The Island of Love (Camfield Series No. 15) Read Free

asked.
    “As soon as possible!” Heloise replied.
    Then she hesitated.
    “What is it?” Lydia enquired.
    “I have just remembered that the Earl will be in mourning for another three months.”
    “Of course!” Lydia exclaimed. “I had forgotten that too.”
    The Earl’s mother, who had never been very strong and therefore was seldom seen at any social function, had died nine months ago.
    She had long been bedridden and therefore her passing had gone almost unnoticed, except formally in the social columns of the newspapers.
    Thinking back now, Lydia remembered that her funeral had been private and had taken place in the small Church in the grounds of Royston Park.
    Her father had not attended although he had instructed her to send a wreath.
    It had been made up by the gardeners and a carriage had carried it to Royston Abbey early on the morning of the funeral.
    Lydia had made the arrangements, then had not thought about it again.
    Now she was aware that it would be considered incorrect for the Earl to marry until a year had passed.
    That meant he could be married in April, as she said to her sister.
    “A Spring bride! What could be more perfect!” Heloise exclaimed. “I must have a gown that makes everybody think of Spring, and if our family tiara is not big enough, I can borrow one of the Earl’s. The Royston diamonds are famous!”
    She drew in a deep breath as she said:
    “They have whole sets each of sapphires, rubies and emeralds! Lady Burton was always talking about them and saying that any woman would give her right arm to possess such jewels!”
    “You are so lovely that you have no need of a great number of diamonds,” Lydia said.
    “You must be mad!” Heloise contradicted. “One of the reasons why I want to marry the Earl is because his jewels are so marvellous.”
    It flashed through Lydia’s mind that she herself would rather have his horses.
    Then as if she could not prevent herself asking the question again she said:
    “Are you sure you really love the Earl, Heloise? I feel certain that it would be impossible to be married to any man unless one loved him.”
    “You are talking utter nonsense!” Heloise snapped. “Quite frankly I think love and all that kissing and messing about is the sort of thing only servants do!” “But ... Heloise!” Lydia exclaimed in dismay. She knew as she spoke that when she had heard about the Earl’s love-affairs and married women spoke of him, there was a passionate look in their eyes.
    She had even heard one of them say to another when she thought nobody else was listening:
    “Hunter is a fantastic dream-lover! You have no idea how lucky I am!”
    The words had been spoken in her father’s house after dinner.
    Because they were short-staffed Lydia had been carrying a coffee-cup from a side-table in the Drawing-Room where the footmen had overlooked it.
    She was passing behind the sofa on which two ladies were sitting when she heard one of them mention the Earl.
    Hearing the Earl’s name always meant something to her because she was so interested in him. So she instinctively stopped to listen.
    She was behind them and they had no idea she was there as the other lady replied:
    “You are so lucky, Daisy. I have always thought the Earl is one of the most attractive men I have ever seen in my life, but alas, he has never looked in my direction.”
    “I would scratch your eyes out if he did!” Daisy answered. “I am crazily, wildly infatuated by him, and it is only with the greatest difficulty that I do not throw myself at his feet and beg him to run away with me.”
    “Daisy!”
    The exclamation was horrified.
    “How can you say such a thing! Think of the scandal it would cause! The Duke would undoubtedly call him out!”
    “I doubt it!” Daisy replied. “Arthur must be well aware that Hunter has fought a dozen duels already, and has always been the winner.”
    She gave a little laugh that had a note of regret in it.
    “Anyway, there is no fear of