Follow Your Heart by Barbara Cartland

Della.
    Then just as she had done he dismounted and tied his reins leaving his horse free to join Apollo.
    â€œI somehow thought,” he began as he walked towards her, “that I should find you here.”
    â€œWhy should you have thought that, my Lord?”
    â€œBecause I was quite certain it was where you belong and you would wish to see, as I do, the nymphs swimming in the bottom of the pool.”
    Della looked at him in astonishment.
    â€œI think you must – be reading my – thoughts.”
    The Marquis smiled.
    â€œI realise that is your prerogative, but I saw you standing here and thought for a moment you were one of the nymphs.”
    Della laughed.
    â€œNow you are flattering me, my Lord. It is just what I would like to be! I would swim right to the bottom of this lovely pool and stay there.”
    â€œAnd if you did so, what would happen to all your admirers? You would leave them heartbroken.”
    Della laughed again.
    â€œAs they do not exist there is no need for me to worry about them.”
    â€œDo you really expect me to believe that?” asked the Marquis.
    Della shrugged her shoulders.
    â€œIt happens to be the truth and if I need a companion, my Lord, I am perfectly content with Apollo.”
    â€œI suppose that is Apollo I see over there. Strangely enough he is most appropriately talking to Juno.”
    â€œIs he really?”
    â€œHe is indeed and like you I would rather be with Juno than any other woman I have ever met.”
    â€œYou cannot expect me to believe that .”
    â€œWhy not?” questioned the Marquis.
    She moved from amongst the irises to where, beside the pool, there was a fallen tree that made a comfortable seat.
    Without really thinking what she was doing she sat down and the Marquis joined her saying as he did,
    â€œI can assure you I am very careful not to ask Lendi to tell my fortune. I am quite certain she would find me a suitable bride and I have a feeling her predictions would be even more pushy than those of my relations!”
    Della chuckled.
    â€œI can understand when you own anything as beautiful as this wood and your lovely house, my Lord, that your family wish you to marry and settle down. To have someone special to share it with.”
    She was thinking as she spoke that this was exactly what the Duke wanted for Jason, although when he had married it had been a disaster.
    Because even the thought of Jason upset her, she gave a little shudder and the Marquis asked,
    â€œWhat is frightening you?”
    â€œHow do you – know I am – frightened?” Della looked startled.
    â€œI cannot give you a direct answer,” he replied, “but I know I am right. Although you look like one of the nymphs from the pool and should be happy and carefree, I can sense you are, in fact, very afraid of something.”
    â€œYou are – right,” Della admitted, “but I do not want to talk – about it.”
    She thought as she was speaking how extraordinary it was that this stranger should be so knowledgeable about her. It was almost as though he could see into her thoughts.
    And then she realised as she looked over at the Marquis, sitting next to her, that he was extremely good–looking.
    She suspected that his relatives were all determined he should marry as soon as possible so that he wasn’t left all alone with only his possessions for company, however marvellous they might be.
    â€œYou are quite right,” said the Marquis, reading her thoughts again, “but I am determined to enjoy life in my own way. You as a gypsy, who has always ignored convention, will understand my feelings as no one else.”
    â€œOf course I – understand,” agreed Della. “You must never marry anyone unless as Lendi would say – you follow your heart and then it is inevitable.”
    The Marquis smiled.
    â€œThat is exactly what I intend to do. I therefore make it clear that anyone who