Chapters (73)
- Cover
- Dedication
- PART ONE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- PART TWO
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- PART THREE
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- PART FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- PART FIVE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Keep Reading …
- About the Author
- Also by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Publisher
FORTY-FOUR
Robert and Adrian had used Adrian’s new motorcar for the trip, driven by his chauffeur. On the way back the car was caught in a nasty downpour in Kent and then hit heavy rain in London. And thick traffic, carriages, gigs and carts, as well as some other motorcars, filled the roads as well. The trip had seemed endless to them both; they were cold and the car’s seats uncomfortable. Despite the luxurious trimmings and the skill of the chauffeur, the journey was no faster than in a carriage drawn by good horses.
He insisted on dropping Robert off at the Grosvenor Square house first. ‘See you shortly,’ Adrian said as Robert alighted.
‘Whenever you can get here,’ Robert answered, and made a dash for his front door. Having told Turnbull he would be returning by six o’clock, he realized when the butler opened the door that it was much later, by the look on his face.
‘A bad journey back I think, m’lord,’ Turnbull said in a dour tone.
‘Quite awful, Turnbull. I’d better get upstairs and change before Miss Stratton arrives.’ He headed for the staircase.
‘Lord Robert, she’s already here. I showed her into the yellow drawing room.’
‘She must be early, surely?’ Robert exclaimed.
‘No, my lord, she was on time. It’s already ten past seven.’
‘Good heavens! I knew we were delayed, but I hadn’t realized it was so late. Please tell her I’ve gone to freshen up and select a pink champagne. I shall change out of these damp clothes quickly.’
‘Yes, m’lord.’
‘Thank you, Turnbull.’
Robert took the stairs two at a time, rushed into his bedroom and shed his damp jacket immediately, then took off his shirt and tie. He realized his trousers were dry, and let his braces dangle down against his legs.
He went into his dressing room, took out a clean white shirt and blue tie, selected a smoking jacket of deep blue velvet and a matching pair of house shoes with his family crest on the front.
When he heard the bedroom door open and close, he frowned, and went into his bedroom. To his utter amazement, Vanessa was standing there, looking around.
He was frozen to the spot.
‘Vanessa!’ he cried. ‘Whatever are you doing here?’ His surprise was evident.
‘I couldn’t wait to see you, so I decided to come and find you. You didn’t even say hello when you arrived home.’ She sounded disconcerted.
‘I was wet, needed to get out of my clothes.’ Suddenly realizing he was bare-chested, he rushed into his dressing room, took his white shirt off the hook, and put it on. He tucked it into his trousers and pulled up his braces.