The Glittering Lights (Bantam Series No. 12) Read Free Page A

coach during the afternoon and Cassandra, seated on the box, had looked down at him with interest.
    She had not realised then that her future was already being planned for her by her father and the Duke.
    In his long white flannel trousers, blazer and pale blue cap the Marquis had appeared extremely handsome. His hair was dark and he had grey eyes which she noticed immediately.
    There was an expression of curiosity in them which made him, she thought, appear to look penetratingly at anyone to whom he spoke, as if he was searching for something.
    He was tall and extremely thin, as if he had almost outgrown his strength, or else driven himself hard.
    There was no doubt that he was popular with other Etonians, while older men spoke of what he had achieved at the match with a pride that told those who listened it was part of the nostalgia of their schooldays.
    The Duke was talking eagerly to Sir James about a horse he had heard of in Suffolk and which he thought was worth their attention.
    The young Marquis was surrounded by the young women who had been accepting Sir James’s hospitality.
    They were flattering him, hanging on his words, laughing at everything he said and doing their utmost, Cassandra thought with a little curve of her lips, to make themselves alluring.
    ‘Today he is the hero of the match,’ she thought. ‘Tomorrow they will have forgotten him.’
    But she was to learn as the years went on that the Marquis of Charlbury was not someone who was easily forgotten!
    The newspapers were full of him, the illustrated journals went into rhapsodies over his looks, his charm and his rank.
    She could never remember afterwards whether they had actually been introduced that day at Lords; but whether they had or not, she had certainly made no impact upon him, while she knew that as far as she was concerned her life had been changed that warm summer’s afternoon.
    It seemed to her inevitable and in a way part of a dream when her father told her that he and the Duke had planned that she should marry the Marquis.
    “And supposing he does not like me?” she asked.
    For a moment Sir James looked a little embarrassed.
    “My dearest, you must understand,” he said, “that in the social world marriages are arranged by the parents of those concerned.”
    “But could such a marriage ever be successful?” Cassandra enquired.
    “They are successful,” Sir James answered. “In the vast majority of cases the two people concerned fall in love with each other after the marriage and live in great contentment.”
    “Are you telling me that that is what happened with you and Mama?”
    Sir James smiled.
    “As usual, Cassandra, you have put your finger upon my Achilles’ heel! I met your mother by chance. I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her. I think she will tell you that she also fell in love with me.”
    He paused and then he said:
    “I was much older than she, Cassandra. I always intended to marry, but only when I was quite certain I found someone who would suit me.”
    “In other words,” Cassandra said, “you meant to marry someone who had both breeding and an important place in the social world. You were rich, Papa, but you had no intention of not furthering your ambitions by your marriage.”
    “We have always been frank with each other,” Sir James replied, “and therefore I can admit in all honesty, Cassandra, that that is more or less the truth. I had no intention, when I gave up my bachelor-hood, of making anything but a brilliant social marriage, something which I may add I had enjoyed very much.”
    Cassandra laughed.
    “I have heard it said, Papa, that there has never been such a flirt as you, and that women pursued you like flies around a honey-pot!”
    “You flatter me!” Sir James protested, but his eyes were twinkling.
    “What you are trying to tell me,” Cassandra went on, “is that you always intended to make a mariage de convenance. You would not have married someone unimportant, however