Follow Your Heart by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page B

that they were leaving and she wanted to see Lendi right away, but it might have been more significant to talk to her after she had actually met Jason.
    As she slipped from the saddle, she said to Piramus,
    â€œI have brought some flowers for Lendi.”
    â€œShe pleased, Lady, but this moment – asleep. Pity to wake her.”
    â€œOf course I will not disturb her. I will just place the flowers on her bed.”
    She left Piramus holding Apollo’s bridle and walked up the steps into Lendi’s caravan.
    As her son had told her, the old gypsy was fast asleep. Della was longing to talk to her, but she would not do anything as unkind as wake her.
    If Lendi were ill the ancient gypsies remedy of sleep and fresh herbs would be a better healer than anything else.
    She stood for a little while by the bed and felt as if she was reaching out to Lendi with her troubles.
    In some strange way it seemed as though the sleeping gypsy heard her plea and comforted her.
    Della could almost hear her voice saying again,
    â€˜ Follow your heart .’
    â€˜That will be impossible if I am forced to marry Jason,’ she wanted to tell her.
    She longed for Lendi to explain to her what she had meant by her words.
    However, the sleeping Romany did not move and finally Della had to turn away and leave the caravan.
    Piramus was still standing where she had left him, patting Apollo.
    â€œFine horse,” he said as Della joined him.
    â€œYou have met him before and he is a very dear friend.”
    Piramus smiled and she knew he understood. To the gypsies their horses were sacred. They were their best friends and they treated them ‘as man to man’.
    She knew that in return the horses obeyed their master’s orders almost like a human being.
    â€œI wish you were not leaving,” she told Piramus. “Say goodbye to all your family and tell them my uncle and I will look forward to seeing you all again next year.”
    She almost added that she might, when they came, be in a different house to the one she was living in now. It was something she could have said to Lendi, but not to Piramus.
    She merely bent down to hold out her hand.
    â€œGoodbye, Piramus, and take good care of yourself and Lendi. You know how fond my uncle and I are of all of you.”
    Piramus bowed over her hand.
    â€œLady – very gracious, anything – you need us, we – come.”
    â€œHow can I let you know when I am in trouble?” enquired Della.
    â€œYou call – we will hear.”
    Piramus spoke so positively that she knew he was telling her the truth from his heart.
    She found his words very comforting. If everyone else failed her, the gypsies would still be her friends.
    It was impossible, however, to put her feelings into words, so she simply said,
    â€œThank you so very much, Piramus.”
    He bowed again.
    Della rode home, put Apollo into his stall and walked slowly into the house.
    *
    Storton had laid the table for dinner beautifully. The flowers she had picked earlier in the day looked most attractive and the silver candlesticks had been cleaned until they shone, while the glasses on the table sparkled.
    â€œIt looks very nice, Storton,” said Della knowing well that he liked to be praised. “And I am sure the Duke will enjoy the dishes that Mrs Beston and I have chosen.”
    Storton assured her that everyone would find the menu delicious.
    For desert he had strawberries from the garden and grapes, which had arrived from Wood Hall.
    â€œDid anything else come with them?” Della wanted to know.
    â€œFour bottles of champagne, Miss Della, two bottles of brandy and one of Cointreau.”
    Della felt herself stiffen.
    The Duke was certainly making certain that everyone enjoyed themselves tonight. Equally she was conscious that he would not have sent them champagne if Jason had not been one of the guests.
    Food from the Home Farm and the greenhouse were one thing, but her uncle, who