Free An Angel Runs Away by Barbara Cartland Page A

account.
    Nevertheless, she knew, although it was ungrateful to think so, that they spoilt the party for her.
    But she enjoyed every dance, only being disappointed that the Marquis did not ask her to dance with him.
    However, he had made it very clear before the ball that he never danced if he could possibly help it.
    “Sometimes it has to happen in the line of duty,” he had drawled, “but I prefer cards and that is where I shall be if I have the chance.”
    Nevertheless, Ula was aware that he was a conscientious and charming host and there was no chance at all of his being relieved of his duties after the Prince Regent had arrived.
    When Ula was presented to him, and sank down in a deep curtsey, she wished only that her mother could see her and know that at last she had attained all that she had longed for but had thought impossible.
    “I am told you are a new beauty,” the Prince Regent said in his thick voice, but with a smile that was irresistible.
    “I am afraid, Sire, that your informants were being over-optimistic,” Ula replied.
    The Prince Regent thought this amusing and laughed.
    “Are you really so modest?” he asked. “And you must not lie to me, for you look like a small angel who would always tell the truth.”
    “That is what I thought myself, Sire,” the Marquis remarked, who was standing beside him.
    “If once again, Drogo, you have beaten me to the post,” the Prince Regent said, “I shall be extremely annoyed!”
    As if she thought he was being serious, Ula said quickly,
    “I am sure, Sire, no one could do that, when Your Royal Highness’s original ideas in the world of art are known all over the country.”
    As the Prince was having difficulty in making even his friends appreciate his purchase of the Dutch pictures and some sculpture that had not yet become fashionable, he was delighted.
    “I can see, Miss Forde,” he said, “that I shall have to invite you to Carlton House to see my new acquisitions and I can only hope that you will find them, if not superior to, at least different from what Raventhorpe has already packed into his ‘Palace of Treasures’.”
    Ula laughed, knowing that the Prince Regent, while he was genuinely fond of the Marquis, was also a little jealous of him.
    “I hope, Sire,” she said, “that is a promise you will not forget.”
    “I assure you I shall not do so,” the Prince Regent said gallantly.
    As he moved away to speak to somebody else, Ula glanced at the Marquis and knew from the expression on his face that he was pleased with her.
    She felt a little thrill of delight that she had not failed in what she realised had been a demanding test.
    Then she saw again the fury in her uncle’s eyes as he looked at her from the other side of the room and it was like a shower of cold water drowning her feeling of pleasure.
    She hurried back to the side of the Duchess.
    “Here you are, child,” she said as Ula moved close to her, as if she felt in need of protection. “I was wondering where you were because His Highness Prince Hasin of Kubaric is eager to meet you.”
    Ula knew at once who the Duchess was speaking about, because the Marquis had in fact expressed extreme annoyance when the Turkish Ambassador had asked whether he could bring His Highness to the ball.
    “There are more than enough people as it is,” the Marquis had fumed when he received the Ambassador’s letter, “but I suppose it’s impossible for me to refuse him.”
    “I think it would make things very uncomfortable if you did,” the Duchess replied. “I expect the Prince is staying at the Turkish Embassy and there is nothing the Ambassador, who is really a very nice man, can do but get him invited to every entertainment that London provides.”
    With a somewhat bad grace the Marquis therefore sent a note to the Turkish Ambassador to say most untruthfully that he would welcome Prince Hasin to the ball.
    Since her father had been very interested in the different States in the East,