103. She Wanted Love by Barbara Cartland

and then I am going to ask for a far larger pony or even a horse, if I think you can manage it,” Eleta told her.
    There was no doubt that the child took after her father and was in fact an excellent rider.
    They galloped across the nearest field and turned into a wood.
    “I really love woods,” Eleta said. “They are always exciting and I am quite certain that there are real goblins under the ground and fairies among the leaves.”
    “The Governess before you told me there were no such things as fairies and goblins were imaginary creatures who don’t really exist.”
    “Of course they exist, but only people like you and me who believe in them ever see them. I am quite certain I have seen goblins in the wood at home and I am sure that they are working here underground.”
    Lady Priscilla gave a gasp and Eleta went on,
    “As for fairies, we will find a circle of mushrooms where they have danced the night before and then we will be quite certain there are plenty of them here as well as in the garden with the lovely flowers.”
    “Do tell me more!” Lady Priscilla begged.
    “I think we should keep the stories for this evening when we have nothing else to do,” Eleta suggested. “Now I want to gallop very very fast towards that hill I can see in the distance.”
    “That hill has a big cave at the very top of it,” Lady Priscilla said. “No one will ever let me go near it.”
    “Why not?” Eleta asked.
    “Because they say it’s dangerous and there are lots of other caves inside it, so I might get lost.”
    “That sounds very thrilling and something we must explore one day,” Eleta said.
    She knew that the child was delighted at the idea and then, as they were riding home, Eleta said,
    “I cannot go on calling you Lady Priscilla, it is such a long name. I would like to call you Pepe, which I think your father called you when you were quite small?”
    “He sometimes does now,” she replied. “But he is usually so angry with me for sending away a Governess, that when he is here I get a long lecture.”
    “Please don’t send me away,” Eleta begged, “then he will not be able to lecture you.”
    “I don’t want you to go away, you tell me the most marvellous stories.”
    “I haven’t started yet, but I promise you there are hundreds and hundreds of stories in the house alone.”
    As they rode back, she was thinking it was without exception the finest house she had ever seen.
    “It must be full of stories,” she said aloud, “and, when you take me round to explore it – and I would much rather you did than be taken by Mrs. Shepherd, I know we will find a story in every room, perhaps two or three.”
    “How will you find them?” Pepe asked.
    Eleta thought for a moment and then she said,
    “I think, maybe, when there is a marvellous story hidden in a room either in a book or because something has happened here in the past, if we are clever it will come into our minds.”
    “And if it comes into your mind, will you tell me?”
    “Yes, but if it goes into your mind first you will have to tell it to me.”
    Pepe laughed.
    “We will be telling each other stories all the time.”
    “Of course, and why not?” Eleta asked. “They are far more interesting than conversation and some stories are very exciting.”
    “And you will tell them all to me?”
    “Yes, I will and it will be a very special lesson.”
    “It seems a funny lesson compared to the sort the others tried to give me,” Pepe sighed.
    “But I am a very funny sort of Governess. As you know, you are helping me and saving me and therefore I am the heroine. You must be writing a book in your mind whenever you think about me.”
    Pepe was thrilled at this idea, so thrilled that, when they neared the house, Eleta said,
    “We must not forget the wonderful stories we are going to find and if we make notes about them we will not forget them. One day, Pepe, you will write them down and they will be published and you will be a famous