The Saint and the Sinner by Barbara Cartland

tempted you!”
    His voice seemed to vibrate round the room. Then, as if he fancied himself a crusader defeated for the moment by the hordes of evil, he strode away.
    He crossed the hall, snatching his black hat from the footman who held it out to him before he passed through the front door and down the steps to where a carriage was waiting.
    “Hell’s bells!” Kitty exclaimed. “If you don’t want a drink after that – I do!”
    “He was creepy!” Caro exclaimed. “I feel as if he cursed me!”
    “He has cursed us all,” the Earl replied, “and most especially Pandora.”
    He looked at her questioningly as he spoke, but Pandora gave a little sigh of sheer relief.
    “He certainly will not want to marry me now.”
    “He is more likely to have you branded as a scarlet woman and flogged through the streets of Lindchester,” the Earl replied.
    “Did they really do things like that in the ‘bad old days’?” Kitty asked.
    “It happens today,” the Earl replied, “so look out!”
    “You’re trying to frighten me,” Kitty protested, “besides, except for my breeches and you, I’m almost respectable.”
    “‘Almost’ being the operative word,” the Earl said. “But Caro is right, we all need a drink. These dramatics before dinner are extremely fatiguing.”
    He walked towards the Salon and Pandora followed him.
    She felt a little shaken by what had occurred, and the fury and contempt in Prosper Witheridge’s voice had affected her, even though she told herself the only thing that really mattered was that she was free of him.
    There was now the worry of what her uncle and aunt would say, but she knew there was now no chance of Prosper forgiving her or, as he had intended, with the Bishop’s permission paying his addresses to her.
    He was extremely ambitious and there was no doubt that one day he might end up a Bishop, but not if he had a wife whose behaviour was scandalous, and that was how it would appear in the eyes of those who lived in Lindchester.
    ‘I do not care!’ Pandora thought bravely.
    They had no sooner reached the Salon where the rest of the house-party had already gathered than Sir Edward Trentham arrived with his house party.
    Pandora remembered when she saw him that he had acquired an Estate in the County just before she had left Chart.
    The previous owner had been a friend of her father’s, and now she remembered hearing that he had lost all his money at the gaming-tables. She thought Sir Edward must have been the winner.
    It was easy to guess by the effusive manner in which the actresses greeted him that he was not only rich but generous. They all kissed him, throwing their arms round his neck.
    Pandora saw that he was a man of about forty, somewhat flamboyantly dressed, as if he wished to appear younger than his age.
    “Delighted to see you in your rightful background, Norvin,” he said to the Earl. “I have never been here before. Damned impressive house! What are you going to do with it?”
    “Put up with it, I suppose!” the Earl replied. There was a shriek of laughter at this.
    “That cannot be much of a hardship,” Sir Edward said. “I would not mind taking it from you in a game of chance.”
    “Unfortunately, it is entailed,” the Earl replied, “but I assure you, my successor will get little more than the bare walls.”
    Pandora felt she could not have heard him aright. What did he mean? Why did he speak in such a manner of this wonderful house which in itself was a page of history?
    She wanted to ask for an explanation, but at that moment Sir Gilbert was beside her.
    “I intend to look after you this evening, little Pandora,” he said, “and I cannot tell you how much the thought delights me. “
    He took her hand as he spoke and raised it to his lips. Pandora felt a shudder go through her when his mouth touched her skin.
    She felt the same way, she thought, about Prosper Witheridge, and wondered why she had the misfortune to attract such horrible men.
    “I