Love Drives In Read online

  "And the same goes for Elsie, who writes you such passionate letters. Again, no doubt she feels she has reason. Just as you must feel you have reason to show them so little respect.

  "But me? What excuse have I given you to insult me? I'm a working woman and have to live in the world. I have no father or brothers to protect me. Is that reason enough? Yes, I suppose it would be for a hardened womaniser."

  "I don't think that's very – "

  "I had not finished speaking," Dorina informed him in arctic tones.

  "Then kindly don't call me a hardened womaniser."

  "After the insults you have offered me tonight, I consider it a fairly mild return," she seethed.

  "I never meant to insult you, and if you think I'm a hardened womaniser, all I can is that you've never known one. And if it's an insult for me to call you my fiancée – "

  "That was the worst," Dorina declared on a sob. "And if you think that I should be flattered, then let me make it plain to you that I would sooner proclaim my betrothal to a python."

  Shocked, they stared at each other.

  The Earl recovered first.

  "Thank you," he snapped. "You have made yourself perfectly plain, although why a python I do not understand."

  "It was the worst thing I could think of," Dorina said bitterly. "You had no right to say any such thing about me, without my consent."

  "I was trying to impress that policeman with your status, because he thought you were a – a – "

  "I know what he thought I was. I understood exactly what the police thought when they hauled me away in a van along with five other women. The others thought it terribly funny. They said I'd get used to it in time – "

  Her voice broke and a wail came from her. She had kept up a fighting front until now, but suddenly her courage ran out and she sat down on the sofa, burying her face in her hands and sobbing as though her heart would break.

  Aghast, the Earl flung himself on his knees beside her.

  "Please, please Dorina, I'm sorry. Please don't cry. It was entirely my fault."

  He tried to take her into his arms but she threw him off.

  "Don't touch me," she wept. "I shall never forgive you for tonight as long as I live."

  "And I don't deserve to be forgiven. I should never have taken you there, but I merely thought you'd enjoy a little forbidden excitement like – "

  He was going to say, 'like other women I've known' but stopped himself in time. Dorina had been right in saying that Elsie and Lady Musgrove enjoyed going to the Alhambra, where they could burn their fingers just a little, then retreat in safety.

  But he saw now that he should never have confused Dorina with such creatures who, for all their titles and aristocratic pretensions, had much in common with the goodtime girls of the Alhambra.

  "I was wrong, terribly wrong," he said, shame-faced. "But please, darling, say you'll forgive me, and we can start again."

  "Don't call me darling," she sobbed. "And we can't start again. I'm going away."

  "No, you mustn't leave. I want to make things right."

  She shook her head in vigorous denial, but he would not accept it. Her hands were still covering her face and he gently reached up and drew them down.

  "It was all my fault," he whispered. "I'll never forgive myself – even if you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

  "I can't," she said huskily. "I'll never, never forget tonight."

  Distraught, he did not know what to say. He only knew that the sight of her with her hair falling about her shoulders, tears streaming down her face, affected him as nothing ever had in his life before.

  "Dorina," he whispered, "Dorina – "

  But her sobs did not cease, and comforting her became the most important thing in the world.

  Forgetting everything except the bewildering sensation in his heart, he reached out to put his arms round her, pulling her against him.

  The next moment his lips found hers.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Dorina was stunned. At one moment she was in the depths of despair. The next she seemed to be transported into a new realm, full of starlight.

  A number of men had kissed her cheek after they had had an enjoyable dance. But she had never been kissed on the lips before.

  As the Earl's lips held hers captive, she felt something very strange within her heart, something different from anything she had ever felt before.

  She wondered how such a sensation could exist without her discovering it until now. It seemed to fill all the world.

  She was possessed by a strange sweet feeling, warm and exciting. She wanted this closeness to go on forever. She longed to be even closer to him, lips to lips and heart to heart.

  She began to reach for him, meaning to put her arms about him.

  But something stopped her.

  It was as though a cold hand had descended on her shoulder, warning her to pull back, reminding her how easily he did this, how practised he seemed.

  At all costs she must stop now, this minute.

  Images of the Alhambra swirled through her head. Those young women she had seen tonight, with careless manners and fashionable clothes so like her own!

  Why had he taken her to that risqué place? Was it to break down her defences and create the right mood for seduction?

  "No," she cried, struggling free. "No, let me go."

  "I'll never let you go," he said hoarsely. "Please Dorina, let's put this behind us. There's so much I – "

  But she freed herself and ran to the door.

