Hiding from Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

passion.  “I loved my school.”
    â€œYou are lucky,” came in Desirée.  “I hated mine.”
    Mrs. Griddle rounded on her daughter in outrage.
    â€œHated Gadbolt?  One of the finest Academies for Young Ladies in England!  Nonsense! I’m sure Miss Cressy would have been only too delighted to attend Gadbolt.”
    Her eye swivelled towards Leonora.
    â€œWhere did you go, dear?”
    â€œFenfold,” replied Leonora simply.
    Mrs. Griddle swallowed.
    Fenfold was seen as the best school for daughters of the gentry, whilst Gadbolt was merely a Finishing School of sorts for the middle classes.
    It was unendurable that Miss Cressy should have attended a finer school than her own poor Desirée.  With some degree of ill nature, she cast about for some way of reducing the stature of Fenfold,
    â€œI hear there’s been some hint of scandal attached to Fenfold.  It’s common knowledge that one of the pupils had to leave when her Guardian stole her Trust money!”
    Mr. Chandos looked up sharply.
    â€œThe poor girl was surely not to blame for the fact that her Guardian was a scoundrel,” he countered stiffly.
    Leonora, remembering Edith Lyford’s sobs the day she had to leave Fenfold, was gratified that he had spoken up on the innocent girl’s behalf.
    Mrs. Griddle was unappeased.
    â€œBut for a school of that reputation to take in a girl with such questionable connections!”
    Leonora now felt exasperated and intervened sharply,
    â€œWhen Miss Lyford came to Fenfold her father was still alive and he was certainly not questionable!  He was a businessman who worked abroad and when he became ill, he asked his London Solicitors to appoint a Guardian for his daughter and it was they who suggested the gentleman who turned out to be entirely untrustworthy.”
    â€œBravo, Miss Cressy,” applauded Señor de Guarda.
    Mrs. Griddle sniffed.
    â€œNevertheless – ” was all she could find to say.
    Desirée, who had been listening keenly to the story of Edith, now leaned eagerly across the table.
    â€œWhatever happened to Miss Lyford after she had had to leave Fenfold?” she asked Leonora.
    Leonora toyed unhappily with her napkin.
    â€œI don’t quite know.  I lost touch with her.  I wish I hadn’t, but my own life took such an unexpected turn that I was quite taken up with other matters.”
    She thought for a moment and added,
    â€œI do know that Edith Lyford had some hope of her father’s business partner coming to her aid.”
    Mr. Chandos leant forward to pour a glass of wine.
    â€œDid this partner live in England?” he asked.
    â€œNo, he – why, I believe he lived in Brazil.  Yes, it’s where her father had his business.  Isn’t that strange?”
    â€œStrange?”
    â€œWell, if he didn’t come to England as Miss Lyford hoped he would, then he would still be in Brazil.  I might run across him in Rio, and if I did, I would put Edith’s case to him and insist he help her retrieve her money.”
    â€œDid you learn his name?” asked Mr. Chandos.
    Leonora’s face fell.
    â€œNo, I didn’t.  Edith never mentioned him by name.  She said she had only met him once, when she was a child.  She remembered him as handsome and kind and he let her dance on his toes.  He sounded just the kind of man with whom – ”
    Leonora blushed and added,
    â€œWith whom – one might easily fall in love.”
    She scarcely knew why she had introduced such a subject, as it was one she and Isobel had scorned to discuss at Fenfold.
    â€œWhy, Miss Cressy,” said Señor de Guarda, turning to regard her with interest.  “So that is how to win your heart – dancing on my toes?”
    Aware of Mr Chandos’s stony silence, she wished the earth would open and swallow her up.
    Desirée meanwhile, her hands clasped tight on the table,