Love Became Theirs by Barbara Cartland

they're in very short supply. That's what's so nice about coming here, because you always say such charming things, even if you don't mean them."
    "Of course we mean them when it concerns anyone as pretty as you," Marcel replied promptly.
    Rona laughed again.
    "Now that's the sort of compliment I like," she said, "and which I wouldn't get in my country."
    Marcel nodded.
    "I've been to England, and I think the reason the Englishmen are very mean with their compliments is simply because they don't know how to enjoy themselves, especially when it concerns pretty women.
    "And the trouble with English women is that they are so unused to compliments that they cannot believe them."
    "I promise to believe every word you say," Rona laughed.
    "Good. And when you return home, you must give the Englishmen a lesson in how to behave towards women. Tell them we manage better over here."
    "I'll try but I don't think all the lessons in the world will make an Englishman as skilled as a Frenchman."
    They continued bantering in this cheerful way until they were deep into the park. Then suddenly Rona heard a new voice beside her.
    "My compliments ma'am. After a wearying journey and a late night you still manage to be as fresh as a daisy this morning."
    Turning her head quickly she was startled to see Peter, astride a jet black horse and looking magnificent.
    "I did not think you meant to join us, sir," she said. "You are supposed to be elsewhere."
    "Oh, I manage to be everywhere," he said lightly.
    And suddenly she heard another voice, in another place, saying,
    "Harlequin is everywhere, and sees everything."
    A tremor went through her. It was him. Now she was sure it was him. Hearing words so similar she recognised the tone in the voice.
    She twisted in the saddle to regard him intently.
    He was looking at her, and there was something in his eyes that might have been recognition.
    She waited for him to confirm her suspicions.
    "Your charge is a credit to you," he said at last. "I have seldom seen her in such good spirits."
    Good manners forced her to conceal her disappointment.
    "I can take little credit for that, sir. I've been in the Earl's employment only two days."
    "I think you can take every credit. It's not a question of time, but of attitude. When we met, Alice told me you were magic, because that's how you made her feel. She was unhappy, and you made her happy. That's true magic."
    "Thank you," she said, taken aback.
    They rode a little further and then he said,
    "I was very fond of my sister, Valerie. We grew close after our parents died. When she married and had a child, they became my family too. Giles has always encouraged me to treat his house as my own, and now I feel almost like a second father to Alice. I'm grateful to you for what you've done for her."
    "The poor child needs a woman's guidance now she's growing up," said Rona. "With her father being an Earl, so many men are going to approach her for the wrong reasons."
    "You mean fortune hunters?"
    "I am afraid so. She must learn to recognise them."
    "But you can teach her that better than anyone."
    "Why do you say so?" she asked quickly.
    Now he was going to tell her that they had met before.
    "Because, ma'am, you seem to be pursuing a secret vendetta against men." He spoke lightly, and with a sideways smile at her.
    "I'm doing no such thing," Rona retorted.
    "You clearly disapprove of us all – except perhaps those with big black moustaches. I wonder why."
    She maintained a diplomatic silence. She had the feeling that he was deliberately fencing with her.
    "We're not all rogues," he pleaded.
    "Indeed?"
    "You can't be so hard hearted as to believe that."
    "I can believe whatever I think I have reason for," she said with a little toss of her head.
    "I see what it is. Some shabby fellow let you down and broke your heart. Tell me the scoundrel's name and I'll run him through."
    "Certainly not. And my heart is far from broken. In fact, it's firmly in my own possession and always