108. An Archangel Called Ivan by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page B

he said. “I think you’ll find it very dull.”
    “I have already been told so,” Arliva replied. “But, as I am going to look after children, I should expect that they will keep me busy.”
    “So you’re a Governess!” the man exclaimed.
    Arliva nodded.
    There was silence for a moment before he said,
    “It’s only the rich who can afford a Governess for their children. I was sent to school almost as soon as I could toddle and I hated the other children who teased me and knocked me about until I was old enough to hit them back.”
    “Which I am sure you did very effectively.”
    She realised that he was nearly six foot tall and had a determined attitude about him and it made her think that he would always get his own way.
    “I don’t suppose you’re interested,” he said, “but I’ve had to fight hard for my place in life and now I’ve got it I’m really determined not to lose it. That means using my brain twenty-four hours a day.”
    “What do you do,” Arliva asked, “which makes it such hard work?”
    “I’m running a business that makes certain products for this country and I am striving in every way possible to encourage a demand for them overseas.”
    “It sounds exciting!” Arliva exclaimed. “At least you can move about and not stay stuck in one place which might be dull.”
    “You’re quite right,” he agreed, “but sometimes I find it very hard when I’m wanted in two or three places at the same time and there’s no way of getting there faster than the train will take me.”
    “Is that what you are doing now?” Arliva asked.
    “It is,” he affirmed, “so I don’t suppose that I’ll be seeing you again, which I would like to do.”
    Arliva looked at him enquiringly.
    Then he said,
    “You are the prettiest young girl I’ve seen for a long time and that’s a considerable compliment because I see a great many of them one way or another as I travel around.”
    “Thank you,” Arliva answered, “you encourage me to feel that I may be a success in the new job I have just undertaken.”
    She thought as she spoke how amused her father would be at her doing anything so unnecessary as working for her living.
    At the same time she knew it was the first step in her determination to meet people who liked her for herself and not for what she possessed.
    Because she thought it a mistake to talk too much about herself, she said,
    “Do tell me which countries you are working in at the moment. I have done a little travelling and I always thought that the salesmen in France are more polite and efficient than those in other countries.”
    He considered what she said before he replied,
    “I think you are right. I also find that I get on very well with the Italians, although you have to make sure that they pay up before you deliver the goods.”
    “That must apply to many countries, but I am sure that you are clever enough to prevent them from tricking you,” Arliva commented.
    “I try to be,” he replied. “But as you doubtless will know the world is full of people who want something for nothing and those who find it more amusing to trick you than to play the game fairly, so to speak.”
    “I know exactly what you are saying to me,” Arliva agreed. “My father thought the same and, when I travelled with him, he always warned me against trusting a foreigner too far and making sure that I received full value for the money I spent.”
    “Your father was clearly very wise,” the man said. “But I think you’ll find where you’re going the country folk are slow and you’ll not find anyone bright enough to trick you even if they wanted to do so!”
    “You are very encouraging,” Arliva smiled.
    The young man was silent for a moment and she sensed that he was considering her in detail as he puffed at his cigarette.
    Then he said,
    “You are too pretty to be working for your living. Just you watch out for those who’ll be after you like a fox after a chicken. Lock your bedroom door