Read Online Rivals for Love by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B

could possibly be used against you or, more importantly, against the Duke.”
    She now put out both her hands to touch her niece affectionately.
    â€œYou are a very intelligent young lady, Elva, and remember that men often take unnecessary risks and it is our job as women to protect them from themselves.”
    â€œI thought they were there to protect us, Aunt Violet!”
    â€œThat is what they like to think and believe, but a clever woman can indeed protect a man. She often knows instinctively when danger is looming while he takes things entirely at their face value.”
    â€œI understand what you are saying, Aunt Violet, but I never imagined I might have to look after someone so prestigious and so resourceful as the Duke.”
    Lady Violet smiled.
    â€œEven the most powerful man was a little boy at one time and he never really grows up. If you are a true woman, you are always there to comfort and make a fuss of a man when he most needs it.”
    Elva gave a little laugh.
    â€œI just cannot imagine the Duke turning to me for comfort,” she said. “He is only too well aware of his own position in the world, and I am quite certain he thinks that like the Czar Peter he always knows best.”
    â€œWell, in the case of St. Petersburg the Czar was surely right. So I can only hope that Cousin Varin will be the same. But remember that your job is to look after him and make him happy. Just as his job is to protect you from any physical danger.”
    â€œI certainly hope he will do so,” cried Elva. “I do not want to be shot by mistake, shut up in a fortress or tortured until I tell the Russians what they want to know.”
    â€œI can only pray that nothing like that happens. In the meantime, dearest, be on the lookout and trust no one. If it comes to that – not even your own shadow.”
    â€œNo, it is becoming a real adventure with Russian dragons lurking round the corner to eat me up! Doubtless robbers, highwaymen and pirates are planning how they can capture and hold us to ransom!”
    â€œOnce again, my dear, you are turning it all into a fairy story.”
    â€œ But ,” emphasised Elva, “you have forgotten that my fairy story, as you called it, has come true. I am going abroad and I am going to visit at least one City I have always wanted to see.”
    She gave a deep sigh.
    â€œA week ago it all seemed impossible, but now the impossible has become very much the possible. How could it be anything but a miracle?”
    She spoke with a joy and excitement in her voice that was very moving.
    As Elva rushed from the room, Lady Violet looked worried.
    â€˜She is so young and impetuous,’ she pondered. ‘I do hope she will not come to any harm or be disappointed in any way.’
    As she walked slowly from the room after Elva, she was quietly wondering even at this eleventh hour, if she should prevent this young girl from going on such an adventure. If not properly handled it might easily cause a scandal or end in disaster.
    Upstairs in her bedroom Elva was supervising her packing.
    She thought the dresses she had bought to wear for debutante balls were reasonably attractive, but they would surely be somewhat unsuitable for any party given in the Winter Palace or in any of the other great Palaces in St. Petersburg.
    However, the clothes she and her aunt had bought that morning in Bond Street were all in bright colours and much more suitable for a young married woman.
    They were, as the vendeuse had informed them, the very latest designs and the height of fashion.
    Because Elva was so slim, the models, which had really been made entirely for show, fitted her perfectly.
    It meant she had to pay a little more for the dresses than they would have paid if the gowns had been replicas for sale.
    But Elva could not wait.
    â€œWe shall have a great deal of trouble replacing all these designs,” grumbled the vendeuse.
    â€œI am sure that you will be able