It was a very attractive small Elizabethan house set in a garden of roses and lavender.
It had belonged, the Duke told her, before she married, to his mother’s family.
“There were other good houses, several of them. But this is the one I have kept,” he said. “Every time that I have stayed here by myself, I thought that one day I might bring my wife.”
“Now – I am here,” Ilesa murmured.
“Do you think I am not aware of that?” he asked.
There was a look in his eyes that made her feel shy.
When she went up to change for dinner, she found that there was an old housemaid to look after her.
Jeannie had known the Duke when he was a little boy and had a great deal to say about him!
“A nicer young man there ’as never been, Your Grace,” she said. “We loved ’im and often talked of who ’e’d marry. We ’oped it’d be someone who really loved ’im.”
Ilesa smiled and the old housemaid went on,
“You’re very beautiful, Your Grace, and I knows as soon as I saw you that your beauty be not only in your face but in your heart too and that’s what we were ’opin’ for!”
Ilesa felt like crying because her words were so touching.
She realised at dinner exactly how much the Duke was loved by all the old people.
Although they had only been told an hour or so earlier that the Duke was coming, the dinner was superb.
The gardeners had decorated the table with white flowers and there were vases of them all over the house.
When dinner was over, Ilesa expected to go into the attractive drawing room, but the Duke said,
“It has been a long and exciting day, my darling, and I don’t want you to be too tired tomorrow.”
“I don’t feel at all tired,” Ilesa answered. “I feel as if I am dancing in the sky, which was what I felt when you danced with me for the first time.”
“We will dance again when we reach Paris,” the Duke promised, “but now, my precious, I want to teach you about love.”
They went into their bedroom, which boasted an old-fashioned four-poster bed.
There was the scent of lavender coming from the lace-edged sheets and the fragrance of roses wafted in through the windows.
There was no one else there in the room.
The Duke closed the door.
Then he came across the room and put his arms around Ilesa.
“How can this really have happened?” he asked. “I thought I might have to wait and fight for you for years. Now thanks to the Gods and, of course, Che Che, you are already mine. Mine, really mine! I do not have to wait any longer.”
Having finished speaking, his lips were on Ilesa’s.
He kissed her very gently at first.
Then more and more passionately so that she felt as if she melted into him and was no longer herself but a part of him.
Then she felt him very gently undoing her mother’s Wedding gown.
She had worn it again tonight, because he had specifically asked that she should.
“You look lovelier in it,” he sighed, “than in anything I could possibly buy you in Paris. We will keep it, my darling, and you shall wear it on every anniversary so that we will never forget the wonder and joy of our Wedding Day.”
As it slipped from Ilesa’s shoulders and slithered down onto the floor, the Duke picked her up into his arms.
He carried her to the big four-poster bed.
He laid her down very gently on the pillows.
Then she realised that he was blowing out the candles one by one.
Next he pulled back the curtains and moonlight streamed into the room like a silver cloud.
She could see the stars twinkling overhead like diamonds in the sky.
A few seconds later he was beside her and he drew her into his arms.
She knew then that her Fairytale had not ended as she had expected, but had just begun.
It was a Fairytale so beautiful and so rapturous that she knew that she was no longer tied to the ordinary world.
She was floating in a Paradise where there were no problems and misery but only love and happiness.
“I love you,” the Duke breathed in a deep voice. “I love you from the top of your golden head to the soles of your little feet. You are mine, my darling, from now until Eternity.”
“I love – you! I love – you for – Eternity as well,” Ilesa answered.
Then, as the Duke made her his, she knew that it was true.
Their love was so deep, so magical and so perfect that it would be with them not only for this life but for many lives to come.
It was Eternal and came from God.
*
Che Che stretched himself out on the soft ground beneath the bushes and Me Me nestled close to him.
All the way back from the house the Indian had scolded him in fluent Urdu for running away.
“You bad Che Che, go off quick. Lord Sahib ver-ry angry with you.”
Che Che knew that Lord Sahib was not angry, but pleased with him and Memsahib loved him with all the love in the world.
He felt it in the touch of her hands and in the soft sound of her voice.
When he saw her again, he would nibble her ear.
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
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
Love Joins the Clans
The Power and the Prince
Winged Victory
Light of the Gods
The Golden Illusion
Never Lose Love
The Sleeping Princess
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.
Love and a Cheetah
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2019
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1994
eBook conversion by M-Y Books