A Dream Come True by Barbara Cartland

allowed the horses to drink.
    â€œYou had me worried for a moment when you went for that hedge,” admitted Edward, as they sat down on a fallen tree trunk. “It was rather daffy of you.”
    â€œNot at all,” replied Lucia confidently. “I have been riding horses since I could walk. I know what I am doing with them.”
    â€œEven so, Lightning is a very spirited blighter.”
    â€œHe is, but he is not uncontrollable.”
    They fell into a companionable silence. And then, without warning, Edward seized Lucia’s bare hand and covered it with kisses.
    â€œEdward,” she cried trying to pull it away.
    â€œLucia, will you marry me?” he demanded hoarsely.
    His eyes were burning into her, entreating her to reply affirmatively.
    â€œEdward, what madness has overtaken you?”
    She scrabbled in the grass for her discarded gloves with her free hand.
    â€œIt’s not madness. You must know that I love you desperately. I intend to speak with your stepfather this very day!”
    â€œNo, you must not!” cried Lucia, rising and extricating her hand from his.
    â€œWhy ever not?”
    â€˜If I say I am already promised, he will tell his friends and everyone will gossip,’ she thought hurriedly, searching for an excuse that would satisfy him.
    â€œIt – it is not the right time,” she murmured.
    Edward’s face suddenly came to life.
    â€œYour Mama, of course, how insensitive of me. I am sorry, but I have quite forgotten myself.”
    â€œWe should return home,” said Lucia as they awkwardly faced each other.
    â€œI will wait for you,” pleaded Edward. “Please do not refuse me.”
    â€œI will see,” answered Lucia, untethering Lightning’s reins.
    Edward looked relieved.
    â€œThank you,” he breathed coming closer. “Will you seal it with a kiss?”
    â€œNo, I shall not,” replied Lucia haughtily, as she pulled herself up onto Lightning’s back. “We must return to the Hall without further delay. My stepfather will be wondering where I am.”
    Digging her heels into Lightning’s side, she shot off, leaving Edward gazing impotently after her.
    *
    The mood was rather subdued on their return.
    Edward took his leave, asking that she think about his proposal and then promised to call on her the following weekend.
    As he left Sir Arthur pulled up in the Rolls Royce.
    â€œI hope you are not encouraging him,” he said as he watched Edward ride off. “You will give yourself a bad reputation and Lord Winterton will not like it.”
    Lucia refrained from saying that, according to her mother, Lord Winterton did not have any room to be taking any kind of high moral ground.
    Sir Arthur continued to remind her of her duty throughout the rest of the weekend. He constantly picked her up on her attitude and by Sunday evening she was almost looking forward to leaving so that she did not have to endure him any longer.
    â€˜If only Mama was not so ill,’ she thought. ‘I would not mind leaving her. The way my stepfather speaks to me is outrageous and he is not even my real father!’
    She picked up the photograph of Lord Mountford from her dressing table and looked at it for a very long while. His grey eyes were so like hers and although she had her mother’s colouring, her eyes were all her father’s.
    â€œPlease put this in my hand luggage and wrap it up in a silk scarf to protect it, Mary-Anne,” she said handing her the photograph.
    She looked around to search for one of her mother and spied a small silver-frame on her chest of drawers.
    â€œAnd this one as well, please,” she added.
    â€˜It’s one of my favourites,’ she told herself with a smile. ‘Mama must have been my age when it was taken and she had just announced her engagement.’
    Once again, Lucia’s thoughts turned to marriage.
    â€˜I never imagined that I would be sold off in