Pray For Love Read online

  When the ship was ready to dock at the Port of New York, Georgie asked for Mr. Wilbur’s advice on the easiest and quickest way to travel to the oil fields in Pennsylvania.

  “If that’s where you want to go, I’ll take you there myself. It’s very different to what it was when I went there first and you need to be so careful who you associate with.

  “Those who are green know nothing about what’s going on and usually find themselves lying in a ditch with every penny they ever possessed snatched from them!”

  “I surely don’t want that to happen to me!”

  “I’ll take you there,” he offered, “and you’ll learn more in one day with me and my wildcatters than you’ll ever learn in three years with them, as they will think you’re a greenhorn.”

  Georgie could see the commonsense of this advice and he was only too glad to accept Mr. Wilbur’s invitation, but first he wanted to go to his house in Fifth Avenue.

  When Georgie accompanied him there, he found the telegram that Galina had sent to him.

  It seemed like a miracle that she should be telling him that Mr. Farlow’s spies had found oil in Titusville – that was where Mr. Wilbur was going to take him.

  Before they actually reached Fifth Avenue, Georgie learnt something new.

  Some years ago when he was fifteen, an American boy called Thomas Edison became a telegraph operator.

  “He was always,” related Mr. Wilbur, “wanting to take things apart and see how they worked. Then he would put them all together again and make them tick longer and louder at half the price. When he was nineteen, he invented an electric vote recorder and two years later was working on a new fangled thing called a telephone.”

  “A telephone! How could he think of anything as clever as that? I have read about them, but I have never seen one.”

  “I’ve one myself,” Mr. Wilbur boasted, “and there are one or two other products that are new and which I am considering putting some money into. I think they will be of interest to you.”

  “And what is Mr. Edison working on now?” asked Georgie rather breathlessly.

  He had now begun to appreciate that Mr. Wilbur’s mind jumped from one subject to another and, although he was so much younger, he was finding it hard to keep up with him.

  “Well, I only saw him just before I went away and he is thinking of a new form of lighting.”

  “Lighting!” echoed Georgie.

  “As you know most of us have gas, but Edison has told me that what he wants to find is a cheap filament so that the ordinary householder can have electric light.”

  “I can hardly believe it,” sighed Georgie.

  “Well, I do believe him and when you talk to him, you’ll find yourself believing him too.”

  He paused before continuing,

  “He has already had some success, but it’s not good enough. You mark my words, my boy, electric light will very soon be in use in all the fashionable houses if they can afford it.”

  Georgie considered that he must have been exaggerating.

  Equally he had so often considered there were new ideas and new inventions in America that he could not find anywhere else.

  ‘This is now a golden age for this country,’ he told himself, ‘and I would be a fool if I did not get in on it in some way.’

  When they went to bed that night, Mr. Wilbur put a hand on Georgie’s shoulder.

  “You are just the sort of son I would have liked to have had. You’re inquisitive and I believe in your mind you’re saying, ‘off with the old and on with the new’ and that is what I’ve said all my life. Now just tell me what you want for the future.”

  Georgie laughed.

  “That is quite easy, I want to be a millionaire like you!”

  “Very well, that is what you shall be. Tomorrow we’ll meet some of those who are thinking out new ideas which need my money to support them.”

  He smiled and added,

  “You’ll advise me when I should spend and when I should keep my pocket closed. Two brains are better than one and there are a great number of charlatans about who make fools of those who listen to what they say.”

  “I think they exist everywhere.”

  “You’re quite right,” replied Mr. Wilbur, “and that is why I’ve had to learn to be so careful. Not only because I might lose money, but I might be made a fool of.”

  “We all hate that, but very unlike you, Mr. Wilbur, I cannot afford to lose money – even a small amount.”

  “We’ll be careful that you don’t take any risks. It’s good for you to see what other men are planning and that is what I’m going to show you.”

  Georgie told him that he was more grateful than he could put into words.

  Mr. Wilbur laughed.

  “To tell the truth, I’m usually exceedingly bored with crossing the Atlantic, but I have enjoyed this last trip more than any other, because you are with me. I’m a man who pays my debts and I’m grateful to you for passing the time with me and I’m going to see you go back to England with your pockets filled!”

  He did not listen to Georgie’s grateful thanks, but merely promised,

  “Go to bed, my boy, and tomorrow we’re going to strike oil in a number of different ways!”

  “I would be content with just one way!”

  “Don’t you believe it. You reach out your hand whenever you have the chance and you may pick up a hot potato or a handful of gold. It’s just chance and having, as they always said about me, ‘the luck of the devil’!”

  “That is just what I want!” cried Georgie.

  As he climbed into bed, he thought that Galina would hardly believe when he told her that this conversation had actually taken place.

  *

  While Georgie was asleep, as it happened, his sister was also having a great surprise.

  She was writing her letter of thanks to the hostess who had entertained her last night and being effusive as it was always polite to do so.

  In reality she had thought it had been a dull ball, but perhaps she was prejudiced.

  She had hoped and indeed longed for Lord Bramton to dance a waltz with her.

