Love at the Tower by Barbara Cartland

morning. How beautiful you look today!”
    Robina felt herself blushing – there was something in the way that the Earl looked at her that unnerved her.
    He gazed deep into her eyes and held his gaze for longer than was strictly necessary.
    â€œCome, take Firefly to the stables and then join me in the drawing room. I shall be finished shortly and I can show you my plans.”
    He seemed as excited as a young child at Christmas and Robina admired the way he seemed to be so much in charge of everything.
    She settled Firefly into a comfortable stall and then made her way to the front of the Castle.
    It had been quite some years since she had last been inside and she was shocked at the deterioration she saw.
    The wallpaper in the hall was peeling and had damp patches.
    The Persian carpets were dirty and needed mending and she could smell an unpleasant mustiness.
    Many of the fabrics were faded and threadbare and the furniture looked as if it needed a good polish.
    She walked into the drawing room and it was not much better. The stones on the fireplace were chipped and there seemed to be loose floorboards wherever she trod.
    â€˜Goodness!’ she murmured.
    At that moment the Earl entered the room with the man who had been outside earlier.
    â€œYou will not mind if Mr. Garnett and I finish our business in here, do you? You may find it interesting to hear what we are discussing.”
    He spread out his plans over a large mahogany table and began to discuss with Mr. Garnett whether or not to remodel the drawing room.
    â€œThe fireplace is in great need of repair and I am debating whether or not to have it demolished and a new one installed. Also the French doors are rotting, perhaps they should be replaced with ordinary windows?”
    â€œOh, no!” cried Robina, “don’t you wish to be able to see into the garden? This room requires as much light as possible as it is East-facing. I would think that it only gets the sun in the morning and becomes dull by lunchtime.”
    The Earl looked at her in astonishment.
    â€œYou are quite correct and so, you believe that with normal windows, the room would feel gloomier?”
    â€œQuite so,” answered Robina confidently.
    â€œThen I will have new French windows built. And the fireplace, what would you suggest?”
    Robina walked over and stroked it.
    â€œThis is Portland stone, isn’t it, and very old? I don’t think that a modern fireplace would be at all suitable. A stonemason may be able to redesign it and make it good. It would be a pity to lose such an intriguing feature.”
    â€œThen that is exactly what I shall do,” declared the Earl, smiling at her.
    He returned to the builder and they discussed more improvements with Robina adding her own suggestions.
    After a while Mr. Garnett departed and the Earl rang for tea.
    â€œThank you so much,” he said, sitting down in the chair next to her, “your advice has been invaluable. I recall that you always had an eye for design, but I can see that your time in France has improved it.”
    Robina looked at him with a puzzled expression.
    â€œI cannot think what I did as a child to impress you – ”
    â€œYour designs at Christmas and for all our birthday parties! Do you not recall how my Mama used to get us children to make decorations for the Great Hall? Yours were always so much better than anyone else’s. You had a talent for it even back then.”
    She reddened and was grateful when Marriott, the Earl’s butler, brought in the tea.
    â€œNow,” said the Earl. “Tell me what you think of the designs for the Tower.”
    He brought out another massive sheet of paper and spread it out in front of her.
    It was a complex design that remodelled the Tower, whilst still being in keeping with the style of the house.
    â€œIt is very interesting,” she remarked after studying it, “but I notice that you have not planned to install