CHAPTER FOURMost of Alice's clothes had been packed, but Rona went through the few that were left and chose a blue dress that was pretty and simple. Then she brushed the girl's hair until it shone, leaving it to flow freely down to her shoulders.
At last they were ready to go downstairs.
The Earl looked up as they came in, and she thought she caught a look of surprise on his face as he saw her, looking even more drab than before.
"Ladies," he said, "shall we go in to dinner?"
As Alice went ahead he detained Rona a moment.
"I think I understand what you're doing," he said. "But it doesn't work."
"Sir?"
"Nothing is going to make you look plain, Miss Johnson," he told her with a hint of a smile.
"I am only trying to look like a governess," she said with a hint of severity.
He gave he
