104. A Heart Finds Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

not the gold is still there. After all, it’s nearly four years since we found it.”
    “I am quite certain that the Prince then had no idea there was gold on his land and, if he did find it later, you would have heard about it.”
    “You may be right or you may be wrong,” William pointed out. “But I am perfectly willing to come with you. I always enjoy Georgia, it has a charm that very few other countries can boast.”
    “That is what I have always felt,” the Duke said. “But I want to make quite certain I don’t have to marry one of their women.”
    “You will have to marry someone sooner or later,” William remarked.
    “Why? I have learnt my lesson where women are concerned and I want to make it quite clear, once and for all, that I will never marry.”
    He gave a laugh before he went on,
    “I was foolish enough to think that I was in love when I was comparatively young, but now I have enough common sense just to play the field.”
    “Well, you then bet me a thousand pounds to a threepenny bit and that one thousand pounds is what I am determined to win,” William said. “It will not only be Prince Vladimir Petrov trying to get you up the aisle with his daughter, but I will be pushing from behind!”
    The Duke picked up a cushion and threw it at him.
    “You are making a nuisance of yourself, William. I have heard quite enough of all this from my relatives and you know as well as I do that I have no intention of making a fool of myself for a second time. Once is quite enough.”
    William did not answer.
    Then unexpectedly the Duke laughed again.
    “I am just thinking how much it must be annoying my ex-fiancée that she has lost a Duke.”
    “You said that before,” William replied, “and, as I hear she now has two sons, I think for the moment at any rate that she is nearer to the winning post than you.”
    “Two sons!” the Duke exclaimed before he could prevent himself.
    Then he shrugged his shoulders.
    “She is welcome to them and so is her husband. Personally I prefer my freedom and it is my freedom I wish to keep, not only now but as long as I live.”
    William chuckled and then he said,
    “We have had this conversation before and I would suggest that it’s banned in the future. Let’s consider what camera I will buy tomorrow morning and which brand is most likely to take the best photographs.”
    “I have never taken that much interest in them,” the Duke said. “It’s extraordinary to me that the Queen is so obsessed by photographs that her sitting room is filled with pictures of her children and, of course, the much lamented Prince Albert.”
    “Are you suggesting that we should ask the Queen where to buy the best camera so you can display yourself and your supposed bride?”
    “I cannot for the moment think of anyone else who is particularly keen on photography,” the Duke answered. “What I should do, William, is to buy a camera which is recommended for a non-professional for the taking of the best photographs and make it clear to the man in the shop that, if it is no good, you will demand your money back.”
    “I am not likely to get that. At the same time I don’t want you to be disappointed. I saw some photographs of some of my relatives the other day that were absolutely appalling. In fact, it was difficult to recognise them.”
    “All that really matters is to show the gown and that it is worn by a woman with me standing beside her. No one in the wilds of the Caucasus is likely to ask too many questions about my wife.”
    He paused a moment, then declared firmly,
    “I simply have to convince Prince Vladimir that I am a married man and so unavailable as a son-in-law.”
    He stopped short and then added,
    “It has suddenly struck me, William, why has he not thought of you? After all, your father was a rich man who owned a large amount of land.”
    “Yes, but he did not have a title and it’s a title that matters on the Continent and a great deal in Mayfair as