Love Drives In (5 page)

The Earl got out first and turned back to assist Dorina. She felt the warmth of his hands holding her, the sense of leashed power. Then he released her.

The restaurant was small, almost hidden away, but discreetly luxurious. The building was decorated with models of ships and fish, and the door through which they entered was graced with a sea serpent overhead.

They were shown to a table in an alcove that looked out directly on to the River Thames.

He ordered their dinner and they settled down to talk. At first they discussed steam pressure and other engineering details, but gradually Dorina worked him round to talking about himself.

"Everyone thought," he said, "that because my father had a title and I inherited it, that I should merely be a social figure with no particular interest other than ballrooms and race meetings."

Dorina laughed.

"Then they certainly made a mistake," she said.

"And I intend to do more," he replied. "I like inventing things. It pleases me to think a train is going faster because I have thought of new improvements, which those who invented it did not think of.

"It's what I've wanted to do ever since I could remember. So far I have succeeded a little, but not as much as I want. There's still much to do with great new inventions still to come."

"You mean, like the horseless carriage?" Dorina asked. "So many of your letters are from people wanting to know about it, that it must be on the horizon."

"So people say," he agreed. "But just because everyone's talking about it doesn't mean it's about to happen. Of course I'm researching it, but so are a lot of others."

"So what will you say to those people who are asking you about it?" she wanted to know. "It's time we answered those letters."

"You're right. I'll write back, putting them off."

"It won't hurt them to wait a little longer. What would really be damaging would be to announce a new product before it's ready. How my competitors would laugh at that!"

She had to admit that he was right. At the same time she felt rather disappointed that he would not tell her more.

"Now, that's enough about business," he said. "I want to talk about you."

For a moment she was wildly tempted. She was so happy here talking with him. It felt so right, so natural. They could talk some more, and grow closer –

Then warning bells sounded in her head. This was a luxury she must not allow herself. Not yet.

"I think that must wait until another day," she replied.

The Earl was silent for a moment. He seemed to be looking into the distance, as though coming out of a dream.

"The time seems to have rushed past," he said, "but of course we must talk again. I can honestly say I have enjoyed this evening enormously, far more than if I were dancing rather aimlessly round a polished floor with a young woman in my arms who only giggled when I spoke to her."

"Now you are being unkind," Dorina said. "I'm certain that unless you frightened her, she would have had a great deal to say. After all, you are who you are."

"Which is sometimes a disadvantage," the Earl retorted. "One is never quite certain if people are being complimentary to you as a person, or polishing up your title simply because it is something they would like themselves."

"I think if you have earned it," Dorina said, "it is something of which one should be very proud."

"Are you saying that to please me or because you really think so?" the Earl asked unexpectedly.

Dorina laughed.

"I really do think so, and it's a great thing that, in this country at least, a man is honoured as he deserves. That's how your father earned his title."

"And I have only inherited it," the Earl replied.

"Yes," Dorina agreed, "but you've worked hard to keep your father's legacy alive."

It was late when they finally left the restaurant.

They were almost the last to leave. They had been talking so earnestly that the time seemed to slip by unnoticed.

"I find you fascinating," the Earl said, "and I want to go on talking and arguing with you until the morning sun breaks through."

"Then we would be very tired all day," Dorina said. "Come along we must go home."

The Earl paid the bill and they drove back to the house. Not a word was spoken on the journey home, but Dorina could sense him smiling at her in the darkness of the carriage.

When they were in the hall, Dorina said,

"Thank you, thank you for a most delightful evening. I enjoyed every moment of it."

There was a soft sound and a small creature brushed past her.

"It's Tiggy," the Earl said, picking up the cat. "Hallo, old fellow."

"How are your whiskers these days?" Dorina asked, scratching the tabby head.

"Ah, they've told you about that?" the Earl said with a grin. "Yes, he's an old soldier. He knows how to cope with my funny ways."

Goodnight, my Lord," she said hurriedly. "And thank you again."

She went upstairs without looking back at him.

Next morning she hastened down to breakfast and then to her office.

There was no sign of the Earl, but she refused to admit to herself that she was disappointed.

She had lain awake thinking of him before falling asleep and dreaming of him. But that did not mean that she was in love, she assured herself. It was a natural reaction to a pleasant evening out with a charming man.

As usual there were a great number of letters which had arrived by the morning post.

Her mind was still elsewhere as she opened the first letter, and she scarcely noticed that the writing paper was rich and engraved not only with the address, but with a very important crest.

The letter read,

Darling Gerald,

I miss you terribly and long to be with you. You always
say such wonderful things to me, and I lie awake at night
thinking how happy we were that magical evening.

