Follow Your Heart by Barbara Cartland Page A

insists on talking about my future will not be invited to Clare Court a second time!”
    â€œInstead they will just talk about it behind your back.”
    â€œI am quite certain they will,” the Marquis replied, “and of course young women will continue to be paraded in front of me like horses at a spring sale.”
    He spoke almost angrily, but Della found herself laughing.
    â€œI can see it all happening and of course you are an irresistible prize, my Lord, for any ambitious debutante .”
    Only as she spoke did she catch herself, thinking this was not something a gypsy would have said, so quickly before the Marquis could reply she added,
    â€œBut I must not keep your Lordship talking if you have an appointment.”
    â€œMy only appointment is with my woods, madam, and I am delighted that you should want ride in them.”
    It struck Della that having said what she planned to do perhaps he had deliberately come in search of her. It was, however, something she could not ask him.
    Instead she said most sincerely,
    â€œI cannot tell you how grateful I am, my Lord. As you are already aware woods mean a great deal to me and I always turn to them whenever I am happy or in trouble.”
    â€œAt the moment you are worried?”
    She felt it was no use protesting any further.
    â€œYes I am, but I do not wish to admit it.”
    â€œI think what you desire,” the Marquis told her, “is to be alone with the fairies and the goblins. Alternatively you might like to look at my horses.”
    Della’s eyes lit up.
    â€œDo you mean it?” she enthused, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight with excitement. “Is it really an invitation?”
    â€œIf it would interest you.”
    â€œOf course it would, my Lord.”
    â€œThen come and look at them,” suggested the Marquis. “I can tell by looking at how well groomed Apollo is, and how you speak of him, that like most gypsies your horse is more important to you than almost anything else.”
    â€œI can only say, my Lord, that I would be very honoured to see the horses in your Lordship’s stables.”
    She tried to speak in a manner she thought a gypsy would have done.
    The Marquis rose and they walked to where the horses were looking for grass beneath the trees.
    When Della gave a little whistle, Apollo came ambling towards her.
    The Marquis did not say anything. He merely picked her up and placed her on the saddle.
    He was very strong and Della extremely light.
    As his hands held her waist she felt a little quiver. Not one of fear, more a secret thrill deep inside that she did not understand because she had never felt it before.
    The Marquis still said nothing. He walked to Juno and swung himself into the saddle.
    There was a path out of the wood only a little way from the pool. When they were in an open field, without saying anything, they spontaneously broke into a gallop that quickly became a race.
    Even as they did so Della, for some reason she could not understand, felt a desire to beat him.
    She realised that as Juno was a mare she was lighter and slightly smaller than Apollo.
    Then she realised that the Marquis rode exceedingly well, in fact better than any man she had ever seen. Straight backed and elegant, the horse seemed to move at his slightest touch.
    When they reached the end of the first field, he was just half a length ahead of her. Urging Apollo quickly forward, eyes shining and cheeks flushed by the exercise and early morning breeze, she pursued.
    As the horses came to a standstill near the gate she breathlessly exclaimed,
    â€œThat was so exciting! I think Juno is a very beautiful horse!”
    â€œSo is Apollo,” replied the Marquis. “And no Goddess, may I say, could ride him better or more gracefully.”
    â€œThank you, my Lord. That is exactly the sort of compliment Apollo likes to hear.”
    â€œAnd his Mistress?”
    â€œShe is very grateful to your Lordship as