The Cruel Count (Bantam Series No. 28) Read Online Free PDF Page B

not only the young men she met at parties who told her so. She had recognised the expression of admiration on the face of almost everyone she met.
    For her own taste she was too small and too slight, compared with the statuesque beauty of her sister Angelina, and too simple in comparison with the sophisticated Charlotte.
    But there was no doubt that her skin was very white, almost translucent, compared with the other girls. Her vivid blue eyes were larger and more expressive than those of the usual blonde beauties while her hair in the sunshine looked like spun gold.
    At times Vesta could be very critical about herself, but at other times she visualised herself to be a Princess in a fairy story, journeying across the world to meet Prince Charming. When they met she was sure they would live happily ever after.
    She began to imagine the things they would do together. when they were not on duty.
    She learnt from the Aide-de-camp that the Prince was an exceptionally good horse-rider, perhaps because his mother was Hungarian.
    “The Hungarians are magnificent horsemen, are they not?” Vesta asked.
    “There are no words to describe them,” the Aide-de-camp had answered enthusiastically. “They seem part of their horses and they can make their animals perform incredible feats.”
    This had become an intrinsic part of Vesta’s dreams.
    ‘We will ride together over the countryside,’ she pretended. ‘He will drive me in his Phaeton and we will watch his horses racing as I have watched Papa’s.’
    She had imaginary conversations with her future husband, telling him things that she had never told other people because being married they would be so close to each other.
    Her day-dreams grew so vivid that at times she felt that the Prince was more intimate to her than anyone else had ever been.
    She could visualise almost everything about him except his face. That remained a blank ready to be filled at the moment they met.
    Then almost like a physical blow, and far more damaging, came the awakening.
    They had entered the Mediterranean just before the storm which was to throw the ship about as if it were little more than a piece of driftwood and nearly cause it to founder.
    Because she longed for some fresh air, Vesta wrapped in her thick cloak had gone up on deck shortly before lunch.
    There was a strong wind and the sailors were taking reefs in the sails and hurrying around with a purposeful air which told her they were anticipating trouble.
    The waves were already breaking over the stern in shower after shower of spray.
    By the time Vesta had been on deck for no more than a few minutes, her cloak was wet and she had decided it would be more sensible to go below.
    She had come down the companionway into the narrow passage which led to the large comfortable Saloon where they sat and ate.
    Just outside it there was on the wall a row of hooks for the gentlemen to hang their oilskins, so they should not make the luxuriously upholstered seats in the Saloon wet or be forced to take them into their cabins.
    Vesta undid her cloak, pushing back the hood from her fair hair and then unbuttoning the large bone buttons one by one. There were quite a number of them and as she unfastened them she overheard the Aide-de-camp say:
    “She is too young, too innocent, too unsophisticated to be able to cope with what lies ahead, you must realise that.”
    He spoke with a note of passion in his voice which was almost moving.
    “I think that Lady Vesta has a lot of good sense,” the Prime Minister replied in his deep voice.
    Vesta stiffened. She realised that the door of the Saloon was ajar. Then she heard the Captain say:
    “I agree with Your Excellency. I think her not only one of the most charming young women I have ever met, but she definitely has a great deal of character.” Vesta realised that it was because the Captain was present that they were speaking English. And she would have been inhuman if she had not wished to listen to what they