It is very boring being here in the country, with
everyone talking about horses and racing, when I want to be
with you.

I love you, I love you, and as soon as I am back in
London I want you to tell me that you really love me.

Bless you and a thousand kisses,

Elsie.

She wondered who Elsie was. It seemed strange for a young girl to write in such a way.

Perhaps it was an older woman.

Yes, she wrote like a woman of experience and the Earl evidently had a relationship with her that enabled her to write to him in such passionate terms.

Was this the reason why he seemed indifferent to virtuous young ladies of society? Because he enjoyed liaisons with women whose virtue was less outstanding?

The thought saddened her. But, after all, what did she know about him?

She put the letter discreetly with the others, and left it for him.

'If only he would return,' she thought. 'I would so like to talk to him.'

But when the butler, whom she had discovered was called Henly, brought in her morning coffee he told her that his Lordship would be out all day.

In fact, he did return in the afternoon, but only to go straight upstairs to dress for an evening out. Just before he departed again, he looked in on her with a smile.

"Are you managing all right?" he asked. "Good – I knew you could cope."

Then he was gone, without giving her a chance to reply.

She ate a lonely supper and retired early, feeling unhappy.

Next morning there was no sign of him when she started work and Henly confided that he had returned very late last night.

As she entered he turned from where he was standing at the window.

"I have your letters for you," she said as she put them down on his desk.

She had arranged them with the private ones on the bottom.

Two of the letters were from English hostesses who wanted him to dine with them.

The third was the letter she had read the previous day.

To her surprise the Earl took this last letter, read it, then tore it into pieces and threw them into the waste-paper basket.

Dorina longed to ask him why he had not wished to answer the woman who had written with such desperate passion.

But she thought it best not to pry, which undoubtedly she had done by reading his very personal letter.

He was very businesslike that afternoon, and finished work early. He was giving a dinner party that evening.

Dorina wondered if Elsie would be there, sitting beside him, laughing with him.

Perhaps not, since he had torn up her letter.

But there would be many other women.

"Enjoy your party," she said as she left him. "But don't forget you're leaving early tomorrow morning to go to the races."

"I suppose I'll have to go," the Earl sighed. "I have a horse running in the third race. But there's really so much for me to see to here that I ought to stay. Yes I must go. I have friends expecting me."

She retired early and tried to sleep, but she could not help being intensely aware of the noise of merriment coming up from the Earl's dinner party below.

She pictured him there, surrounded by beautiful women. Then she dived under the bedclothes and pulled the pillow over her head.

By the time Dorina reached her office the following morning, the Earl had left the house.

She wished she could have gone with him to the races.

'He is so different from the other men I have met,' she told herself.

But she did not want to explain the difference even to herself.

It was late in the afternoon and she was beginning to think she had finished all the work she had to do, when to her surprise, one of the footmen announced,

"A gentleman to see you, Miss Martin."

She looked up and saw it was Mr. Johnson.

She gave a cry of surprise and exclaimed,

"I was not expecting you. How wonderful to see you. Do tell me what you are doing here."

"I have come," Mr. Johnson began, "with extremely good news. In fact you will be astonished at what I have to tell you."

Dorina looked surprised and quickly sat down beside him.

"Tell me," she said eagerly.

"We've done it!" Mr. Johnson said.

"Done what?" Dorina asked.

"The horseless carriage," was his astounding reply. "We've created one and it works."

Dorina drew in her breath.

Then as Mr. Johnson finished speaking, she clasped her hands together and bent towards him.

"I cannot believe what I am hearing!" she exclaimed.

"It's been a very hard job, to make a four-wheeled vehicle which will run on the roads and be propelled by gasoline. But we've done it.

"I received your letter on the very same day that we knew we had a success. It was like an omen. I knew I had to come and see you at once.

"Now that you know, I beg you to be careful. You have a rival here in this house. He must not guess how far advanced we are, in case it inspires him to complete his own work."

"I don't think there's much danger of that," Dorina said. "His project isn't very far advanced."

To her surprise, his face changed.

"On the contrary, he – "

"He what?" Dorina asked, beginning to feel uneasy.

"I suppose he has kept it from you, as he's kept it from most of the country. But the Earl's project is almost at the point of success."

Dorina stared.

"Surely not?"

"I learnt about it because a man who had worked for the Earl came to work for us because he was dismissed, he thought unfairly, and therefore came and told us everything."

Dorina drew in her breath.

"Tell me more," she said. "I want to know every detail."

"Yes," Dorina said quietly. "He has."

He had refused even to confide in her, she realised.

She had thought they were drawing close, but all the time she had been nothing but an employee, to be told exactly what suited him and no more.