“What you think is neither here nor there. Piero does not seek your approval, sir, and neither do I.”
“For pity's sake, Vanda, stop talking like the heroine of a cheap melodrama. Piero is after your fortune.”
Her magnificent eyes flashed.
“Indeed? That's your opinion of me is it? That no man could want me unless tempted by the promise of money? What an insult!”
“I did not say that,” he said. “And stop trying to pick a quarrel with me. I am wise to your tricks these days.”
“I don't know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. You do these things just for the pleasure of seeing men run around you. I thought you had more sense than that, Vanda.”
“I used to. I have had 'more sense than that' all my life. Now I am discovering what fun it can be not to have sense.
“You are a man, Robert. Men always enjoy freedom, so you cannot understand how badly I want to be free. I want to feel that I can make up my own mind and do what suits me.”
“And what suits you is what happened last night, is it? A lunatic caterwauling under your window.”
“I was enjoying it until you intervened – trying to order me inside as though you were my father.”
“Perhaps I spoke a little too strongly. I merely disliked seeing him make an exhibition of you.”
But that was the wrong point to make. Vanda jumped up from her seat and rounded on him furiously.
“Then you are going to be disappointed, sir, because from now on I plan to spend every moment with Piero. And if you dare to disapprove, so much the worse for you!”
Robert too rose to his feet.
“Then let me make it clear that there are antics that I shall not tolerate from you.”
“What I do is none of your business.”
“As long as you are posing as my sister, your decorum – or rather your lack of it – is very much my business. From now on I prefer you to have nothing to do with this man.”
“And let me make myself clear,” she flashed. “I and I alone will decide who my friends are. You have no authority over me.”
“Vanda, we are leaving Paris today. I suggest you begin immediate preparations for our departure.”
“I shall do no such thing. I am going downstairs now. I shall spend the day sightseeing. Perhaps Piero will accompany me.”
Before he could reply she had placed her hat on her head and flounced out in high dudgeon.
Robert ground his teeth.
Had there ever been such an impossible, infuriating woman?
Had there ever been a woman so magnificent?
The memory of her dark, flashing eyes made him smile.
Then he thought of Piero and the way she revelled in the Italian's company, and his smile faded.
He guessed that he ought to have stopped her leaving. Always assuming that he could have stopped her. He was no longer sure of his power to prevent her from doing anything.
He headed for the door, wondering if he was in time to catch up with her.
But as he reached out for the handle, the door opened violently, Vanda came flying into the room and threw herself recklessly into his arms.
“Oh, Robert, it's really terrible!” she cried fiercely.
“Hey, steady there,” Robert urged, holding onto her.
He stepped back into the room, kicking the door closed and keeping hold of her.
“What has happened to upset you?” he asked.
She was panting and wild-eyed.
“Something shocking,” she howled, “something that throws all our plans into disarray.”
He paled, but by now he was becoming accustomed to her taste for melodrama.
“Calm down,” he said, “and try to tell me what has happened that is so dreadful.”
“I was on my way downstairs when I saw him,” she gasped. “Luckily I had time to step back and I don't think he saw me, but if he did, it is a crisis and I do not see how we are ever going to come out of it.”
“Come out of what?” he asked, keeping his patience with an effort.
“It is just going to be so awful, and I don't know why we didn't think of something like this –”
“Something like what?”
“But what could we have done? I didn't know that he meant to come to Paris, and even if I had I couldn't –”
“Vanda, will you stop talking like a feather-brain and tell me what has happened? Who have you seen?”
She stared at Robert as if he were mad.
“Him!”
“Who? – before I strangle you!”
“Lord Cranbon – Papa's dearest friend.”
“Good grief!”
“If he sees me – oh, he mustn't! He simply mustn't.”
“No, we have to leave here quickly,” he agreed.
“But where shall we go?”
“To the railway station and then we will catch the first train out. Going anywhere. Start getting ready while I see to the bill. Where was he when you saw him?”
“At the reception desk. He seemed to be checking in.”
“Let's hope he isn't still there.”
“Does he know you?” Vanda asked anxiously.
“I am afraid he does. Hurry now.”
He slipped out of the room and along the corridor to the head of the stairs. There he stopped.
Down below he could see Lord Cranbon, just as Vanda had described, still standing at the reception desk. There was no chance of avoiding him. Robert hastily returned to his room.
“John,” he called to his valet. “I need you to do something for me. Go down to the desk and request them to send someone up here. Say I am checking out but wish to avoid attention.”
John departed. Robert paced the room, wishing he could see how this scenario was all going to end. It had seemed like an adventure when they had started, but now it contained the awkward possibility of scandal.
There was a knock at his door and he opened it to find Vanda. She slipped inside quickly.
“I heard you return,” she said anxiously. “Is it all right?”
“Be patient. I have had no time to do anything except send for someone to settle the bill here in privacy.”
