“I had intended to make you marry Andrew Luddington.”
Latonia gave a cry of horror.
“How could you? How could you think of anything so wrong and wicked?”
“I wanted to be free of a love that was growing day by day and, because I knew it was wrong, I thought that the only way would be for you to be married to somebody else.”
“How could you think that I would do – anything so – horrible?”
Lord Branscombe smiled.
“I have a feeling that you would have refused to do so, but the situation never really arose. So now we can forget all that unhappiness and remember only that we are together as fate meant us to be.”
“It is – our Karma,” Latonia whispered.
“A very wonderful, very perfect Karma as far as I am concerned,” Lord Branscombe said, “and which will grow more perfect year by year.”
“I – want to make you – happy.”
“I am happier now than I have ever been in my whole life,” he replied, “because you are mine, my precious little love, and I shall look after you, protect you and never again will I allow you to deceive me.”
“And you forgive me for doing so?”
“Not completely. I intend to go on punishing you – but with – kisses.”
Latonia moved a little closer.
“I would – like that – ”
He kissed her and felt her body quiver against his.
“I love you!” he exclaimed. “God, how I love you!”
His fingers encircled the softness of her neck.
“If you ever stop loving me,” he said fiercely, “I think I would kill you.”
“I love you – I love you with my heart, my mind, and – my soul. They are all yours.”
She felt his hand moving lower, touching her breast as he said very softly,
“And your body?”
“That is – yours too. Please – believe me.”
“I believe you,” he answered. “But, my beautiful darling, you must prove your love again and again,”
As he spoke, his lips were on hers and, as he kissed her, Latonia felt as if the flames from the fire were flickering within her and growing more insistent until they touched her lips and met the flames that burnt in Lord Branscombe.
Then she knew that there was no need to prove their love with words, for the Gods came down once again to envelop them with their Divine light and they were one, in a love that came from Eternity and would continue into Eternity.
The love that never dies.
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Barbara Cartland Eternal Collection is the unique 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
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 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.
Punished with love
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2013
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1980
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
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Barbara Cartland, Punished with Love