The Keys of Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

shame of her true identity being publicly exposed, took a deep breath.
    â€œ Yes , Eddie, I will.”
    Eddie raised her hand to his lips with a wry smile.
    She stared over his head at the sea, which seemed as calm and cold as a glacier.
    There was no way out of it.
    Miss Harrietta Reed, pianist, would be making one last appearance with the Eddie Bragg orchestra!

CHAPTER FOUR
    Nanny listened in dismay to Henrietta’s idea that they accompany the orchestra to Merebury.
    â€œWe should be on the train to London,” she wailed. “We could be home in Lushwood by tomorrow night.”
    â€œBut I-I promised Eddie I would help him this one last time,” cried Henrietta desperately.
    She did not dare tell Nanny about Eddie’s threat of blackmail or her own uneasy desire to meet the Duke.
    â€œSuppose there was someone at this Merebury ball who recognised you,” persisted Nanny. “Have you thought of the hignomy ?”
    Henrietta stared at her until she realised what the old lady meant by that last word.
    â€œThere won’t be any ignominy, Nanny. Nobody, not even you, would recognise me by the time Eddie and his make-up artist have finished with me.”
    â€œI recognised you alright in that scandalous dress you wore. If you were found out you’d never find yourself a husband not the one you’d want, anyway.”
    â€˜I think I know the one I want,’ came the rush of words through Henrietta’s mind.
    She had had so many suitors and wanted none of them. Now she was to meet the one man in the world she was strangely convinced she could love and and he was beyond her forever.
    He was more or less engaged to another and even if he had not been, he was most unlikely to be interested in her alter ego Harrietta Reed, piano player with a somewhat risqué New York orchestra.
    Behind her Nanny continued grumbling.
    â€œYour father left you in my tender care and I have already let you do more than I should!”
    â€œYou said you were proud of my piano playing.”
    â€œI was,” Nanny acceded. “But how am I going to be Mrs. Poody with people of real quality about!”
    Henrietta gave her a quick hug.
    â€œBut you are real quality, too, Nanny!”
    â€œGo on with you!” growled Nanny.
    It was to be the turning point in the discussion and a short time later Nanny agreed to go to Merebury Court.
    â€œBut only one more performance, mind!”
    â€œPromise!” said Henrietta with the utmost sincerity.
    She had no wish to stay there for too long, as she had no desire to witness the courtship of Romany Foss and the Duke develop under her very eyes.
    *
    The following morning a mist rose out of the sea and settled like a shroud over The Boston Queen .
    When Henrietta took a stroll on deck after breakfast she could hardly see anything in front of her and the ship seemed almost becalmed.
    She sighed and gazed into the mist.
    Not far ahead lay England.
    England and the Duke, with whom she was already half in love.
    She felt as if she was sailing towards her destiny.
    She turned as she heard footsteps approach.
    â€œWho’s there?” someone called out nervously.
    A hand reached out of the mist, groping at the air as if for support. Romany Foss stumbled after it and she gave a little shriek of relief when she saw Henrietta.
    â€œThank goodness! I heard someone coming and I thought supposing it’s that murderer from Steerage!”
    â€œIt was unlikely to be him. He’s locked up and the man he stabbed didn’t die, so he’s not quite a murderer.”
    Romany looked about her with a shudder.
    â€œI shall be so very pleased to reach the sanctuary of Merebury Court,” she sighed. “I hear you are going to be there too with the orchestra.”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œOf course, you will excuse me for not mingling with you once we arrive. Lady Butterclere has told me that it would not be