Hide and Seek for Love by Barbara Cartland Page A

responsible to our Head Office in London, who will undoubtedly ask questions if anything unusual occurs at this branch.”
    â€œI am most grateful to you and also for the way you have kept this unhappy affair secret.  Please continue to do so, as I have no wish to have the newspapers hammering on my door or people coming to stare at Ingle Hall.”
    â€œThey would have been far too frightened to do so when your grandfather was alive.  I heard he threatened to shoot anyone who wandered round Ingle Hall at night!”
    David had not heard of this, but made no comment.
    Then he asked Mr. Morley for an advance of one hundred and fifty pounds for which he signed a cheque.
    He shook him warmly by the hand and thanked him for his cooperation.
    â€œAs you can imagine, my Lord, it is to the Bank’s advantage, as well as to yours, that the money is found.”
    â€œI promise you I will do my best, and without it, as you realise better than anyone else, life is going to be very difficult for me.”
    The Bank Manager smiled.
    â€œI believe, just like your father, Lord Richard, that you will eventually win your way through.”
    David was amused.
    His father had married for love and gone off on his explorations, and as a consequence became a hero in the eyes of his friends and those in Canterbury who were old enough to remember him.
    As he drove back, he was trying to decide what he should do first.
    Actually there was no question about it – he had to find the hidden money.
    He reasoned it out.  
    If his grandfather had gone mad in his old age and would not trust the Bank with his money, he would surely not have trusted anyone else.
    Therefore it was quite obvious that the money was hidden somewhere in Ingle Hall or on the estate.
    Such a large amount, especially as it was in coinage, could not be pushed into the back of a drawer, nor could it be put in a small safe as it would take up too much space.
    But there were enough rooms at Ingle Hall to hide a herd of elephants!
    *
    David returned to be greeted excitedly by Benina.
    She ran down the steps as soon as the chaise came to a standstill.
    He thought as he saw her approach how pretty she really was and he remembered that he had had no time to think about anything except the task ahead of him.
    He paid the driver and then walked into the house, recognising that Benina was longing to find out what had happened at the Bank.
    She was controlled and tactful enough not to ask him anything until they had reached the study.
    Then she regarded him questioningly with her large blue eyes and, as he sat down, David told her quietly,
    â€œI don’t know whether it is worse or better than I had anticipated.”
    â€œWhat has happened?  Please tell me, my Lord,” she pleaded. “I have been praying all the time you have been away.”
    â€œI am sure that your prayers helped me.  The Bank Manager and I have reached the conclusion that it is quite impossible for the money, and it is indeed a large sum, to have been hidden anywhere but in this house.”
    â€œHere!” Benina exclaimed.  “But where could the Marquis have concealed it?”
    â€œThat is what you and I have to find out.  Although he was mad, he was very clever, as mad people often are, and it is not going to be easy.”
    â€œWe must start looking at once, my Lord, otherwise there may not be anything for us to eat!”
    David smiled.
    â€œIt is not as bad as that.  I have arranged to have an overdraft.  It’s not a very large one, but we must at first be grateful for small mercies.”
    â€œI shall be grateful for anything as long as we don’t have to be as hungry as we have been this last few months.  It was terrible when Nanny began to feel ill and I thought I might be left entirely alone here.”
    â€œNanny can now eat until she is as fat as she ought to be,” said David, “and the same applies to you.  You