A Virgin Bride Read online

  “I can give you my list right away, Rock. I want to go to the Opéra and I only hope you like music as much as I do. I want to sail down the Seine in one of the barges or perhaps, if you are feeling extravagant, in a private boat.”

  “That I will promise you,” murmured Rock.

  “I wish,” she continued, “to eat in all the wonderful restaurants like last night’s, so that when we return to your houses in England and I have to discuss with the cook what we will have for dinner, I will be experienced enough to choose your favourite dishes.”

  “I will cheer you up by saying in answer to your last remark that when my old cook retired, I then engaged a French chef. He is a Master of his art and can provide rather more than roast beef and apple tart!”

  “So that is one problem well solved as far as I am concerned. But if you don’t like music, I can understand you may have no wish to go to the Opéra.”

  “As it happens, I am very fond of music and I hope you can play the piano as well as you can talk.”

  “I gained a distinction at my school for music and if you really enjoy opera, it is something I had always hoped I would find in the man I married.”

  “So you did contemplate marriage?”

  “Of course I did. All the girls were constantly talking about it at school and the French girls, as you know, have their marriages arranged for them if they are aristocratic. I am certain too that the German girls do exactly what their fathers bully them into doing.”

  “That is just what your father did to you – ”

  “I can understand he wanted to save you and I don’t really mind being your lifebelt now.”

  “Which you have been so very gracefully, Venetia, I am eternally grateful to you.”

  He spoke with a deep sincerity in his voice.

  Instinctively and without thinking, he put his hand over hers.

  She looked up at him and their eyes met.

  For a moment it was impossible for either of them to look away.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The next day, as Rock said, ‘the balloon went up’.

  His mother had written to all her friends in France, as she was thinking she must help her son on what would obviously be a most difficult honeymoon.

  Lady Manvill had also written and, as she had lived in France for a time, she knew a great number of people.

  Invitations poured in and most of them would have been exceedingly hurt and distressed if the young couple had refused them.

  To Venetia it was a new excitement she had not expected and it made up for the balls she had missed as a debutante.

  Her enjoyment was so infectious that everyone who entertained her and Rock invited the young couple again.

  There were endless balls in Paris and in the glorious châteaux in the country.

  Venetia found it all enchanting and delightful.

  She rushed round to Frederick Worth and begged him to make her more dresses as quickly as possible.

  He quickly appreciated that Venetia was, after his Royal customers, a magnificent advertisement for him. He took on new workers and those who were with him already were forced to work all night.

  The clothes arrived sometimes only an hour before Venetia was ready to leave for a party, but inevitably she was, as Rock told her, ‘the belle of every ball’.

  As they did not go to bed until two or three o’clock in the morning, they were often very tired the next day.

  It usually meant that when they were asked out to luncheon they only just arrived on time.

  They no longer had much time to talk about horses and Rock’s travels that Venetia had enjoyed so much – it was hurry, hurry, hurry to the next engagement.

  Then to Rock’s surprise, driving home one evening or rather very early in the morning, Venetia enquired,

  “When are we going back to England, Rock?”

  “Are you anxious to go home? I thought being the success of Paris you would want to stay here indefinitely.”

  She did not reply and so he asked her,

  “What has upset you, Venetia?”

  “I am not really upset,” she said in a small voice. “But I was quite right in thinking I don’t like Frenchmen.”

  “What has happened?” Rock insisted.

  “The Vicomte tried to kiss me this evening and I was frightened he might actually do so.”

  Rock made up his mind immediately.

  “Then we will go home tomorrow – without anyone knowing what we are doing until we have departed.”

  Venetia looked at him in surprise, but all she could see was his profile against the streetlights.

  “Enough is enough,” said Rock firmly as if she had asked a question, “and I have been thinking every morning how much I was missing my horses.”

  “It will be wonderful to ride again.”

  He realised the excitement was back in her voice.

  “We will just sneak away as we sneaked in. Leave everything to me.”

  When they had reached their house in the Champs Élysées, Venetia went upstairs.

  As she reached the landing she saw that Rock had not followed her but had gone into the sitting room.

  He was leaving instructions for the servants as soon as they were up in the morning.

  *

  Because he was so efficient, she was not surprised when she found herself soon after midday travelling in a fast train towards Calais.

  “What will they say when they find we have left without saying ‘goodbye’?” she asked as the train pulled out of the Gare du Nord.

  “We will send them letters of thanks once we are home,” he replied. “But I am glad you have not found the Frenchmen more attractive than us poor Englishmen!”

  “It was silly of me to be frightened. But, as you know, I have never been kissed and I certainly did not want my first kiss to be from a Frenchman who had drunk too much champagne!”

  “Forget him!” Rock thundered.

  He was annoyed that she should have been upset.

  She had been so happy and delighted at the interest she had aroused in Paris.

  He had noticed with a smile that her luggage was now three times as large as when they had arrived in Paris.

