The Sleeping Princess by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788671514
Published: 2019-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Odela had tried to sleep, but it was impossible.

Her heart was still thumping and she was dreadfully worried that Fred Cotter would dispose of the picture before anybody could stop him.

Supposing the Marquis, when he read her note, asked everybody in the house who had written it?

He would then discover that he had a guest in his house who he had never heard of and undoubtedly he would then demand to see her immediately.

‘I must go away,’ she decided, ‘at least for the day.’

She jumped out of bed, dressed herself rapidly and ran to Nanny’s room.

Nanny was fast asleep with Betty in her cot beside her.

Odela touched her shoulder and Nanny was instantly alert, as if one of her charges had called for her.

“It’s me, Nanny,” Odela whispered.

“What is it?” Nanny asked.

In a very low voice Odela recounted all that had happened.

“I remember that Fred Cotter,” Nanny remarked. “He’s a real bad one, he be!”

“Yes, I know, Nanny, and I could not let him take the beautiful Van Dyck portrait of the first Marquis.”

She realised that Nanny had never seen it, but felt that she understood.

“I am going to take Dragonfly,” Odela went on, “and stay out all day. By the time I return the Marquis will have his picture back and not be asking any more questions of the household.”

Nanny seemed to think that this was the only thing to do.

Odela kissed her and tiptoed from the bedroom so that she should not waken Betty.

She ran down the stairs and going out through the back door saw that it was nearly dawn and that the stars were growing fainter overhead.

She went straight to Dragonfly’s stall, which was at the far end of the stables. Everything was very quiet and she thought that the stable boy who was in charge was asleep.

It was no trouble for her to bridle and saddle Dragonfly as she had done it so many times before.

She led him out into the yard and stood him by the mounting block. He stayed still until she was safely seated in the saddle.

Then, as she picked up the reins, he moved, impatient to be off and delighted to be going out.

She took him out of the stables by the back way and onto the flat land.

Then she gave Dragonfly his head and settled down to really enjoy herself.

*

The Marquis was woken at eight o’clock by his valet pulling back the curtains.

He stretched out his arms still feeling tired after so few hours of sleep.

Then to his surprise his valet came to the side of the bed.

“Excuse me, my Lord,” he said, “but Mr. Newton wants to see you urgent-like.”

Newton was the butler and the Earl asked in surprise,

“What does he want?”

“’E’ll tell you ’imself, my Lord,” the valet replied and went to open the door.

The Marquis raised himself on his pillows and pushed the hair back from his forehead.

As the butler came into the room, he asked sharply,

“What is this all about, Newton?”

“I’m sorry to disturb your

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