106. Love's Dream in Peril by Barbara Cartland

though. Not that she’d ever let ’em go. Good evenin’, sir.”
    He then touched his cap and walked off, the ponies jogging behind him.
    “Why doesn’t he ride them?” Katy asked.
    Digby laughed.
    “I should think his feet would touch the ground on either side!”
    “A chariot. That’s the thing!” Ned exclaimed as he seized the ribbons of Katy’s apron and drove her through the gate and into the Square, shouting “giddy-up!”
    Agnes was looked thoughtful. She took Digby’s hand again and walked along the gravel path with him.
    “Do you think the young lady would let us borrow her ponies?” she asked.
    Digby thought for a moment.
    “That’s rather a good idea,” he said. “I will speak to your Papa and if he agrees, then perhaps we could ask her.”
    “Oh, please do!” Agnes said, her face shining.
    “Giddy-up!” Peter shouted and kicked Digby’s chest with his small feet.
    “All right, all right!” Digby obligingly broke into a trot. Life would be a lot easier, he thought, when Judge Dryden found a good Governess to keep his family quiet.
    In the meantime a loan of the two sturdy ponies would be an excellent idea.
    As soon as he had some free time, he must go and speak to their owner, whoever she might be, at No. 82.
    *
    “Mr. Edgar May and Miss Adella May,” the blue-coated footman’s voice echoed like a foghorn across the wide smooth sea of the polished ballroom floor.
    Lady Ireton, tall and majestic, swept towards them like a ship in full sail, her purple skirts, edged with black lace, trailing over the parquet in her wake.
    “Mr. May. I am so delighted that you are able to come and join us for our little party tonight.”
    She reached out her black-gloved hand for Uncle Edgar to kiss and her green eyes glittered in the light of the vast candelabra that dangled from the lofty ceiling.
    “So this is your niece.” Lady Ireton then turned to Adella. “Have we met before, Miss May? I think not.”
    Adella felt very relieved. Lady Ireton had forgotten that afternoon in Hyde Park and the small white ponies that had given her so much entertainment.
    “What a pretty creature!” Her Ladyship gazed at Adella. “You have been hiding your light under a bushel, Miss May. The moths will be flocking around tonight, I have no doubt!”
    And she gave a high neighing laugh.Was this some new joke she was making at Adella’s expense?
    But there was no time to think what her Ladyship might mean, as Uncle Edgar was leading her across the wide ballroom floor.
    Almost at once several young gentlemen came up and introduced themselves.
    “Delighted to make your acquaintance,” one said. “May I have the pleasure of the first dance Miss May, if your uncle has no objection?”
    “Oh, and I the second,” another piped up eagerly, “if you are not otherwise engaged?”
    Adella had no chance to respond to their requests as a tall figure was suddenly at her side.
    “Miss May is most definitely otherwise engaged,” Lord Ranulph’s deep voice intoned. “She has promised the first dance to me .”
    The young gentlemen’s faces fell, but they stepped back respectfully to leave the two of them alone.
    Lord Ranulph took her hand and raised it to his lips, holding it there for a long moment.
    His hand trembled a little, as if he was nervous, but he led her towards the dance floor and she had no choice but to follow him.
    “You are so lovely tonight,” he said in a low voice. “Everyone is watching you, they cannot help themselves.”
    “Oh, please don’t,” Adella whispered.
    “It’s true!” he continued, almost whispering. “Your hair gleams like purest gold and your face is like a white rose petal. Your beauty shines out like a candle flame.”
    As he said this, Adella knew that she should feel flattered to have such charming compliments paid to her. But still she felt ill at ease.
    ‘I would be much happier with any of those other young gentlemen,’ she thought. ‘They would be so much more fun