CHAPTER SEVENLarisa and Jean-Pierre reached the top of the staircase and she saw with a start of excitement that Comte Raoul was below them in the hall.
It was a lovely day. Larisa was taking Jean-Pierre and Max for a walk but she had to be honest with herself and say that she had hurried over the schoolroom breakfast because she longed so desperately to see Comte Raoul again.
She had crept back into the house last night after leaving her horse in the stables with Leon and had thought everyone was asleep until she reached her bedroom to find Nurse dozing in an armchair.
She spoke and the old woman awoke with a start.
“It is all right!” Larisa said soothingly, “I was in time. He had not opened the wine.”
She saw quick tears come to Nurse’s eyes and knew how desperately afraid she must
