Afterwards they had gone into the Silver Salon and, as the old Vicar toasted them in champagne, he said,
“I know that God will bless you both and it’s a very happy day for us all. It’s wonderful to know that Your Grace will make The Abbey as beautiful as it used to be and that our people can turn to you for help and guidance at all times.”
Ilina drew in her breath and looked at the Duke, her eyes filled with love, and he replied quietly,
“My wife and I, when we return from our honeymoon, Vicar, have many plans to help the people who work for us.”
“Is it really true, Your Grace,” the Vicar asked, “that the school will be open again?”
“There will be schools in every village on the estate,” the Duke answered. “And I have already written to the Bishop for suggestions of young Priests to fill the empty Livings. I also think it is important that the orphanage should be modernised and enlarged.”
Ilina clasped the Duke’s arm and she knew that her hands told him better than words what she was feeling.
Only when the Vicar had left and the Duke had given orders that the villagers should be given beer and cider to drink their health, did she say,
“How could I ever imagine for a moment that you would not know how to – behave as a Duke!”
She was teasing and yet there was a hint of tears in her voice because she was so happy.
“I am sure that I will do a great many things that you will not hesitate to tell me are wrong!”
She laughed and put her cheek against his shoulder with a little tender gesture as she said,
“I have the feeling that I shall be telling you over and over again that you are perfect and in consequence you will become very conceited.”
He laughed and kissed her and then astonished her by telling her his plans for their honeymoon.
Afterwards she felt that he conveyed her not by train and ship but by a magic carpet to Paris.
There he bought her so many exquisite gowns that she protested that the ship which was to carry them to India would sink from the weight of her luggage.
But when they boarded the P & O Liner at Marseilles, Ilina knew that every man on the ship looked at her and looked again in admiration and it gave her a confidence in herself that she had never had before.
What was so perfect was to be alone with the Duke and for him to make love to her until she was no longer the worried insignificant girl that she had been, but the radiant Goddess that he believed her to be.
“I have sought for you all my life,” he sighed, “in pictures and sculpture, in music and on the snow-coated peaks of the Himalayas, but I was quite sure that you did not exist except in my imagination.”
“Supposing I – disappoint – you?”
“You will never do so, my lovely one. Every time I look at you and every time I touch you I grow more and more in love. I know as surely as if the Gods themselves told us, we have belonged to each other since the very beginning of time.”
“That is what I want to believe. You must teach me about what you call the Wheel of Rebirth so that never again will I be afraid or – want to die.”
The Duke remembered what she had said when she was delirious and held her close against him as he said,
“How could you not have known that you belonged to me? And how could I imagine for one moment that I could escape my Karma, which is you?”
Then he kissed her and it was impossible to say anything more and the flames of love rose higher and higher until they touched the peaks of ecstasy.
Ilina knew that they were indeed one, now and for ever.
But what he had said to her was always in her mind and with her arms round him and her head on his shoulder, she enthused,
“I am very excited at the thought of being in India with you. How long will we be staying?”
It was a question that she had not asked before because she was half-afraid of the answer.
Although in a way she wanted her honeymoon to go on forever, her thoughts were always with The Abbey and the people who were waiting trustingly for their return.
As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, the Duke said,
“There are a great many parts of the world I want to show you. Not only India but Siam and Singapore.”
He saw the question in Ilina’s eyes and he went on,
“But because, my darling, you have made me very conscious of my consequence in England, I know that we cannot be away for too long.”
Ilina gave a little sigh of relief and said,
“I want you to feel like that because sometimes when I am so happy – so ecstatically happy – I feel guilty that there are still people suffering on the estate through matters that are wrong and that only you can put right.”
“I know what you are saying,” the Duke agreed, “but I have left two very competent men in charge, who among other things will reopen the slate quarry and the gravel pit and thus employ a great number of young men who otherwise would leave for the towns.”
Ilina did not interrupt, but he knew because she pressed herself a little closer against him that this was what she wanted to hear.
“At the same time,” the Duke added, “I know, although you have not said so, that there are Hereditary Duties, both in the County and at Court that your father neglected and which I must undertake for the family’s sake.”
