Love at the Tower by Barbara Cartland Page A

arrived for me, then perhaps, he might go away. I did not think that I would go from one peril straight into another!”
    The Earl sighed deeply.
    â€œEllis suddenly appeared not so long after you left yesterday. There has been trouble with one of the girls at the Gaiety Theatre – a matter of some delicacy that is not fit for your ears.
    â€œSuffice it to say Ellis is in hiding and so, like you, sought refuge at the Castle. He had not been here for five minutes before he began to drink the contents of my cellar. I am afraid he is rather inebriated – that was his third bottle of claret you saw him with.”
    â€œSo he has run away to escape the consequences of his actions? Then he is not a man!” cried Robina.
    â€œI agree with you. The worst thing is that Ellis has heaped shame on the Hampton name with his deeds. I will have to keep him closely in check and cut off his allowance properly this time.”
    â€œI thought you had already done so.”
    â€œI said I would, but then I relented and gave him a small monthly sum. I can see that the only way forward is to keep him on a tight rein.”
    Just at that very moment, Mrs. Osidge appeared in a mobcap and wearing a green dressing gown. In her hand was an oil lamp.
    â€œMy Lord, I thought I could hear a woman crying out and so I came to investigate. The kitchen door is wide open, has that brother of yours been prowling round again? We heard that he had returned to the Castle.”
    â€œIt is well that you are here as I was on the point of ringing for you. Mrs. Osidge, Miss Melville has hurt her hand. Could you have this mess cleared up and a bandage brought for her?”
    â€œI shall do it myself, my Lord,”
    She disappeared off down the dark corridor.
    The Earl sighed once more.
    â€œEven the servants know of my brother’s character and are on their guard.”
    â€œHe frightened me so much – I was so terrified that he would do something untoward.”
    â€œEllis may well be cruel, but he is not stupid. Your father is a gentleman to be reckoned with and I would not have cared to have been in Ellis’s shoes had he gone any further. No, I believe his sole intention was to frighten you – it has always been that way with him.”
    â€œHow can two brothers be so utterly unalike?”
    The Earl smiled.
    â€œLook, here is Mrs. Osidge. She will take care of you and make you comfortable. Anything you wish for, just ask. Now, I must return to my bed and I will see you at breakfast tomorrow. Good night, Robina.”
    Mrs. Osidge fussed and tended to Robina’s wound.
    â€œThere you go, miss. You were so lucky it was not deep. You get into bed and I will bring you some hot milk and I will ask Jessie to wake you at ten. I am certain that his Lordship will not be expecting you to start work at nine o’clock on the dot.”
    Robina quickly changed into her night clothes and jumped into bed.
    She drank all the milk that Mrs. Osidge had brought for her and fell into a deep sleep.
    *
    The next morning, awakened by Jessie pulling the curtains, for a moment she did not know where she was.
    And then she remembered the events of last night.
    â€œHis Lordship says he will be pleased to see you in the dining room in half an hour, miss.”
    â€œThank you, Jessie.”
    She stayed in bed for a while thinking about what the day might bring.
    Looking at the clock and seeing that it was ten-past-ten, she wondered what would happen when Lord Drury arrived at Trentham House to find her not there.
    â€˜Stepmama will be furious! She will believe I have gone out riding. I am sure she will check the stables first to see if Firefly is there.’
    She dressed herself and by half-past-ten, was sitting downstairs in the empty dining room waiting for the Earl to arrive.
    â€˜I do hope that Ellis will not be eating with us,’ she worried, as she heard footsteps on the stairs.
    To her immense relief it was the