The sky outside the window was the colour of Elmina’s hair.
The Marquis, feeling it soft beneath his hand, said,
“Dawn has broken, my beautiful one, and I think we both know it is the dawn of a new life for both of us.”
“Is that why you – pulled back the – curtains?”
“I want you to feel that you belong first to the stars, then to the sun,” he said gently, “and, although something ugly and unpleasant has happened to you, it is of no importance and you can forget it.”
Elmina gave a cry.
“How could you think of anything so wonderful, so beautiful?” she asked.
“It is how you have taught me to think,” the Marquis said, “you and Chang. I realise now that I have so much more to learn and there is so much more to know.”
Elmina laughed.
“Not from me,” she said. “I am your pupil and you will always, as you well know, be the Master.”
“I am very content to teach you about love, my beautiful wife,” the Marquis said, “but in all else, like a star in the sky, you must guide and inspire me.”
“Can I do – that?”
“You have done so already! Ever since I first met you it seems as though we have known each other for years – no, centuries! You have changed my way of thinking and I know that life for both of us in the future is going to be an adventure and what undoubtedly you will consider a challenge!”
Elmina drew in her breath.
She knew that this was what she had wanted for the Marquis, this was what would stop him from becoming bored and supercilious.
She drew a little closer to him as she sighed,
“There is so much I want to – learn about love – I did not know it could be so – wonderful – even though I suspected it might be – like this.”
“Like what?” the Marquis asked.
“Like – being high in the sky amongst the stars – or moving towards the sun.”
She pressed her cheek against his bare shoulder as she whispered,
“When you – excite me I can feel the – sunshine burning in my – breasts.”
“As you make me burn, my lovely one.”
The light in the window grew stronger and he turned a little so that he could see her more clearly, smoothing her long hair away from her forehead.
“How can you be so different,” he asked, “not only in the way you look, which enchants me, but also in the way you think and feel?”
“I want to be – different for you,” Elmina said impulsively.
“You are different! I want to write a poem, paint a picture and compose a concerto to that difference, because there are no words for me to express exactly what I feel.”
“How can you – say such things to – me?”
“I am saying them because they are true.”
Then, as he looked at her and saw that her eyes were filling with tears, he asked,
“My darling, what have I said to make you cry?”
“They are – tears of – happiness. All my life no one has ever – loved me – no one has ever said such – perfect – wonderful things that I shall – never – ever forget!”
“I shall say a great many more now that I have started,” the Marquis said, “and let me add that is something very unusual for me!”
She knew that he was trying to laugh at himself and she put out her hands to draw his head down to hers.
“I have loved you ever since I first – saw you when I was a – little girl,” she whispered. “But in all those years when I thought about you and dreamt about you – 1 never realised how – marvellous you really were – or how – fine and – noble.”
“I am afraid you are flattering me,” the Marquis said. “At the same time, my darling, that is what I want to be for you.”
“Then – please, will you teach me to be everything you desire in your most – secret dreams so that I shall never – disappoint you?”
“I am quite certain you will never do that. You have surprised, astonished and enchanted me ever since we were married. Now we are starting out on a voyage of discovery, you and I, which begins with our thoughts and ends with our thoughts, and which will take us through this life and a number of others until we reach Eternity.”
Elmina gave a cry.
“We will find it – together.”
The Marquis pulled her closer to him as he spoke as if the things they had said excited him not only mentally but also physically.
He moved his hand gently over her body and he was kissing not only her lips, but her eyes and her cheeks and then the softness of her neck.
He felt her thrill with the new sensations she had not known before and yet were still part of the wonder and the ecstasy he made her feel every time he touched her.
She moved closer to him and then realised that the Marquis was looking at her as if searching her face and looking into the strangeness of her eyes.
“I adore you, my very unusual wife!” he said softly.
Then, as she looked up at him adoringly, his lips were on hers and she felt again her whole being leap towards him like a flame that she could not control.
As the sun rose, they were part of it and its burning glory swept through them.
Then there was only the Love that is Eternal and for which there is no end.
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
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 Cl
ouds
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.
A Very Unusual Wife
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2013
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1984
eBook conversion by M-Y Books