Follow Your Heart (15 page)

Almost without meaning to she blurted out,

“Why are – you – here? Why – have you – come?”

There was a pause before the Marquis replied very quietly,

“I have come to ask you a question.”

Della gave a cry and put her hands up to her ears.

“No!
No
!” she exclaimed. “It was so – wonderful, so – perfect – you cannot spoil it.”

She turned away as she spoke.

She could not bear to look at him any longer.

“So wonderful – so perfect,” the Marquis repeated. “That is just what I felt and that is why, my darling,
I am asking you how soon will you marry me
?”

Della became very still.

She could not believe what she had heard. It must be part of her imagination.

Then as if there was no need for him to wait for an answer, the Marquis picked her up in his arms and placed her onto Apollo's back. As he did so Della saw that Juno was just behind him.

She could not speak.

She could not think.

She was only sure that she was in a dream.

The Marquis could
not
have said what she thought he had said.

As if he realised how she was feeling, he mounted Juno and bent down to take hold of Apollo's reins.

He led the horse and Della away from the caravans.

Only when they were out of the field did he drop Apollo's rein and spur Juno forward.

There was no need for Della to do anything and as Apollo knew better than she what was happening he kept up with Juno. They rode in silence though the next field which led them towards Clare Court.

There was no way that Della could talk to the Marquis because the horses were moving so swiftly and yet if she had been able to speak to him, she would not have known what to say.

Could it really be true what he had just asked her?

How was it possible for him to marry a woman he believed to be a gypsy?

They reached the park and the horses moved a little slower between the trees. The stags that had been asleep hurried out of their way and next they were crossing the lake.

Della thought they were heading for the front door, but instead the Marquis rode under the arch leading to the stables.

He drew in Juno, and Apollo stopped beside him. There was no one about and everything was very quiet.

The Marquis dismounted and came to Della's side.

She looked down at him wanting to ask a dozen questions, but the words would not come to her lips.

He lifted her to the ground and released her bag from Apollo's saddle.

As he did so a young groom, rubbing his eyes, emerged from one of the stable doors. He looked in surprise at the horses and as he hurried towards them the Marquis took hold of Della's hand.

She felt a quiver go through her because he was touching her.

He did not speak, but drew her onto a narrow path with large rhododendron bushes on either side that led to the garden.

He moved very quickly and Della had difficulty in keeping up with him even though he was still holding her hand.

They stopped at a door, which was unlocked, and he swiftly opened it and walked in, gently pulling her inside. There was a dimly lit passage with a staircase at the far end.

Still without speaking, the Marquis climbed up the stairs carrying Della's bag and she followed him.

He stopped before a large oak door.

“We both need sleep,” he began slowly, “and later today we will be married.”

Della gave a cry.

“How – can – you?”

The Marquis held up his hand.

“I know all the arguments my family will make and all the criticism that will come from your people because you have married a Gorgio. That is why I do not intend to listen to anything either you or anyone else has to say on the subject!”

There was a short pause before he continued,

“You are mine. You belong to me and I belong to you. Our stars are joined and there is no escape for either of us!”

As he finished speaking he opened another door.

Della saw it was a large bedroom in which candles were burning on the dressing table and beside the bed.

The Marquis put her bag down on the floor.

“Go to sleep, my precious darling, and I shall do the same.”

He looked at her and she thought she detected a glint of fire in his eyes.

“If I touch you,” he muttered softly, “I shall not be able to leave you. I am going to lock your door not only to prevent you from escaping, which I know in your heart you have no wish to do, but also to prevent anyone, including me, from disturbing you.”

“But – listen,” pleaded Della, “I must – tell you.”

The Marquis put up his hand.

“There is nothing to say, my dearest Della. I love you and you love me and that is all either of us needs to know.”

He looked at her again.

She knew without words how much he wanted to hold her close to him and how he longed to kiss her as he had by the fountain.

Then, as if he had to force himself to obey his own commands, he walked out of the room.

He closed the door behind him and Della heard the key turn in the lock.

She could not believe it had happened.

She stood staring at the door as if it might open again, and then she sat down on the bed.

Could it be true?

Was she dreaming?

Did the Marquis really mean to marry her?

She knew without being told that every word he had said to her came straight from his heart.

It was what he intended to do and no one would be allowed to prevent him.

She closed her eyes at the sheer wonder and ecstasy of it all.

He loved her, as she had always wanted to be loved. So much so that he was prepared to marry a gypsy woman who would shock and horrify his relations.

What was more he really believed that Lendi and the other gypsies would think it wrong, as none of them would ever marry a Gorgio, the gypsy word for a non–gypsy.

It was so wonderful, so utterly unbelievable!

And as she had said herself – perfect.

She felt the tears come into her eyes.

How could any man prove his love more vividly and more determinedly?

‘Thank you – God – thank you,' whispered Della and she felt as she prayed that her father and mother were smiling at her.

It took her a little while to undress as the Marquis had told her to do and to find a nightgown in her bag.

She was exhausted even though she was wildly elated.

She felt she had experienced a miracle beyond all miracles!

She slipped into bed and only as her head touched the pillow did she think, for the first time, about Jason.

Now she realised she need no longer be afraid, as the Marquis would always be there to protect her.

If she was married to him, no one, not even the Duke, could hurt her.

‘I love him – I adore him,' she murmured to herself.

She felt, as she fell asleep, that he was like an Archangel from Heaven protecting her from her enemies.

She was no longer afraid.

