A Dangerous Disguise by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page B

ten o'clock she made her way downstairs. The Duke was waiting for her, dressed in an immaculately tailored jacket, riding breeches and gleaming black boots. As soon as he saw her, he bowed.
    "Good morning, Fraulein Schmidt," he said. "Your humble escort has arrived, and he thinks you look like the sun itself. Every man who sees you with me will be jealous that I have beaten him to the winning post."
    She laughed aloud with delight.
    "You speak as if I were a horse," she teased.
    "No, you're the prize. Now, come with me, and let me show you a marvel."
    She followed him out of the hotel to where a groom was standing on the pavement, holding three horses. One was his own mount, one was a powerful black stallion, the last was a dainty little milk white mare.
    Ola exclaimed with pleasure at the sight of the mare.
    "She is yours?"
    "No. Don't tell anyone, but I borrowed her from the royal stables. Come, let me help you mount."
    With his hands on her waist, she was swiftly in the saddle.
    "Now we're going to Rotten Row," he said.
    Her heart soared with joy. Whatever the problems, she would worry about them later. For now there was only this perfect day, this man, this happiness.

 CHAPTER FOUR
    "Are we far from Hyde Park?" Ola asked as they cantered along Piccadilly.
    "No, it's just at the end of this road, just beyond that archway," replied her escort.
    A huge elaborately carved arch loomed up before them, and when they had passed it they were entering the great Hyde Park, with its walk ways and carriage ways for society to display itself.
    Ola drew in a quick, delighted breath at the sight of so many gorgeously dressed people in summer colours. Here were the carriages, with coats of arms on their panels, indicating the aristocratic status of those who sat inside.
    As they passed they greeted each other with precisely graded nods, so that nobody was insulted by being accorded less acknowledgement than their due, or much worse, more acknowledgement than their due.
    How elegant they were, Ola thought. The vehicles gleamed, the horses shone, the coachmen sat proudly. The ladies, under their summer parasols, wore their finery with ease.
    Many of them were young girls, out riding with their Mamas, showing themselves at the right time and place so that likely suitors with enough money and status could look them over and consider whether to bid for them. This was clearly one facet of what the Duke had called the marriage mart.
    Some of the Mamas waved to him, and imperiously ordered their coachmen to halt, forcing the Duke to draw up beside them. He introduced 'Fraulein Schmidt', whose beauty drew looks of alarm from the women and appreciation from the men.
    One carriage was occupied by the Countess of Selbourne, taking the air with her two daughters, her son, Gilbert riding at the rear. The Countess virtually commanded the Duke to ride alongside her, and it seemed as though they would never escape, until Ola had the inspired idea of flirting madly with Gilbert. After that the Duke speedily made his excuses and drew her away.
    "He's a spendthrift," he said, sounding annoyed, as they made their way to Rotten Row. "Don't waste your time on him."
    "But it wasn't a waste of time," said Ola merrily. "It made you take action, which was the idea."
    "Do you mean you deliberately - ?" He stopped, staring at her. She was laughing at him outright.
    "Of course," she said.
    "Well, I'll be – I suppose I should have expected that."
    "So that was the marriage mart?"
    "Some of it. It's at its most intense in a ballroom, of course. Oh, how I wish I could take you to the Palace ball. Every man would envy me, and I would like to introduce you to the Queen."
    "No, that's not possible," Ola said quickly. "It will be enough if I see her in her carriage. Is this carriage-way the route she will take?"
    "Sometimes. And there is Rotten Row, just ahead."
    They cantered into the broad avenue where thoroughbred horses could already be seen making their way, bearing