The Wedding took place early in the morning.
Then Filipa changed into a beautiful going away gown, said goodbye to Mark and drove away with her husband.
Now she saw him as she had wished to do, tooling a four-in-hand.
The horses were perfectly matched and she thought that nothing could be more exciting.
Except, of course, riding with him, as she knew they would do the following day.
They were starting their honeymoon at the Marquis’s hunting lodge in Leicestershire.
He told her that it was looked after by old servants, who had known him since he was a boy.
It was, Filipa thought, because it was built in the same period, very like her own home.
The exception was that everything was perfect, very luxurious and exceedingly comfortable.
When she told her husband what she was thinking, he said with his arm round her,
“I thought, my darling, it might be an idea when we are at Kilne Hall to put your own house in order and make it as comfortable as this.”
Filipa looked at him and asked,
“Could we – really do – that?”
“I intend that your brother Mark should live there and look after the many Arab mares he will bring back with him from Syria.”
Filipa gave a little cry of joy and the Marquis continued,
“It is the least we can do to keep him away from the gay lights of London that I know you disapprove of.”
“It would be wonderful for Mark!” Filipa said. “And the Seymours have lived there for three hundred years.”
“Then we must make certain they will do so for another three hundred!” the Marquis smiled.
She moved closer to him.
“How can you be so kind – so very very different from what I thought you – would be when I first – saw you?”
“You did not like me?” he asked.
“I was frightened of you and I thought that you were very overpowering and autocratic.”
“That is what I hope I am, except where you are concerned.”
“Nonsense!” Filipa replied. “You are the kindest most wonderful man in the whole world! I am sure that everybody who knows you loves you as much as I do!”
The Marquis laughed.
“I think, darling, you are prejudiced, but that is what I want you to be.”
He drew her to her feet, led her to the window and pulled back the curtains.
They looked out over the countryside stretching away to the horizon.
The sun was just sinking in a blaze of glory and Filipa murmured,
“How is it possible that – everything around – you is so – beautiful?”
“And now I have the most beautiful one of all,” the Marquis said. “You!”
“I-I want you to think that,” Filipa replied. “Now and for – ever!”
There was a depth of feeling in her voice that made the Marquis pull her close to him.
Then, when he would have kissed her, he said,
“My precious, my darling, we have not known each other for very long, but I feel as if I have waited for an Eternity for you and perhaps that is true.”
Filipa moved a little closer as he went on,
“I think I have lived a thousand lives without you and now at last you are mine!”
It was then that he kissed her.
As he did so, he picked her up in his arms and carried her through the communicating door into her bedroom.
It was a very beautiful room.
The fragrance of the lilies that stood in huge vases on either side of the mantelpiece filled the air.
There was no maid to wait on her.
The Marquis took off the very elaborate and expensive negligée in which Filipa had dined with him and laid her on the bed.
Then, as he had in the boudoir, he drew back the curtains so that they could look out into the dusk.
There was a crimson glow in the sky from the setting sun.
The first evening star was already twinkling overhead.
She looked up, thinking once again that the Marquis was giving her beauty.
Then he was beside her, pulling her gently into his arms.
She felt herself quiver at the closeness of him and with the wild excitement that was creeping up through her whole body.
“I love you!” the Marquis said. “I love you, my lovely wife, and while I must protect you from everything else, I must also protect you from myself.”
He knew that she did not understand and he explained,
“I am afraid of frightening you and perhaps making you feel that my love is not the Divine ecstasy that you thought it to be.”
“How can I think anything else?” Filipa whispered. “When you pulled back the curtains – I knew that once again you were showing me a beauty that I have never understood before and that is because our love is the beauty that is part of God.”
The Marquis drew in his breath.
“That is what I want you to think, my precious. At the same time I am a man, and as a man I want you as a woman.”
His arms were holding her and his lips were very near to hers as he said,
“You told me you felt when I kissed you that you were riding in the sky, but suppose instead you are on earth and the magic is no longer there.”
“But it will be,” Filipa insisted, “because I love you – because when you – touch me it is so – exciting I feel as if my body is filled with sunshine and, darling, I want to – ride with you in the sky. Love me please – love me!”
She saw the fire in the Marquis’s eyes as she spoke and felt it on his lips, but she was not afraid.
She only knew that her love welled up inside her and joined with the love that he felt for her.
Then, as he carried her into the sky, she found that the beauty and wonder of it was so perfect that nothing could ever spoil it.
It was the love that came from God, belonged to God and was theirs for ever and beyond for ever.
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
&n
bsp; 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
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
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.
Riding in the Sky
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2016
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1988
eBook conversion by M-Y Books