The Marquis Is Trapped by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

remember what his father had told him about the Earl.
    All he really knew was that Darendell Castle was of great historical interest and that the Earl himself came from an ancient family, the McDarens being one of the oldest and most respected Clans in the North of Scotland.
    The Marquis had enjoyed fishing ever since he had been a small boy – he had fished in the lake at home and been thrilled when he caught even a small trout.
    He could remember his first one and he had carried it excitedly back to his mother.
    Later he had fished on the best rivers in England.
    He had also fished abroad and there he had caught a variety of different fish and had difficulty in discovering the names of some of them.
    Now he recalled that his father had told him that the Daren River was one of the very best salmon rivers in the whole of Scotland.
    The Marquis thought with satisfaction that at least he had brought the strongest rods and the finest collection of new flies that could be purchased in London.
    It was far too early for grouse shooting and yet, if he made himself pleasant, he would doubtless be invited again for the twelfth of August.
    ‘In point of fact,’ he pondered, ‘I am not going to miss London even for a second.  It will be a change to be fighting for a silver salmon rather than for a pretty woman, who would doubtless not seem to be so attractive once I had caught her!’
    Then he laughed at himself for being such a cynic.
    At the same time he could not help rejoicing again and again that he was free.
    And that was more important than anything else.

CHAPTER THREE
    The next day was very rough again and when the yacht reached Holy Island, the Marquis decided he would definitely call in at Edinburgh.
    They passed by the mouth of the River Tweed and although a strong head wind was still blowing, the Marquis went on deck to watch The Neptune move slowly past St. Abb’s Head.
    From there they steamed along steadily up to North Berwick and then altered course to enter the Firth of Forth.
    It was a little time before the skyline of Edinburgh came into view and the Marquis could see ahead of him the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle.
    On the outskirts of the City they put into a harbour where there were a number of small boats sheltering from the bad weather.
    The Marquis remembered distinctly that the house where he had stayed with his father was not far from the Palace.
    As it was not yet late in the afternoon, he thought he would call on them immediately.
    He sent a sailor on shore to find him a carriage and a few minutes later he was moving through the streets of Edinburgh.
    He wondered if it might be interesting to call in at Edinburgh Castle, as there could be Officers there he had known in the past.
    But then he decided it would be better to call first on his father’s great friend, Lord McTranar.
    The house was large and impressive exactly as he had remembered it.
    He asked if Lord McTranar was at home and was shown into a room where there were a number of people.
    When his name was announced, two men rose and the Marquis recognised them as old friends he had known as a boy.
    “Oliver,” one of them exclaimed, “this is indeed a big surprise!”
    “I thought it would be, Neil, I am on my way to the North of Scotland in my yacht, but, as the sea was so rough, I put in here for shelter.”
    “And you remembered to come to us,” Neil said in a tone of satisfaction.
    He turned to the younger man next to him.
    “I expect you remember my brother, Brian.  He was not so large when you last saw him.”
    The Marquis held out his hand.
    As he did so, it suddenly struck him that the Lord McTranar he remembered must now be dead and Neil must now be the Chieftain of the Clan.
    This was confirmed when Neil added,
    “I don’t think you have met my stepmother.”
    A woman rose from the sofa who the Marquis saw at once was most attractive.
    “I have heard the boys talk about you,” she began, “but I never