Free This Way to Heaven by Barbara Cartland Page A

on all the Foreign Office papers.
    As soon as the pass through the hills was cleared, he would have to leave on his difficult secret mission.
    â€œYou will excuse me if I do not accompany you?”
    Jasmina found herself going red.
    Goodness, surely he had not thought that she was angling for his attention?
    Really , he was the most difficult of men.
    One moment he would be laughing with her, his eyes warm and friendly, and next the guard would come down over his face and he became a different person.
    â€œI would not dream of imposing myself, my Lord,” she said quietly, lifting her chin and meeting his gaze with a flash of blue eyes. “I shall explore where I can, perhaps visit the stables and take a look at your horses.
    â€œAnd I can see that the lake over there is frozen. I have brought my skates with me and so I shall take a little gentle exercise on the ice. I can assure you that I have no intention of getting in your way. Good day!”
    She turned to go and then started in surprise as his hand shot out to hold her arm.
    â€œYou must do no such thing!”
    â€œI must beg your pardon, my Lord, but surely you can have no objection to my skating? I am not asking you to join me in what you could consider a frivolous pastime.”
    The Earl’s face grew overcast with annoyance.
    â€œThe lake might not be completely frozen over. It is very deep in the middle and people have been known to fall through the ice.”
    Jasmina tossed her head, her bright curls dancing.
    â€œI am not a complete fool, my Lord. I come from Missouri, an American State, where it is far colder than this every winter.
    â€œI am quite aware that I have to test the ice before I skate on it. Or do you believe that women do not have the same amount of common sense that men have?”
    The Earl was losing his temper.
    He was becoming convinced that the main problem with women was that their species were so over-headstrong that they could not recognise danger when it was right in front of them!
    This young Miss Winfield had refused to dismount from that huge rogue horse when he had asked her and look where that disobedience had led her.
    He could remember so well another young woman who had also refused to take his advice.
    He could see in his mind the horse being forced to jump over a fence that was far too high, the crashing fall, the limp body of his wife on the muddy ground, the end of all the hopes for Somerton.
    Before he could think what he was saying, he heard himself speaking,
    â€œI have no opinion on your common sense one way or the other, Miss Winfield, but maybe your manners could be questioned! I am particularly asking you not to skate on the lake today. Please accept my ruling on this matter.”
    Angrily Jasmina pulled her arm away sharply from his grasp.
    How dare he call her ill-mannered?
    â€œMy Lord, I apologise if I have given you offence in any way. I am, of course, a visitor in your castle and country and will abide by all your rules. But I can tell you now that if you were a visitor in my own home, I would not question your behaviour in such a rude fashion. Now if you will excuse me, I find the air out here – unbreathable!”
    Her voice broke at the last word, but she refused to show him that there were tears burning in her eyes.
    She spun on her heel and marched back inside the castle, shaking with anger.
    *
    A mile from the vast castle standing on top of its hill, the pretty little village of Somerton lay in a fold of the ground under a thick blanket of snow.
    A few rooks circled lazily above the tall elm trees and the columns of grey smoke from the cottage chimneys rose straight into the freezing air.
    A few children, laughing and shouting because the village school was closed for the day, were busy having a snowball fight and several housewives were hard at work, brushing the snow from their paths and steps, worrying about the water freezing in the outside pumps.
    The sign outside