The Marquis Is Trapped Read Online Free PDF Page A

the Captain was a bachelor and I thought that perhaps like me he wanted to be free.”
    “From what he told me as he was leaving, my Lord, he has waited for years for this particular woman and is jumping over the moon now he actually possesses her.”
    The Marquis did not say so, but he felt that this was the real love that all men always sought in their dreams but very few found.
    He could not imagine himself waiting for years for any of the women he had made love to – then, even to think of them, brought back the menace of Isobel!
    The sooner he was out of her reach the better.
    The Marquis was thinking that it was time he drove to Marlborough House when the door of the study opened suddenly and the butler announced,
    “Lady Heywood, my Lord.”
    Isobel had called at the house a number of times on one pretext or another.
    Therefore she was not shown, as would have been usual, into one of the reception rooms, whilst the Marquis was informed of her arrival.
    As she now flounced into the study, he rose from the writing table.
    He knew he had to be very astute if he was to avoid a scene.
    “This is a surprise, Isobel!” he called, as she walked towards him.
    He had to admit that she was looking exceedingly beautiful.
    She was wearing a pink gown and a hat trimmed with pink feathers.  They were a perfect background for her dark hair and her sea-green eyes.
    As the door closed behind her, Isobel ran towards him.
    “I felt I had to see you,” she said, putting her hands on his shoulders.
    She looked up at him.
    The Marquis saw by the expression in her eyes that she was even more dangerous than he had anticipated.
    “This is such a surprise, Isobel,” he repeated.  “But as I have told you before, it is a great mistake for you to call here when there is no one staying with me.”
    “What does it matter what people say?” she asked.  “It would be quite easy, my dearest Oliver, to prevent them saying anything, if – ”
    The Marquis was aware that she was about to say the words he dreaded.
    Before they could actually pass her lips he bent his head and kissed her.
    For the moment she was unable to speak and then he raised his head and remarked quickly,
    “I am about to leave for Marlborough House and I must not be late – it always annoys His Royal Highness.”
    “I know, my darling,” replied Isobel.  “But I have something so important to discuss with you and I promise you it will not take long.”
    The Marquis realised what she was about to say.
    He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece.
    “I must go!” he cried.  “His Royal Highness wishes to have a word with me before luncheon and I am already late.  Forgive me, dearest, but I cannot stop any longer.”
    He moved sharply away from her clinging hands to walk towards the door.
    “But Oliver I must see you.  I must !”
    “Tonight.  I will be with you at seven o’clock.”
    The Marquis did not wait for an answer, but ran out of the study and into the hall.
    To his considerable relief, he could see through the open door that his carriage was waiting outside.
    He knew that Isobel would be following him, so he snatched his top hat from one footman and his gloves and stick from another.
    Then, before she could reach the hall, he had stepped into his open carriage and a footman closed the door.
    The horses began to move forward and, as he drove away, the Marquis looked back.
    He could see Isobel standing just a little way from the butler with an expression of anxiety on her face.
    The horses turned out of Grosvenor Square and the Marquis gave a sigh of relief.
    He had escaped – for the time being.
    He could only hope and trust that Isobel would not find out from his servants that he was leaving for Scotland that afternoon.
    If she learnt the truth and that he was going there in his yacht, she would undoubtedly find her own way to his destination by some means or other.
    Then he reassured himself that Bolton, his butler, who had been with him for many