywhere on the continent. He was an international banker of vast wealth and influence. He held no government post, but his quietly uttered words were heeded.

Neither he nor his wife displayed any dismay at the extra numbers added to the party, and greeted Peter like an old friend, as he was.

When the hostess bent to kiss Alice, she said in French, "It is very kind of you to have me here."

She said it slowly and carefully, just as Rona had taught her.

Madame Thierre was delighted.

Watching the Earl, Rona was pleased to see him gasp in pleasure and astonishment.

Footmen were already carrying their luggage upstairs. They followed and found themselves in a large elegant bedroom. It might have belonged to a Princess, Rona thought, looking around at the gilt mirrors and paintings on the ceiling.

For a moment she forgot her difficult situation in the happiness of being in Paris again. Then she set to work, directing the maid who was beginning to unpack.

For the first time Alice saw the clothes that had reposed in Rona's trunks, and her eyes widened at the fashionable garments.

"Oh, I like that so much," she said at a soft pink dress that appeared. "How lucky you are. I'm so tired of dressing like a schoolgirl."

"You won't be a schoolgirl very much longer," Rona promised her, reaching into the trunk for another dress, of delicate blue silk.

There was a knock on the door. Alice danced over and opened it, to find her father standing there.

"Oh, Papa, it's so beautiful." She took his hand and pulled him into the room. "It's such a lovely house, and what I've seen of Paris is lovely, and my room is lovely, and everything is lovely."

He laughed at her excitement.

"I'm glad you like it, darling. Do you think you can be on your best behaviour for a formal dinner tonight?" His eyes twinkled. "Or had we better not risk it?"

"Oh please Papa. I'll be good."

"It's up to Miss Johnson."

Rona looked up from one of her trunks with an evening gown in her hands. "Sir?"

"If Alice comes to dinner, you must come too, to keep an eye on her. And wear that pretty blue dress you're holding."

She had just been thinking regretfully that in her character as governess she could not risk the blue dress. The Earl seemed to read her thoughts for he said.

"These are very elegant people. You must do me credit. And so must Alice."

"Very well, my Lord."

"I'll collect you both just before the reception starts."

"Excuse me," said Rona, "but I don't think Alice is quite ready for a grown up reception. Let me bring her down just for the meal."

"Very well. Whatever you think is proper. Oh, and by the way – don't wear your glasses tonight."

Rona quietly agreed, and the Earl went out, smiling to himself, for he thought he had handled that well.

When they dressed for dinner Rona decided to take a small risk. The Earl had said Alice must do him credit, so Rona allowed her to wear the pink gown that she had admired. It was fashionable but simple, and Alice was delighted.

Rona dressed the girl's hair herself, taking it up but not allowing the style to be too elaborate.

"There," she said, at last. "Now you look what you are. A beautiful young girl, on the edge of discovering that the world is yours."

"Listen," said Alice. "I hear wheels."

Looking out of the window they saw the first carriages driving up to the front door.

"Can't we go to the reception?" Alice pleaded.

"No, but we can go out onto the landing and watch them arrive."

They slipped out and leaned over the rail to watch gorgeously dressed men and woman swirl into the hall.

"Paris fashions," Alice breathed ecstatically.

"We'll get some for you," Rona promised.

"And some for you. But you are already so gorgeous that all the men will be in love with you."

Rona laughed.

"Now, why would I want all the men to be in love with me? What would I do with them? What matters is to have
the one
in love with you."

"Which one?" Alice asked, puzzled.

"The one your own heart has chosen, because only his love counts. When you've found him you have found everything in life that is important. Sometimes you have to be patient, but when the time comes, you mustn't be afraid to take any risk for your love."

"Is that what you did?" Alice asked earnestly.

"I – we weren't talking about me."

"But perhaps we should," said a voice behind them.

They turned to see Peter Carlton there, regarding them with a look of wicked amusement in his eyes.

"Mr. Carlton," Rona said crossly, "that is the second time you have crept up on a private conversation that I was having with your niece. It is most impolite to eavesdrop."

"But that's how you learn the really interesting things," he said outrageously. "After all, as you say, she
is
my niece. Naturally I want to know whether you're teaching her the right lessons – about propriety, and so forth."

"But how would you recognise propriety?" she demanded. "Since I am quite certain that you don't know the difference."

"Yes, teacher. No, teacher," he said drolly. "I take it that I'm now at the bottom of the class."

He was teasing her she knew, but for some reason she was angry with him. She felt, unreasonably, that he had no right to seem so like Harlequin, and yet not
be
Harlequin.

"You can stay there and hear me give Alice a lesson in propriety right this minute," she said stiffly.

"What?" Alice asked in alarm.

"Alice, you must always remember that it is grossly improper to listen to people's private conversations. You must never do so, or associate with those who indulge in this reprehensible practice."

His eyes danced. "So now I'm reprehensible. Miss Johnson, have I done something to offend you?"

"I've just finished telling you that you have. Were you not listening?"

"Ah, but I didn't mean just now. I meant – in general, are you angry with me? If so, I'll abase myself in sackcloth and ashes."

"Please do not be absurd," she told him coolly.

"What are sackcloth and ashes?" Alice asked innocently.

"You will find them in the Bible," Rona told her. "We will study it until it's time to go down to dinner."

She swept her charge back into the bedroom, glad to escape Peter Carlton's troubling humour, and his equally troubling good looks. In his white tie and evening attire he looked far too handsome.

"Is Uncle Peter an improper person?" Alice enquired when they were alone.

"I'm beginning to think he is."

"Because of his ladies?"

"Alice, this is not a suitable topic of conversation. We will talk of something else, if you please."

