Part 5 (1/2)

It was decorated with snowdrops that had diamante like dewdrops on their petals.

They nestled in the chiffon that encircled the decolletage, and made Ula look more than ever like a small angel who had just peeped through the fleecy clouds in a summer sky.

Her hair, instead of rioting over her forehead as it had when the Marquis had first seen her, had been dressed by the most experienced hairdresser who served the Beau Monde.

He had, when he had finished, exclaimed with delight that his new client was as beautiful as Diana the Huntress.

To the d.u.c.h.ess's surprise, however, Ula did not attempt to show off her gown as she came into the drawing room.

Instead, she ran with almost undignified haste towards the Marquis.

”I am sorry a I am a sorry,” she said a little breathlessly. ”I know I am late for dinner, but your knife boy had an accident and cut his hand very badly. No one knew what to do until I a bandaged it with honey.”

The Marquis looked at her in astonishment.

”My knife boy?”

”Yes, he cut himself in the kitchen and was crying with the pain. When I was told what had happened, I knew what should be done, so I had to go to him.”

”You have been in the kitchen!” the Marquis said slowly as if he could hardly believe it himself.

”w.i.l.l.y a that is his name a is much better now,” Ula said, ”but he is very frightened in case you should dismiss him for being so careless. But you will not do that a will you?”

She looked up, her blue eyes pleading with him.

There was a silence.

The Marquis intended to say that his secretary dealt with all household affairs and, apart from giving exact orders as to what he required, he never interfered.

Then, as he found it impossible not to respond to anyone so ingenuous, he answered, ”No, of course not. He could not help having an accident.”

Ula gave a cry of delight.

”That is what I knew you would say and I must tell w.i.l.l.y not to worry anymore.”

Without waiting, she turned and ran from the room, leaving the door open behind her.

The Marquis turned to look at the d.u.c.h.ess and saw that she was laughing.

”Society beauties,” he said severely, ”should not go into kitchens or concern themselves with knife boys.”

”I know,” the d.u.c.h.ess replied, ”but Ula is different. Very different, I may add, from that beauty with whom you were so busy at one time, let me see, what was her name? Lady Salford.”

She laughed before she continued, ”If you remember, after she had given a footman notice and he cut his throat, she merely remarked, 'I hope he has not spoilt the carpet'!”

The corners of the Marquis's mouth twitched as if he could not help it, but before he could reply to his grandmother, Ula came back into the room.

She had run so quickly, knowing that she was keeping the Marquis from his dinner, that now her elegantly coiffured hair was slightly ruffled and little curls had reappeared on her forehead.

”He is very a grateful,” she said breathlessly as she reached the Marquis. ”In fact he said, 'I always knows His Nibs were a real sport!'”

The d.u.c.h.ess laughed.

”You cannot expect a fairer compliment than that, Drogo!”

”Dinner is served, my Lord!” the butler announced from the doorway.

The Marquis helped the d.u.c.h.ess out of her chair and offered her his arm.

Following behind them towards the dining room, Ula thought that everything was more exciting than she could possibly have imagined.

Because there had been such a drama with the knife boy's hand, she had forgotten her gown.

Now they pa.s.sed down the corridor and she saw herself reflected in a gilt-framed mirror.

She saw that her hair was untidy and put her hand up to smooth the curls back into place.

Then, when they were in the dining room, she again forgot her own appearance as she realised how impressive the Marquis looked sitting at the top of the table in a high-backed chair.

She was also thrilled to see the polished table without a cloth, which she had heard was a fas.h.i.+on introduced by the Prince Regent.

On it were some magnificent gold ornaments, candelabra each bearing six candles, and the table was also discreetly decorated with orchids.

Everywhere she looked there was a beauty that appealed to her in a way the large but ugly rooms at Chessington Hall had never done.

For the first time since her parents' death she felt that she was not despised or ignored and that she was being treated as an ordinary guest by two very kind and distinguished people.

As if the Marquis knew what she was thinking, he said, ”I hope everything meets with your approval, Ula.”

”It is just how your house ought to look,” she replied.

”What do you mean by that?”

”Grand, because that is what you are and at the same time beautiful. There is also something warm and kind about this room and in fact the whole house, which I have not found for over a year.”

”I think perhaps, Drogo, that is the nicest compliment you have ever been paid,” the d.u.c.h.ess said. ”And it is true that I always feel happy when I am in one of your houses.”

”Thank you,” the Marquis said, ”and that is what Ula must feel in the future.”

”It's wonderful for me to find it again,” Ula replied.

He knew that she was thinking how happy she had been when her father and mother were alive.

”Now we must make plans for the ball,” the d.u.c.h.ess said.

Listening to her discussing with the Marquis how many people they should invite, how the ballroom should be decorated, what they would have for supper and which band was considered best at the moment made Ula think once again she must be dreaming.

None of this could be happening to her.