Love Drives In Read Online Free Page A

nowhere to stay?"
    "I came straight here from the train," she said.
    "Would you consider it improper to stay in this house? I promise you I have no disgraceful intentions. It's purely a matter of business convenience."
    "Of course," Dorina said. "It would suit me to stay here, and be close to the job."
    "Then I'll tell my housekeeper to prepare a room for you, and your things will be taken upstairs."
    "Splendid. Now let us get down to work."
    "You don't know what music that is to my ears, Miss Martin. Well, you see the letters. The social ones are easy. I can tell you at once whether I wish to attend some ball or party. The other letters, which to me are the most interesting ones, refer to my business."
    'Those are the ones which will interest me too,' Dorina thought, but she did not say so aloud.
    She merely seated herself at the desk. There she saw a number of notebooks which seemed strange until the Earl said,
    "The notebooks represent each of the companies of which I am the chairman. You will find in them the names of the members of the company and the managers both in this country and abroad."
    Dorina smiled.
    "That is very sensible," she answered. "It will save me asking you a great many questions which you would undoubtedly find exceedingly tedious."
    "I don't know that I should," the Earl said. "I find my business far more interesting and exciting than the parties that I am invited to. They're all the same."
    "Oh yes, too much social life can be so boring," she said without stopping to think. "That's why I'll enjoy working for you."
    There was a silence. Looking up she saw the Earl regarding her with a touch of surprise, and realised that the working girl that she was supposed to be would have known nothing about social life.
    Quickly she sat down at the desk, and picked up a letter opener, becoming very obviously absorbed in her task.
    "Is there anything you want to ask me?" he enquired.
    "Not at this moment," she said, her head buried in a letter. "Later I'm sure I'll have a hundred questions."
    Without looking up she could sense that he was once more surprised. Such a handsome man was probably used to women who tried to keep him talking.
    Without saying any more the Earl walked towards the door and opened it. He looked back at Dorina for a moment. Then he went out closing the door behind him.
    When she was alone Dorina felt as if she wanted to jump for joy, because she had been so lucky in getting immediately to the one place she wanted.
    'Everything is almost too smooth,' she thought. 'I must be careful not to slip up through sheer excitement.'
    She took off her hat and tidied her hair not realising that when she sat down at the window again, the sunshine turned her hair to gold.
    She had also taken off her coat.
    Now wearing the silk blouse which was cool, she started to open the letters, feeling that each one was a treasure which would help her and was far more important for her than for the man to whom it was addressed.
    She deliberately chose those which were obviously business letters.
    She found two or three were exceedingly interesting and informative.
    As she went on she found letters which told her very clearly that the Earl was extremely interested in the new vehicle which had just been invented, the horseless carriage.
    She was delighted as she read how enthusiastic the writers were about this new vehicle.
    'Maybe Papa was right,' she thought with rising excitement. 'And the horseless carriage really can happen.'
    Many of the other letters were invitations and very pressing ones for his Lordship to attend dinner parties and dances both in London and in the country.
    There were very large bills for new improvements to his house in the country and one which he had obviously just bought in Scotland.
    It was under an hour later when she decided to take the business letters to the Earl.
    She found him at his desk in the study where he had been before.
    He looked up as she entered the room.
    She had been so