  But to her surprise he had danced with everyone else including, of course, Ellie-May and then he had danced with several of the other pretty girls they had met on previous occasions.

  When finally the dancing was almost over, he had asked Galina for a dance.

  Rather petulantly she pouted,

  “I thought you had forgotten about me.”

  He took her hand and drew her onto the floor.

  “I am looking after your reputation, as your brother would want me to do, if he was here.”

  “But I wanted to dance with you,” Galina said like a small child.

  “And I wanted to dance with you. It is the nearest I can get to Heaven to have my arm around you and feel you close against me.”

  He spoke with such a sincere note in his voice that Galina felt a little thrill run through her.

  She knew now why the ball had seemed so dull – it was simply because she was bored with everyone she was dancing with.

  She only wanted to be with Victor.

  He did not speak while they danced, but she knew he was enjoying every moment they were on the floor.

  As the waltz they were dancing was very romantic, it seemed to Galina as if they had stepped into a fairyland together and everything was so exquisite.

  As the dance came to an end, Lord Bramton said,

  “Now I am going to leave you, as I will not have you talked about. You know, as well as I do, that you are far too beautiful not to have every other girl of your age jealous of you and their mothers willing to make trouble.”

  Lord Bramton moved away as someone came up to speak to her.

  She felt almost as if she had lost him.

  Now, as she heard the door of the sitting room open, she looked up expectantly.

  It was the butler who announced,

  “Sir Christopher Lawson to see you, my
Lady.”

  Galina looked round in surprise.

  She had been introduced to Sir Christopher once at a dinner party and she knew he was an aide-de-camp to the Prince of Wales.

  Sir Christopher, a good-looking young gentleman of about twenty-seven, smiled as he came towards her.

  “I came, Lady Galina,” he said, “to see your brother, but I understand that he is abroad.”

  “He is in France and he will be sorry to miss you.”

  “I am sorry too,” replied Sir Christopher, “as I have an invitation for him and you and your house party from His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.”

  Galina’s eyes opened wide in surprise.

  “An invitation,” she echoed and then remembering her manners, she suggested, “please will you sit down.”

  They sat down in armchairs.

  “If it is an invitation to Marlborough House, I know that Georgie will be very disappointed he is not here.”

  “Actually,” responded Sir Christopher, “His Royal Highness would be very pleased if you and Mr. Farlow and his daughter would spend this next Friday to Monday at Sandringham.”

  Galina gave a little gasp.

  “Sandringham?” she queried.

  “Their Royal Highnesses decided that they would go to Sandringham because on Saturday afternoon Princess Alexandra is opening the local Flower Show. His Royal Highness thought you may enjoy seeing the house and the garden which is very beautiful at this time of the year.”

  Sir Christopher gave a little laugh before he added,

  “I think there are more daffodils than in any other garden in England and at present they are at their best.”

  “I would love to see them,” enthused Galina, “and it is so very kind of Their Royal Highnesses to invite Mr. Farlow and his daughter as well.”

  Sir Christopher smiled.

  “His Royal Highness has been interested in all the stories he has heard about Mr. Farlow and how enormously rich he is and I suppose the tale is somewhat exaggerated.”

  “On the contrary, I think Mr. Farlow is even richer than the tales about him and it is all due to oil.”

  “I have heard about the oil which is being obtained in America and I think I ought to go out there and inspect it for myself.”

  With some difficulty Galina prevented herself from telling him that was exactly what Georgie was doing.

  Instead she suggested,

  “As my brother is away, Lord Bramton, who I am sure you know, has been helping me entertain Mr. Farlow. As his house is not far from Sandringham, I wonder if it would be possible for him to come with us. I am sure His Royal Highness would like to see the amazing treasures that I hear are in Bramton Priory.”

  “I have heard of them too and I have often thought that it would be easy to reach the Priory from Sandringham, but the opportunity has never occurred.”

  There was silence and then Galina looked at him questioningly.

  “Speaking off the cuff,” said Sir Christopher, “I am sure that His Royal Highness would be delighted for Lord Bramton to be in your party. Perhaps we could go over to the Priory on Sunday after Church.”

  “I am certain that Lord Bramton would be only too pleased to arrange it, but he would not like to think that he had pushed himself onto His Royal Highness.”

  “I think the issue is, Lady Galina, that His Royal Highness would be a bit put out at having to find another man as your brother is away, and it would be far easier to tell him that the figures are correct for the weekend party.”

  Galina laughed out loud as it sounded so funny, but she guessed that once the Prince of Wales had made up his mind about something, he was exceedingly annoyed if his plans were upset in any way.

  “I was not expecting such an exciting and unusual invitation and you must tell us exactly what time to arrive and I hope I don’t make any silly mistakes.”

  “If you do it will be my fault,” Sir Christopher said gallantly, “and we look forward to your arrival on Friday.”

  He rose to his feet as he spoke and Galina added,

  “There is one thing I would like to say to you, but please promise you will not tell anyone what I have said.”

  “No, of course not.”

