Read Online 63 Ola and the Sea Wolf by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barbara Cartland
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sensible,” the Marquis said. “It is extremely rough outside now. The wind is cold and there are gusts of sleet which are very unpleasant.”
“All the same you look as if you have enjoyed it!” Ola remarked. “Perhaps you will let me go on deck tomorrow?”
“It depends if it is safe.”
Ola gave a little laugh.
“I believe you are afraid that I shall break my leg and then you will not be able to be rid of me unless you throw me overboard!”
What she was saying was so near to what the Marquis was thinking himself that he felt almost embarrassed.
He did not reply and Ola added,
“I promise you I will go ashore the moment you tell me to do so, but there is one thing I want to ask you.”
“What is that?”
“As we are going to Bordeaux and it is a town I have never visited and therefore know very little about, do you think that there is a good jeweller there?”
“A jeweller?” the Marquis asked in perplexity.” What do you want with a jeweller?”
It flashed through his mind that she might be expecting him to give her a present. He remembered so many women who had somehow lured him into a jeweller’s so that he could demonstrate his affection for them in what to them was a very much more practical manner than by kisses.
Ola looked down as if she was shy and then said in a small voice,
“I think – if I could have landed at Calais – I would have had enough – money to reach Paris – but, as Bordeaux is so much further away – I shall have to – sell some of my jewellery – and I don’t wish to be – defrauded.”
“Surely you did not set off from home without having enough money to carry you to Paris?” the Marquis asked. “How much did you bring?”
There was silence and he had a feeling she was not going to tell him the truth.
“Don’t lie to me!” he said sharply. “Quite frankly, I am not really interested in your finances one way or another. If you want my help, you had better at least be honest.”
“I-I was not going to – lie,” Ola replied. “I just did not wish you to think that I was – foolish to bring so little money with me.”
“How much have you got?”
“F-four sovereigns – and some – silver.”
Before the Marquis could speak she added quickly,
“Because Giles was coming with me – I thought it would be – enough.”
“So you intended that he should pay for you, even before you learnt he wished to marry you?” the Marquis said scornfully.
“Not at all!” Ola retorted. “He knew that, as Step-Mama has the handling of my fortune. she could pay him back anything I owed him – or else I would have given him a piece of – Mama’s jewellery. It is very valuable!”
“Dear God! Do you mean to say that you are carrying it all in that case you had with you last night?”
Ola nodded.
“My dear child,” the Marquis said in exasperation, “do you really imagine that you can reach Paris without having it stolen from you and perhaps being knocked about or killed in the process?”
“There is – nothing else I – can do,” Ola said defensively.
She gave a little cry.
“Oh, it is easy for you to find fault and say, ‘ you should have known better !’ now that everything has gone wrong, but I trusted Giles when he said he would take me to the Convent. Now last night I thought of – something – else.”
“What is that?” the Marquis asked in an unsympathetic tone.
“Because Giles knows where I intended to go, he will, when he is better, look for me there – so I cannot now stay at the – Convent.
The Marquis looked at her.
Then where do you intend to go?”
“I have not yet decided.”
“But you have to go somewhere.”
“Yes, I know, but there is no reason for me to worry you with my plans. You have made it quite clear that I am not your responsibility, which of course, I am not.”
“No, of course not,” the Marquis agreed. “At the same time I am curious. You did mention an alternative last night, I
“All the same you look as if you have enjoyed it!” Ola remarked. “Perhaps you will let me go on deck tomorrow?”
“It depends if it is safe.”
Ola gave a little laugh.
“I believe you are afraid that I shall break my leg and then you will not be able to be rid of me unless you throw me overboard!”
What she was saying was so near to what the Marquis was thinking himself that he felt almost embarrassed.
He did not reply and Ola added,
“I promise you I will go ashore the moment you tell me to do so, but there is one thing I want to ask you.”
“What is that?”
“As we are going to Bordeaux and it is a town I have never visited and therefore know very little about, do you think that there is a good jeweller there?”
“A jeweller?” the Marquis asked in perplexity.” What do you want with a jeweller?”
It flashed through his mind that she might be expecting him to give her a present. He remembered so many women who had somehow lured him into a jeweller’s so that he could demonstrate his affection for them in what to them was a very much more practical manner than by kisses.
Ola looked down as if she was shy and then said in a small voice,
“I think – if I could have landed at Calais – I would have had enough – money to reach Paris – but, as Bordeaux is so much further away – I shall have to – sell some of my jewellery – and I don’t wish to be – defrauded.”
“Surely you did not set off from home without having enough money to carry you to Paris?” the Marquis asked. “How much did you bring?”
There was silence and he had a feeling she was not going to tell him the truth.
“Don’t lie to me!” he said sharply. “Quite frankly, I am not really interested in your finances one way or another. If you want my help, you had better at least be honest.”
“I-I was not going to – lie,” Ola replied. “I just did not wish you to think that I was – foolish to bring so little money with me.”
“How much have you got?”
“F-four sovereigns – and some – silver.”
Before the Marquis could speak she added quickly,
“Because Giles was coming with me – I thought it would be – enough.”
“So you intended that he should pay for you, even before you learnt he wished to marry you?” the Marquis said scornfully.
“Not at all!” Ola retorted. “He knew that, as Step-Mama has the handling of my fortune. she could pay him back anything I owed him – or else I would have given him a piece of – Mama’s jewellery. It is very valuable!”
“Dear God! Do you mean to say that you are carrying it all in that case you had with you last night?”
Ola nodded.
“My dear child,” the Marquis said in exasperation, “do you really imagine that you can reach Paris without having it stolen from you and perhaps being knocked about or killed in the process?”
“There is – nothing else I – can do,” Ola said defensively.
She gave a little cry.
“Oh, it is easy for you to find fault and say, ‘ you should have known better !’ now that everything has gone wrong, but I trusted Giles when he said he would take me to the Convent. Now last night I thought of – something – else.”
“What is that?” the Marquis asked in an unsympathetic tone.
“Because Giles knows where I intended to go, he will, when he is better, look for me there – so I cannot now stay at the – Convent.
The Marquis looked at her.
Then where do you intend to go?”
“I have not yet decided.”
“But you have to go somewhere.”
“Yes, I know, but there is no reason for me to worry you with my plans. You have made it quite clear that I am not your responsibility, which of course, I am not.”
“No, of course not,” the Marquis agreed. “At the same time I am curious. You did mention an alternative last night, I
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