104. A Heart Finds Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page A

well!”
    William laughed as he continued,
    “Stop trying to pull the wool over my eyes, John. You know as well as I do that the debutantes and their mothers have been running after you like a lot of silly sheep ever since you came into your title. In fact, the number of invitations you receive is phenomenal.”
    “That is exactly what I find disgusting about the whole thing,” the Duke replied. “Women marry for what they can get out of it, and the prettier the girl is, the higher she expects to rise in Debrett’s Peerage . If I was not good enough for them when I was plain Mr. Ford, I am certainly not going to marry a woman now just because she wants to be a Duchess.”
    William sighed.
    “The trouble with you John, is that because you have been done down by one woman, you are now making yourself hate the whole sex. There is good and bad in females, just as there is in males and you were unfortunate to pick a bad one.”
    “Exactly, and once bitten, twice shy. That is why, William, I will never be the bridegroom, except when I pose for you for a photograph!”
    He left the room as he finished speaking and, as the door closed behind him, William sighed again.
    He was very fond of his friend and enjoyed being with him.
    But at the same time he regretted that, because one woman had insulted him and made him feel foolish, he insisted on condemning them all. It was spoiling him and his chance of happiness for the future.
    ‘I expect some day he will get over it,’ William told himself.
    But he was not confident that was possible.
     
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    After they had enjoyed an excellent luncheon at the Ducal house in Berkeley Square, the Duke and William climbed into the chaise and they set off at a good speed.
    The Duke thought with satisfaction that William had purchased a splendid if expensive camera.
    It would be impossible for anyone in Georgia not to believe he was married if he showed them a photograph of him and his wife in that magnificent wedding dress.
    He had remembered to instruct his valet to put his evening clothes and his father’s decorations in the chaise.
    He wanted to add those that had belonged to the previous Duke, but unfortunately most of them were in the safe at the family castle in Scotland.
    However, he had been a Knight of the Order of the Garter and the Duke was able to add that insignia to his Collection, but no one in Georgia would know what the Garter meant, but it would certainly look impressive.
    He was, in fact, enjoying himself in thinking out new ideas for circumventing those who continually nagged him to be married and he knew that it was now going to be worse than it had ever been simply because, as a Duke, he would require an heir.
    Thinking it over, he was quite certain that there were a few relations who could claim the Dukedom when he was dead, which he hoped would not be for a long time.
    As they reached the outskirts of London, the Duke gave the horses their heads and they moved quickly down the empty roads.
    “I do see there is one advantage,” the Duke said, “in living near London. You can get out into the country without having to travel for endless miles as I have to do when I go to The Castle.”
    “I agree with you that Sutherland is a long distance to travel every time you want to go home,” William said. “If I ever have a country estate, which is very unlikely, it will be in what is known as ‘the Home Counties’.”
    They travelled on and William asked,
    “What is this girl like who you are making your alleged wife?”
    “She is very pretty, in fact, outstandingly so. I can hardly be accused of marrying an ugly woman!”
    “No, of course not, John, but you don’t think she may blackmail you in the future because she has pretended to be your wife?”
    “Good heavens, no! After all Charles, although a spendthrift, was undoubtedly a gentleman. I remember my father talking warmly of Lord Lester.”
    “I was only making sure that you are