  He thought that she would soon captivate the beau monde in London as she had captivated the Parisians.

  Because they were both tired they talked very little on the journey and they fell asleep as soon as they reached The Thistle.

  *

  When they arrived in London, she was delighted to find Rock’s chaise with its excellent team of horses waiting to take them to the country.

  “I thought you would want to stay in London,” she queried Rock, “at least for the night? That would mean we would have had to see Aunt Alice and tell her how kind her friends have been to us.”

  “You can do that later when we have rested in the country. I am looking forward to showing you what will be our main residence in the future.”

  “I can’t wait,” sighed Venetia. “And I only hope it is looking forward to seeing me.”

  Rock smiled.

  He knew with her enthusiasm and the way she had charmed the crew of The Thistle, that the large staff at Rockinston Hall would take her to their hearts.

  Venetia was overcome at her first sight of the great building.

  It had been the ancestral home of the Rockinstons for generations and it was even larger than she expected, despite all her father had told her about it.

  The garden and the woods round it were even lovelier than Lynbrook Hall. As it was spring, the trees were all in blossom and the wild flowers were a mass of colour in the fields.

  The garden itself was, she thought, more beautiful than any garden she had ever seen in her life.

  To begin with there was a large lake in front of the house and the little stream running through the paddock was, Rock told her, full of fish.

  “I caught my first trout when I was five,” he told her.

  “I was so pleased with it tha
t my mother had it put in a glass case and you can admire it still in the nursery.”

  The way he spoke made Venetia give him a quick glance and then she looked away again as his eyes were burning into hers.

  She knew as well as he did that both their families would be waiting to know if there was a possibility of an heir to the Dukedom.

  It would be difficult to explain that they were only just getting to know each other and that they had enjoyed a fabulous honeymoon in Paris as friends – not lovers.

  When they went into the house, Venetia was thrilled by the huge double staircase curving up on either side of the hall to the first floor.

  The magnificent picture over the medieval fireplace was most impressive and there were many regimental flags, which Rock explained were from battles that his ancestors had fought in and won.

  The footmen’s livery was the smartest and certainly the most spectacular Venetia had ever seen.

  The butler, who informed Rock that the Estate Manager would be waiting to meet him after tea, formally greeted them.

  “Tea is waiting for Your Grace in the blue drawing room,” the butler intoned, “and may I, on behalf of the household staff, wish Your Grace and Her Grace a long and happy life here at The Hall.”

  “That is rather what we are hoping ourselves, Benson,” replied Rock with a quick smile.

  Venetia shook hands with him and also with the footmen, which they did not expect.

  Upstairs Rock took her into an even larger drawing room that overlooked the back of The Hall.

  “I do want you to see the artificial lake, Venetia,” Rock said. “My great-great-grandfather created it and most people find it even more beautiful than the one in front of the house.”

  It was certainly magnificent. The lake was large and bordered with majestic trees in full bloom. In the centre was a striking statue of Venus surrounded by winged cupids.

  “Oh, look at the adorable cupids – they even have bows and arrows!” she gasped. “With the shadows from the leaves playing on Venus it is perfect! I have never seen anything so beautiful.”

  “I thought that you would appreciate it, Venetia. It is unique and I have never found one like it on anyone else’s estate.” Rock replied, surprised by how much pleasure her obvious delight was affording him.

  “I am sure eventually they will copy it, but for now it is wonderful to have it all to yourself.”

  Rock was looking at the lake with satisfaction.

  As Venetia followed his eyes, she could just make out far away peeping over the trees what appeared to be a high roof.

  “What is that?” she asked. “Surely it is not another house.”

  “No, it is something quite different, Venetia,” Rock answered. “It’s a copy of a Buddhist Temple.”

  Venetia looked interested and he went on,

  “My great-great-grandfather built it as his tomb.”

  “As his tomb! Is he buried there?”

  “He is not only buried there, but he took with him a great number of documents and treasures that should have remained in the possession of his successors.”

  Venetia realised that this annoyed him.

  “Then he put a curse on anyone who would enter his tomb and disturb him when he was dead.”

  Venetia was fascinated.

  “Do you mean to say,” she asked, “that no one can go into the tomb and you can never claim back the items he has taken with him?”

  “Because of the curse no one in the house or in the village will go near it. He lies in a special coffin, which he designed himself surrounded by all his books and other possessions he took from the house.”

  “I never heard of anything so extraordinary! And naturally I will want to look at the tomb one day.”

  “There is nothing to see. It is all sealed up and I assure you I would not dare to open it myself!”

  Venetia laughed.

  “I know how superstitious people can be and I do understand their feelings. But it must be so frustrating for you when you think of the precious things he has taken especially anything historic.”

  “I gather they include letters from Queen Elizabeth, who stayed here when the house was much smaller than it is now, also one from Charles II thanking my ancestor for hiding him from Oliver Cromwell’s men.”