John had returned, bringing with him the manager of the hotel himself, full of anxiety lest the Earl had found the hotel not to his liking.
“Not at all,” Robert said in his most charming manner. “Both my sister and I have very much enjoyed our stay here, but our time is limited and we have far to travel.”
“We want to see as much of Europe as possible,” Vanda cried. “Vienna, Venice –”
“Ah, Vienna,” the manager mused. “It is almost the most beautiful city in Europe, second only to Paris. And by leaving today you can catch the Orient Express.”
“Oh, yes, let's do that!” Vanda exclaimed. “I have heard about it. It is supposed to be the most wonderful train in Europe, like a travelling luxury hotel.”
“But does it travel today?” Robert asked. “Surely it only runs twice a week?”
“True, my Lord, but this is one of the days,” the manager informed him. “I can send a messenger to the station to make reservations for you.”
He bowed himself out, and Vanda made a little dance of excitement around the room.
“How wonderful!” she cried. “I do hope we can be gone soon.”
“But you do realise,” Robert said, beginning to be amused, “that you will be leaving Piero behind?”
“Who?”
Vanda's stare was a masterpiece of innocence.
“Piero,” Robert repeated. “Surely you remember him – the man who worships the ground you walk on?”
“Oh, him.”
“Oh, him? Is that all you can say about your devoted admirer?”
“Well, he was good fun for a while, but now I am ready for something different. It was beginning to become terribly tiresome with him making sheep's eyes at me all the time.”
“You have recovered remarkably qu
ickly from the admirer who made a romantic serenade beneath your window –”
“And who suffered a pitcher of water tossed over him,” she reminded him tartly.
“It was the best method of dealing with yowling cats.”
She giggled.
“Well, anyway, he is now in the past.”
“Only an hour ago you were planning to spend the day with him.”
“But that was just to annoy you,” she said lightly. “I managed it, too.”
Irrationally he began to feel indignant on Piero's behalf.
“Have you no feeling for the poor fellow?” he demanded. “After everything you said –”
“I don't remember what I said, or what he said. I only know that flirting with him was one of the jolliest interludes that ever happened to me. Now do let us hurry and be gone from here.”
“You really are a heartless woman.”
“I know. It's such fun!”
She hurried back to her own room before Robert's feelings could get the better of him.
Vanda could not remember when she had felt so happy. Piero's ardent wooing had filled her with delight, although not for one second had she mistaken his declarations as for real.
But what had delighted her even more had been the look she had occasionally surprised in Robert's eyes.
It had been a strange look, one she had never seen in him. If she had allowed her imagination to run riot she might almost think it was jealousy.
Robert, jealous of her?
Surely it was impossible.
She had never even thought of him in that way.
Except now and then, on summer nights, when she had gazed longingly at the moon, and allowed herself to dream –
But she had pushed those dreams away, remembering that he saw their relationship only as brother and sister and assuring herself that she saw it the same way.
Until now –
Then she pulled herself together. This was no time to be indulging in fantasies. She was the cool, calm, collected Miss Sudbury, known for her common sense and strength of character.
Besides, there was work to be done.
Together she and her maid plunged into the packing. Just as they had finished, there was a knock on her door. It was Robert.
“It's all settled,” he said, coming in and closing the door. “We have reservations on the Orient Express, and I have settled the bill, so let's leave at once.”
“How much do I owe you for my half of the bill?” she enquired.
“Can you wait until we have boarded the train?”
“As long as it is understood –”
“Vanda, for the love of Heaven! You may pay for the entire trip if you like. But first, please concentrate on what matters most and move!”
“All right, all right. There is no need to shout.”
“There is every need to shout since you are the most obstinate, maddening –”
“I thought you said we needed to hurry,” she reminded him sweetly.
“Yes,” he concurred, resisting the temptation to tear his hair.
“Well then, let's hurry.”
In a short time their luggage was loaded into a waiting carriage. They descended the great stairway cautiously, looking out for any sign of Lord Cranbon.
But luck was with them. He had already moved into his suite and they were free to run out into the sunshine, climb into the carriage and proceed on their way to the railway station, the Orient Express and Vienna.
Vanda exclaimed with delight when she saw the famous train. It had been running for six years and in that time it had set new standards of luxury for travel. The carriages that crossed Europe from Paris to the East were known as palaces on wheels with their plush upholstery, mosaic floors and mother-of-pearl marquetry.
She was escorted to her sleeping compartment, while Robert was shown to his own compartment next door. As she was looking around her in delight, Jenny, her maid, came in.
“Isn't it lovely, miss,” she sighed. “And the seats will make such a comfortable bed when they are made up.”
“Will you be comfortable, Jenny?”
“Oh, yes, thank you, miss. Second class here is like first class on any other train.”