There was just a final touch of mockery in the way he spoke, but Ilina knew that he was not being bitter or cynical.
He was only laughing a little at himself and the idea of someone who had been ostracised by the Bury family now being instrumental in restoring their traditional high standing and influence.
“That is what I want you to do,” Ilina said. “Oh, darling, nowhere could there be a more handsome or distinguished-looking Duke.”
She paused before she asked,
“You will enjoy it?”
She was afraid for a moment that he would not answer and then the Duke said,
“Before you turned my world upside down, I was perfectly content to be a trader on a very large scale. That is how I made my fortune and I certainly enjoyed the years I spent in strange lands like India, Siam and Burma.”
Ilina held her breath before he finished,
“But now I have every intention not only of enjoying my life as a Duke but of fighting for all the things you believe in, my beloved wife, and perhaps embellishing the family name as efficiently as all those ancestors you admire so fervently.”
“I admire no one more than you,” Ilina said quickly, “and because of what you said I not only love and adore you but admire and honour you.”
She went on in a low voice,
“Only a very great man would have changed his mind as you have done in order to do what is – right and – noble because it is expected of – him.”
She spoke intimately and with a little rapt note in her voice that the Duke did not miss.
Then, because she was so lovely and so utterly adorable as she looked up at him in the light that was growing in the cabin with the rising sun, he drew her closer still and his mouth sought hers.
As he kissed her, Ilina felt as if this had all happened before not in this life but in many others and their love was as old as time and as young as the future that drew them irresistibly to the heights within themselves.
This was their destiny and their Karma and she was sure because they were together and so happy that they would make the world a better place for others less fortunate.
“I love you,” she murmured against the Duke’s lips. “You are wonderful – perfect and you fill the world – and the sky. I know now you have taken me to Heaven – which is filled with love.”
“Darling, that is what I want you to feel and because I love you, I will dedicate my whole life to your service and attempt to do everything you ask of me.”
As he spoke, he raised himself to look down at her and then slowly, as if they had all Eternity in front of them, he sought her lip
s again.
She felt her heart beating against his and knew the fire that rose within them both was sanctified and came from a love that was so perfect it was part of God.
At the same time it was a love that created life.
As the Duke made her his, Ilina prayed that she might give him a son who would carry on the family and the glorious achievements that were part of their history as well as the country that they belonged to and loved.
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
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 Rebel Princess
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
Love at the Helm
Listen to Love
Love Casts out Fear
The Devilish Deception
Riding in the Sky
The Wonderful Dream
This Time it’s Love
The River of Love
A Gentleman in Love
The Island of Love
Miracle for a Madonna
The Storms of Love
The Prince and the Pekingese
The Golden Cage
Theresa and a Tiger
The Goddess of Love
Alone in Paris
The Earl Rings a Belle
From Hell to Heaven
Love in the Ruins
Crowned with Love
Love is a Maze
Hidden by Love
Love is the Key
A Miracle in Music
The Race for Love
Call of the Heart
The Curse of the Clan
Saved by Love
The Tears of Love
Winged Magic
Born of Love
Love Holds the Cards
A Chieftain Finds Love
The Horizons of Love
The Marquis Wins
A Duke in Danger
Warned by a Ghost
Forced to Marry
Sweet Adventure
Love is a Gamble
Love on the Wind
Looking for Love
Love is the Enemy
The Passion and the Flower
The Reluctant Bride
Safe in Paradise
The Temple of Love
Love at First Sight
The Scots Never Forget
The Golden Gondola
No Time for Love
Love in the Moon
A Hazard of Hearts
Just Fate
The Kiss of Paris
Little Tongues of Fire
Love Under Fire
The Magnificent Marriage
Moon over Eden
The Dream and the Glory
A Victory for Love
A Princess in Distress
A Gamble with Hearts
Love Strikes a Devil
In the Arms of Love
Love in the Dark
Love Wins
The Marquis who Hated Women
Love is Invincible
Love Climbs in
The Queen Saves the King
The Duke Comes Home
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.
The Duke Comes Home
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2018
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1984
eBook conversion by M-Y Books