Free Love Became Theirs by Barbara Cartland

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?"