*

Della must have slept for a very long time.

She only awoke because she heard someone moving about the room.

For a moment she could not think who it could be or where she was.

Then she remembered how the Marquis had brought her here and had told her she was to go to sleep.

For a moment she was afraid to open her eyes.

Perhaps now it was all not true – an incredibly improbable dream or just a figment of her imagination.

Yet the bed did not seem like the small bed she had occupied in Mireli's caravan.

She opened her eyes to find the sun was shining through the windows into a large and beautifully furnished bedroom.

Della felt a little tremor run through her body. If this was where she was, then it
was
true that the Marquis wanted to marry her.

She would be his wife.

Someone came to the bedside and she looked up to see an elderly woman.

“Are you awake, miss?” she asked. “I'm his Lordship's Nanny and he's told me to look after you and to get you ready for your wedding.”

Della drew in her breath.

“Wedding!” she murmured.

“It's the best day of my life,” exclaimed Nanny. “I've been praying his Lordship'll find himself a wife and when he told me the good news I've never seen him so happy.”

Before Della could answer she said in a different tone of voice,

“I've brought you something to eat, miss, because you've missed breakfast, luncheon and tea.”

“What is the time?”

“It's getting on for six o'clock,” Nanny told her, “and I thinks when you've eaten what I've brought you, you'd like a bath.”

“I would indeed,” agreed Della enthusiastically.

It had not been possible to have a bath while she was staying with the gypsies and it had been very difficult to wash in just a small bowl.

She sat up in bed and Nanny brought her a tray with a large mug of soup.

Excited though she was, Della felt hungry and when she had finished the soup there was a dish of fresh trout, which she suspected came from the lake. It was cooked with a cream sauce and she enjoyed every mouthful.

Nanny poured her out a glass of champagne to drink with it.

After the fish there was a light soufflé followed by a variety of fresh fruit.

Della felt Nanny would be disappointed if she did not eat everything she was offered and she only made a protest when she was given a second helping of fruit.

She enjoyed a cup of coffee after she had finished the meal.

Nanny had not talked to her while she was eating and now she carried away the tray.

Two housemaids brought in a round bath and set it down on the mat in front of the fireplace. There were two large brass cans to follow it and Della knew that one contained hot water and the other cold.

The maids disappeared and she climbed out of bed and into the bath. The water was scented with what she recognised as the perfume of white violets.

When she finished washing herself Nanny helped to dry her with a large Turkish towel.

It was then, for the first time, she wondered what she should wear if she was indeed to be married as the Marquis had insisted.

She guessed the service would be in his private Chapel as it was obvious a large house like Clare Court would have one.

At the same time she worried that she would not look as pretty as she would like to for she only had the rather plain gowns she had brought with her.

Nanny went to the wardrobe.

“There are two wedding dresses for you to choose from,” she announced grandly, “and I thinks, as I've measured them against one of your own, they'll fit you almost as if they've been made for you.”

“
Wedding dresses
!” cried Della. “How could you have wedding dresses here?”

Nanny gave a little laugh.

“Very easily. Every bride in the last two hundred years has left their wedding dresses in what we calls the Museum.”

“I have not seen it.”

“His Lordship'll show it to you, but it's in the East wing. Most visitors prefer to see the pictures in the gallery on the other side of the house.”

“You have a collection of wedding dresses!” sighed Della. She could hardly believe it.

Nanny lifted down two lovely gowns from the wardrobe.

“This one was worn by his Lordship's mother,” explained Nanny, “and the other by his grandmother.”

They were both classic in shape and made, Della knew, by the master hands of a great designer.

One was of rather heavy satin and the other was of chiffon that reminded Della of the gowns worn by the Greek Goddesses.

She thought instinctively that was how the Marquis would like her to look.

When Nanny put it on her she found it fitted her perfectly, giving her an almost classical look as if she had just stepped out of the Acropolis in Athens.

“That's the one I hoped you'd choose,” crowed Nanny with satisfaction. “Now I have the veil which is worn by all the Clare brides. It is, I've been told, over three hundred years old.”

The veil was made of exquisite lace and after Nanny had arranged Della's hair she placed the veil over her head. It fell down on each side of her face, but did not cover it.

It was then that Nanny opened a leather box which was standing on the dressing table and in it was the most beautiful tiara Della had ever seen, made of diamonds in the shape of flowers.

It made her think not only of the formal flowers in the garden, but the wild flowers that grew in the woods. She thought that when the Marquis was choosing it for her the same idea was in his mind too.

Only
he
could be so understanding and know exactly what she wanted without her putting it into words.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, she thought once again that she must have been dreaming.

This is how she had always wanted to look for the man she loved and she thought it could never happen because she would not be lucky enough to find him.

She had taken some time in bathing and dressing and now Della realised it was nearly seven o'clock. She looked at Nanny enquiringly who told her,

“Your wedding's to take place on the hour and his Lordship'll not want you to be late.”

“I think I am to be married in the Chapel,” said Della. “But how can it be legal when the banns have not been read? I cannot believe that his Lordship has a Special Licence.”

Nanny gave a little laugh.

“It's something I would've asked myself if I didn't live here. There are still private Chapels which are allowed to marry anyone without the formalities that people expect elsewhere.”

“Of course! I remember now,” exclaimed Della, “and his Lordship's Chapel is one of them.”

“It's because Clare Court has been here for so long,” said Nanny proudly. “It were built originally when Queen Elizabeth was on the throne.”