Free An Unexpected Love by Barbara Cartland

only two miles away to the East of Rosbourne.”
    â€œOh, but Ravina, surely you already have an engagement? You promised to visit Sir Michael at the Priory for lunch today to discuss the alterations he is making to his home,” Dulcie intervened, trying to hide her exasperation at her young cousin’s lack of memory.
    â€œGoodness, I quite forgot,” Ravina exclaimed, her blue eyes wide with guilt. “I am so sorry, Sir Richard, but I have indeed promised to visit Sir Michael today. And perhaps you will be able to move a little faster around the houses without my company.”
    â€œI see. Well, if you will excuse me, Lady Ravina – Miss Allen, I must discover how my horse is this morning and then be on my way. I thank you for your hospitality and wish you both a pleasant luncheon at the Priory.”
    Dulcie pulled a little face, her mouth thinning.
    â€œOh, I shall not be going. I fear it is obvious that Sir Michael must have found my ideas for his house rather too countrified for his taste. He is anxious for Ravina’s views. He is a man of such taste and dignity and I am rather ashamed to have offered my little ideas for his beautiful home.”
    Sir Richard frowned.
    â€œI am sure that is not so, Miss Allen. I cannot believe that you do not have a perfect idea of what would be suitable for Sir Michael’s home.”
    Dulcie coloured and dropped a little curtsy at his compliment.
    Sir Richard bowed in return and glanced at Ravina, as if he was going to speak, then nodded and left the room.
    â€œAn interesting man,” Dulcie mused. “It will be good to have him as a neighbour.”
    â€œI am sure he is most admirable and obviously Papa must think so or he would not have offered him our hospitality when they met abroad. But I am afraid he has very old-fashioned views about today’s women. Never a conversation passes without him lecturing me about my wayward behaviour!”
    Dulcie sighed.
    The younger girl looked so spirited and full of life. Ravina had never known a day’s trouble or problems. She believed the world was full of goodness and that bad things only happened to bad people.
    Dulcie knew better. Her own father had been a dear but vague gentleman, a widower since she was born. He had lived for his books and the exotic orchids he had grown in his greenhouse and had been the bewildered victim of an unscrupulous man who had pushed him to invest all his money in non-existent stocks.
    When he died, Dulcie was sure it was of a broken heart, because his belief in the goodness of his fellow man had been shattered and she would have been destitute if Lord Ashley had not offered her a place to live and a job of work to do.
    But oh, how she longed for her own home once more to read the books she loved, to garden and sew and make a good home for someone dear to her.
    Now she watched as Ravina left the room and ran upstairs to change into her riding clothes.
    It was Ravina who would lunch at the Priory with Sir Michael.
    Ravina who would give him advice on the restoration of his lovely old house.
    Ravina who would play hostess at the ball he had promised to give for the local gentry.
    Dulcie blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. She refused to allow herself to be jealous of her cousin.
    After all, she had enough common sense to realise that a woman in her lowly position – neither a servant nor a proper family member – was not the type of person that the Sir Michaels of this world would find attractive.
    But oh, how she wished her dear father had never met that dreadful man who had ruined them.
    Ravina changed hurriedly into her dark amber riding costume. She fully intended to ride over to the Priory. It was too lovely a day to be shut inside a stuffy carriage.
    No, she wanted to gallop across the Downs, feel the wind in her face and the freedom of being completely on her own.
    She ran down the back staircase, through the side door and out to the