In Search of Love by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-906950-84-2
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER SIX

The next morning Vanda breakfasted alone in her room. After waiting for her in the restaurant downstairs, Robert came to find her.

He was forced to admit that she looked a picture sitting at a table in the alcove by the window. The sun, streaming into the room, brought out blue highlights in her black hair. Her gown was made of soft fine wool in a delicate tawny shade that suited her perfectly.

For a moment his admiration checked the words he had meant to utter. But the moment passed.

“You might have informed me of your decision to take breakfast in your room,” he said.

“I saw no need to inform you,” she declared in austere tones. “I did not wish for your company this morning.”

“May I enquire why?”

“I should have thought that the reason must be perfectly obvious to you,” she replied, in a voice that was even cooler. “Your behaviour last night was not that of a gentleman.”

“My behaviour was that of any reasonable man driven beyond endurance by nauseating sentimentality.”

Vanda regarded him as she might have done a worm.

“Is it nauseating for Piero to declare his love for me?”

“It is if he does it to the whole world. I would think more of his so-called love if he declared it in private.”

“What you think is neither here nor there. Piero does not seek your approval, sir, and neither do I.”

“For pity's sake, Vanda, stop talking like the heroine of a cheap melodrama. Piero is after your fortune.”

Her magnificent eyes flashed.

“Indeed? That's your opinion of me is it? That no man could want me unless tempted by the promise of money? What an insult!”

“I did not say that,” he said. “And stop trying to pick a quarrel with me. I am wise to your tricks these days.”

“I don't know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do. You do these things just for the pleasure of seeing men run around you. I thought you had more sense than that, Vanda.”

“I used to. I have had 'more sense than that' all my life. Now I am discovering what fun it can be not to have sense.

“You are a man, Robert. Men always enjoy freedom, so you cannot understand how badly I want to be free. I want to feel that I can make up my own mind and do what suits me.”

“And what suits you is what happened last night, is it? A lunatic caterwauling under your window.”

“I was enjoying it until you intervened – trying to order me inside as though you were my father.”

“Perhaps I spoke a little too strongly. I merely disliked seeing him make an exhibition of you.”

But that was the wrong point to make. Vanda jumped up from her seat and rounded on him furiously.

“Then you are going to be disappointed, sir, because from now on I plan to spend every moment with Piero. And if you dare to disapprove, so much the worse for you!”

Robert too rose to his feet.

“Then let me make it clear that there are antics that I shall not tolerate from you.

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