Follow Your Heart by Barbara Cartland Page A

Storton and the room looked very welcoming.
    As Della walked towards her uncle she realised that he was watching her intently and when she reached him he said,
    â€œYou look lovely, my dear, very lovely. I only wish I was taking you to a ball in London or dinner at Marlborough House.”
    â€œI wish that too, Uncle Edward, but we must try and enjoy ourselves this evening. I am hoping you will find Lady Southgate, who is sitting next to you, an amusing partner.”
    â€œI am sure I shall, my dear, and who have you placed next to Jason?”
    It was a question that Della hoped he would not ask her and to her relief, Storton opened the door before she had time to reply
    He announced two of the guests.
    Della had thought it was too obvious if she placed Jason on her left. As she was the hostess she had seated the Duke on her right, as was socially correct.
    On her left she had put the elder gentleman of the two married couples who she always found interesting.
    She placed Jason on Lady Southgate’s right.
    On his other side she put the happily married lady and Della felt she was sure to talk to him about her love for her husband.
    The guests now began arriving one after another.
    As Della had expected, her uncle was delighted with Lady Southgate. She was looking very attractive and talking excitedly about a new litter of puppies one of her bitches had just produced that she was certain would turn out to be champions. She was so enthusiastic that those who were listening became animated.
    Everyone was laughing and talking when Storton announced,
    â€œHis Grace the Duke of Marchwood and his Lordship the Earl of Rannock.”
    The two men entered the room.
    For a moment it was impossible for Della to look at Jason and then when the Duke had kissed her on the cheek she found herself facing him.
    Jason looked, she thought at first glance, rather better than she had expected.
    He was thinner and Della thought that perhaps his unhappiness in his marriage had in some way improved him.
    As he took her hand in his she felt the same as she had in the past.
    It was as if she was touching pitch.
    As she took her hand away from his she felt almost contaminated.
    Fortunately her uncle was greeting him and talking about the old days when Jason had been a boy and they had hunted together.
    It was easy for Della to move away as she now wished to speak to someone on the other side of the room.
    Even as she did so, she knew she was trying to escape from Jason and what he had made her feel about him.
    Fortunately dinner was announced a few minutes later.
    Della had written out everyone’s name and put the cards in front of their places at the table.
    She had the feeling the Duke was surprised Jason was not sitting next to her. However, he did not say anything.
    As soon as they had all sat down, she stated to talk to the Duke about his horses, as it was a subject he always enjoyed.
    By the time the first course was finished she was aware from the chatter and laughter at the table that the party was a success.
    One thing was quite obvious, that Jason was trying, perhaps on his father’s instructions, to make himself charming to everyone, especially to the two ladies beside him who certainly seemed to find him amusing.
    Della noticed that the Duke kept glancing in his son’s direction and he was obviously pleased with what he was observing.
    Towards the end of the dinner, he enquired of Della,
    â€œWhat have you arranged for us to do after dinner?”
    â€œI thought,” she replied, “that as no one would want to play bridge, which is always I feel a somewhat dull game, it would be pleasant to talk and, of course, have an early evening.”
    It was what she desired herself, but as an excuse she added,
    â€œUncle Edward has been working so hard on his book and I think it would be a mistake for him to stay up too late. It is something, as you know, he has always disliked.”
    The Duke smiled.
    â€œEdward