Follow Your Heart Read Online Free Page B

invariably sooner or later, she heard of his latest escapade.
    Now she remembered that three years ago when she was only fifteen, the balloon had gone up.
    Jason had married without informing his father until after the ceremony had taken place and when the Duke had heard the news, he nearly died of shock.
    He learnt that Jason had married one of the most notorious of all the cocottes in Paris. She had already been the mistress of two Princes and the King of the Netherlands!
    When Lord Lainden was first informed he was immediately suspicious of her motives.
    Later he was proved right that the woman had more or less tricked Jason into marriage, craving his title and his fortune.
    There was no doubt that he was infatuated with her, but the Duke had believed that he still had the decency not to besmirch the family name. So how could Jason marry a woman who they would be ashamed to put on the family tree?
    The Duke wanted to find excuses for his son, but it was impossible to escape the anger and the disapproval of his relatives, besides the humiliating pity of his friends.
    â€œThere is nothing I can do,” he wailed to Lord Lainden in a broken–hearted voice.
    â€œNothing,” was the reply, “except to make sure that Jason stays away from London and perhaps in time this will all be forgotten.”
    â€œTo think a woman like that will one day be the Chatelaine of Wood Hall makes me wish I was dead,” fumed the Duke.
    There were no words with which Lord Lainden could comfort him.
    Wood Hall had been in the family for five centuries and each generation had made many alterations and improvements. Now it was one of the most famous ancestral homes in England and its collection of pictures, furniture and silver was spoken of with awe.
    The woman who Jason had married would reign there in state.
    Worse still her children, if she produced any, would be an unthinkable insult to the Marchwood name.
    All these recollections flashed though Della’s mind before she asked,
    â€œWhy has Jason returned, Uncle Edward?”
    â€œHis wife has very conveniently died,” he replied, “and he has apologised to his father for his appalling behaviour.”
    â€œApologised!” exclaimed Della.
    â€œI think the truth is that he has passed through a special hell since he married her and it is a great relief to him to be free.”
    â€œWell, I suppose it is one step in the right direction, but I should imagine it is doubtful that his repentance is genuine.”
    She spoke rather sarcastically because she had never liked Jason.
    Of course he was very much older than her, but even as a child she considered him an unpleasant man.
    He was not good–looking like his father and the last time she had seen him she noted that the debauchery of his life had left its mark on his face.
    He had certainly extended the sowing of his ‘wild oats’ for a long time and now she imagined, as the years had passed, he would look even worse.
    She felt extremely sorry for the Duke.
    Aloud she said,
    â€œThere is nothing you can do, Uncle Edward, so do not upset yourself over Jason, he is not worth it.”
    There was silence for a moment before Lord Lainden resumed,
    â€œThe Duke has come to me with what he feels would be an excellent solution to his problem.”
    â€œI cannot imagine what that can possibly be,” commented Della. “Although his wife is now dead, I expect he will still find another one who is unlikely to be any better than the last.”
    â€œThe Duke now tells me that he is quite certain Jason is telling the truth when he says he was tricked into marriage. He has now informed his father that he wants to marry sensibly and settle down at the Hall.”
    â€œIf the Duke believes that, “answered Della, “he must be a great optimist.”
    â€œHe wants to believe him and he asks for our help to ensure that Jason keeps his word. If he genuinely makes a new life for