Love Drives In Read Online Free

been taken seriously ill.
    "The doctor tells me it will be a long time before she can work again. I desperately need help, but so far none of the applicants has been suitable. I wonder if you're the person I'm looking for."
    "I am certain of it," she replied with conviction. "I've just arrived in London from France. I have some knowledge of business, and I speak five languages fluently."
    "Five languages!" the Earl exclaimed. Then he added in German, "Do tell me which they are."
    Dorina realised that this was a test.
    She replied immediately in German, and for a moment they conversed. She soon realised that his German was limited to the basics.
    So was his French, she discovered, when they switched to that language.
    She ended up by saying in Dutch,
    "I hope that is what you wanted to hear."
    The Earl stared at her in astonishment. Then he laughed.
    "What was that?"
    "Dutch."
    "I don't believe you are true," he said. "How is it possible, looking as young as you do, that you should know so much?"
    "It is a long story and rather boring," Dorina replied. "But I went to school in most of these countries and they encouraged me by asking me to visit their homes."
    "All I can say is, as far as I'm concerned," the Earl said, "you are a miracle just when I needed one. I export a good deal of the goods I manufacture, and I must be able to deal with foreign buyers without stumbling over the language. What else do you speak?"
    "Spanish and Italian," Dorina replied. "And you?"
    "I have a smattering of those, but my skill is nowhere near yours," he added ruefully, "as I expect you have already realised."
    "Yes I have" she replied promptly, but with a twinkle in her eye, and they both laughed.
    "Then you will come and work for me?" he asked.
    "I'll be glad to."
    "About money – "
    He named a sum that seemed trifling to Dorina. She could hardly have bought a hat for the amount that was to be the annual salary. But she knew that it was a generous wage for a secretary, and agreed without demur.
    "Which of the many countries you have visited did you find the most enjoyable?" the Earl asked.
    Now he was speaking in Italian.
    Dorina answered him in the same language.
    "I confess that I have more friends in France than in any other country," she said. "Therefore I find it more amusing to be in Paris than anywhere else."
    "I can say the same," the Earl agreed. "When we have time you must tell me what you enjoy most, not only in Paris, but other places on the continent.
    "In fact, I want to know all about you. How have you spent your life and why do you want this job? How can heavy engineering possibly be of interest to a young lady?"
    "I am like no young lady you have ever known," Dorina replied.
    "That I can believe."
    "But as for telling you any more about myself – can we leave that until later? The important thing for you to know is whether I can do your job."
    "You're right. Other things must wait their turn, but their turn will come, I assure you. Now, I'm going to take you to your office because there's a pile of letters we have to answer and which haven't even been opened. Although there are many things I want to talk to you about, business comes first."
    "Of course it does," Dorina agreed.
    They went out of the room and walked along the passage.
    At the end of it the Earl opened a door into what she thought was a very tidy but rather dull office.
    The secretary's desk was large, and set by a window which looked on to the garden at the front of the house.
    As the Earl had said, the desk was piled high with work.
    "I hope you will be comfortable here," he said. "If there's anything you need you must ask the butler and it will be brought to you at once."
    "I think what I really need now," Dorina said, "is time to open all these letters."
    "I've got very behind, as you can see," he said. "To catch up, I shall need to call on you at all hours. In fact, we haven't discussed your hours, and I was wondering – do I understand that you have