He saw the Ambassador looking astonished and went on,
“Her life was in danger and, as you may or may not know, the revolutionaries have killed her father, the King. The only way I could get the Princess to safety was that she should travel as my wife.”
He paused to look at Thekla for a moment before he went on,
“We were married, even though she knew that when we reached England she might in consequence have to give up her title.”
“We fell in – love,” Thekla interposed, “so I assure Your Excellency that it would be no hardship and all I want in the future – is to be Drogo’s wife.”
It only took a second for the Ambassador to grasp the situation.
“You are also now the Marchioness of Baronforde,” he said, “and I feel in consequence that there will be no question of your surrendering your title or, for that matter, your position at Court.”
“That is what I thought myself,” Drogo said, “and I am delighted to have Your Excellency confirm it.”
“Actually I am feeling rather bewildered!” the Ambassador admitted. “I want to hear not only about your experiences in Afghanistan, but even more how you managed to spirit away the Princess from the Red Marchers – ”
He looked at Thekla as if to make sure that she was really there and then finished,
“I was told twenty-four hours ago that they were boasting of having eliminated the entire Royal Family.”
“We were very lucky,” Drogo replied.
He smiled at Thekla as he spoke and thought that no man could be more blessed than he had been.
How could he have imagined, when he rode into Ampula in a state of utter exhaustion on a lame horse with the Russians just behind him, that he would live to tell the tale that was of such importance?
And at the same time to find a happiness that was so perfect and could only be part of the Divine.
Now there would be no struggle against poverty and no criticism from those who would feel that he had no right to marry Thekla.
There would also be no regrets at giving up his life of danger in The Great Game.
Now he could serve his country in so many other ways as the Marquis of Baronforde.
He would vow that never, as his uncle had, would he refuse to help those of his relatives who were too poor to help themselves.
His experience had given him an understanding and a compassion for other people that was something he would always cherish.
He looked down into Thekla’s eyes gazing at him adoringly.
He felt that the whole world seemed golden and the flutter of wings in the garden were those of the angels.
“We must go home as quickly as possible,” he said, speaking to her rather than to the Ambassador. “There is so much for us to do.”
He knew as he spoke that she understood and, as she smiled her agreement, the Ambassador said,
“Of course I understand. In fact luckily there is a P. & O. ship arriving tomorrow morning. I will see that you have the Bridal Suite and you should be in Tilbury by the end of next week. Of course you must stay here for tonight.”
“Thank you,” Drogo smiled. “I know that we will not only be comfortable but safe as well.”
“Of course,” the Ambassador said. “If you will excuse me for a moment, I must cable the Foreign Secretary that I have found you and he can then make all the arrangements to receive you on your arrival.”
“That would be very kind of you,” Drogo remarked.
The Ambassador went from the drawing room and, as the door closed behind him, Thekla gave a little cry of delight.
“You have won – you have won again! You have saved me – and now because you are so – important you will not have to – hide me away or be – ashamed of me.”
Drogo laughed.
“My lovely darling, I would not have been ashamed of you, but rather you of me!”
“How could I be,” Thekla asked, “when – you are so wonderful?”
She put her face against his neck as she said in a small voice,
“Now that – you are so grand, you will – not forget about – me.”
Drogo held her very close.
“Do you think that is possible? I love you, my darling, so overwhelmingly that I was prepared to do anything rather than lose you. But I would always have been afraid that you might regret being only a poor soldier’s wife.”
“What would – have it mattered – if I was with you?” Thekla asked passionately. “I love you – I love you! All I want is that you should – kiss me and go on – loving me for ever – and ever!”
“I will do that,” Drogo promised. “Equally there is so much to do and most important of all, my darling, is have a family to fill my big house and bring them up to be as happy as your father and mother were and mine were too.”
Thekla blushed and looked shy and then he said,
“Our daughters must all be as beautiful as you – ”
“And our – sons not only as – handsome as – you are, but as – kind and gentle and so – very very brave.”
“I think if anyone was listening to us,” Drogo said, “they would think that we were very conceited.”
“And have every – reason for it!”
He laughed.
Then he was kissing her, kissing her until she felt as if the sun burnt her lips and slipped into her breasts.
She knew that she wanted him as he wanted her.
“I wish,” she said in a whisper, “that we were – back in our – little Scottish cabin and just – alone.”
“We will be alone for the next ten days,” Drogo said, “and after that, whatever else happens, we will always be together at night and I shall not, my darling, be sleeping on the floor!”
Thekla laughed.
“Nobody is ever going to – believe that you did that! But I shall never – tell them, because I-I thought it was because – I did not attract you enough!”
“You attracted me so much that it was impossible for me to sleep and impossible to think of anything but you!”
He sighed.
“I thought that you were like a star, beautiful, entrancing, very desirable but out of reach.”
“And – now?” Thekla asked.
“You are mine, mine completely! Whatever happens, whatever we do, wherever we go, I will never lose you!”
He kissed her again before he sighed,
“You are mine and God knows I love you more than I thought it possible to love anybody! But this is only the beginning. We have our whole lives in front of us, my precious. It will be different from anything we have done before, but it will be absorbing and very exciting.”
“Just as – exciting as when you first – loved me,” Thekla whispered, “which was a – revolution of love.”
“A wonderful revolution I will never forget,” Drogo added softly.
“But now – everything is different,” Thekla went on, “and there will be no – regrets, no fussing over your – principles or trying to – save me from myself.”
‘I have no wish to do any of those things,’ Drogo wanted to say.
But it was impossible to speak.
Thekla’s arms were round his neck and her lips were on his.
