The Saint and the Sinner by Barbara Cartland

survived men like you before.”
    She glared at him as she continued,
    “There was one Chart who joined the Roundheads and treacherously denounced the hiding-place of his brother, who was a Royalist. There was another who shot himself after he had lost so much money at cards that he could not meet his debts, without selling the family treasures.”
    She paused before she added,
    “They mattered to him more than life, and I dare say if you go through the history-books you would find a dozen more, and I hope you enjoy their company!”
    She turned as she spoke and walked towards the door.
    “Where are you going’?” the Earl asked.
    “I am going back to Lindchester and taking the Clay family with me. Because I think it is unlikely that my uncle will ever forgive me or help them, I am going on my knees to everyone who is kind and charitable.”
    Her voice rose as she added,
    “There must be a heart somewhere, even amongst those whom you sneer at as ‘sanctimonious.’
    Her hand was on the door when the Earl said,
    “Come here, you little spitfire!”
    She did not obey him, but she did not leave the room.
    “I suppose anyone would know we are relations,” the Earl said. “We have the same bald-headed way of going about things.”
    Pandora took a step towards him.
    “You will save Mary Clay?”
    The Earl did not speak for a moment. Then he said,
    “I suppose there is no reason why the sins of the father should be visited upon the pensioners.”
    Pandora ran across the room towards him.
    “What are you – saying?” she asked. “Explain it to me – simply.”
    He looked down at her, at the pleading in her eyes as they searched his.
    “Do you know,” he asked after a moment, “where the previous housekeeper – what was her name? Mrs. Meadowfield? Do you know where she is living?”
    “Oh, yes!” Pandora said breathlessly.
    “And Burrows, the former butler? I remember him when I first came here.”
    “He lives in the village.”
    “Are you prepared to go and fetch them back?”
    “Oh, Cousin Norvin! Do you mean that?”
    The tears were back in Pandora’s eyes, but now they seemed to glitter like stars.
    “You will remember I offered you Paradise Regained?”
    “That is exactly what you are doing,” Pandora said breathlessly. “And what about – Mr. Anstey?”
    “What about him?” the Earl asked in an uncompromising voice.
    “Mr. Farrow, whom everybody loved, was, I think, glad to retire, but his son, Michael, knows everything about the Estate. He worked with him during the last few years and he will know how to put everything right.”
    She was begging him to understand as she said,
    “You will not be troubled, you will not be worried, but things will be as they were when I first came here as a child; and it was all so – wonderful, like a King’s Palace in a – fairy-story.”
    Very well then,” the Earl said. “You are determined to have your own way. Tell Farrow to call on me in two hours’ time.”
    He smiled rather cynically as he added,
    “You had better hurry or I may change my mind! Anyway, there is going to be a row, and if you do not wish to be involved in it, get out of the housel”
    “I cannot believe it. It is all so wonderful! Oh, Cousin Norvin, I knew that you were only pretending to be bad.”
    “You are white-washing me and it will not stick,” the Earl replied.
    “I am giving you a halo,” Pandora flashed, “and do not let it slip!”
    She ran across the room and only as she reached the door did she look back over her shoulder.
    “Please count the snuff-boxes,” she said. “They are very precious.”
    She heard the Earl laugh as she ran down the corridor.
    She tore up to her room and rang the bell for Mary.
    Before the maid came she had put on a bonnet and was searching the drawers for her gloves.
    “Yes, Miss?” Mary said from the doorway.
    “It is all right, Mary! Everything is all right!” Pandora cried. “But do not say a word to anyone yet. Just wait!