Read Online A Duke in Danger by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Cartland
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the door into the kitchen and went on:
“She mended my gowns and even made me a new one from material that had been bought when Mama was alive, to be used for muslin curtains.”
She tried to smile as she spoke, but the Duke knew it was an effort.
“What gave you the idea of pawning the things instead of selling them?” he asked.
“I am not so stupid as not to realise that everything in the Castle is entailed,” Alvina replied, “just as it is in Harlington House in London.”
She drew in her breath before she said:
“To be honest, I went through the inventories very carefully, to find out if there was anything that could be sold, but I could find nothing.”
“So you went to that man Pinchbeck. How did you hear of him?”
“I often think,” Alvina answered in a low voice, “that there is no such thing as chance in life and that everything is meant.”
“I have thought that myself,” the Duke agreed. “When Richard, was at Oxford he had got into debt, and when he came home to ask for money, Papa was in one of his bad moods and gave him a tremendous lecture on extravagance. He paid up, but Richard found to his consternation one bill he had overlooked by mistake.”
Alvina’s voice softened as she went on.
“He brought it to me and said:
“ ‘Look ’Vina,’ ... that was what he used to call me ... ‘I am in a mess and dare not ask Papa for any more, and these people are pressing me.’
“I had no money of my own then, for I was just a child, and then almost as if someone told me what to answer him, I said:
“ ‘I was reading a book the other day about some shops in London with three golden balls outside them, and Miss Richardson told me they were what are called pawn-brokers.’
“When I said that, Richard jumped up and said:
“ ‘How could I have been so stupid? You are a clever girl, ’Vina, and that is where my gold cuff-links, my gold watch, and quite a number of things I have of value will be resting tonight.’
“He kissed me,” Alvina went on, “swung me round in his arms, and said:
“ ‘I have the cleverest sister in the world, and a very pretty one, too.’ ”
“So that is how you know of Emmanuel Pinchbeck,” the Duke remarked.
“Richard told me,” Alvina replied, “what he had managed to borrow on all his things, and afterwards, when Papa was in a good temper and gave him quite a large sum, he got them all back.”
“Well, fortunately enough, you chose an honest pawn-broker,” the Duke said. “Pinchbeck has not disposed of anything you left with him, even though he had been tempted to. As soon as I arrived this morning at Berkeley Square he came to see me.”
“So that is ... how you ... knew,” Alvina whispered.
“Yes.”
“And it made you ... very angry.”
“Very angry indeed,” the Duke said, “because I did not understand.”
“And now you ... do?”
“I can only apologise for misjudging you and for making you more unhappy than you must have been already.”
She gave a little sigh which seemed to come from the depths of her heart, then she said:
“Now there is some money in the Bank. What do you intend to do?”
“I intend,” the Duke said slowly, “to make the Castle look exactly as I remember it when I last saw you, but I am sure you will tell me that first we have to see to the pensioners, the relations, and anyone else who has suffered since your father, or rather Richard, died.”
Alvina gave a little exclamation and clasped her hands together, and once more the tears were glittering in her eyes.
“Do you ... mean that?” she asked almost in a whisper. “Do you really ... mean it?”
“Of course I mean it,” the Duke answered, “but I cannot do all that has to be done, and quickly, unless you help me.”
“Do you ... really want ... me?”
He smiled.
“You know the answer to that question, and, quite frankly, I do not know how to begin until you show me the way.”
“I have written down in a book everything
“She mended my gowns and even made me a new one from material that had been bought when Mama was alive, to be used for muslin curtains.”
She tried to smile as she spoke, but the Duke knew it was an effort.
“What gave you the idea of pawning the things instead of selling them?” he asked.
“I am not so stupid as not to realise that everything in the Castle is entailed,” Alvina replied, “just as it is in Harlington House in London.”
She drew in her breath before she said:
“To be honest, I went through the inventories very carefully, to find out if there was anything that could be sold, but I could find nothing.”
“So you went to that man Pinchbeck. How did you hear of him?”
“I often think,” Alvina answered in a low voice, “that there is no such thing as chance in life and that everything is meant.”
“I have thought that myself,” the Duke agreed. “When Richard, was at Oxford he had got into debt, and when he came home to ask for money, Papa was in one of his bad moods and gave him a tremendous lecture on extravagance. He paid up, but Richard found to his consternation one bill he had overlooked by mistake.”
Alvina’s voice softened as she went on.
“He brought it to me and said:
“ ‘Look ’Vina,’ ... that was what he used to call me ... ‘I am in a mess and dare not ask Papa for any more, and these people are pressing me.’
“I had no money of my own then, for I was just a child, and then almost as if someone told me what to answer him, I said:
“ ‘I was reading a book the other day about some shops in London with three golden balls outside them, and Miss Richardson told me they were what are called pawn-brokers.’
“When I said that, Richard jumped up and said:
“ ‘How could I have been so stupid? You are a clever girl, ’Vina, and that is where my gold cuff-links, my gold watch, and quite a number of things I have of value will be resting tonight.’
“He kissed me,” Alvina went on, “swung me round in his arms, and said:
“ ‘I have the cleverest sister in the world, and a very pretty one, too.’ ”
“So that is how you know of Emmanuel Pinchbeck,” the Duke remarked.
“Richard told me,” Alvina replied, “what he had managed to borrow on all his things, and afterwards, when Papa was in a good temper and gave him quite a large sum, he got them all back.”
“Well, fortunately enough, you chose an honest pawn-broker,” the Duke said. “Pinchbeck has not disposed of anything you left with him, even though he had been tempted to. As soon as I arrived this morning at Berkeley Square he came to see me.”
“So that is ... how you ... knew,” Alvina whispered.
“Yes.”
“And it made you ... very angry.”
“Very angry indeed,” the Duke said, “because I did not understand.”
“And now you ... do?”
“I can only apologise for misjudging you and for making you more unhappy than you must have been already.”
She gave a little sigh which seemed to come from the depths of her heart, then she said:
“Now there is some money in the Bank. What do you intend to do?”
“I intend,” the Duke said slowly, “to make the Castle look exactly as I remember it when I last saw you, but I am sure you will tell me that first we have to see to the pensioners, the relations, and anyone else who has suffered since your father, or rather Richard, died.”
Alvina gave a little exclamation and clasped her hands together, and once more the tears were glittering in her eyes.
“Do you ... mean that?” she asked almost in a whisper. “Do you really ... mean it?”
“Of course I mean it,” the Duke answered, “but I cannot do all that has to be done, and quickly, unless you help me.”
“Do you ... really want ... me?”
He smiled.
“You know the answer to that question, and, quite frankly, I do not know how to begin until you show me the way.”
“I have written down in a book everything
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