A Perfect Way to Heaven by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-908303-60-8
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER SIX

It was an icy afternoon and Delphine, wrapped in furs, was strolling in the garden with the Prince. She clung on his arm and giggled at his every remark, although it was doubtful if she understood a single word.

Following them Elvira eyed the train of Delphine’s cloak trailing in the snow. How she would have liked to tread on it – oh, so lightly – and see it slide from her shoulders!

Anything to interrupt the extravagant display of courtship that went on daily under everyone’s nose.

Since protocol demanded that Delphine and her suitor should never be left alone together, Elvira had been forced to spend many hours in their wake.

Serge usually joined them to aid the Prince in his halting attempts at conversation with Delphine.

As the days passed, however, eyes and hands began to do the work of translation. Serge became redundant, yet still he accompanied his Master.

Elvira would glance at the valet and find his eyes fixed so broodingly on the couple ahead that at last a wondrous thought struck her.

‘Serge has fallen in love with Delphine, just as I have fallen in love with the Prince!’

She heard the crunch of Serge’s boots on the snow behind her and imagined him feeling as desolate as herself at the constant display of the lovebirds.

Then she almost blushed as if he could read her thoughts. She was sure he would not relish knowing that she had guessed his secret nor would he welcome her sympathy.

Ahead of her Delphine and the Prince stopped in front of the frozen lake.

The Prince drew even closer to her and murmured something in her ear. Delphine let out a peel of laughter that sounded to Elvira like the cracking of thin ice.

She shivered and drew her cape tight about her shoulders glad of its thick folds.

That it was the cape Serge had given her at the old woman’s cottage did not escape her awareness.

She did offer to return it to Serge the very day after his arrival, but he seemed to guess that it was her only protection against the bitter cold.

Since that polite exchange, neither she nor Serge had alluded to the night they passed together at the cottage.

It was as if it had never occurred.

She started as she heard Serge’s soft voice at her elbow.

“The air is more than usually icy this afternoon.”

She stared down, stirring the soft snow with the toe of her boot.

Before Serge could say any more, Delphine turned at the lake and called to him.

“Find us some stones to skim over the lake, will you?”

Elvira flinched at her cousin’s imperious tone, but Serge did not hesitate. Taking his cap from his head, he knelt to scour the ground.

Delphine’s eyes met Elvira’s for a moment and flashed with something like amusement before turning to link her arm again with the Prince.

Elvira had already seen this look in her cousin’s eye. Delphine treated the valet with little courtesy and was often downright rude to him, knowing that the Prince could not understand what she was saying and seemed oblivious to her tone.

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