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

safe.”
    The Duke smiled.
    “You are quite right, William. It would be a great mistake to take any risks and that is why I am determined to make absolutely clear from the very beginning that I am not available as a husband for the Princess.”
    He paused before he added,
    “In fact, it was you who made me aware that it would be very foolish to go to Georgia as a bachelor.”
    “Very foolish indeed,” William agreed. “I only hope now that the photographs are really convincing.”
    “That is up to you, William.”
    “I have never at any time pretended to be a skilled photographer. In point of fact, my photographs have not been particularly good and I am only hoping that with this new and very expensive camera I will be more successful.”
    “I will be extremely annoyed if you are not,” the Duke said, “and it will be embarrassing if we have to ask Miss Lester to do it all over again.”
    “The man in the shop assured me it was foolproof, but I don’t think I could earn my living as a photographer.”
    They both laughed at this.
    Three quarters of an hour later they were driving in at the gates of The Hermitage and, when they came within sight of the house, William gave an exclamation.
    “I had no idea it was so attractive. What a lovely house! No wonder the owner does not want to sell it.”
    “Apparently it has been in the Lester family for years and I agree with you that it must be heartbreaking to have to sell it just to pay for Charles’s extravagance.”
    They drew up outside the front door and the groom, who had been sitting behind them, jumped down to go to the horses’ heads.
    “We will be some time, Jenkins,” the Duke said to the man. “If you would like to take the horses round to the stable yard, you can do so. But I doubt if you will find anyone to help you.”
    “I’ll manage, Your Grace,” Jenkins replied.
    The Duke walked up to the front door to find that it was already open and Brooks was bowing politely.
    “Good afternoon, Your Grace,” he intoned. “Miss Alnina has asked me to show you into the music room and she’ll join you as soon as she’s ready.”
    “I have to change my clothes first,” the Duke said, “and my friend, Mr. Armstrong, is carrying the case.”
    Brooks bent forward to take it from William and, as he put it down on the floor, he said,
    “Perhaps Your Grace would like to see the music room first. Then I’ll take you upstairs, so that Your Grace can change into what you’ll be wearing.”
    “Thank you,” the Duke replied.
    Brooks led the way down the same passage where the Duke had been before when he went to the study.
    At the far end there were double doors, which he had not noticed when he was touring the rest of the house with Alnina.
    Brooks opened both the doors and the Duke saw that what had been the music room, which had doubtless also served as a ballroom, ran the whole length of that side of the house and long windows opened onto the garden.
    It had originally been painted white picked out in gold, but the white had darkened in many places and the gold had faded.
    But Alnina had arranged a mass of flowers at one end of the room with most of them white, as was suitable for a wedding.
    On the wall there was a very beautiful mirror with a carved frame and one glance at it told the Duke that it was a perfect background for a bride and bridegroom.
    He sensed that William was thinking the same, but he did not say so as Brooks was still with them.
    “The gentleman can easily put up his camera here,” Brooks said, “and Miss Alnina was certain that this would be the background Your Grace required for the picture.”
    “Yes, indeed,” the Duke affirmed. “And we are most grateful to have it.”
    “Now, if Your Grace’ll come with me,” Brooks asked, “I’ll take Your Grace upstairs.”
    The Duke followed him, noticing as he did so, how much furniture had clearly disappeared from the corridors and how many pictures were missing on the walls.
    He