Love in the Highlands by Barbara Cartland Page A

dignitaries, and the relations. There were six of them, all elderly and thrilled be invited to Elswick Towers.
    It was the Mayor's wife who told Lavina about Lord Elswick's kindness to them.
    "They are really his pensioners, for he houses them and pays most of their bills," she confided. "Perhaps he did not tell you this, because he prefers people not to know of his kind actions."
    "I'm beginning to understand that," Lavina murmured.
    Of course she knew that his kindness had two edges. In return for his generosity he expected his relatives to be available when he needed them. But it was not lost on her that they all seemed genuinely fond of him, and spoke to him without fear.
    One old lady in particular detained the Marquis with a long, detailed account of some domestic problem. He listened with every sign of interest, promised to send somebody to see to it and never once betrayed impatience.
    Lavina grew even more curious about this man to whom she was officially betrothed.
    At dinner she was seated beside him, and was made the recipient of many flattering attentions. Tomorrow morning, she guessed, the news would be spread far and wide, and all the time she and her Papa would be a little safer.
    And yet, there was something very strange about it all.
    The Earl was enjoying himself, having discovered two kindred spirits in the Mayor and his wife. They were both enthusiastic sailors, and as the Earl owned a yacht moored at Tilbury, and liked nothing better than to cruise in her, they were all soon deep in eager discussion.
    "I've just had The Mermaid completely refitted," he said, "and, of course, redecorated."
    "The Mermaid," sighed one of the lady relatives. "Such a lovely name!"
    "We would normally have gone cruising in her this summer," the Earl explained, "but of course all plans are now in a state of abeyance."
    "A cruise sounds an excellent idea," the Marquis said. "Perhaps we should think about it."
    The talk drifted to other things. The vicar's wife wanted to know about the Queen. The Earl would have preferred not to discuss a subject that now filled him with dread, but he obliged with some innocent gossip about Her Majesty.
    "Do you travel with her?" the Mayor asked.
    "I have been to Osborne, on the Isle of Wight in attendance on Her Majesty," he replied. "But she travels very little, just Osborne, and Balmoral in Scotland."
    "Scotland is such a beautiful place," sighed the vicar.
    The Earl mentioned that he had a cousin who lived in Scotland, near Ballater, and for a while the talk was of the beauties of Scotland.
    At last the Marquis rose to his feet.
    But before he could speak the butler entered and murmured something in his ear. Lavina heard him say, "Send him in here."
    When the butler had left, the Marquis addressed Lord Ringwood.
    "The Queen's messenger has arrived for you."
    The Earl blanched and seemed unable to speak.
    Lavina, thinking quickly, said,
    "I wonder what he can possibly want."
    "I dare say you're used to being summoned to assist Her Majesty on important matters of state," said the vicar's wife breathlessly.
    "Oh yes," said the Earl faintly.
    "And it must be very urgent," pursued that lady, "to make him come here so late."
    "Doubtless," the Earl managed to say.
    "Perhaps it's a matter of national interest," she finished ecstatically.
    This was so close to the truth that the Earl cast her a glance of horror, which made the vicar murmur in his wife's ear that this was really too worldly a discussion for such as themselves.
    Both Lavina and her father recognised Sir Richard Peyton the man who entered the room. He was, as the Earl had called him, "a pale stick of a man", with no humour.
    The Marquis received him graciously.
    "You're just in time to join a toast to my bride," he said. "Lavina, my dear," he took her hand, raising her to her feet. "Was ever a man so fortunate?"
    He handed Sir Richard a glass that a footman had filled.
    "To Lady Lavina Ringwood, the future Marchioness of Elswick."
    This