A Battle of Brains by Barbara Cartland

done.
    â€œIt was an unpleasant episode in your life, but now Watson can only win if you continue to brood about him and destroy your future happiness by doing so.”
    Yolanda rose and walked to the window.
    She stood there looking out into the garden.
    After a long pause, she murmured,
    â€œHe terrified me.”
    â€œOf course, he terrified you.
    â€œBut it was my fault in asking you to help me and I can only say how sorry I am. At the same time you must realise that you and I are making Watson seem of far more importance than he really is in the world, because we are thinking and talking about him.”
    â€œI will try not to think about him again.”
    â€œGood!” her stepfather exclaimed.  “Now let me tell you what we are going to do.  We are going to London!”
    Yolanda turned round.
    â€œWhy?” she enquired.
    â€œBecause I have business there for one thing and also I would like you to be in touch with your mother’s and father’s friends.  It is what your mother would have wanted you to do and I admit I was quite wrong to bring you here to the country while the Season was still taking place.”
    â€œBut I am in mourning – ”
    Her stepfather looked at her.
    â€œDo you really begrudge your mother being with your father whom she adored?”
    Yolanda stared at him in a startled way.
    She thought it was a strange remark for him to make.
    â€œI know what you are thinking, Yolanda, and I do know how very much your mother loved your father and he loved her.  And I knew I could never take your father’s place, so I did not try to do so.”
    Yolanda was still staring at him.
    â€œIt was the greatest moment of my life when your mother permitted me to look after her and comfort her a little.  It is something I shall never forget and because I loved her, I want to believe that she is happy now.”
    He spoke so movingly that Yolanda found it hard to realise that it was actually her stepfather speaking.
    â€œWhat you and I have to do now is exactly what your mother would want you to do.  That is to go back to London and to be in contact with those who loved her and your father and spend the last month of the Season with them.”
    He smiled before he added,
    â€œI am not going to give a spectacular ball for you – that can easily wait till the winter.  But we can hold dinner parties and dances in my house in Park Lane and I am sure that you will receive a great number of invitations.”
    Yolanda was gazing at him as if she could not take in what he was saying.
    He held out his hand.
    â€œCome along, Yolanda, we both know that we want your mother to be happy and have exactly what she wants, just as we tried to give it to her when she was with us.”
    She bent forward and took his hand.
    As she did so, for the first time ever, she placed her arms round her stepfather’s neck and kissed his cheek.
    His arms closed round her and he realised that she was crying.
    â€œIt is all right,” he soothed.  “Everything is all right.  We now understand each other and we will do what your mother wants.”
    â€œHow can you be so kind, so understanding?  I have been feeling so alone and so scared, but now I feel I have you .”
    â€œOf course you have me, Yolanda, and together we will win our battle.”
    She wiped her eyes.
    Then Mr. Garrack suggested,
    â€œLet’s have a glass of champagne because we both need it.  Then after luncheon we will go riding.  I think you will agree that we should take Chestnut and the new horses which we have yet to name, to London with us.”
    Yolanda smiled at him.
    â€œThey too will want their London Season!”
    *
    At luncheon her stepfather set out to amuse her.
    He told her stories of things that had happened to him when he was abroad and spoke of new projects he had invested in which had proved disastrous.
    Because she asked him, he told her with