  “I do see it’s infuriating, Rock, but perhaps when you die you too will want to take something you hold very precious with you.”

  “I will be buried in the family tomb in the village churchyard, and when you see it you will be impressed and recognise that it is exactly the right sort of tomb to hold distinguished members of my family.”

  “This is a very morbid conversation the moment we arrive. You know as well as I do there is just one more place I wish to see before we retire for the night.”

  “All right we will go there right now.”

  Rock knew exactly what she meant.

  “We will go to the stables and you will have a full conducted tour of the house tomorrow. Quite frankly I feel exhausted from the dissipation of ‘Gay Paree,’ and I am sure you are the same.”

  Venetia agreed and they walked over to the stables to inspect his thoroughbreds after they had finished tea.

  The Head Groom was delighted to see them and he knew all about Venetia father’s horses.

  “If you asks me,” he said, “it’s goin’ to be a right close finish at Ascot this year. His Grace has set ’is ’eart on winning the Gold Cup with Dragonfly.”

  “My father is just as determined to win the race with Samson,” retorted Venetia. “So we will be watching one of the most exciting races Ascot has ever held.”

  When they went back to the house, Rock remarked,

  “It means so much to them. They all feel as if the horses are theirs as much as mine.”

  “Our people feel exactly the same,” added Venetia. “I think perhaps I should pray for a dead heat.”

  “I think that if you want to be completely fair, you should keep your prayers out of it. I fear that yours may be more efficacious than mine!”

  Venetia smiled at Rock.

  “Now,” she declared, “that is a new challenge and one we have not thought of before!”

  They enjoyed an excellent dinner and Venetia told Benson afterwards that she would like to visit the kitchen tomorrow morning.

  “I want to thank the chef,” she said, “and also to meet those of the staff I have not seen already.”

  The housekeeper and two of the maids had helped her change before dinner and she could see that they were delighted at her new gowns from Frederick Worth.

  Rock now suggested,

  “I think after all the late hours we spent in Paris we should retire to bed at once. I know you will want to go riding tomorrow after breakfast.”

  “Having seen your lovely horses I cannot imagine anything more appealing. I must tell you I am delighted by your house, even though I am a little overwhelmed by it.”

  “I am hoping, Venetia, that you will be very happy here. We will make it even better than it has ever been in the past. I want it to be a sanctuary where we, and all those who belong to us, feel safe and secure whatever happens in the world outside.”

  He was speaking seriously and Venetia knew that it meant a great deal to him.

  “I will do my best not to fail or disappoint you – ”

  “I don’t think you could ever do that. Now go to bed, Venetia, and tomorrow we will start a new chapter of our life together and forget anything that has upset us in the past.”

  “You make it sound very dramatic, Rock. Chapter One was marvellous – not at all what I expected, but I enjoyed it enormously.”

  “So did I,” Rock agreed. “But as I have said, that was only Chapter One. Now we will see what happens in Chapter Two.”

  He thought as he spoke how much he wanted to kiss her, but he sensed the moment was not quite right and he must wait a little longer.

  As they were talking, they had been walking up the stairs.r />
  Now Venetia walked into the beautiful room, which she guessed, although he had not told her, had been his mother’s room before she left for Scotland.

  Everything about it was exquisite and quite perfect.

  There was a maid waiting in the room and it was therefore impossible for her to say goodnight to Rock and she knew he would not come to her room after she was in bed.

  She was indeed more tired than she had thought and she fell asleep almost as soon as she blew out the candles.

  *

  When she woke, it was half-past eight and the maid was pulling back the curtains.

  They had arranged the previous night to breakfast at nine o’clock – later, as Rock said, than they usually did in the country.

  “I have ordered the horses for nine-thirty and I will show you my favourite parts of the estate. Then later when we feel stronger, I will take you to the boundary. But that is too far for the first day we are in the saddle.”

  “I am so longing to ride, Rock, and I don’t mind where we go. It will be exciting to ride with you and see if you are as good a horseman as my Papa.”

  She was being provocative and teasing him.

  “That is indeed a big challenge and in reply I will expect you to sail over the jumps on the Racecourse as well as your father did the last time he was here.”

  Now, as she put on her riding habit, she hoped she would be given one of the best jumpers in the stables, but she rather expected that Rock would keep it for himself.

  When she was dressed, she reached the top of the stairs and looking down she saw the Head Groom was in the hall talking to Benson.

  He saw her and exclaimed,

  “Oh, there you be, Your Grace!”

  There was something about him that made Venetia sense that he was agitated in some way.

  She hurried down the stairs.

  “What is it?” she asked. “Is anything wrong?”

  “I be afraid, Your Grace, there’s been an accident,” the Head Groom replied.

  “An accident! What has happened?”

  “Silver Star, who His Grace took out this mornin’ at seven o’clock, ’as come back alone!”