The ecstasy of their love was carrying them up into the sky and the rapture that enveloped them both made them like Gods.
They had passed through great difficulties, danger, heart-searchings and anguish to find each other.
Now they were together and their love, shining like a burning light, would lead them into a future that would be blessed by God as they had already been blessed by Him.
“I love you. I love you!”
The words were beating in Drogo’s heart and he heard Thekla murmur rapturously,
“I love you – oh – Drogo – how much I love you!”
Then everything was forgotten but Love.
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Barbara Cartland Eternal Collection is the uniqu
e opportunity to collect as ebooks all five hundred of the timeless beautiful romantic novels written by the world’s most celebrated and enduring romantic author.
Named the Eternal Collection because Barbara’s inspiring stories of pure love, just the same as love itself, the books will be published on the internet at the rate of four titles per month until all five hundred are available.
The Eternal Collection, classic pure romance available worldwide for all time .
Elizabethan Lover
The Little Pretender
A Ghost in Monte Carlo
A Duel of Hearts
The Saint and the Sinner
The Penniless Peer
The Proud Princess
The Dare-Devil Duke
Diona and a Dalmatian
A Shaft of Sunlight
Lies for Love
Love and Lucia
Love and the Loathsome Leopard
Beauty or Brains
The Temptation of Torilla
The Goddess and the Gaiety Girl
Fragrant Flower
Look Listen and Love
The Duke and the Preacher’s Daughter
A Kiss for the King
The Mysterious Maid-servant
Lucky Logan Finds Love
The Wings of Ecstacy
Mission to Monte Carlo
Revenge of the Heart
The Unbreakable Spell
Never Laugh at Love
Bride to a Brigand
Lucifer and the Angel
Journey to a Star
Solita and the Spies
The Chieftain Without a Heart
No Escape from Love
Dollars for the duke
Pure and Untouched
Secrets
Fire in the Blood
Love, Lies and Marriage
The Ghost who Fell in Love
Hungry for Love
The Wild Cry of Love
The Blue-eyed Witch
The Punishment of a Vixen
The Secret of the Glen
Bride to the King
For All Eternity
King in Love
A Marriage made in Heaven
Who can deny Love?
Riding to the Moon
Wish for Love
Dancing on a Rainbow
Gypsy Magic
Love in the Clouds
Count the Stars
White Lilac
Too Precious to Lose
The Devil Defeated
An Angel Runs Away
The Duchess Disappeared
The Pretty Horse-breakers
The Prisoner of Love
Ola and the Sea Wolf
The Castle made for Love
A Heart is Stolen
The Love Pirate
As Eagles Fly
The Magic of Love
Love Leaves at Midnight
A Witch’s Spell
Love Comes West
The Impetuous Duchess
A Tangled Web
Love lifts the Curse
Saved By A Saint
Love is Dangerous
The Poor Governess
The Peril and the Prince
A Very Unusual Wife
Say Yes Samantha
Punished with love
A Royal Rebuke
The Husband Hunters
Signpost To Love
Love Forbidden
Gift Of the Gods
The Outrageous Lady
The Slaves Of Love
The Disgraceful Duke
The Unwanted Wedding
Lord Ravenscar’s Revenge
From Hate to Love
A Very Naughty Angel
The Innocent Imposter
A Wish Comes True
Haunted
Passions In The Sand
Little White Doves of Love
A Portrait of Love
The Enchanted Waltz
Alone and Afraid
The Call of the Highlands
The Glittering Lights
An Angel in Hell
Only a Dream
A Nightingale Sang
Pride and the Poor Princess
Stars in my Heart
The Fire of Love
A Dream from the Night
Sweet Enchantress
The Kiss of the Devil
Fascination in France
Love Runs In
Lost Enchantment
Love is Innocent
The Love Trap
No Darkness for Love
Kiss from a Stranger
The Flame Is Love
A Touch of Love
The Dangerous Dandy
In Love In Lucca
The Karma Of Love
Magic For The Heart
Paradise Found
Only Love
A Duel with Destiny
The Heart of the Clan
The Ruthless Rake
Revenge is Sweet
Fire on the Snow
A Revolution of Love
THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND
Barbara Cartland, who sadly died in May 2000 at the grand age of ninety eight, remains one of the world’s most famous romantic novelists. With worldwide sales of over one billion, her outstanding 723 books have been translated into thirty six different languages, to be enjoyed by readers of romance globally.
Writing her first book ‘Jigsaw’ at the age of 21, Barbara became an immediate bestseller. Building upon this initial success, she wrote continuously throughout her life, producing bestsellers for an astonishing 76 years. In addition to Barbara Cartland’s legion of fans in the UK and across Europe, her books have always been immensely popular in the USA. In 1976 she achieved the unprecedented feat of having books at numbers 1 & 2 in the prestigious B. Dalton Bookseller bestsellers list.
Although she is often referred to as the ‘Queen of Romance’, Barbara Cartland also wrote several historical biographies, six autobiographies and numerous theatrical plays as well as books on life, love, health and cookery. Becoming one of Britain’s most popular media personalities and dressed in her trademark pink, Barbara spoke on radio and television about social and political issues, as well as making many public appearances.
In 1991 she became a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to literature and her work for humanitarian and charitable causes.
Known for her glamour, style, and vitality Barbara Cartland became a legend in her own lifetime. Best remembered for her wonderful romantic novels and loved by millions of readers worldwide, her books remain treasured for their heroic heroes, plucky heroines and traditional values. But above all, it was Barbara Cartland’s overriding belief in the positive power of love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.
A Revolution of Love
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2015
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1953
eBook conversion by M-Y Books