A Battle of Brains Read Free Page A

o’clock,” he said as he reached it.  “And I will be there waiting, my beautiful lady, eagerly and excitedly for you and your daughter.”
    Then he was gone.
    Yolanda hurried out into the sitting room to find her mother was no longer crying.
    As Yolanda reached her, she held out her hands.
    â€œWe are saved, darling,” she cried.  “Saved when I was frightened that we might have been taken to prison.”
    â€œWhat has happened, Mama?”
    She knelt down beside her mother’s chair.
    â€œIt may be wrong of me,” she answered, “and some people would think it reprehensible, but I had no choice but to accept Mr. Garrack’s kind offer.”
    â€œWhat was that, Mama?”
    â€œBecause he wants my portrait to be painted for his collection, he has offered to pay the bill here and also to pay for us to go back to England.”
    She paused for a moment and then continued softly,
    â€œHe said there is a painter who will do me justice.  He has just painted the Princess of Wales, and a great number of fashionable beauties including Mrs. Lillie Langtry.”
    â€œI suppose,” Yolanda remarked a little doubtfully, “it is very kind of him.”
    â€œYes, of course it is,” her mother replied somewhat sharply, “and I certainly cannot imagine anyone else being so incredibly generous or understanding after such a short acquaintance.”
    There was silence for a moment before she added,
    â€œHe told me that if he had known earlier that Papa was being buried here in Paris, he would have arranged for his body to be taken back home to England and he could have been buried in the tomb of his ancestors.”
    Yolanda then remembered that they had not seen Mr. Garrack in the dining room since the night he had first spoken to her mother.
    She supposed that he must have been out of Paris and had not been aware of the duel or of her father’s death.
    As if she had spoken out aloud, her mother said,
    â€œMr. Garrack only returned last night.  When they told him what had happened to your Papa, he was not only shocked but as he said his ‘heart bled’ for me.”
    Yolanda thought this was a somewhat exaggerated way of talking, but she supposed it was indeed very kind of Mr. Garrack to befriend them.
    â€œWe are returning to London tomorrow, Yolanda, and I never want to see Paris or meet a Frenchman ever again!”
    She spoke bitterly and tears were back in her eyes.
    â€œDon’t cry, Mama,” begged Yolanda.  “You know Papa hated you to be unhappy.  I am sure wherever he is, he is still looking after us and somehow everything will be all right.”
    She was trying as hard as she could to cheer up her mother, who now replied,
    â€œIt does seem rather like a miracle that Mr. Garrack, whom we have not known before, should appear just at this moment and be so very very generous.
    â€œI told him that I had pawned all my jewellery and the only piece left was my engagement ring. I offered to give it to him, but he would not take it.”
    Yolanda was glad, as she knew that it would have completely broken her mother’s heart to have parted with the engagement ring that had meant so much to her.
    Her parent’s marriage had been a love match.  They had been engaged for just a short time and her mother had often said that she and her father had fallen in love with each other at first sight.
    â€œI knew, darling, the moment I saw him,” she said, “that he was the most handsome, exciting and wonderful man I had ever met.”
    â€œI am not surprised, Mama.”
    She had noticed that when her father came into a room, the women all looked at him and she could easily understand why her mother had fallen in love so quickly.
    â€œI have heard Papa say,” she exclaimed, “that he looked at you and lost his heart immediately.”
    â€œWe were so very happy,” her mother said and her voice