She pulled open a small pair of doors in the wall, revealing a tiny 'bathroom' with wash basin and taps. Next to it was a closet just big enough for a few clothes.
“I will unpack a few things that you'll need for tonight,” she said, and started to work.
Vanda wandered out into the corridor and found Robert, standing by a window and watching the preparations for departure.
“I will not be easy in my mind until we are moving,” she said. “I keep expecting to see someone come running down the platform calling for us to stop.”
At that moment the whistle blew.
“Here we go!” Robert said, smiling tenderly at her excitement. “Stop worrying.”
He took her hand, squeezing it in reassurance. She squeezed back and they stood, laughing in delight as the train picked up speed out of the station.
A conductor appeared in the corridor beside them, saying,
“Dinner will be served in one hour.”
“Is it really time for dinner?” Vanda asked, astonished. “Where has the day gone?”
“It has slipped away somehow,” Robert agreed. “And we missed lunch. I will see you in an hour.”
She chose the red velvet gown she had worn on the first night and Jenny dressed her hair elegantly. Her only adornment was a pair of tiny diamond ear-rings.
She knew she had made the right choice when Robert came to collect her at her door and she noticed a warm approval in his eyes.
“I have ordered champagne to be served as soon as we sit down,” he said as he led her to the saloon.
As he had promised the waiter filled their glasses at once. Through the windows they could the red glow of the sun beginning to set. It glowed off the glasses as they raised them in salute.
“We are on our way,” he said. “How your friends will miss you. I think of Piero, calling at the hotel, desolate to find you have fled –”
“Oh, forget Piero,” she stated airily. “He will find another heiress in no time at all.”
“Perhaps he was truly in love with you?” Robert teased.
“I don't think so. I am sure that true love doesn't sound so much like play-acting.”
“And how does true love sound?”
Suddenly she felt self-conscious and could no longer look at him.
“I do not know,” she admitted. “I have never heard it. Perhaps I never will. But I am sure it doesn't sound like Piero and François, full of bombast.”
“How wise you have become. And don't say you will never find love. It is only a question of being patient.”
“I have been patient a long time,” she said with a wry little smile. “I am practically an old maid!”
“You seem to forget that I have been observing you these last few days. You have looked glorious, magnificent and splendid. But never like an old maid.”
She laughed, blushing.
“Thank you,” she said, surprised.
“And now tell me about all those gentlemen I saw whispering invitations into your ear last night.”
“You don't know what they were whispering in my ear?”
“I think I do. I know the kind of words that can be whispered and I definitely saw one of them trying to guide you right out of the ballroom. Luckily for him he didn't succeed or I would have been forced to – er – what was it?”
“Shoot him through the heart,” she reminded him.
“That's right. I knew I was supposed to do something dramatic! Was he saying what I thought?”
“He was inviting me to slip away upstairs so that we could 'grow close'.”
“Serves you right for posing as a widow. He naturally assumed that you knew what he was talking about.”
“I knew exactly what he was talking about. I just wasn't going to do what he
was talking about. And now tell me about your adventures. I was sure you were going to 'slip away' with the Countess.”
“She tried hard enough to make me,” Robert admitted. “Nor was she the only one.”
“Stop boasting.”
“I am merely making the point that the ladies with the very highest titles are often the most free and easy in their behaviour. Some of the costliest jewels were adorning ladies with the souls of courtesans.”
“Tell me more,” Vanda said, wide-eyed.
“There was one woman in particular last night – I first met her when I was in Paris, some years ago.
“I had not inherited the title then and my father kept me on a strict allowance, so I felt fairly poverty stricken in that society. In fact I was just a looker-on.
“I was rather hurt as I thought myself devilishly attractive to the opposite sex. But I could not afford to decorate women with jewels, so they didn't waste their time on me.”
Vanda smiled sympathetically. She realised it must have hurt him.
“So what happened when you saw her again last night? Did she recognise you?”
“How could she? The first time we met, I simply did not exist for her. But now I am an Earl with a fortune and she was all smiles – and – er – invitations.”
“But you didn't accept her invitations?” Vanda asked.
Suddenly she was breathless because his answer was mysteriously important.
“No invitations from such a heartless lady could tempt me,” he replied. “I have met too many of her kind.”
He spoke lightly, but Vanda guessed that some trace of that old wound was still inside him and this was why he was so determined now to marry someone who loved him for himself.
He saw her looking at him and smiled a little too quickly. Then he changed the subject.
“We should start to plan our itinerary,” he volunteered. “Are you very eager to see Vienna?”
A touch of constraint in his voice puzzled her.
“Would you rather not stay in Vienna?” she asked. “I have heard so much about what a romantic city it is, full of light and music.”
“That was true once,” Robert remarked heavily, “and one day perhaps it will be true again. But at the moment it is a city of darkness, full of tragedy.”
Vanda's hands flew to her face.
In Search of Love Page 8