HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY

This continuing story takes place in long-ago Victorian times, in the days of Oscar Wilde. Back then forbidden love could be fatal. Today we know that all love is beautiful. Please comment nicely!

"Aunt Willie, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, Lord Morgan must have heard some of the stories that are going around. Those disgusting rumors about me, I mean!"

"Oh, stop dithering, Philip. And do stop fussing with your hair!" Lady Wilhelmina Kingsley gave her nephew a stern look. Young Philip had been squirming in his seat ever since they left London. The tiring journey by train seemed endless, but in just a few hours her nephew would be shaking hands with his future employer. Lord Morgan had promised to meet them at the railway station.

"I just wish I knew what sort of man he was, that's all. I mean, you've told me nothing about him." Philip's pouting, worried look was understandable. He was an orphan, after all. His long-lashed blue eyes and delicate features were so strikingly beautiful that one could almost picture him as a young lady, dressed in satins and lace instead of that frayed black suit and worn school necktie. Yet up until a few weeks ago sweet, rosy-cheeked Philip had been enrolled at a very posh boarding school for young men. Lady Wilhelmina had been paying his tuition. She adored her golden-haired nephew, but she was quite annoyed with innocent, trusting Philip for falling in love and getting himself expelled.

"Lord Morgan is a wealthy widower who lives alone," the powerful older woman explained, putting a firm hand on her nephew's knee. There was a red ruby ring on one finger, winking and flashing in the dim light of the hot and stuffy train compartment. "His vast estate is quite secluded, and he never listens to London gossip. So there's no reason to think he won't give you a fair trial, unless you ruin things with your own foolish behavior!"

"I won't, I swear!" Philip's nervous manner didn't hide the hurt in his huge blue eyes. "After the way Rodney lied to the headmaster, saying I forced him to go off the school grounds, I won't trust anyone ever again. We'd been meeting in the woods for weeks!"

"Rodney's father is very rich," Lady Wilhelmina said quietly, fingering the expensive ivory cameo that rested in the snowy lace of her blouse, nestled between her firm and very large breasts. "He can afford to break the rules. But you are very poor, my dear. You can't be careless. Promise me you will remember that when we reach Lord Morgan's estate."

"I will, Aunt Willie. I'll be careful, I promise!" Philip felt as though his aunt's dark brown eyes were looking deep inside him, measuring his strength and determination. Lady Wilhelmina was a widow with an independent fortune, quite in control of her own life. To Philip she was the strongest person in the world.

"There, there, my love. I know you will." The older woman made a kiss-kiss sound, as though soothing a small child in the nursery. "It's so unfair, the torture you endured at that beastly school. Expelled, beaten by those other boys, and even caned by that horrible headmaster. So unfair!"

Philip felt his cheeks turning red. "I thought Rodney cared for me. When the two of us were together, it just felt . . . it just felt right."

"There, there, of course it did." Lady Wilhelmina's husky voice was full of knowing sympathy, as though she could picture poor and trusting Philip being seduced by lies and falling into the arms of the rich, deceitful Rodney. "You look exhausted, Philip my dear. Try to rest now. In just a few hours you'll begin an exciting new life as Lord Morgan's private secretary!"