Rivals for Love Read Free Page B

was far too intelligent not to realise that this was what every ambitious mother hoped would happen to her daughter.
    â€œWhy don’t we forget Cousin Muriel,” she now suggested. “Come back to London with me, Elva, and I promise you I will not make you go to any party you don’t wish to attend. I am sure that before Edward and I have to leave for Madrid I can take you to some really amusing balls where you will meet extremely intelligent gentlemen. Although they will undoubtedly be a great deal older than you.”
    Elva considered her aunt’s invitation for a moment.
    â€œIf I come back for a week or so, will you really promise not to make me do anything I do not want to do?”
    â€œI promise – ”
    â€œWell that means I do not have to go to any balls! I do not have to go to debutante luncheons, and I can – ” She thought for a moment before finishing, “What I would really love to do is to be with Uncle Edward and his friends and listen to them talking about the situation in Europe and the trouble that is brewing up in Turkey.”
    Lady Violet held up her hands.
    â€œI can see that Edward would really enjoy having you with him, but while you may learn a great deal about the present problems of the world, I cannot imagine what will happen to you when we leave for Madrid.”
    â€œI will come back here and ride the horses,” replied Elva mischievously. “I can assure you they are far more interesting and know a great deal more than those empty-headed young men who have nothing better to do than to dance with debutantes like me!”
    Lady Violet laughed again.
    â€œYou are so incorrigible, Elva. Very well, and as it is only five o’clock and the horses have rested, we might as well return to London today. Edward hates being alone and we shall be there by half past seven if we hurry.”
    â€œI will go and get myself ready immediately,” Elva volunteered. “Luckily all my London clothes are still with Cousin Muriel, so we can easily send a servant round to collect them.”
    â€œI only hope she is not offended by your walking out on her.”
    â€œDoes it matter if she is?” asked Elva. “Papa gave her quite a lot of money for chaperoning me and I don’t suppose he will want to have it back.”
    â€œPeople might think it rather strange that you have come to stay with me,” mused Lady Violet, “and that of course would upset Cousin Muriel.”
    â€œAll we have to say is that I am staying with you until you return to Madrid.”
    Elva paused for a moment before she added,
    â€œAfter all I have hardly seen her all the time I have been growing up, so it cannot be a blow either to her heart or her pocket.”
    As she finished speaking Elva slipped out of the room and her aunt heard her running down the passage.
    She made a gesture which would have told anyone watching her that she found her niece impossible.
    It had always been the same and Elva invariably managed to get her own way.
    Because she was so bright and intelligent it was really impossible for anyone to control her, but equally she was afraid that the girl would find herself in trouble sooner or later if someone did not protect her from herself.
    That, she admitted, was almost impossible.
    Half an hour later Lady Violet and Elva set off for London in a comfortable open chaise drawn by four well-matched horses.
    As they trotted off down the drive Elva sighed wistfully,
    â€œI hate leaving the horses. They were so pleased I had come back from London and now I feel deeply that I am betraying them by leaving so quickly.”
    â€œYou will have to return very soon,” Lady Violet told her, “for the simple reason that your uncle and I are leaving for Madrid in a week or at the most in ten days time.”
    â€œAs quickly as that?”
    â€œOf course what I am really hoping,” confessed Lady Violet, “is that having a