Free The House of Happiness by Barbara Cartland Page B

rushed in to accept on her daughter’s behalf. She had been rather worried that Eugenia was not getting enough fresh air.
    Thus it was that, shortly after noon, Eugenia found herself seated upon a beautiful roan mare and ready to ride out with the Marquis.
    She could not help noticing that everyone – the stable boy who brought the horses round, the footman who accompanied the Marquis and handed him his whip and the maid who was hurrying in from the herb garden with a bunch of sage – greeted their Master with undisguised affection, while the Marquis greeted all and sundry with great courtesy and respect.
    Eugenia was surprised at how quickly she became re-accustomed to being in the saddle. It was as easy as breathing.
    The Marquis led the way.  They rode down the central avenue of gravel that dissected the grass parterres. On the last stretch of lawn before the lake, the horses were set to gallop. She had not felt so happy for weeks.
    The Marquis reined in at the water and Eugenia followed suit. The horses steamed as they lowered their heads to drink.
    The Marquis turned to speak to Eugenia but suddenly halted in his intention.
    She looked bewitching, her eyes aglow, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted as she regained her breath. Her hair tumbled wildly about her shoulders.
    The Marquis forced his gaze away.
    â€œIs there any place in the vicinity you would care to visit?” he asked.
    Eugenia took a deep breath and then pointed towards the woods.
    â€œThere,” she said. “I should like to find the cottage where I used to live.”
    The Marquis smiled. “I would be rather curious to see it too. Let us go.”
    They set off again.  They decided to ford the river, which was luckily still low, rather than use the old wooden bridge further upstream. On the other side of the water the horses scrambled up the bank and entered the woods. Eugenia’s heart began to pound with excitement when they came upon the path that led to the cottage. Eagerly, she urged her horse into the lead. 
    A dim, green light prevailed beneath the trees.  Boughs grew low, leaves brushed her forehead. She did not remember the path being so overhung or so overgrown. 
    She glimpsed white posts, some leaning, some fallen, some rotting. This should have prepared her for what was to come, but it did not. As the trees cleared she plunged joyously ahead and only at the last minute did she rein in her horse with a cry of utter dismay.
    There before her stood ‘ Paragon ’ or what remained of it.
    The thatch had vanished, exposing the mouldering beams of the roof. Windows gaped, all glass gone.  Shutters hung by a nail. The walls were peeled and cracked and in some places barely standing at all.
    â€œAlas,” sighed the Marquis. “The past is never as we remember it.”
    Eugenia, beside herself with grief and horror, swung wildly on her companion.
    â€œIt’s all your fault!” she sobbed.  “You stayed in France and neglected your estate. I suppose ‘ Paragon ’ was beneath your interest. Why didn’t you install new tenants? Why?”
    Before the stunned Marquis could reply, Eugenia wheeled her horse around and took off at a gallop.  She kept her head down as she careered through the low branches. She cleared the woods and splashed through the river, her mind in as great a turmoil as the darkening sky above. If her dreams of the past had been destroyed, she would cling all the tighter to her dreams of the future.
    Whether her mother approved or not, she would marry the man she adored and never, never succumb to the attentions of a man who had allowed her beloved ‘ Paragon ’ to fall into ruin!

CHAPTER FIVE
    As Eugenia cantered past the Apollo Pavilion, a great flash of lightning lit up its copper dome. A few seconds later, a deafening thunder clap rent the air.
    Eugenia’s mount, a skittish creature at the best of times, gave a terrified neigh