She glanced out of the window and then once again at Eudora. who gave her a smile.
“Go down to his Lordship,” she prompted. “He has waited patiently enough this past week.”
Slowly Serena walked towards the door, holding her flowers in her hand as if they were some talisman that would give her courage for what she had to do.
Slowly she descended the Grand Staircase. The house was very quiet and yet it seemed to her that the atmosphere was one of gaiety and happiness. The sunshine was coming in at every window. There were no chattering voices nor the throb of music from the great drawing rooms, but through the open doors she could see that the rooms were filled with light and flowers.
Never had Mandrake appeared more beautiful. There were no long lines of liveried footmen waiting for guests, no one hurrying by with trays of crystal glasses, there was no sound of horses and coaches in the drive outside nor the clink of money on the gaming tables. It had all gone.
There was just sunshine and flowers and in the gardens the song of the birds.
Serena walked across the hall. At the library door she paused for a moment.
A tremor of fear shot through her. Only once before had she peeped into the library. It was a dark room, she had thought, sombre with its rows of books rising from the floor to the ceiling.
It was as dark and sombre as Justin could look when he was annoyed, as impersonal too as he could appear in his indifference to what went on around him.
But Justin had been so close to her in her thoughts these past days that now it was difficult for her to realise that he was a very different person in the flesh – one maybe who was still angry with her, incensed by the confession she had made to him the last time they had met.
She turned the handle of the door and for a moment thought that she had come to the wrong room. There was sunshine here too, sunshine golden as it poured scintillating in through the great bow window that looked over the sea. Here also there were flowers, great bowls of them on every table.
She came into the room and Justin rose from the bureau set against the wall where he had been writing. He moved across to her and she strove hard to read the expression on his face.
They met in the centre of the room and stood for a second looking at each other.
Was it really necessary to put anything into words? Serena wondered.
She felt that he must hear the beating of her heart and must read in her eyes all that she had to say.
Shyly she dropped him a curtsey.
“You are better?”
It seemed to her that his voice was unexpectedly low and deep.
“Yes, thank you,” Serena answered. “I am recovered – entirely.”
Instinctively, because she was trembling, she moved a little away from him. She went towards the window, her flowers in her hand, the sunshine behind her so that it haloed her fair head.
Because she was so afraid that she would falter in what she had to say, she began quickly,
“I want to thank you, my Lord, first for the flowers you have sent me every day and then for saving me. I understand that – you put yourself in grave danger when you came down the cliff to me.”
“It was not difficult to save you once you were found and Torqo should be thanked for my finding you. If it had not been for him, things might have been very different.”
“I have told Torqo how grateful I am. But I must thank you too.”
“And now you have thanked me, forget about it,” Justin said. “It is past, a closed chapter. Let’s never speak again of the events of that night.”
“I do agree,” Serena nodded.
There was a moment’s silence, a long moment, and then Justin said quietly,
“But there is one thing I wish to hear and one which I think I am entitled to be told.”
“What is that?” Serena asked him.
“What you were going to impart to me when you wrote asking me to speak with you in your bedchamber,” Justin said. “I came in response to your note, but I was – too late.”
Serena was very still.
Then she took a deep breath and her lips moved, but the words would not come.
She looked down at her flowers before she placed them on a little table beside her.
Justin was watching her, and after a moment he said,
“Will you not tell me, Serena?”
Serena moistened her lips and linked her fingers together.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I want to. It’s just that it is very difficult to put into words.”
“Very difficult?” Justin enquired.
“Very difficult,” Serena answered gravely.
Again there was a pause and then at last she began.
“My Lord – ”
“My name is Justin!”
Serena blushed. Somehow it was terribly difficult to say his name.
“Well – Justin – ” she stammered at length. “When we were at Vulcan House after we – we were – married, I-I told you something.”
Justin frowned a little as if he was trying to recollect the conversation.
“You told me something?”
“Yes, my Lor – I mean, Justin,” Serena went on. “I told you that – that I was – in love with – with someone.”
“Oh, yes, I remember now.”
