Free The Incredible Honeymoon (Bantam Series No. 46) by Barbara Cartland

face that he had not seen before.
    “I am glad Rufus is one of the horses taking us to London,” she said to Ives. “He has always been my favourite.”
    “Yes, M’Lady,” Ives replied a little uncertainly.
    He was embarrassed that Antonia was talking to him in the Duke’s presence and showing a knowledge of the horses that he might find it hard to explain.
    “I think we should be on our way!” the Duke said abruptly. “The guests will soon be leaving your father’s house, and it will cause quite a lot of comment if we are seen changing vehicles.”
    “Yes, of course,” Antonia agreed obediently.
    The footmen helped her into the Phaeton and a groom sprang up behind them. The Duke set the horses in motion and the four out-riders who were to travel with them to London spread out on either side so as to be clear of the dust.
    “This is exciting!” Antonia said. “I was wondering how soon it would be possible for you to drive me in your Phaeton! I was afraid I would have to wait until we came back from our honeymoon.”
    The Duke glanced down at her and realised that the short satin coat she was wearing over a thin gown was more becoming than anything he had seen her in on previous occasions.
    Her bonnet also, trimmed with small ostrich feathers, was fashionable, and he decided that while she did not compare to advantage with her elder sister she had perhaps, although he was yet to find them, attractions of her own.
    He was relieved to find that she did not chatter all the time they were travelling.
    In fact she appeared to be concentrating on the horses, and as they journeyed on towards London the Duke found that the fresh air and the fact that it was not so hot made him feel less constrained and irritable than he had been before.
    After dinner at Doncaster House where they were to stay the first night of the honey m oon, the Duke in fact felt mellow and almost at peace with the world.
    He found that he had enjoyed explaining to Antonia during dinner exactly what his plans were as regards Goodwood Races which would take place while they were away.
    He was also surprised at her knowledge, not only about his own horses bought in the last five years and improving the stud he had inherited from his father out of all recognition, but also how much she knew about the other stables with which they came into opposition on the race-courses.
    “How can you have learnt all this?” he asked at one moment.
    She had corrected him over the breeding of one of Lord Derby’s mares and after a short argument he found that she was right.
    “I read the racing-papers,” Antonia replied with a smile. “Papa would be horrified if he knew that I did so, because in most of them there are also all sorts of scandalous police reports and slanderous innuendos about political and social personalities.”
    The Duke knew only too well to which papers she referred and he thought they were certainly not the type of reading suitable for a young girl.
    He was however too interested in what Antonia had to say to find fault.
    They moved from the Dining-Room into the Library although the Duke had suggested they might sit in the Salon upstairs.
    “I have learnt that this is your favourite room,” Antonia said, “so let us sit here.”
    “I think the real reason for your choice is that you want to look at my books,” the Duke remarked.
    “As soon as you have time,” Antonia replied, “I want you to show me all the wonderful treasures you have here, which I am told are equally as fine as those at Doncaster Park.”
    “I have the uncomfortable feeling that you already know more about them than I do,” the Duke said.
    Antonia did not answer.
    He watched her looking round the Library with a faintly amused smile on his lips, being well aware she was far more interested in her surroundings than in him.
    As if she realised what he was thinking, she turned her large grey-green eyes towards him and he had an intuition she was going to say something