Love At Last by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78213-094-9
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER SIX

Ivan sat at the desk in his suite at the Embassy.

In front of him was a piece of writing paper.

He had every intention of writing a letter to Cecilia expressing profound regret that he was unable to accept her kind invitation for the weekend. But something seemed to be stopping him.

Then a footman came in and announced that the Honourable Algy had called.

Ivan sprang up in relief.

“Excellent, please show him into the small salon, and bring a bottle of champagne.”

He pushed away the piece of writing paper – that could wait until later.

“My dear fellow, how good of you to come,” Ivan began as he entered the salon. “Have you any news from the Racecourse?”

“Don’t waste time on preliminaries, do you, Ivan?” Algy grinned.

Ivan threw himself into a chair.

“Algy, this is serious, I found out yesterday that my cousin Peter is in London. He has been sending invitations to everyone who matters for some Exhibition of Voskian Folk Art. Peter has never been interested in art – he can only be here for one reason – to plot against me.”

“I say, old fellow, steady on. Isn’t the chap allowed to visit his own Embassy without you suspecting him of foul motives?”

The champagne arrived and Ivan told the footman that he would pour it out himself and as soon as they were alone, he turned back to Algy,

“You don’t know my cousin Peter.”

The cork popped and then Ivan filled two glasses and handed one to his friend.

“The Racecourse, Algy?”

“Nothing doing there, old thing. They are all very regretful, but say no one was able to identify the horse or its rider, who seemed to disappear just before the boy was injured. Onlookers said that the rider was thrown, got up without injury and walked away.

“The horse was then abandoned, but, here’s a thing. When it was finally caught and unsaddled, there was a big prickly burr under the saddle. No wonder the poor animal went so berserk, it must have caused infinite pain. I’m not surprised it threw its jockey.”

Ivan sat up straight.

“Much more likely he decided to jump. I think the whole thing was planned!”

Algy regarded him dubiously.

“That’s ridiculous, old boy.”

Ivan studied the polish on his boots before saying,

“I think I am going to have to excuse myself from Lady Cecilia’s invitation for the weekend.”

“Where did that notion come from? For Heaven’s sake, Ivan, you can’t do that. I’ve been invited too and the lovely Rosalind is going to be there!”

Ivan waved a dismissive hand.

He had already turned down an invitation to dine with Rosalind’s parents pleading a previous engagement.

“And I know Cecilia isn’t exactly the prettiest girl in the world and she is, I suppose, almost on the shelf, but my goodness, Ivan, she has as much money as any fella could ever wish for.”

Ivan sat up abruptly.

“Algy, you are a complete philistine. Lady Cecilia is far more attractive than those silly little girls who think they are so pretty. I would call her stunning. She is also

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