There was no doubt, however, Imeldra knew, that her grandmother would welcome her as a guest.
At the same time she would not lose the opportunity of finding fault with the way she had been brought up and Imeldra felt that to have to listen to endless diatribes against her beloved father would be unbearable.
“Please, Papa,” she pleaded, “don’t send me to Grandmama’s.”
“Where else can you go, dearest, at a moment’s notice?” the Earl asked. “You can drive there in the carriage in three to four hours.”
Imeldra knew that this was true.
“I will send a letter to my mother,” he said, “explaining, for she will undoubtedly learn sooner or later the reason why I am leaving for France and shutting up the house.”
Imeldra gave a little murmur of distress, but she did not speak and the Earl went on
