Love in the Highlands by Barbara Cartland

fool of. Do you understand me?"
    "Yes."
    "Good. In that case I will bid you goodnight."
    He walked ahead without a backward look, leaving her to run to her room, throw herself on the bed and thump the pillow.
*
    Despite this, life moved on fairly contentedly for another week. Lavina was entranced by the beauties of Scotland, and when she rode it was mostly at Lord Elswick's side. When not annoyed he was good company.
    She was almost allowing herself to relax and push her fears aside, when, one morning, Lady McEwuan came rushing into the drawing room, full of excitement.
    "There's a carriage coming up the drive, and it has the royal crest on the panels."
    Lavina's blood ran cold, and her frantic eyes sought her father's.
    He rose to his feet, pale but determined. The family would have followed him, but Sir Ian said firmly,
    "It will be confidential business from Her Majesty. We will not intrude."
    Holding each other's hand for comfort, the Earl and
    Lavina went out into the hall to greet whoever should appear. The front door was pulled open.
    "Papa," Lavina said in horror, "Look who it is!"
    The man who appeared was Sir Richard Peyton, the same man that they had deluded and left behind at The Towers. Lavina and father exchanged alarmed glances, wondering what he could be doing here.
    Sir Richard approached them, his face rigid, paused and gave a small, curt nod.
    "What are you doing this far north, Peyton?" the Earl asked with an attempt at geniality.
    "I am with Her Majesty at Balmoral," the man replied stiffly.
    "Balmoral?" The Earl exclaimed. "It's too early in the year for that. The Queen never comes north until next month."
    "Her Majesty has decided to make an exception this year," Sir Richard declared. "She has a special guest who particularly wished to see the glories of Scotland."
    Lavina felt as though the world had stood still. There was a strange ringing in her ears, and suddenly she was full of dread.
    "What – special guest?" Lord Ringwood asked in a hollow voice.
    Sir Richard drew himself up until he was practically standing to attention. In a loud voice he announced,
    "Her Majesty has been pleased to invite Lord Ringwood, and his daughter, Lady Lavina Ringwood, to a reception tomorrow evening, at which they will have the honour of meeting Prince Stanislaus of Kadradtz."
    A ghastly silence greeted this pronouncement. Sir Richard then handed over the invitation card.
    "But – er – " the Earl stammered, "Is there not another invitation, for Lord Elswick?"
    "Her Majesty is unaware of Lord Elswick's presence in the neighbourhood, and has therefore not been able to include him on the list."
    "But now that she is aware – "
    A shout of laughter interrupted him. Everyone turned to look at the Marquis strolling into the hall, his face alight with hilarity.
    "It's no use, Ringwood," he said. "Wild horses wouldn't persuade the Queen to acknowledge my presence if it meant inviting me to a reception to which, in any case, I do not wish to attend."
    At the sight of the Marquis Sir Richard drew himself up.
    "My Lord, I consider you treated me most shabbily at our last meeting."
    "No choice. Anyway, you seem to have got your own back. I wonder how the Queen knew where we were?"
    Sir Richard glared at him.
    "You told her, of course, and how did you know where we were?" the Marquis mused.
    "Your butler was as misleading as you instructed him to be," Sir Richard said stiffly.
    "But you managed to bribe some of the others, I suppose. I dare say there was one listening at the library keyhole the night before. Well, I hope Her Majesty rewards you for it, but I doubt it. She doesn't like sneaks any more than I do, even though she isn't above using their services. You can leave now."
    "I have to take back an answer."
    "The answer will be delivered without help from you. Take yourself off."
    Catching the Marquis' baleful eye Sir Richard scuttled away into his carriage.
    "I can't go to this reception without you," Lavina