An Introduction to the Pink Collection by Barbara Cartland Page B

share his good fortune with others less fortunate. Noblesse oblige! Very proper. Of course you know your duty to the neighbourhood. But your people will benefit from what I propose. My men will come in and decide what needs to be done, and then employ the locals to do it.
    â€œThey’ll need to buy provisions from local shops. Some of them will stay at the nearest hotel. They’ll spend money, and that’s what it’s all about after all. Well, that’s settled. I’m glad we understand each other.”
    â€œYou’re rushing ahead of me – ”
    â€œWhen you’ve had a good idea, get to work without delay. That’s my motto.”
    Two shadows darkened the French windows, and Rena came in, followed by Matilda.
    â€œSo there you both are,” Wyngate cried with a ghastly attempt at geniality that set everyone’s teeth on edge. “We were just making our plans. My people will start work on this house next week.”
    There was a stunned silence from the others. It was broken by the last sound anybody was expecting.
    A titter.
    A stupid, bird-brained, idiotic titter.
    It had come from Rena.
    The Earl stared at her. The sheer inanity of the sound, coming from her, took him aback.
    â€œOh, dear me,” she said, covering her mouth with her fingers, and tittering again. “Oh My Lord, how honoured I am to be the first to hear your delightful news. My goodness me, such a proud day for the family.”
    â€œHonoured?” he stared at her.
    â€œTo be the first to hear of your nuptials. Oh, I declare! Oh my, oh my!”
    He wondered if she had taken leave of her senses.
    â€œYou are mistaken, Mrs. Colwell,” the Earl said formally. “It is far too early to speak of nuptials. Miss Wyngate and I – ” he bowed in Matilda’s direction, “are merely going to get to know each other.”
    â€œNaturally that will happen before any announcement,” Rena giggled, contriving to sound totally witless. “But there can be no doubt that there will be an announcement.”
    â€œIndeed?” John said frostily.
    â€œWhy yes, indeed. If a gentleman like Mr Wyngate  intends to start work which– forgive me – he knows you cannot pay for – then he is certainly doing so for his daughter’s husband. Who else would he be doing it for? ”
    â€œWhat I mean is that should the wedding – by some accident – not take place, he could send you a bill for the whole cost of the repairs, could he not? Or perhaps a suit for breach of promise of marriage?”
    Her eyes were wide and suspiciously innocent, fixed on his face.
    â€œAnd so you see, once the workmen have arrived, it’s all settled, isn’t it?” she asked, tittering again. “I mean, there would be no going back. Even if you wanted to. Which of course, you wouldn’t. But if you did – you couldn’t – because of the witnesses, d’you see? Oh dear, I’m expressing myself very badly – ”
    â€œOn the contrary,” said the Earl. “You have expressed yourself perfectly.”
    Mr Wyngate  looked murderous.
    â€œGet rid of this silly woman,” he snapped.
    â€œYou’re perfectly right,” the Earl said. “Mrs. Colwell, you have leapt to a false conclusion. No nuptials are planned, and no workmen will be coming to this house, next week or at any other time.”
    â€œIn my opinion it would be better if they start immediately,” Wyngate grated.
    â€œAnd in my opinion it would be better if they did not,” the Earl said flatly.
    Wyngate changed tack.
    â€œNow, Lansdale, you don’t want to listen to these female fantasies. You can’t imagine that I would – ”
    â€œI don’t know what you would do,” the Earl said. “But the arrival of your men would place me in an equivocal position. My cousin is certainly right about that, and I would hate to attach any