An Angel Runs Away by Barbara Cartland Page B

no mistaking his red coat and his official hat, which he carried in his hand.
    As the Earl reached the centre of the library, he stood still and said in a voice of command,
    “Come here, Ula!”
    Because she was so frightened she rose a little unsteadily to her feet and walked very slowly towards him.
    When she reached him, he looked down at her with an expression on his face that she knew was one of contempt before he said,
    “I have come to take you back to where you belong and we are leaving immediately!”
    “But – Uncle Lionel – I cannot do – that!” Ula cried. “I am staying here – as you know – at the invitation of the Duchess of Wrexham, who is – chaperoning me.”
    “I am aware of that,” the Earl replied, “but you appear to have forgotten when you ran away in that disgraceful manner, for which you shall be severely punished, that now your father and mother are dead, I am your Guardian.”
    “I-I know that, Uncle Lionel, but you – did not want – me.”
    “That is for me to say,” the Earl replied. “Now, I have no time to waste in arguing, so you will come with me and my carriage is outside.”
    He spoke so positively that Ula gave a cry of fear.
    “I – cannot! I have to – stay here and if you want me to – leave, you must discuss it – with the – Marquis.”
    “As I have already said,” the Earl replied, “I am your Guardian and, if you intend, as I suspected you might, to oppose me, I have brought with me, as you can see, a Bow Street Runner.”
    There was a sneer on his face as he continued,
    “He will take you into custody and you will appear before the Magistrates. They will tell you that as a minor you will have to obey me. That is the law.”
    He paused as if he expected Ula to reply.
    Her voice seemed to have died in her throat and she could only stare at him in a stricken manner.
    “If that is what you prefer,” he said slowly and spitefully, “then, at the same time, when they make it clear to you that I have complete and absolute control over you, I will bring a charge against the most noble Marquis of Raventhorpe of kidnapping a minor – the penalty for which is transportation.”
    He spoke maliciously, knowing that after what he had said there was nothing she could do but agree to go with him.
    Then, as if he wanted to humiliate her, he said sharply,
    “Well – what is your decision?”
    “I-I will come – with you – Uncle Lionel.”
    “Then hurry up about it,” he ordered.
    He took her by the arm, holding her so tightly that it was painful and marched her from the library along the passage and into the hall.
    The servants waiting there stared at them in astonishment and, as they neared the front door, Ula with an effort managed to say,
    “Please – Uncle Lionel, I must say – goodbye to Her – Grace and fetch my – bonnet and shawl.”
    “There is no need for you to make any farewells,” the Earl replied, “and I can see a shawl on the chair by the pillar.”
    He pointed towards it and one of the footmen who had been staring was galvanised into picking it up and bringing it to Ula.
    She put it around her shoulders and to enable her to do so, her uncle took his hand from her arm. As he did so, Ula made an effort to dash away from him and up the stairs.
    He, however, had anticipated that was what she might do and he struck her sharply across the shoulders, causing her to give a little scream of pain and to stagger.
    However, she regained her balance and did not actually fall onto the floor.
    Then, as the Earl took hold of her once more and, dragging her through the front door and down the steps, he almost hurled her into the travelling carriage that was waiting outside.
    He paused briefly to pay the Bow Street Runner before he entered the carriage, the door was shut and the horses started off.
    Ula had a quick glimpse of the servants clustered on the doorstep to watch her go.
    But, as she sank back on the seat making herself as small as