Read The Incredible Honeymoon (Bantam Series No. 46) for Free Online

a winner there!”
    “I think so too,” the Duke agreed, “but until a horse has won his first race one can never be sure how he will shape when he is actually on a course.”
    “Ives is confident that he will prove to be as good as, if not better than his sire,” Antonia said.
    The Duke looked at her speculatively.
    “I have a feeling, Lady Antonia, that you have in fact a more intimate knowledge of my horses than you have gained just by looking over the boundary that separates our lands.” He saw the colour come into her face as Antonia realised she had more or less betrayed herself.
    “I am ... very interested in ... horses,” she said not very convincingly.
    “Especially mine!” the Duke said. “So much so that you are prepared to marry me for them!”
    “It is not exactly like that,” Antonia said a little shyly. “Any girl would be deeply honoured at the idea of being your wife, but Your Grace must admit it is a little difficult to be sure of what a man is like until one has at least met him—or for that matter a horse until one has ridden him!” She knew the last sentence was impertinent, but she could not help adding it.
    “And of course you know my horses better than you know me!” the Duke remarked.
    There was a mocking note in his voice which she did not miss.
    “I know you must think it very strange for me to come here and make the suggestion that I have. Mama would be absolutely horrified! But there was really nothing else I could do to save Felicity.”
    Again Antonia realised that her choice of words was not particularly flattering and she added quickly:
    “If she were not already in love I feel sure Felicity would have been delighted by your proposal, as any other girl in her position would be.”
    “And if, as you say, she is in love,” the Duke said, “then the only alternative is for me to marry you.”
    “I really would do my best to make you a good wife,” Antonia said gravely. “It is not only that I know a little about your horses, I am also very interested in Doncaster Park and all the treasures it contains. Mr. Lowry has told me about your ancestors and I can understand why you are very proud of them.”
    The Duke did not speak and after a moment Antonia went on:
    “I have not been well educated, except that I have read a lot.”
    “No doubt the books in my Library?” the Duke remarked. Antonia realised he was more perceptive than she had imagined he would be.
    “Quite a number, Your Grace,” she admitted truthfully, then added quickly:
    “I hope you will not be angry with Mr. Lowry because he lent me your books. I have known him for years, ever since I was quite small, and he realised how very inadequate my Governesses were to teach me the things I wanted to know!” The Duke did not speak and she went on:
    “Because I asked so many questions he would often lend me a book on the subject. I was very careful of them!” Antonia looked at the Duke anxiously.
    “I think I must commend Mr. Lowry for adding to your knowledge,” he said after a moment, “and I am glad that my books, which I often think are sadly wasted in that large Library, should have been put to some really useful purpose.”
    Antonia gave a little sigh of relief.
    “Thank you, Your Grace. I should be very distressed if Mr. Lowry found himself in trouble on my account.”
    “You were telling me about your education,” the Duke prompted.
    Antonia gave him a smile that transformed her pale face. “I am afraid,” she said, “that what I know about horses, the knowledge I have acquired from your books and a capacity for speaking French comprise my entire repertoire.”
    “You have no other talents?” he enquired.
    “None that I know of! I never have time to paint in water colours or embroider cushion-covers.”
    She gave a little sigh.
    “I suppose that shows I am not very feminine, but then I ought to have been a boy!”
    The Duke raised his eye-brows and she explained:
    “Papa longed for a son