  "Don't talk to me," she cried. "Don't try to find me. Don't even think of me again."

  In her mind was the torturing memory of how nearly she had succumbed to his embrace only a few moments ago. She hated and despised him, yet his kiss – cynical though she knew it to be – had sent her into ecstasies.

  She was horrified at herself. After this she would go right away and never again think of anything but piston engines. At least in them she would find safety.

  The Earl watched her in despair. Just at the moment when he had begun to understand how vital she was to him, he was losing her forever. He reached for her again, but she thrust him away.

  Her arms were made strong by desperation and her push was hard enough to send him back hard against the door jamb. He let out a groan as the wood struck his head at exactly the same point where he'd received the earlier blow.

  "Ouch!" he cried.

  Dorina froze.

  "What is it?" she asked, trying not to sound as anxious as she felt.

  "Nothing, I – "

  Suddenly the Earl fell silent as he realised how close he had come to throwing away his best chance.

  "It – it's nothing," he said quickly. "Just my head."

  "You hardly banged your head at all," she said, suspicious, but not moving away from him.

  "Not this time, but before – when you punched me to the floor at the Alhambra. I hit my head on the pillar and it knocked me out for a moment. But it's all right now."

  He finished with a melancholy groan and sat down, holding his head.

  "I didn't mean to hurt you," she said in a faltering voice. "Besides, I didn't punch you to the floor. You slipped. You said so."

  "That's right, I did. It was my own fault. Don't worry about me."

  She dropped down beside him, frowning and saying uneasily,

  "I don't like to think of you being really hurt."

  "I thought that was what you wanted."

  "Of course not. I just – I'm sending for the doctor."

  "I don't want to trouble him," he said bravely.

  "But you can't take any chances," Dorina cried. "You might have a terrible injury to your head. I didn't mean any of those things I said – well, I did, but – oh, I don't know what I'm saying."

  "It doesn't matter now. I'm sorry about everything. I'll just go up to bed. Perhaps – perhaps you could help me."

  She shot him a quick look, full of renewed suspicion. His eyes met hers
, as innocent as a baby's.

  "I do not trust you, my Lord," Dorina said slowly.

  "How can you not trust me?" he complained. "You nearly killed me."

  "I should have done."

  "You're a heartless woman."

  A faint smile touched her lips, but she suppressed it instantly.

  "Let me help you," she offered.

  She was forced to let him slip an arm around her shoulders as they made their way slowly upstairs as far as his door. There was something strangely sweet about the feel of his weight, half leaning on her.

  She was uncertain what to believe. She had been shocked at herself for throwing a punch at him in the Alhambra, and even more shocked at his fall, although she had realised even then that it had been mostly accidental.

  She knew he had struck his head, and had been dazed for long enough for her to be hauled away. But how serious was it? She was no fool. It was clear that he had thrown himself on her mercy now, as a way of keeping her here. He was hardly pretending otherwise. But behind the pretence, might he not really be hurt?

  On the landing she saw two shadowy figures, and was relieved to recognise Blake, the Earl's valet and the butler, both in their dressing gowns, summoned by the strange noises they had heard below.

  "Is something wrong, my Lord?" Blake asked anxiously.

  "Yes, his Lordship needs a doctor," Dorina said. "He has been set upon by footpads and viciously clubbed half to death."

  "No, that was just in your wishful dreams," the Earl murmured in her ear.

  "Be silent," she told him firmly, handing him over to the valet, while the butler went about summoning the doctor.

  At the last moment the Earl tightened his hand on her arm.

  "You won't go?" he asked, and, although his tone was light, the anxiety in his eyes was real.

  "Not until the doctor tells me you are well."

  She hurried away to her own room, and began to tear off her evening dress, which she knew she would never wear again.

  In its place she donned a severe, striped blouse, with a white collar. It had a faintly mannish air, and she wore it when she wanted to be businesslike. When she had buttoned it up to the throat she set to work on her hair, drawing it back firmly against her skull in the grimmest style she could imagine.

  She emerged just after the doctor had arrived. Blake informed her in hushed accents that Dr. Jones had just gone into his Lordship's room.

  "I put him to bed, miss. He was looking very pale, and groaning a lot."

  Inside his bedroom the Earl was still groaning until the doctor said,

  "You can stop that. It was just a little bump on the head."

  "It's going to do its work very nicely, though," the Earl growled. "I shall need at least a couple of days' perfect rest and careful nursing."

