An Introduction to the Pink Collection. Barbara Cartland
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“Don’t,” he begged. “Don’t change it. I preferred the first version.”
“Well, so did I,” she admitted, “but it was the sort of thing Papa used to reprove me for saying. Now, let me do your fire. I shall need some paper – there should be some in one of the drawers of the table. Then I must have some small pieces of wood and matches with which to light the fire.”
“I suppose it is what I should have known,” the man answered ruefully. “But quite frankly I’m not used to making my own fire or cooking my own breakfast.”
“I promise that you won’t be hungry for very much longer.”
She had to chase some beetles out of the range before she could do anything else. But at last she got the fire burning and the water in the saucepan was hot enough to cook some eggs. The Earl had some provisions, coffee, a little milk, half a loaf of bread and a large pat of butter.
“I have an uneasy feeling that politeness dictates that I should ask you to share my breakfast,” he said. “But – forgive me, I’m too hungry to be polite.”
“I’m not hungry. I ate my breakfast before I left home.”
This was not quite true, because she had merely picked up some pieces of ham left over from her supper the night before. She was making her few remaining scraps of food last.
“I don’t think you can be real,” he said. “You’re a fairy creature who came by magic to save me from starving to death. What is it? What did I say?” He’d seen a sudden change in her face.
“Nothing,” she said hastily. His innocent remark had reminded her of the reality of her situation. “I just – thought of something. Go on with what you are saying.”
He raised his coffee cup to her in salute. “To the fairy who saved me. I’m very lucky to have found you.”
Rena smiled. “I thought actually I had found you. Whenever I’ve been here before the house has been completely empty, unless someone was thinking of becoming a tenant. Mind you, they always changed their mind as soon as they saw how much had to be done.”
“And now you expect me to do it,” the man remarked wryly. “But this place is too big and too expensive for me even to contemplate living in.”
Rena sighed.
“Oh, must you say that? I have often thought it would be very exciting if the house came alive again and was not left as it is now gradually to crumble until there is nothing left of it, or its beautiful gardens.”
“That’s a beautiful hope,” he said, “But there is one grave difficulty.”
“What is that?”
“I can say it in one word. Money! Money to make the house habitable. Money to employ gardeners, farmers, money for horses to fill the stables.”
“That would be wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to ride over your land, but as my father had a very small stipend, we could never afford a horse, much as we longed to have one.”
“Yes, of course, you said your father was the parson.”
“He was parson to the village and of course, this house, for over twenty years. Now when the bishop finds the right man another parson will prevail here and I will have to leave.”
There was a note of pain in her voice which the young man heard.
After a moment he said: “If I can afford it, I would do all those things. I would ask you to help me make this house as beautiful as it used to be, when it was first built.”
“Oh, how I would love that,” Rena answered. “But you speak as if it’s impossible!”
“It is. I’ve been abroad because I was serving in Her Majesty’s Navy. When my ship returned to England I learnt, to my astonishment, that they had discovered, after hunting high and low, that I was the only living relative of the last Earl who reigned here. I’m not sure how long ago that was.”
“He died ten years ago,” Rena said. “I know the search for his relatives has continued ever since, but people had given up hope.”
He sighed.
“At first it seemed part of a fairy story,” he explained. “Then I realised that what I had inherited was the title itself, and this house and estate. But as for money – not even a pittance.”
“You mean you have no money even though you are an Earl?” Rena asked. This was an entirely new idea to her.
“Not a penny. When I was told that this house came with the title, which had not been used for so long, I was, at first, thrilled at the thought of owning land and of course having a home of my own.”
He gave a rueful smile. “I didn’t think it was possible to be a poor Earl either. I know better now,” he added with a touch of bitterness.
“Surely you can sell some of the land, if nothing else,” Rena suggested.
“In this condition?”
“Can’t you put it to rights?”
“It would take thousands of pounds, and I have nothing, except what I saved out of my salary as a sailor which needless to say, was very little.
“Besides, it’s entailed. It has to go to the next Earl, who might be my son, but probably won’t be, since I can’t afford to marry. In fact, I can’t afford to do anything. I haven’t a penny to my name.”
“But you have,” breathed Rena in sudden excitement. “That’s what I came here to tell you!”
CHAPTER TWO
The Earl stared at Rena as though she had taken leave of her senses.
“What did you say?”
“You do have some money,” she said excitedly. “That’s why I’m here.” As he continued to regard her with bewilderment she asked. “Didn’t you wonder what I’m doing here?”
“Well – ”
“Do strange women pop up in your kitchen every day, cooking you breakfast with no questions asked?”
“I’ve never had a kitchen of my own before now,” he observed mildly, “so I’m a little vague about the normal procedure. But now you mention it, I suppose it is a little strange.”
“A little strange?” she squealed, indignant at his annoying composure.
“One of the advantages of being a sailor is that you become ready for the unexpected, what ever it may be. Hurricanes, mermaids, beautiful young women springing up through trapdoors – Her Majesty’s Navy is ready for anything.”
“I wish you would be serious,” she said severely.
“You’re right,” he said, nodding. “There are no trapdoors here, and you could hardly have come up through the flagstones could you?”
“You – ” her lips were twitching, and she hardly knew what to say.
“Yes?” He was suspiciously innocent.
“Nothing. When you can be serious I’ll tell you what I have to say?”
“I am immediately serious,” he declared, although the gleam in his eyes belied it. “Please tell me how you came to be in my house? Did you break in? Should I send for the law? No, no, I’m sorry – ” for she had risen in exasperation.
“Please sit down. I promise to behave like a sensible man.”
“You shouldn’t promise the impossible.”
“Oh dear! Dashed! I’m afraid you understand me all too well, Miss Colwell.”
She pressed her lips