Barbara Cartland: Running Away to Love

“I am not certain he would do that,” the Earl said slowly, “because what I am going to ask you to do is both difficult and dangerous.”

“Nothing could be more dangerous than the position I am in at the moment,” Ivana said. “Nothing – not even if it was going into battle against the French cannon.”

She spoke so vehemently and looked so lovely as she did so that the Earl guessed that there was a man concerned.

Aloud he said,

“Now let me explain to you, Miss Sherard, exactly what I want you to do. You must be absolutely frank with me and tell me if you think it is impossible or too frightening. I will understand and will promise to do my best to find you some other form of employment that would be suitable for you.”

“I-I am listening,” Ivana tried to smile.

The Earl rose from the chair that he was sitting in.

“As I wish to speak very confidentially,” he began, “I suggest we sit on the sofa where we can be comfortable, although it is well-nigh impossible in the War Office where no one can overhear what we are saying.”

He moved round the desk as he spoke and Ivana saw that he walked with a limp.

“You have been wounded!” she exclaimed.

“I should not be here otherwise,” he said sharply. “I was wounded four months ago and I can assure you that as soon as I have recovered I shall return to my Regiment.”

Now she could understand why anyone so young was working at the War Office.

She guessed that he had been given an important job because he was such an outstanding Officer and was obviously extremely intelligent.

The Earl, having reached the sofa, waited for Ivana to seat herself before he sat down as well.

She saw that one leg, which was in plaster, was stretched out in front of him.

He walked without a stick, but she was aware that he had touched two chairs as if for support on his way to the sofa.

Now she looked up at him and saw an expression in his eyes that she did not understand.

Then he said in a very quiet voice, almost as if he was speaking to himself,

“You are very young and very beautiful! Perhaps it is wrong of me to involve you in this.”

“You have not yet told me what it is,” Ivana retorted.

“I am thinking of you,” the Earl replied. “But I know that my country must come first. I am therefore going to offer you this position, but don’t forget you have the absolute right to reject it.”

“I-I know.”

“Then let me start from the beginning, I am sure you realise, as we do here at the War Office, that the end of the War is now in sight.”

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