"Never mind, we'll see one tonight," said Alice.

"One what?"

"One of his ladies. Papa told me all about it. There's a Russian Countess coming to dinner. But I don't understand how she can be a Countess when she isn't married to anyone."

"Russian titles are different from ours," Rona explained. "In Russia, if a man is a Count then so are his sons, and his daughters are Countesses."

"It sounds very confusing."

"I agree."

"Monsieur Thierre invited the Countess Rostoya at the last minute because Uncle Peter specially asked him to. Isn't that exciting?"

"Enthralling," Rona agreed.

An hour later the Earl came for them. Like Peter he was in a white tie and tails. He looked sturdier and more imposing than his brother-in-law, Rona decided, but less handsome.

Then she chided herself for that thought. Peter Carlton was nothing to her.

He wasn't even Harlequin.

Was he?

The Earl spent some time admiring his daughter, then he smiled at Rona.

"Thank you," he said. "You both look exactly as I'd hoped."

"Isn't Miss Johnson pretty, Papa?"

"Very pretty," said the Earl, smiling at Rona warmly. "I shall be the proudest man at the table."

"Has the Russian Countess arrived?" Alice asked eagerly.

"Alice, that's enough," said Rona sharply. "A well bred lady doesn't notice such things."

"What things?" the Earl wanted to know.

"I'm sorry, my Lord, but Alice is taking a most impertinent interest in Mr. Carlton and this Russian lady. I'm trying to make her realise that it is not at all 'the thing' to comment on other people in such a way."

"That's quite true," said the Earl, giving his daughter a wry look. "Still, I suppose it is fascinating. She's certainly very dashing, and Peter was at great pains to have her invited."

Alice threw Rona a triumphant look. "Is he madly in love with her, Papa?"

"I don't know about madly," said the Earl, "but he's certainly paying her a lot of attention. Shall we go, ladies?"

He offered them an arm each and they went out.

Rona knew she was looking her best in a gown of honey coloured silk trimmed with gold lace. Around her neck she wore a gilt chain, with a cameo.

As she descended the stairs several men in the hall looked up at her with admiration. Some of them pushed forward to meet her, and she wondered if she looked too fine for the position she was supposed to hold.

One man, though, did not even seem to notice her. Peter was deep in conversation with a black-haired woman who possessed a lush, startling beauty. Her mouth was full and ripe, and her eyes were so dark that it seemed as if they too were black.

She was making great play with her fan, but through the swishing movements Rona could see that Peter was holding her hand. She was looking up into his face (simpering, Rona thought in disgust), giving him the full power of her huge dark eyes. And he seemed entranced.

Monsieur Thierre greeted her with compliments about her own appearance and Alice's, and introduced his many offspring. First came Henri who was in his late twenties, then Marcel, a year younger. Two daughters, Marie and Agnes followed, then two more sons, Edouard and Jacques, and finally Cecile and Henriette, two girls of about Alice's age.

Jacques, a quiet, shy youth, was immediately taken with Alice, while Marcel and Henri were inclined to pay attention to Rona herself.

"And may I introduce some of my other guests?" said Monsieur Thierre. "Countess Emilia Rostoya, currently visiting Paris from St. Petersburg."

Now Rona saw the Countess at close quarters she could better study her flamboyant beauty. Her mouth was very wide, and her brilliant smiles showed gleaming white teeth.

To Rona there was something cruel about those smiles. It was as if the Countess was confident of her power to enslave any man.

There was no doubt about it. This woman was an adventuress.

There was a man with her, Count Alexei Rostoy, who turned out to be her brother. He was a big man with broad shoulders, black hair and a huge swirling moustache of the same colour. In fact, it was such a startling jet black that Rona could not help wondering if he had dyed it.

She found herself sitting next to him at dinner. To her relief he spoke good English, and seemed pleasant, if not very bright.

"That Peter, he's a devil," the Count said cheerfully. "He hadn't been in Paris for ten minutes before he was chasing my sister."

"Indeed?" Rona said politely.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he came here to find her."

"Do you live in Paris all the time?"

"Oh no! Emilia and I like to travel around. We are very cosmopolitan. Unfortunately we have expensive tastes, so I am looking for an heiress. Do you know any heiresses?"

Coming after Lord Robert's deviousness this frank approach was almost charming. Rona gave an involuntary little choke of laughter.

"You find me amusing?" asked the Count. "That is most distressing. I assure you, my dear young lady, that money is a most serious business."

"I agree," she said firmly.

"You see, in my own way, I am an honest man. You are a most beautiful woman. But, since you are earning your living, it follows that you have no money. Therefore I must say to you that while I might adore and worship you and while I might think you a goddess that no man could possibly resist – marriage between us is impossible."

She turned glassy eyes on him.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I sympathise with your disappointment, but is it not better for me to be frank?"

Rona's lips twitched. She was beginning to like him.

"I can't say I wasn't warned, can I?" she said.

"That is my object."

"So I would suppose. I would imagine, sir, that your life has been full of ladies complaining that they weren't warned in time."

"You are right," he said gravely. "It is better to be safe."

Their eyes met. At the same moment they both went into gales of laughter. Everyone at the table stopped to turn and look at them, smiling.

Monsieur Thierre was delighted to see his guests mixing so well, but Rona quickly checked herself, fearing lest the Earl should think she was setting his daughter an example of unladylike behaviour.

But the Earl only smiled at her quizzically. Peter, facing her across the table, also had a quizzical look on his face, but he wasn't smiling, and there was a darkness in his eyes. Then the Countess tapped his arm and he immediately returned his attention to her. After that he seemed oblivious to anything Rona said or did.