“Do you really – mean that?” he asked and his voice was unsteady and strange as if something had cracked within him.
Then, as he held her against him so that it was hard to breathe, Andrina felt something wet against her neck.
She knew in that moment that he needed her as Cheryl had done or as one day her son would need her and her arms went round him.
She held him very close her lips against his hair.
“I love you – more than I can ever – tell you!” she whispered, “and I know there are so – many marvellous things for us to do – together.”
The Duke made no sound, but he held her tighter as Andrina went on,
“But first there are so – many things you have to teach me – as you have said so often – I am very foolish and you are so – wise.”
She gave a little sigh.
“When we were being married I thought that if you were not a Duke – if you had no money, I would have been able to prove more – easily that I love you – because you are you! But then I realised that you had told me already how – unimportant such things are.”
She could still feel the Duke’s tears against her skin as she went on,
“I suddenly understood that when we are like this – it does not matter if you are a Duke or a dustman! It is not important whether we are in a Palace or a garret! We are just two people together – a man and a woman who must love each other – otherwise everything we did would be horrible! But instead – because I love you, it is like being in – Heaven!”
The Duke raised his head.
Now in the faint light from the candle Andrina could see the tears on his cheeks, but there was a touch of fire in his eyes.
“Can I make our love seem like Heaven to you, my darling?” he asked.
“To be – close to you and when you kiss me is very wonderful,” Andrina answered, “but I want to belong to you – completely – I want you to teach me about love – the love that I have for you and I think you – have for me.”
She looked up at him and realised that there was an expression on his face that made him look younger and happier than he had ever done before. It seemed to transform him.
Then he said, his voice broken and unsteady,
“I love and worship you – my perfect little wife! You are the most beautiful person I have ever known and you are mine – all mine! I can never lose you, never ever let you go!”
“You will never lose me,” Andrina whispered.
He was drawing her closer, his hands were wakening her body to strange sensations, his lips kindled a flame within her that echoed the fire in his eyes.
“Love me, my darling – love me! God knows how much I want your love!”
The words were repeated and repeated against her lips, her cheeks, her neck, her breasts.
“I love you – I adore – you!”
She did not know if she spoke the words or they were in her mind.
Then they were both lost in an inexpressible ecstasy that carried them away into a Heaven of their own!
Nothing the world could offer was of any consequence besides the rapture, the glory and the wonder of 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
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
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
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
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 caus
es.
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 Husband Hunters
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2014
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1976
eBook conversion by M-Y Books