The Earl was still carrying the lamp in his hand.
“You do not need that now,” Kristina remarked.
“I shall need it in my bedroom, because to be honest I like reading by lamplight rather than the candles which Brook will have left for me.”
“Wait until we install electric light,” Kristina urged, “then if you want to read all night you can just switch it on.”
“I can think of better things to do.”
The Earl spoke without thinking.
It was the sort of remark which, if he had made it with his old friends or to any other woman, it would have evoked a knowing laugh and would doubtless followed by a witty rejoinder.
Kristina asked innocently,
“What sort of things?”
The Earl thought for a moment and then replied,
“It is at night that I have my best ideas, as I am sure you do.”
“I suppose eve