  She knew that Sir Christopher was rather surprised and curious as to what she was about to say.

  “I don’t think many people know it,” Galina began a little nervously, “but Lord Bramton is finding it difficult to make both ends meet. He is actually thinking of having to close his house.”

  Sir Christopher gave an exclamation.

  “That would be a real disaster. It is one of the most famous houses in England.”

  “Yes, I know, but houses like his cost so much and Lord Bramton is wondering how he can survive.”

  Sir Christopher did not speak and she continued,

  “I have heard that His Royal Highness is very fond of gambling. Can you make it clear that it is impossible for Lord Bramton to sit down at a card table?”

  “I understand, of course, I do understand. I am so grateful to you, Lady Galina, for telling me. I will see that the numbers at the table are correct and find something else for Lord Bramton to do.”

  “That is very very kind of you.”

  She thought as she spoke that he was not only a charming young man but also a very handsome one.

  Vaguely at the back of her mind she had the idea he was quite well off.

  He had been in the Household Brigade before the Prince of Wales had asked him to become one of his aides-de-camp.

  It was so annoying that Georgie was not here to tell her everything she wanted to know, but she expected she could find out a little more from her relatives.

  It was also a great pity that Georgie was away as he would have enjoyed going to Sandringham.

  The Prince of Wales might have helped him in some way over Ranmore Park.

  Then she told herself she was being absurd.

  There was only one person who really could help them and that was Mr. Farlow.

  She was sure now that Mr. Farlow and Ellie-May would be thrilled at the chance of going to Sandringham – they would certainly have something to boast about when they returned to New York.

  She walked into the hall with Sir Christopher.

  “Is it going to be a big party?”

  Sir Christopher shrugged his shoulders.

  “One never knows with His Royal Highness. He is quite capable of asking enough people at the last moment to fill the Albert Hall or alternatively he wants just a few cosy evenings with guests who interest him.”

  “I can see your position is a rather difficult one.”

  “Fortunately I have a lot of help, but frankly I am enjoying it, because it is never monotonous and one never fails to be surprised when one least expects it.”

  Galina laughed and as she did so, Ellie-May came down the stairs.

  She had been shopping earlier in the afternoon and had gone upstairs to tidy herself before tea.

  “Oh, here comes Miss Farlow now,” Galina told Sir Christopher. “We are just going to have tea. Please stay and have a cup with us.”

  “I ought to get back to Marlborough House, but, of course, I could say that you delayed me!”

  As Ellie-May reached the last step, Galina said,

  “I want to introduce you to Sir Christopher Lawson who has brought you and your father the most delightful invitation.”

  Ellie-May put out her hand.

  “That sounds fun. What is it?”

  “To spend Friday to Monday at Sandringham with their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales.”

  Ellie-May looked at Galina.

  “I don’t believe it – you are pulling my leg.”

  “No, it is true,” came in Sir Christopher, “and I am delighted to meet you, Miss Farlow. Everyone has told His Royal Highness how attractive you are and he is looking forward to welcoming you as his guest.”

  “Then it is true, really true!” cried Ellie-May.<
br />
  As Sir Christopher nodded, she laughed,

  “Papa will be over the moon. As we don’t have Royalty in America, it’s one of those things he would like to collect and show off to everyone else.”

  The way she said it was so naïve, Sir Christopher almost burst out laughing.

  They walked towards the sitting room where their tea was waiting for them.

  As they did so, Galina was aware that Mr. Farlow would think that, whatever his visit to England cost him, it would be well worth every penny now.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  As Ellie-May had forecast her father was ‘over the moon’ when told they had been invited to Sandringham.

  At first he, too, thought it was a joke. Then he was as excited as a schoolboy at what lay ahead of them.

  He insisted the next morning that Galina and Ellie May went shopping again and bought more new dresses.

  “We really have enough that have cost you a lot of money already,” Galina told him.

  “Money! What is money?” Mr. Farlow answered. “I want both Ellie-May and you to look your very best and I’ve never yet known a woman refuse a new dress!”

  Galina laughed.

  “I have not had the opportunity to refuse many, so thank you very much indeed.”

  They went to the same shop they had been to before because they knew Ellie-May’s fitting.

  The vendeuse found what Galina believed was the prettiest gown ever designed and it made Ellie-May look really glamorous or as she would say, ‘a million dollars’.

  Galina knew that Ellie-May’s father would be proud of his lovely daughter and she only wished that Georgie were going with them.

  She could not help thinking that in some way the visit to Sandringham would be of benefit to Lord Bramton.

  He was very surprised by the invitation and asked at once,

  “Did you ask for me to come with you?”

  “Of course I did, Victor, and Sir Christopher was so relieved as otherwise we would have been a man short on His Royal Highness’s calculations.”

  “Well, I am delighted to be included in the party, I have not been to Sandringham for a long time and I know you will enjoy seeing it.”

  “What I am hoping,” said Galina, “is that, as I have already suggested to Sir Christopher, we could go over with His Royal Highness to see your house on Sunday.”