An Embarrassment of Riches by Margaret Pemberton Page B

also the question of money. With only Tarna as an inheritance Alexander would not be in a position to provide adequately for Genevre. She would be reliant on her own fortune. His mouth tightened. Worse, Alexander might very well become reliant on it and he hadn’t worked hard all his life to see his fortune being dissipated by the disinherited son of the wealthiest man in the entire United States.
    â€˜There will be no getting out of the Grand Tour,’ Alexander was saying resignedly. ‘If I’d had any sense I would have gone when Charlie went in ’60.’
    â€˜And when is it arranged that you will go to Europe now?’ William queried.
    â€˜At the beginning of next year.’
    Because they were sitting with her father Alexander was unable to hold Genevre’s hand. Instead of giving it a reassuring squeeze he looked across at her instead, trying to give her reassurance with his eyes.
    The obligatory Grand Tour to Europe in order to finish his education was one there was no getting out of. Nor, if he was totally honest, did he wish to get out of it. But he would be away for nearly a year and he would miss Genevre badly.
    Her eyes met his and he knew that they were both thinking the same thing. When he departed for Europe he would still be twenty years old, but when he returned he would be twenty-one and the pain of their separation would be totally forgotten in the joy of their being able to marry.
    William Hudson frowned to himself, deep in thought. He knew it was customary for wealthy young Americans to finish their education by making an extended trip to Europe, but he also knew that Victor Karolyis intended Alexander’s trip to be far more than merely educational. He would expect Alexander to put his time in Europe to good use and to return with a suitably aristocratic bride.
    â€˜Such an opportunity is certainly not one to miss,’ he said encouragingly to Alexander. ‘Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice and Vienna. It will be a wonderful experience.’
    â€˜Perhaps we could make a trip to Europe at the same time?’ Genevre suggested eagerly. ‘Then we could meet up with Alexander for a little while in Paris or in Rome?’
    â€˜Perhaps,’ her father said non-committally. ‘And now, young man, I think it is time you were on your way. Genevre is to go to a concert tonight with Mrs Jerome and her girls and time is getting on.’
    Alexander rose reluctantly. He appreciated that William Hudson was an exceptional parent in that he allowed him to meet with Genevre when there was no question of them being formally engaged, but the times when they could meet were all too infrequent and all too often William was present, as now. For a passionate young man of twenty it was highly unsatisfactory and he inwardly fumed again at his father’s intransigence.
    If his father did not disapprove of Genevre and her father, then he could have suggested to him that the Hudsons were invited to Tarna. The mere thought of Genevre at Tarna made him ache with physical longing. At Tarna they would have been able to evade watching parental eyes. At Tarna they would have been able to escape into the countryside alone. At Tarna they would have been able to make love.
    â€˜Goodbye, sir,’ he said, taking his leave of William, the rising in his crotch so burning and insistent that he wondered for how much longer he would be able to continue forgoing the sexual pleasures he had been accustomed to at Josie’s.
    Genevre stood at her father’s side and as he took her hand to say goodbye he knew that he would find the strength from somewhere. She was the love of his life and he was going to be as faithful to her now, before they married, as he fully intended being after they were married.
    â€˜Goodbye,’ she said lovingly, ‘and please don’t fight with your father, Alexander. He may yet come round if we are patient.’
    He had said nothing for he knew that