Free 101. A Call of Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

I last heard from him, his ship was making its way slowly from Africa to India and he expects to be in Calcutta when we arrive or just after. When, of course, the balloon will go up,” Lord Kenington said with satisfaction.
    They laughed, but he knew that the Countess would not now suspect him of travelling in a most unconventional way, which she would doubtless have done otherwise.
    When Aisha joined them, they were very charming to her, but made no reference to her being engaged.
    Only when the men went for a walk on deck after dinner and Aisha was alone with the Countess did she ask,
    “Have you known Lord Kenington for long?”
    Aisha shook her head.
    “No, but my family knows his family.”
    “Oh, I understand. So this is the first time you have been alone with Lord Kenington.”
    Aisha thought it was a good policy to agree to this and she nodded her head.
    “Tell me what you make of him.” “I think he is very clever and most interesting.” “That is what I have always thought as well and, of course, very handsome,” the Countess added.
    She looked at her in a sideways manner as she said the last word and then Aisha parried,
    “So are all the family. My father has often said that they are the best-looking family he has ever known.”
    She was making this up, but she knew the Countess was impressed.
    Then they talked about clothes and the Countess had a great deal to say about the French couturiers being so much better than the English.
    When the men joined them, Lord Kenington said,
    “I have no intention of staying up late and actually I have a great deal of work to do while I am on board. So you must forgive me if I retire early.”
    “And I must do so too,” Aisha added, “not because I have work to do, but because I want to finish the books I am reading on India.”
    “That is very wise of you,” the Countess said. “I always read about the place I am going to visit so that I can be intelligent with the locals when I arrive.”
    “I hope not to make too many mistakes in India.” “You are not thinking of living in India, are you?” the Earl asked Aisha.
    “No, of course not. I want to live in England, which I love and have good horses to ride.”
    This started a conversation on Lord Kenington’s horses and Aisha realised she must keep out of it in case she made a wrong remark.
    They then retired having said goodnight.
    The Earl and the Countess fortunately had cabins on the other side of the ship.
    “I think you came through that ordeal with flying colours,” Lord Kenington confided to Aisha.
    “I do hope so. The Countess was inquisitive about when we had met, but I said that my family knew yours and she was satisfied with that.”
    Lord Kenington laughed.
    “I assure you she is one of the most gossipy women in England, but I believe that we have prevented her from thinking what she was longing to think about you and me.”
    “Why should she want to make trouble?” “I just don’t think that such women really intend to make trouble, but they like to be know-alls and would always suspect other women of doing more outrageous things than they would venture to do themselves.”
    Aisha grinned.
    “I don’t believe a word of that. I suggest that if, after I leave you in Calcutta, you meet them perhaps later on in the year, you should say that after all my engagement to Jack is broken off.”
    “I hope I don’t have to lie unnecessarily. I have had to protect you from Watkins and now from the Dartwoods. I wonder what the third crisis will be.”
    Aisha gave a cry.
    “Oh, don’t think anything quite so horrible! I was so terrified when you first saved me and rather frightened tonight that I would make a mistake. I think if we pray fervently that we will be safe, and that is the right word for it, for as long as we are in India.”
    “Of course we will,” he agreed. “But you must still remember that I am looking forward to meeting your father and I would only hope that he does not