06.The Penniless Peer (The Eternal Collection) by Cartland Barbara Page A

your — wife,” Fenella said quickly, a faint colour coming to her cheeks as she realised he might have misunderstood what she meant.
    He did not answer, and after a moment she went on,
     “Do you not see, Periquine, it is the only possible way to get rid of your friend immediately? She will not want to stay if she thinks you are married, and to make quite sure she goes, I have another idea.”
    “What is that?” Lord Corbury asked.
    “I will say someone in the house — one of the servants will do - has scarlet fever. It is very infectious and I cannot believe that Madame D’Arbley will wish to run the risk of catching it.”
    Lord Corbury stood looking at Fenella for a moment. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
    “Fenella, you are incredible!” he exclaimed. “I believe you would rescue me if I had gone down into Hell itself!”
     “I should do my best,” Fenella answered, “since you have a genius for getting yourself into scrapes.”
    Lord Corbury, still laughing, shrugged his shoulders.
    “What is life if we never take any risks?” he said. “But I must say I was not expecting my pigeons to come home to roost so quickly, if that is the right expression!”
    “One pigeon, and of French origin,” Fenella said. “Do you think she will make a great fuss?”
    “What can she do if you are really convincing?” Lord Corbury asked. “After all, when I left her she was married. She could not expect me to carry a torch for her for ever.”
    “No, of course not,” Fenella said, in a matter of fact voice. “And now let us make plans. If we are not careful, she will dismiss the Post-Chaise, and then she will be stranded here.”
    “That must not happen,” Lord Corbury said quickly.
    Fenella put her hand up to her forehead.
    “What I suggest,” she said, “is that I will greet her in the hall when I hear the Post-Chaise drive up to the door. You can be somewhere about, but she must not see you, and as soon as she steps in the Salon, you must stop the Post-Chaise from driving away, and tell the driver that he will be required to take his passenger back either to Dover or to London, wherever she decides to go.”
    “We do not know what time she will be arriving,” Lord Corbury protested. “Have I got to hang about the whole afternoon? “
    “I am afraid you have,” Fenella said severely, “and once you have dealt with the Post-Chaise, you must come into the Salon and greet her.”
    “Why must I meet her? I am sure it is unnecessary!”
    “Really, Periquine, you cannot be so cowardly as to leave me alone with your chère amie who will doubtless be incensed at the thought that you have escaped her. If you are not there, after she arrives, I swear to you I will tell her the truth, and then you can handle the situation by yourself.”
    “You are blackmailing me! “ Lord Corbury said accusingly.
    “It may be blackmail,” Fenella answered, “but I promise you I am not joking.”
    “All right,” he capitulated, “I will do as you wish. But for God’s sake get rid of her as quickly as possible, in case Hetty comes over and finds her here!”
    “Hetty is not likely to call this afternoon if she is coming to dinner this evening. Of course, if you like, we can ask Madame D’Arbley to make us six — five is an uneven number.”
    There was a mischievous twinkle in Fenella’s eye as she spoke. Lord Corbury picked up one of the cushions and threw it at her.
    She turned aside so that it missed her head but struck the wall with some force. The old faded silk split open and a quantity of white goose feathers fell out on to the floor.
    “Really, Periquine, you are impossible!” Fenella cried. “How can you make such a mess when there is so much to do?”
    “It is entirely your fault,” Lord Corbury retorted. “You deliberately provoked me, and if it is a punishment to pick up all those feathers, it is one you undoubtedly deserve.”
    Fenella stuffed as many of the goose-feathers back into the