A Virgin Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

into an affaire , especially when you were being born and your mother was not able to accompany him on every Social occasion.”
    Venetia looked surprised.
    â€œYour father had quite a reputation before he was married. Although I suppose I should not tell you, he had a few affaires de coeur with my friends. They wept bitterly when he became bored with them and went on to another!”
    â€œPapa did that! I had no idea!”
    â€œOne never thinks of one’s parents in the same way as one thinks of other people and naturally in the ordinary way I would never have told you all this. But you have to understand, Venetia, you are now facing the most difficult problem you will ever have to face in your life – and it is up to you to solve it.”
    â€œI understand exactly what you are saying to me, Aunt Alice, but how do I solve it? I am a girl who has had nothing at all to do with men and I have been at school until I was nearly nineteen. Although I was living abroad, I have never even had a flirtation.”
    â€œThat, my dear girl, is your best weapon. For the simple reason that Rock, I am convinced, has never had a conversation with a debutante , nor if he could help it, has ever looked in their direction.”
    â€œYou mean he is frightened of being trapped?”
    â€œOf course he is, as all young men are, and a rich Duke is the prize every ambitious mother and father wish for their daughter.”
    â€œBut how – just how can I possibly do what you are advising me to do?”
    â€œI think, dearest, because you are so clever you will know instinctively how to play your cards. The first thing is not to be aggressive but elusive.”
    â€œI – don’t understand, Aunt Alice – ”
    â€œI cannot play your part for you, but work it out for yourself that every woman Rock has looked at has fallen into his arms like an overripe peach. I am sure it has never struck him for a second that you might refuse his advances.
    There was a wan smile on Lady Manvill’s lips and a twinkle in her eye as she added,
    â€œAs I look back on my life, and perhaps you realise I had a great number of men in love with me, it was always the ones I refused who were the most persistent. It was they who laid their heart at my feet not once but a thousand times. Now I am only sorry that I was not kinder to them!”
    She realised that Venetia was listening intently.
    â€œA man always wants what he cannot have and he also wants to be the victor. When he does win what has been a difficult battle, he is usually so afraid of losing what he has gained, that he remains – unless the woman is very stupid – faithful and loving for the rest of his life.”
    Venetia guessed she was talking about herself.
    She remembered now her father and mother saying how devoted Lord Manvill had been to her.
    â€œThey were such a devoted couple,” her Mama had once said, “and Harry, who had broken a thousand hearts in every country where he was posted as a diplomat, never looked at anyone after he married Alice. To my mind they were the happiest couple I have ever known.”
    While Venetia was listening, Lady Manvill had been watching her and she realised that she was beginning to comprehend what she was trying to tell her.
    â€œNow what is important Venetia is that you should be completely different from the girl Rock will expect.”
    â€œI suppose he will expect a rather silly schoolgirl.”
    â€œExactly. That is why you must be very different. Let us say that is the first jump you will take and you must then land successfully on the other side of the fence.”
    â€œBut how? How? Help me, Aunt Alice! You are giving me a lesson I have never had before and I feel as if it is in a foreign language I don’t understand.”
    â€œNonsense, dear! You are far too intelligent not to understand. If you can follow those clever old men who teach you philosophy and God knows what