  "If you say so," the doctor said, grinning. "Do you want me to notify Lady Musgrove or any other of the – ?"

  "No," the Earl said explosively. "All that's over. Things are different now."

  "I see," the doctor said, slightly startled by the Earl's forceful tone.

  He eyed his patient, his head on one side and mused,

  "You used not to have to go to these lengths to secure a woman's interest."

  "I don't know what you're talking about," the Earl riposted.

  "Don't worry, I'll say all the right things."

  Seeing wrath in his patient's eye, the doctor hastened into the corridor where he was met by a young woman of quelling aspect.

  "I am his Lordship's secretary," she declared. "How is his Lordship? Is his head seriously hurt?"

  "He'll benefit from a few days' quiet rest in bed and careful nursing," the doctor recited obediently. "He can see any visitors that he pleases. I'm sure I can entrust him into your capable hands."

  As he departed, the doctor wondered who was the lady whom the Earl was trying to attract. Doubtless she was the kind of voluptuous, melting creature that he had often chosen in his colourful romantic career. But if she was intending to visit his sick-room, the doctor doubted that she would make much headway against that terrifying secretary.

  *

  The Earl remained officially an invalid for only one day, rising when he realised that Dorina was determined not to set foot in his room.

  On the second morning he confronted her in the office, where she was opening correspondence.

  "Thank you for not leaving," he said.

  "I promised to remain until your Lordship was recovered," she said primly.

  "I'm touched by your concern for my health, although it did not lead you to visit me."

  "There was no need," she said, without looking up. "Your valet was able to do all that was necessary."

  With dismay he saw that she was dressed to repel, in her plain blouse, her hair sleeked back severely. The sight told him that he had not been forgiven, and must tread carefully.

  "Let us look at the correspondence," he said, taking his cue from her.

  "There are some letters here that need your immediate attention – "

  She pushed them over to him and they settled down to work. He dictated replies until he could endure the atmosphere no longer, then he rose, saying,

  "I'm afraid I've piled rather a lot on to you. Will you be able to finish it all today?"

  If she had said, 'easily,' he would have given her more. He dreaded that she might slip away.

  But she said,

  "I may not get through all of it – "

  "Well, you can finish it off tomorrow. I'm going out now. When I return you can tell me about any problems that may have arisen."

  "I will do so, my Lord."

  She did not look up, and after a moment he departed.

  When she heard the front door close behind him, Dorina let her shoulders sag. She had been full of tension the whole time he had been there, knowing that she ought to leave this house, yet mysteriously unable to tear herself away.

  Could any man be worth what she had endured the other night?

  'My work is worth it,' she told herself. 'I must stay to learn more.'

  But then she remembered the tone of his voice as he had begged her forgiveness, and the feel of his lips on hers, and she knew that the real reason had nothing to do with work.

  In the early evening the Earl arrived home in a state of high excitement. He came straight to Dorina's office, his eyes shining.

  "Whatever has happened?" she asked, almost laughing as she saw his face.

  "I've been to one of my factories in another part of London and I have wonderful news."

  "Tell me," she said eagerly.

  "Recently you were asking me about the horseless carriage and I put you off. Well, now I can tell you that I have made a big step forward."

  Dorina gasped. To him this was a wonderful development, but she was torn two ways. She wanted his success, but she also wanted her own.

  "We're going to be the first," he said, seizing her hands eagerly. "Imagine that! It's a revolution, and we will be at the forefront, leading the world."

  "But – the other night you were talking as though it was a long time in the future."

  "I know. I was confused. I didn't dare let myself hope and talking about it seemed like bad luck. But now – now, I think I can hope, and the first person I wanted to tell was you. Do you understand why?"

  "Yes," she said slowly. "I think I do."

  She was pulled this way and that between joy and despair. He wanted to draw close to her, as close as she wanted to be with him. At the same time he threatened her greatest hopes. And he also made her realise how terrible it was that she could not be honest with him.

  Where did her loyalties lie? With her father's firm, of that she was sure. It had to be so.

  Yet this man could make her feel that nothing mattered but to be with him.

  He seemed to become aware that he was still holding her hands, and dropped them, suddenly self-conscious.

  "I want you to come with me now, and see my invention for
yourself," he said, "because you are the only person who can fully understand. You have to see it, because if I describe it you won't believe it.

  "And I want to tell you everything, from the very beginning, how this has been planned and how my ideas have grown until now they are on the verge of success. Will you come with me?"