Rivals for Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

shoulder to make sure there was no one near them before he went on,
    â€œ – the Empress told an intimate at the Court who repeated it to me that ‘he glows in the splendour of his victories. He is as bright as a constellation of stars and wittier than ever’.”
    â€œIt sounds as if they are very happy together.”
    Mr. Barnier moved even closer to the Duke before adding,
    â€œIt is rumoured that the Prince has demanded that the Empress dismiss Lieutenant Platon Zubov, but she has refused!”
    The Duke was about to ask a further question, but Mr. Barnier, as if afraid he had said far too much, stepped back.
    â€œThe carriage is waiting, Your Grace,” he intoned, “and there is a second carriage as well for your luggage and your manservant.”
    The Duke turned towards Elva and said in a voice he had begun to assume in front of others,
    â€œAre you ready, my darling? I am longing to show you the beauty of St. Petersburg, and of course you are as deeply honoured as I am at being invited to be the guest of the Empress.”
    â€œI am sure it will be very thrilling,” she murmured.
    As she realised that Mr. Barnier was watching, she ran to the Duke and slipped her arm though his.
    â€œYou know how exciting it is,” she purred in a soft voice, “to be here with – you .”
    She looked up at him with what she hoped was a loving expression in her eyes.
    She was aware that Mr. Barnier had noticed.
    â€˜I am really doing my best,’ she thought. ‘Aunt Violet would be proud of me.’

CHAPTER FIVE
    Mr. Barnier had arranged a large and comfortable carriage emblazoned with the British Embassy insignia on both doors and the coachman and the footman on the box were in very smart uniforms.
    The four horses were exquisitely matched stallions.
    Elva was handed into the carriage and the Duke sat down beside her.
    Mr. Barnier sat opposite them with his back to the horses and when they finally set off, he said with a sigh of relief,
    â€œNow, Your Grace, we can at last converse without being afraid of being overheard. Is there anything you need to know?”
    â€œA great deal,” replied the Duke. “First of all tell me just what is the position at the Palace?”
    Mr. Barnier hesitated for a moment.
    â€œIt is in reality, as I am certain Your Grace will appreciate, a very complex situation. We have learnt from our spies – ”
    Elva gave a cry of astonishment.
    â€œDid you say spies? Do you really have spies in the Palace?”
    Mr. Barnier smiled.
    â€œWe try our best to, Your Grace, and naturally the Palace attempts to place spies in our Embassy. But I think on the whole that we have been more successful than they have.”
    Elva looked at the Duke.
    â€œI think it is all rather frightening.”
    â€œI agree with you,” replied the Duke, “but I have always heard that this is the situation in Russia and there is nothing we can do about it.”
    â€œNothing at all,” concurred Mr. Barnier. “Here we can speak openly, but I beg Your Grace to be very careful in the Palace.”
    â€œWe will take extra special care – now do tell me the position as far as the Empress and Prince Potemkin are concerned.”
    â€œAs I mentioned, the Prince arrived back unexpectedly when the Army was in, we all thought, a difficult position.”
    â€œWhat was his reason for coming back?” the Duke asked.
    Mr. Barnier hesitated for a moment as if he found the question embarrassing.
    Then he said,
    â€œWe understand that he is extremely worried about Lieutenant Platon Zubov.”
    â€œWorried?”
    â€œHe is the only Adjutant-General to the Empress who has not been chosen by the Prince personally and we have been told that he has never liked the young man. He thinks that he gives himself airs and may be advising the Empress in wrong directions.”
    â€œWe always understood in England,” persisted