No Time For Love (Bantam Series No. 40) by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

you want me to see her as soon as possible?” Wynstan said in a resigned voice. “I will do it, but I would like to point out that it is extremely inconvenient. I have a new car being delivered tomorrow and there are two polo ponies I wish to train before the games start in May.”
    “Polo ponies!” Harvey said with a groan which was also a sound of contempt.
    “I have an idea!” Gary said suddenly.
    Both brothers turned to look at him.
    “What is it?” Wynstan enquired.
    “I have just thought that the election will be reported in the English newspapers. Even if this girl had no idea who Elvin was when he was in Switzerland, she will read about Harvey and they may easily mention Elvin’s death. Then she will know—”
    “Just how much money she can get out of us!” Harvey interjected. “She would up her price every day of the campaign.”
    Wynstan did not speak and Harvey went on:
    “Gary is right—of course he is right! It is no use your seeing her in London and trying to keep her quiet. You have got to get her away. Take her to France—Spain—Italy—anywhere so long as the newspapers are not delivered regularly every morning.”
    “We have no reason to suppose that she already knows that Elvin was a Vanderfeld,” Wynstan said.
    “We have no reason to be sure she does not!” Harvey retorted. “It would be a mistake to take a risk. Besides although Elvin became pathetically thin after he got so ill, there is a likeness about us all. Mama has often remarked on it.”
    “And added that Wynstan is much the best-looking!” Gary said.
    “Do not let it make you jealous!” Wynstan remarked. “It is often a liability!”
    “You can hardly expect us to believe that!” Gary laughed. “You know as well as I do, Wynstan, that the girls fall down like a set of ninepins whenever you appear.”
    “I tell you it is often a liability!” Wynstan insisted.
    “Oh, keep to the point!” Harvey said irritably. “Gary has had a good idea. We must consider it. Where can you take her, Wynstan?”
    “Presuming of course that she will go with me,” Wynstan replied. “I presume also that you want me to tell her that Elvin is dead?”
    “No, I have a better idea,” Harvey said.
    “What is it?”
    “In this cable she has sent to Elvin she has begged him to come to her, and it is obvious that he promised her he would. Well then, he must keep his promise.”
    “What do you mean by that?” Wynstan asked.
    Harvey’s eyes narrowed a little, as those who did business with him on Wall Street knew always happened when he was doing a big deal.
    “We will send her a cable from Elvin saying that he will meet her at the Villa. That ought to get her away from London.”
    “The Villa in Sorrento?” Wynstan asked. “Good Lord, I have not been there for years!”
    “Grace and I spent a fortnight there in 1900.” Gary said. “It is being kept up in just the same way as when grandfather built it, or rather restored it to its Roman glory, and spent a fortune in the process!”
    “As a matter of fact I would rather like to see it again,” Wynstan said. “I remember as a child thinking it was the most beautiful place in the world.”
    “Then that is settled,” Harvey said briskly determined to get back to business. “We will send her a telegram and sign it with Elvin’s name.”
    “You had better take it to the Post Office yourself. It cannot be sent from here. Renour must not know about this.”
    “Supposing she refuses to go?” Gary said. “Besides, you cannot expect a woman to travel all that way alone.”
    “No, of course not,” Harvey said impatiently. “Why do we keep that large, expensive office in London except to do what they are told in a situation like this?”
    His lips tightened, then he went on:
    “On second thought, we will cable Donaldson to see this woman and persuade her to go to Italy.”
    He paused to explain:
    “No point in her receiving anything else signed by Elvin—it might strengthen