Love Drives In (13 page)

"Take me away," Dorina whispered. "I feel so ill."

A footman had seen what was happening and came towards them.

"Please give His Royal Highness my apologies," the Earl said. "As you can see, my companion is ill and I must leave with her."

"But you're nearly there," protested the footman. "Perhaps if you were to meet the Prince while the lady is cared for by others – "

She clung to him fiercely, saying, "Don't leave me. Please don't leave me."

"Never," he said fervently and rose with her in his arms.

He could see now that the Prince of Wales had observed him. Still holding Dorina's apparently fainting form, he managed to bow before hurrying away. The Prince inclined his head to signify that he understood his guest's predicament.

But when the Earl had gone he stared after him with a puzzled frown, until recalled to the present by a nudge from Lady Warwick.

Since his carriage was not due to arrive until the end of the performance, the Earl found a cab and laid Dorina gently inside. He got in beside her and the cab started to move. At once he tightened his arms, drawing her more closely to him.

"My dearest," he murmured. "My poor love. I'll soon have you home and safe."

She made a little contented sound and nestled against him. She was in heaven. She asked no more than this for the whole of her life.

"Dorina?" he said softly, making the word a question. "Dorina."

"Mmm?" she said happily.

"I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming this. You feel so good in my arms."

"Yes, it feels good," she sighed.

The sound of her sigh did something to him. Unable to stop himself, he tipped her chin up with his fingers and kissed her urgently.

Her love swept over her making her feel shameless, wanton and blissfully happy. Soon he would say the words that her heart longed to hear.

At last he wrenched his lips from hers and spoke in a shaking voice.

"We're home."

"What?" she asked in a daze.

"We've arrived. Shall I help you out?"

"Thank you," she said shakily. Her whole body felt weak from what had just happened.

He helped her into the house, saying,

"Come into the library and I'll pour you a brandy."

Dorina agreed gladly. She did not want to end this perfect time with him. "I'm feeling much better now," she admitted.

Henly brought in the decanter and the Earl muttered something to him before he left.

"Here you are," he said, handing her a glass. "Drink it and it will make you feel better."

She sipped and felt a fiery sensation go through her.

"What a pity that you could not meet His Royal Highness," he said. "I'm sure you would have enjoyed it very much."

"Yes, it's such a pity."

"Never mind. I'll introduce you to him another time."

"That would be delightful," she said mechanically.

But now they were in the light again and somehow their daytime selves got in the way.

"Why do you think you fainted?" he asked gently.

"Oh, it was only the heat," she replied.

"Strange. It didn't seem so very hot to me."

"Well – people react differently, don't they?"

"I would hate anything to happen to you."

Her heart turned over.

"I will be perfectly well after a good night's sleep."

"And that you will have as soon as you've seen the doctor."

"No, I don't need a doctor," Dorina said hastily.

There was a ring at the front door.

"That will be him now," said the Earl. I told Henly to send for him at once."

A moment later Henly announced,

"Dr. Jones, my Lord."

Dorina recognised the man who entered as the doctor who had attended the Earl on the night of the Alhambra.

He regarded her with interest, but she could see no sign of recognition.

"Miss Martin and I were at the Gaiety Theatre and she fainted just as we were about to meet the Prince of Wales," the Earl explained. "She says it was only the heat, but I would like to be sure it's nothing serious."

"My goodness," Dorina exclaimed with a laugh, "if every lady who fainted was presumed to be ill – "

His eyes twinkled, and Dorina laughed back at his delicate way of mentioning stays.

"And sometimes the restrictions are overdone," she said.

"The point is, how do you feel now, madam."

"Perfectly well, thank you. There was really no need for his Lordship to call you at all."

"He was naturally very concerned for you. I'll give you a mild sleeping draught that will ensure you have a good night's rest. Dissolve this powder in water and in the morning you'll be completely well."

He bowed and let the Earl show him out. When they were safely in the hall, Dr. Jones allowed himself to speak freely, for they were old friends.

"You managed it then?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"The lady. I can see why she was worth the trouble. Did she manage to come and visit you in your sick-room in spite of the dragon?"

"The dragon?"

"Your secretary. I met her outside your room when I was here last and she scared the life out of me. Terrifying woman. Looked grim and sounded grim."

"But that – " The earl stopped and gave a faint smile.

"Goodnight," he said. "Thank you for coming out so late."

He was still smiling as he returned to the library.

"What is it?" Dorina asked.

"Did you meet the doctor when he was last here?"

"Yes, briefly, outside your door."

"I had changed into my plainest clothes," she said with a touch of primness.

"I thought so. He didn't recognise you. He called my secretary 'the dragon'."

"And he didn't know it was me? Fancy that!"

