An Introduction to the Pink Collection Read Free Page B

won’t be hungry for very much longer.”
    She had to chase some beetles out of the range before she could do anything else. But at last she got the fire burning and the water in the saucepan was hot enough to cook some eggs. The Earl had some provisions, coffee, a little milk, half a loaf of bread and a large pat of butter.
    â€œI have an uneasy feeling that politeness dictates that I should ask you to share my breakfast,” he said. “But – forgive me, I’m too hungry to be polite.”
    â€œI’m not hungry. I ate my breakfast before I left home.”
    This was not quite true, because she had merely picked up some pieces of ham left over from her supper the night before. She was making her few remaining scraps of food last.
    â€œI don’t think you can be real,” he said. “You’re a fairy creature who came by magic to save me from starving to death. What is it? What did I say?” He’d seen a sudden change in her face.
    â€œNothing,” she said hastily. His innocent remark had reminded her of the reality of her situation. “I just – thought of something. Go on with what you are saying.”
    He raised his coffee cup to her in salute. “To the fairy who saved me. I’m very lucky to have found you.”
    Rena smiled. “I thought actually I had found you. Whenever I’ve been here before the house has been completely empty, unless someone was thinking of becoming a tenant. Mind you, they always changed their mind as soon as they saw how much had to be done.”
    â€œAnd now you expect me to do it,” the man remarked wryly. “But this place is too big and too expensive for me even to contemplate living in.”
    Rena sighed.
    â€œOh, must you say that? I have often thought it would be very exciting if the house came alive again and was not left as it is now gradually to crumble until there is nothing left of it, or its beautiful gardens.”
    â€œThat’s a beautiful hope,” he said, “But there is one grave difficulty.”
    â€œWhat is that?”
    â€œI can say it in one word. Money! Money to make the house habitable. Money to employ gardeners, farmers, money for horses to fill the stables.”
    â€œThat would be wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to ride over your land, but as my father had a very small stipend, we could never afford a horse, much as we longed to have one.”
    â€œYes, of course, you said your father was the parson.”
    â€œHe was parson to the village and of course, this house, for over twenty years. Now when the bishop finds the right man another parson will prevail here and I will have to leave.”
    There was a note of pain in her voice which the young man heard.
    After a moment he said: “If I can afford it, I would do all those things. I would ask you to help me make this house as beautiful as it used to be, when it was first built.”
    â€œOh, how I would love that,” Rena answered. “But you speak as if it’s impossible!”
    â€œIt is. I’ve been abroad because I was serving in Her Majesty’s Navy. When my ship returned to England I learnt, to my astonishment, that they had discovered, after hunting high and low, that I was the only living relative of the last Earl who reigned here. I’m not sure how long ago that was.”
    â€œHe died ten years ago,” Rena said. “I know the search for his relatives has continued ever since, but people had given up hope.”
    He sighed.
    â€œAt first it seemed part of a fairy story,” he explained. “Then I realised that what I had inherited was the title itself, and this house and estate. But as for money – not even a pittance.”
    â€œYou mean you have no money even though you are an Earl?” Rena asked. This was an entirely new idea to her.
    â€œNot a penny. When I was told that this house came with the title, which had not