A Kiss In Rome. Barbara Cartland

it into Alina’s hand.

      Then she hurried to where the carriage was waiting for her outside and it drove off.

      When she opened the envelope, Alina saw that there was twenty-five pounds in it.

      For a moment she thought it impossible to accept so much money from her cousin and when she saw her the next day she would give some of it back to her.

      Then she remembered how much she owed in the village.

      As soon as she was dressed, she went first to the Vicarage and then handed the Vicar ten pounds.

      “I just don’t know how long I will be away,” she told him, “but will you please pay Mrs. Banks every week and if there is any dilapidation to the roof, which keeps happening, will you ask Barker to come and repair it?”

      “Of course I will,” the Vicar smiled. “I am so delighted that you are having a holiday. I have been very worried about you.”

      “I will be with my cousin, Denise Sedgewick, who you may remember I did lessons with for many years.”

      “It is the best thing that could happen,” the Vicar said, “and don’t you worry about your house or anything here. I will see to it all.”

      He hesitated for a brief moment before he added,

      “You have been very brave, Alina, and I know that things have been difficult for you. But I prayed that God would help you and I do believe that He has answered my prayers.”

      “I know He has,” Alina replied. “But please do go on praying for me.”

      “Of course I will,” the Vicar agreed at once.

      Alina then left and paid the grocer, the baker and the butcher.

      She had in fact forgotten how much she owed and there was also a bill owing to the man who had replaced some broken panes of glass in the windows of the house.

      When she went back, she looked and found that she had only three pounds left.

      ‘I must try and make it last,’ she told herself firmly. ‘I cannot keep bothering Denise for money when she has already been so kind and generous.’

      The carriage arrived the following morning soon after eight o’clock.

      When she finally put the newly decorated hat on top of her head, she looked at herself in surprise.

      It was certainly very modern.

      She had done her hair in a fashionable manner that she had seen illustrated in the Ladies’ Journal, which the Vicar’s wife often lent to her.

      Now she thought that she looked exactly as Denise would expect her to.

      There was no doubt that anyone seeing her for the first time would assume that she was very much older than she actually was.

      As Denise jumped out of her carriage and walked into the house, Alina waited for the verdict.

      Denise took one look at her cousin and gave a shout of delight.

      “This is really marvellous!” she cried. “You look absolutely stunning and exactly how a chaperone should look.”

      Alina had not used any the cosmetics that Denise had given her because she was afraid of overdoing them and making herself look vulgar.

      But as soon as they were on the road that led to the train Station, Denise insisted on her powdering her nose.

      She also made her add a little touch of rouge to her lips.

      “Now that is how I want you to look from this moment onwards,” she insisted.

      Alina stared at herself in the small mirror that fitted into her handbag and then asked nervously,

      “You – you don’t think you have used – too much lip salve?”

      “Too little!” Denise said firmly. “And before we get to London I will add some rouge to your cheeks.”

      She did this as soon as they were alone in their reserved carriage.

      When Denise had finished adding the rouge to her cheeks, she said,

      “What about Mama’s jewellery?”

      “I have on the earrings,” Alina said quickly, “but I thought that would be enough.”

      “Not nearly enough,” Denise disagreed scornfully.

      She had brought her mother’s jewellery with her in a special crocodile case, which she had told Alina to carry as well as her handbag.

      Now she looked for the case and then took out two rows of pearls that she put round Alina’s neck.

      There was a diamond ring for her third finger and a Wedding ring.

      As if this was not enough, Denise then added an emerald and pearl bracelet and a brooch in the shape of a butterfly.

      “Will it be safe to wear them ‒ when we are travelling?” Alina asked nervously.

      “We have plenty of people looking after us,” Denise replied, “including, of course, the intimidating Marquis of Teverton!”

      In the excitement of preparing for the journey Alina had almost forgotten about him.

      Now she asked,

      “Will he be coming with us?”

      “I am afraid so,” Denise answered, “but he will make quite certain he travels in another carriage on the train to Dover and keeps to his own cabin in the ferry.”

      Alina looked surprised.

      “Don’t forget,” Denise explained, “he does not want us and, although we have to stay in the house where he is staying, I am certain that we will only see him passing us on the stairs.”

      Alina looked at her cousin questioningly and she said,

      “I told you that Papa tricked him into taking me to Rome and he fell without realising it into the trap that Papa set for him.”

      “What trap?” Alina asked.