The Countess however said Prince or no Prince, she had no intention of upsetting her stomach by changing her timetable and she did not intend to start dinner until half after seven.
Sandra was therefore surprised when she came down to the drawing room to find none of the guests whom the Countess had invited had yet arrived.
However the Earl was there looking even more elegant than usual in his evening clothes and was standing in front of the fireplace, a glass of champagne in his hand.
She knew as she walked towards him under the light from the chandeliers that he was watching her as if, she thought, she was performing on a stage.
Feeling shy, especially as she was wearing one of the more elaborate evening gowns she had bought in London, she thought he would undoubtedly be critical.
I
