Free The Marquis Is Trapped by Barbara Cartland

sharply about attending to his guests.
    When they returned to the house after their ride, the Marquis and Peter went into the breakfast room.
    Most of the guests had finished their breakfast.
    “Where have you been?” they were asked.
    Some of them were obviously a little annoyed that
the Marquis had been taken out riding, as they would have enjoyed a ride too if they had been included.
Peter explained the reason by saying,
    “My father is very determined that we will win the
match today and he did not wish you to be tired out.  If you want to ride, I am sure you will be able to do so tomorrow.  After all, as today is a Saturday we are expecting you all to stay until Monday morning.”
    Those who were feeling a bit disagreeable about the Marquis’s ride cheered up and the conversation naturally reverted to cricket.
    When the Marquis viewed the cricket ground at the
back of the house, he understood Sir Gerald’s anxiety for the match to be a success.
    It was apparently traditional that the Benson estate
should stage a cricket match every year and the proceeds of the gate-money were handed to one of the most deserving charities in the County.
    This year Sir Gerald was determined that the match
should be more successful than usual and he had invited the majority of the players from Oxford University.
    The County team had won a number of matches for the season and was therefore a formidable adversary.
    There were special seats at the ground for the Lord Lieutenant and the other dignitaries of Hampshire and also plenty of room for members of the public.
    It was a fine day and fortunately not too hot.  At the same time quite a number of women had brought their sunshades with them.
    The Marquis was very keen to distinguish himself and he was not surprised when he was put in to bat first.
    When he had scored a hundred runs, everyone rose, clapped and cheered him and there was a loud groan from the crowd when he was caught out ten runs later.
    However, his success was much appreciated by Sir Gerald and when it was time for luncheon, Lady Benson paid him so many gushing compliments that he felt quite embarrassed.
    The Marquis had not asked her to dance the previous evening and he reflected later that it would have been polite to do so.
    There had been a few attractive young girls in the party and when they retired to bed, Peter had teased him, complaining that he had had more than his fair share of them.
    “They danced very well,” he commented to Peter.
    “And the one you spent so much time with was by far the prettiest and none of the rest of us had a chance!”
    “She was an excellent dancer, but equally she had little to say for herself.”
    “You expect too much, Oliver!”
    At the end of the day the Benson team had won but by only fifteen runs – it had been a close finish, even more dramatic than the Marquis expected it to be.
    Sir Gerald was absolutely delighted and at dinner, which he hosted for both teams, he made a formal speech congratulating every player, most especially the Marquis.
    He said he looked forward to seeing him playing at Lords and that he would be very disappointed if Oxford did not beat Cambridge by a large margin.
    Those from Oxford clapped and cheered and then the Captain of the other team replied to the speech.
    He said they all hoped Sir Gerald would give them another chance next year to have their revenge.
    Sir Gerald readily agreed to this suggestion, which meant more cheers.
    The Marquis had been rather surprised to find that he was seated on the right of Lady Benson and he supposed that this signified that he must be the hero of the match.
    “You must tell me about yourself,” enquired Lady Benson flatteringly.  “I just cannot think why Peter has not asked you here before.”
    “I will come here again if I get the chance and I am determined, after seeing what a success it has been today, to ask my father to arrange a cricket match at home.”
    “I am sure it is something he