A Virgin Bride by Barbara Cartland

made in countless houses in Mayfair.
    Suddenly she was afraid of the sensation she must be causing and she had no wish to be faced with it.
    â€œIt’s a lovely day, so do let’s go to the country as soon as possible,” she urged her father.
    â€œI thought you might feel like that, my dear. I have already sent to the Mews for the carriage to be brought round at nine. After all there is little point in sitting too long over breakfast.”
    Venetia just had time to help herself to breakfast from the silver dishes on the sideboard.
    She was finishing her second cup of coffee when Bates announced that the carriage was on its way.
    â€œI’ve had everything brought down, my Lady,” he said to Venetia, “but I don’t know if there be anything else you’ll be wanting to take with you.”
    â€œI am sure I will find everything I require at home and, of course, as you will understand, Bates, having been away for so long I am hoping that nothing has changed and that everything is exactly as it was when I left.”
    Bates smiled.
    â€œThat’s what we all hope, my Lady, but we’re often disappointed.”
    â€œI will complain bitterly if I am disappointed, but I am certain that Mrs. Johnson will have left things just as they were.”
    Mrs. Johnson was the housekeeper in the country and she had been in the service of the Duke even longer than Mrs. Shepherd.
    The two elderly women constantly vied with each other to keep the two houses perfect and if there was an accident or anything was lost it upset them greatly.
    Mrs. Shepherd had left a cape in the front hall for Venetia to wear over her dress as well as a hat with a wide brim as a shade against the sun.
    When Venetia walked outside, she could see to her delight that her father was driving a new team of four she had not seen before. They were very well matched and she knew in the light open chaise they would travel at speed.
    â€œYou never told me in your letters, Papa, that you had bought a new team.”
    â€œI thought I had, my dear, but actually these have only been here for the last three months. The other team was growing old and I put them out to grass.”
    â€œThat was kind of you, Papa.”
    Their luggage was being carried on a brake and in it was her father’s valet, who went everywhere with him, and two footmen as well as two maids.
    For a moment Venetia looked at them in surprise.
    She was ready to ask a question, but then she knew the answer – extra help would be needed in the country for the forthcoming wedding celebrations.
    She bade farewell to Bates, climbed into the chaise and her father picked up the reins.
    He was an outstanding driver and she appreciated the adroit way he drove his horses carefully through the crowded streets until they were out of the suburbs.
    Then he gave the team their heads and it seemed to Venetia that on the open road they were now travelling at a record speed.
    She had hardly exchanged a word with her father since they had left Berkeley Square and she could not help wondering if the Duke of Rockinston would ever be able to compete with him at driving a team.
    Yet to suddenly think of him made her shudder.
    She tried to tell herself it was a subject she had to ignore and finally quench altogether.
    â€˜One thing,’ she reflected as they drove along, ‘is that I must not be afraid of him. If he is at all decent, he will try not to frighten me.’
    Equally she knew that she was frightened.
    She was glad to be leaving London, as there would be no one to talk to about the Duke except her father.
    He had not mentioned him at all this morning and she took this to mean that he was being tactful.
    She had been far too tired last night to reflect on everything Aunt Alice had told her.
    But she mused now that as her Godmother had said she would have to be most astute to cope with the Duke.
    She was certain he would be well aware of his own excellence –
    He