Read Online The Marquis Is Trapped by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Cartland
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entered the room next door that also had long windows overlooking the garden and the bay.
The Marquis noted that it was decorated completely differently. Here there were a number of pictures against the pretty Chinese wallpaper that had obviously been there for years.
The tea table was in front of the fireplace and the Marquis noticed at once that it was laid for four people.
This meant there was no one staying in the Castle except himself.
Although it was not exactly as he had anticipated, he thought it might be to his advantage – as after what had happened in Edinburgh, he might have been in for another surprise!
He sincerely hoped not, as he wanted to concentrate on the sport – also to forget, here in the North of Scotland, all the problems and stress that had beset him in London.
However, because he was who he was, they turned up unexpectedly in other places as well.
“Now do sit down,” the Earl was saying, “and tell me all about your horses. I often see you mentioned in the newspapers as running winners in the Classic races, and I remember it was a sport your father always enjoyed.”
“I have indeed inherited some excellent racehorses from my father. We do pride ourselves on having bred the finest horses to be seen anywhere.”
“It does not surprise me, Oliver, your father always wanted the best and I suspect you do too.”
“Of course I do,” answered the Marquis. “It is only difficult to be certain that one is not being hoaxed.”
He went on to tell the Earl, because he saw he was interested, about the races his horses had won recently and what he was hoping to achieve in the future.
They had been drinking their tea for only a little while when the door opened.
A young girl came running in.
“I have caught six fresh salmon, Papa!” she cried. “And the largest one is ten pounds.”
The Earl held out his hand.
“That is very splendid, Celina. Just what our guest wants to hear.”
As if she had been unaware of his presence, the girl turned round.
The Marquis rose and held out his hand.
They both looked at each other in surprise.
The Marquis because he had no idea that the Earl had such a young daughter.
Or that she would be so beautiful!
She was, in fact, very different from any woman he had ever seen before.
There was a distinct touch of gold in her long hair.
Her face he could only admit as being lovelier than any he could ever remember.
For a moment he could not place her looks and then he decided that her features were definitely those he would associate with Classical grace.
Her eyes, which seemed to almost sparkle with the brightness of the sun, were the soft grey of a morning mist.
As she ran into the room, Celina appeared to be no more than a child.
When the Marquis took her hand, he realised that she must be eighteen or nineteen.
“It has been a wonderful day,” she enthused. “The fish were rising one after another. At first they would not take, but then after luncheon I seemed to hook one every time I cast!”
“It is just what we all dream about,” remarked the Earl. “The Marquis is determined to beat every record. Is that not true, Oliver?”
“I will certainly do my best – ”
He smiled at Celina as he spoke.
Then to his surprise she turned away.
He felt, although he must be wrong, that there was an expression of fear in her eyes.
‘I must be imagining it,’ he told himself.
Yet he was aware that, when Celina sat down at the tea table, her head was bent over and she was no longer enthusing in an excited voice to her father.
As the Earl went on talking, the Marquis noticed that Celina never again looked in his direction.
He could not understand it and considered it very strange – there was no doubt that she was behaving quite differently.
She was no longer the excited child who had come back from the river having caught a large bag of salmon – she was now quiet, restrained and undoubtedly shy of him.
The Earl did
The Marquis noted that it was decorated completely differently. Here there were a number of pictures against the pretty Chinese wallpaper that had obviously been there for years.
The tea table was in front of the fireplace and the Marquis noticed at once that it was laid for four people.
This meant there was no one staying in the Castle except himself.
Although it was not exactly as he had anticipated, he thought it might be to his advantage – as after what had happened in Edinburgh, he might have been in for another surprise!
He sincerely hoped not, as he wanted to concentrate on the sport – also to forget, here in the North of Scotland, all the problems and stress that had beset him in London.
However, because he was who he was, they turned up unexpectedly in other places as well.
“Now do sit down,” the Earl was saying, “and tell me all about your horses. I often see you mentioned in the newspapers as running winners in the Classic races, and I remember it was a sport your father always enjoyed.”
“I have indeed inherited some excellent racehorses from my father. We do pride ourselves on having bred the finest horses to be seen anywhere.”
“It does not surprise me, Oliver, your father always wanted the best and I suspect you do too.”
“Of course I do,” answered the Marquis. “It is only difficult to be certain that one is not being hoaxed.”
He went on to tell the Earl, because he saw he was interested, about the races his horses had won recently and what he was hoping to achieve in the future.
They had been drinking their tea for only a little while when the door opened.
A young girl came running in.
“I have caught six fresh salmon, Papa!” she cried. “And the largest one is ten pounds.”
The Earl held out his hand.
“That is very splendid, Celina. Just what our guest wants to hear.”
As if she had been unaware of his presence, the girl turned round.
The Marquis rose and held out his hand.
They both looked at each other in surprise.
The Marquis because he had no idea that the Earl had such a young daughter.
Or that she would be so beautiful!
She was, in fact, very different from any woman he had ever seen before.
There was a distinct touch of gold in her long hair.
Her face he could only admit as being lovelier than any he could ever remember.
For a moment he could not place her looks and then he decided that her features were definitely those he would associate with Classical grace.
Her eyes, which seemed to almost sparkle with the brightness of the sun, were the soft grey of a morning mist.
As she ran into the room, Celina appeared to be no more than a child.
When the Marquis took her hand, he realised that she must be eighteen or nineteen.
“It has been a wonderful day,” she enthused. “The fish were rising one after another. At first they would not take, but then after luncheon I seemed to hook one every time I cast!”
“It is just what we all dream about,” remarked the Earl. “The Marquis is determined to beat every record. Is that not true, Oliver?”
“I will certainly do my best – ”
He smiled at Celina as he spoke.
Then to his surprise she turned away.
He felt, although he must be wrong, that there was an expression of fear in her eyes.
‘I must be imagining it,’ he told himself.
Yet he was aware that, when Celina sat down at the tea table, her head was bent over and she was no longer enthusing in an excited voice to her father.
As the Earl went on talking, the Marquis noticed that Celina never again looked in his direction.
He could not understand it and considered it very strange – there was no doubt that she was behaving quite differently.
She was no longer the excited child who had come back from the river having caught a large bag of salmon – she was now quiet, restrained and undoubtedly shy of him.
The Earl did
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