“I promised you once,” Serena said in a very low voice, “that I would always tell you the truth. Well, what I told you then – was the truth but – not the truth – as you – as you believed it.”
Justin looked puzzled.
“I regret I do not exactly take your meaning.”
“It is so terribly difficult – to explain,” Serena said desperately, “but – when I said I was in love – with someone – I was indeed in love – with someone.”
“That makes it much plainer!” Justin said with an amused smile.
“Oh dear,” Serena sighed. “You see – I was in love – I mean – I am in love – with somebody – but – but it is not who you think it is.”
“Ah, now I am beginning to see daylight,” Justin said. “You mean I am suspecting the wrong person.”
Serena nodded.
“Yes.”
“But, if my recollection is not at fault, you did not reveal this most fortunate person’s name.”
“Oh, no!”
There was a pause.
“Yet now I think of it,” Justin said, knitting his brows, “I believe I ventured to mention someone whom I suspected of receiving your favour.”
“Yes – yes, you did.”
“But my supposition was incorrect?”
“Entirely.”
“Then I must apologise in all sincerity.”
“Thank you.”
“And now you will tell me who the right and most enviable person may be?”
“Yes,” Serena murmured.
“That is excellent,” Justin said. “Such frankness will clear away all misunderstanding.”
“It is – ”
Serena paused.
First she was pale, then her cheeks were crimson, now she was pale again. Her fingers, linked together, were twisted in each other a little desperately.
“Will you not you trust me?” Justin asked softly.
She was looking down at her hands, but suddenly she raised her eyes to his and he saw that they were full of tears.
In two strides he was across the space between them and was beside her.
“Oh, my darling,” he said, “what a brute I am to tease you! It is only for the exquisite joy of watching your face and of wanting to hear your lips speak the words I so greatly desire to hear, more than I have ever wanted anything in the whole of my life.”
For a moment the world stood still and then, with an effort, Justin went on speaking.
“I dare not touch you yet,” he said and his voice was hoarse. “There are things that I must say to you or else they will never be said.
I wish you to know, my beloved, that I have loved you from the very first moment I saw you when you stood at the top of the staircase at Staverley Court. I loved you because you were so utterly different from anyone I had ever known or seen in my life before and yet, because I was cynical, because I had been disillusioned so often and so completely by other women, I doubted what I saw with my own eyes.”
He sighed before he carried on,
“Always I was afraid to obey the instincts of my own heart, always I was trying to catch you out, to find you less pure and less fine, than you appeared. I could not believe, you see, that anyone could be so beautiful, so perfect as you and come to me unsullied and unspoilt.”
Serena was listening to him intently as he went on,
“Though I have loved you, I have crucified myself with my own doubts. There are many things you will have to teach me, Serena, one of them being to have faith. I lost my faith many years ago because all the ideals I cherished fell in fragments about me. But in you everything that I once believed in and everything that I know is good and perfect has been re-created. Together, darling, we can live for those things, the real things in life, because you have always known them and you can show me what is worth having.”
His voice ceased and he stood looking down at her.
Then at last he held out his arms with a gesture of utter simplicity and yet utterly commanding.
“I want you, Serena,” he said softly, “but first of all I want to hear you say whom it is you love.”
Now, at last she could resist him no longer. Her eyes were held by his for one moment, her lips trembled and, as the colour rushed headlong into her cheeks, she whispered,
“I love – you, Justin.”
Then her face was against his shoulder, hidden there, and his arms were round her.
He held her closely for a second before he placed his hand under her chin and turned her face up to his. She was trembling, but in utter happiness.
There was so much ecstasy in that moment that it seemed as if something Divine enveloped them both.
Then his mouth was on hers.
She quivered for one second before she surrendered herself, utterly and completely. She knew then his strength, she knew then how strong and masterful he would always be and she gloried in it.
His kiss, demanding, possessive and passionate, seemed to draw her very soul between her lips, and then she felt herself lifted high against his heart and heard him say in a tone of supreme triumph,
“Mine – my darling, my wife – my perfect love.”
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
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
The Runaway Heart
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 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.