"It's because you are two women," he continued. "You are my efficient companion and fellow engineer, who understands all my thoughts and actions. But you are also the most beautiful woman I have ever known. In fact I – "

He checked himself and added quickly,

"But I will say no more until you are quite recovered." He poured her a glass of cordial, saying as he gave it to her, "now take your powder and go to bed."

How she wished he had finished what he was going to say. But she knew the moment had passed. So she did as he said, slipping her arm through his as they walked up the stairs together.

He took her as far as her door, then gently disengaged himself.

"Goodnight, Dorina." His eyes were very tender.

"Goodnight, my Lord."

He watched until her door had closed behind her. Then he stood in silence for a long time, watching the door, almost as if he hoped it would open again.

At last he turned and went to his own room.

The sleeping draught soon took effect. When Dorina awoke next morning the sun was high in the sky and she knew that she had slept much longer than usual.

For some reason her dreams, and now her thoughts, were full of her parents and the love they had shared.

She had often wondered why her father had not remarried. Then he would have been less lonely and he might have had a son.

But from some of the things he had said to her, she realised that, because he had been so devoted to her mother and her mother to him, he would have thought it wrong or perhaps degrading to put anyone else in her place.

"Your mother was everything I thought of, dreamt of and wanted, since I was old enough to think women attractive," he had once told her. "The very first time I saw her, I fell in love and knew she was what I had been looking for all my life."

"I'm sure she felt the same about you," Dorina had said.

"It was love at first sight for both of us," he had replied. "We were blissfully happy, even though there were difficulties and troubles to be overcome."

He had looked thoughtful before he continued,

"I was busy trying to make my business the largest and the most important of its kind in England."

Dorina knew this was true and he was not boasting.

At the same time she thought how lonely he must often have felt when her mother was dead and he came home at night to an empty house.

'I should have been jealous,' she thought, 'if he'd had a son whom he loved more than me. At the same time the weight must have crushed him, and eventually became too much for him.'

If there had been a soft loving wife to come home to, then perhaps he would not have worked as he often did, all through the night and gobbled down skimpy meals.

'He would have done it for her, but for nobody else," she thought.

The love which so far she had not encountered.

Men had paid her compliments.

Men had tried to kiss her but, because she was always on the move, no sooner had she made friends with a family in Italy, her father would ask her to move on to some other country whose language she had not yet learnt.

She wanted to weep She wanted to reach out and put back the years and stay with him rather than go abroad.

But now it was too late.

'At least they are together,' she thought. 'And that is the only way they could be truly happy.'

She wondered why, just at this moment, she was haunted by thoughts of the love that her parents had shared.

Then she saw the Earl's face in her mind, his delightful smile. She heard the gentle note in his voice that he seemed to keep just for her.

And she knew why her mind and her heart were filled with thoughts of love.

It seemed to her now that the world was a different place. Nothing was the same since the Earl's kiss.

She felt as if his lips were still touching hers and that strange feeling was still moving in her heart.

"This is love," she told herself. "I have fallen in love with him. It wasn't a wise thing to do, but that no longer matters. It is done."

She lay thinking of the wonder of the Earl's kiss and how much it had meant to her even though she could not put it into words.

'If this is love,' she thought, 'it is even more wonderful than I expected it to be.'

He had kissed her, and paid her compliments, but he had said nothing that committed him to her as she felt committed to him.

And yet, surely, he had come to the verge of declaring his love last night.

'Perhaps it's as well,' she thought. 'First I must go to Birmingham, and sort matters out there. Then I can return and tell him everything about myself. Or can I return?'

In Birmingham everything would change. The people who worked for her father would be aware for the first time that he was no longer with them, and that she had taken his place.

It would mean leaving her work here, leaving the Earl, perhaps for ever. For when he knew the truth, perhaps he would no longer care for her.

But in truth, how much did he really care? He was a man who had always taken love lightly.

'Easy come, easy go' she thought. 'Perhaps, for all his words about understanding his mind, I am just a passing fancy to him.'

She made a sudden decision. She would tell him everything today. The thought lightened her heart.

Her maid entered with her breakfast.

"It's a lovely day, miss," she said chattily. "The master told us to let you sleep late."

"That was kind of him. What time is it?"

"Past ten o'clock, miss."

"Goodness! I must eat quickly and get to work. How is his Lordship this morning?"

"He's gone away, miss. He asked me to give you this when you woke."

Hurriedly she opened the letter, and read,

My dear Dorina,

How sorry I am to leave before you woke, but I have just received a message from my mother, asking me to visit her. She is having some problems with my young sister Celia, and wants me to play the heavy-handed older brother.

I don't believe that anything is truly amiss. Celia is a delightful girl, although a little wilful. But I suppose I must attend and set Mama's mind at rest. It will also give me the chance to discuss another matter of importance with her.