The Saint and the Sinner by Barbara Cartland Page B

taken round – the huge peaches which she remembered as a child, and great bunches of muscat grapes – the décolletages of the actresses seemed even lower than when they had shocked Prosper Witheridge.
    When they bent forward to shout across the table, Pandora blushed to see what they revealed, and she was thankful that her own gown with its short sleeves was cut discreetly and her appearance was unlikely to offend anyone.
    At the same time, she thought she must look very plain and unattractive in contrast.
    ‘A country sparrow,’ she thought to herself with a smile, ‘mixed up with exotic birds-of-Paradise:
    She must have smiled at her own thoughts, because the Earl, turning to her for almost the first time since they had sat down to dinner, asked,
    “What is amusing you?”
    “I was not really amused,” Pandora answered, “I was just thinking that I was a little out-of-place amongst such colourful ladies.”
    “It was your own choice.”
    He spoke harshly.
    “I am not complaining,” Pandora said quickly. “You must not think that, when you have been so kind. It is just that this is so very different from the dinner-parties at the Palace.”
    “I should hope so!” the Earl remarked.
    “We used to have lovely parties at the Vicarage when we lived there,” Pandora said. “Papa knew how to make people laugh, and Mama loved entertaining when we could afford it.”
    “Were you very poor?” the Earl questioned.
    “We had to save every penny so that Papa and Mama could have horses,” Pandora answered.
    She was remembering that it was those same horses that had taken her father and mother from her, and for a moment a shadow darkened her eyes.
    She found that the Earl was watching her.
    “Have I many more relations like you?” he enquired.
    “Most of them are old and rather stuffy,” Pandora admitted, “and I have not seen any of the more interesting ones since Grandpapa gave up entertaining.”
    “When was that?”
    “After Waterloo, when Uncle George was killed.”
    “A very fortunate occurrence, as far as I was concerned.”
    “I cannot imagine anything more fortunate or lucky for anyone than to inherit this house,” Pandora said quietly, “and to realise you are the head of a family that has existed for so many generations.”
    “And of course you expect me to make a commendable head and embellish the family name,” the Earl said, and now there was no doubt that he was jeering at her.
    “Why should you want to do anything else,” Pandora asked, “especially when you have been so lucky?”
    He stared at her in what she thought was surprise, and at that moment there was a shriek from Hettie at the other end of the table.
    The gentleman sitting on her left had inadvertently, or drunkenly, upset a glass of wine into her lap.
    “You stupid bastard!” she exclaimed furiously, and picking up the china dessert-plate which was in front of her she broke it over his head.
    There was a roar of laughter from everyone round the table and cries of,
    “Serves him right!” “Teach him to behave better, Hettie”
    Pandora drew in her breath.
    “That was the pink Sevres!” she said almost to herself. “Mama always warned the servants to be especially careful with it.”
    She spoke in a very low voice, but the Earl heard her.
    He bent towards her.
    “Go to bed, Pandora,” he said. “Do not say goodnight, just leave the room without making a fuss.”
    She looked at him, wide-eyed, and was prepared to protest that she wanted to stay, but there was an air of authority about him that she had not noticed before.
    “Good-night, Cousin Norvin,” she said quietly, “and thank you for being so very kind to me.”

Chapter Three
    “I’m not – tired! I don’t – want to – go to – bed!”
    Kitty clung to the newel at the turn of the banister as she spoke, but the Earl disengaged her fingers and half-carried, half-pulled her up the stairs.
    Like the rest of the party, Kitty was very drunk.
    They had