Last night he had felt that he could go on no longer loving her with an unrequited passion which seemed to tear his very self asunder.
He had thought of Julia despairingly and he had known with some strange clairvoyant conviction that their time together was short and the sands were running out.
He was certain, against all logic and all common sense, but with an undeniable presentiment that the day would come when he would lose her, not to any other man, but to death.
He had been afraid then, as he had never been afraid before.
Afraid of his own loneliness, afraid of receiving the ashes that had been his letters and of having nothing but the memory of their love.
Driven by his fear, he had rushed to his writing desk and put down on paper all that he felt, all that he longed for, all that he desired.
He had told Julia that he could not live without her, that he vowed himself to her service and offered her the fidelity she demanded, not only of his body, but of his very mind and soul.
He wanted her as he had never wanted a woman before and he offered her in return his whole life.
In the morning light, the terror that had inspired him last night seemed less poignant. And yet, as the Prince stared at the letter, he knew it must go.
He had written it in the heat of the moment, but the reasons for the letter were still there this morning, as strong and undeniable as they had been the night before.
He rang the bell and a servant came hurrying to his summons. He gave the letter into his hand and commanded that a groom should ride swiftly to the Comtesse’s house and wait for an answer.
As the man went from the room, the Prince closed his eyes. It was a last desperate throw of a man who gambles everything. If she refused him now, he knew that he could go on no longer. He could not live without her.
Then with an effort he returned to the mundane affairs of everyday diplomacy. His guests were waiting and he walked slowly towards the breakfast room.
In the room where the Prince had left them, Wanda and Richard faced each other across the breakfast table.
Although both of them were grateful for cups of steaming hot coffee with great clots of cream swimming in it in true Viennese fashion, neither of them was hungry.
They talked at first animatedly and then, as the time passed and the Prince did not return, Wanda kept glancing at the clock.
Half an hour, three-quarters! What, she wondered desperately, could be keeping him?
“Don’t worry, darling,” Richard said consolingly as he saw the anxiety in her eyes.
“But I do worry,” Wanda answered. “I am so afraid that the Prince will find some reason to prevent our marriage.”
“Nothing can prevent it,” Richard answered. “Have I not told you that a thousand times? You are mine, mine, and no one shall take you from me.”
She held out her hands to him and he carried them to his lips and then he leaned across the table so that he could kiss her mouth.
“I have had enough of foreign intrigue and foreign prevarication,” he said. “By tonight you will be my wife and an Englishwoman.”
She laughed tenderly.
“Are you quite certain that you are not making a mistake in marrying a foreigner?”
“There is only one mistake I am making and that is in being such an unconscionable time about it.”
“I love you,” she sighed.
“I love you,” he answered.
The words, spoken as they looked into each other’s eyes, had a magic that turned everything to gold.
Then, as they stared at each other, the door opened and the Prince came in, followed by someone else.
“The hour is not yet up,” he said, “but I have found a solution!”
Wanda and Richard rose to their feet.
“A solution?” Wanda asked him.
“To your future,” the Prince answered.
He put his arm around her and turned towards Richard.
“Richard Melton, there is a gentleman here who informed me quite by chance that he has been looking for you for the last three days.”
“Looking for me?” Richard enquired.
He turned to look at the man who stood in the doorway and recognised the British Ambassador, Lord Stewart.
There was no mistaking his eccentric appearance or the languid manner of his dress, which was so fashionable amongst the dandies who surrounded the Prince Regent.
“You’re a dammed elusive chap, Melton,” he drawled as he moved across the room towards Richard.
“I am sorry I have put you to any inconvenience, my Lord,” Richard replied. “You wished to see me?”
“I was informed that you were in Vienna,” Lord Stewart replied, “but I had no idea where to find you.”
“And now you have done so?” Richard enquired.
“I have news that might be of interest,” Lord Stewart replied. “Your cousin, the Marquis of Glencarron, is dead.”
“Dead!” Richard ejaculated. “But – how?”
“A duel in which he received a mortal wound,” Lord Stewart replied. “But before he died he gave certain information to the authorities, which has cleared your name.”
“Oh, Richard!”
Richard hardly heard Wanda breathe the words.
He was staring at Lord Stewart as if he had been turned to stone.
“The way is clear for you to return to England,” his Lordship continued. “What is more, His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, commands your presence at Carlton House. I have been instructed in his name, to convey this information to you – my Lord.”
There was a sudden silence.
Then Richard spoke with admirable composure.
“I thank your Lordship.”
Wanda gave a little cry.
“Then you can go back to England! It is just what you wanted.”
“Just what I wanted,” Richard repeated.
He smiled down at her and turned again to Lord Stewart,
“May I request your Lordship to arrange for my marriage to the Comtesse Wanda Schonbörn before we start our journey home?”
“One moment,” the Prince interposed. “You have not asked my permission and my blessing.”
“You will not refuse it, sir?” Richard enquired.
“On the contrary,” the Prince answered. “I am delighted to give permission for my ward, Wanda Schonbörn, to marry Richard Melton, Marquis of Glencarron. Did I not tell you that I would find a solution?”
Wanda’s eyes were round as she looked up at Richard.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Is it true that you are indeed a Marquis?”
“Quite true,” Richard answered. “Does it make any difference, my darling?”
“A great deal,” she pouted. “I did so want to cook for you and darn your socks and now you will be rich and there will be no necessity!”
Regardless of the presence of Lord Stewart and the Prince, Richard put his arms round her.
“Women are never satisfied,” he smiled, “but you cannot escape me now. It is too late. We are to be married today.”
Wanda gave a little sigh of utter happiness and laid her head against his shoulder.
Richard looked up to say something to the Prince, but found that his attention was no longer on them.
A footman had entered the room carrying a letter on a gold salver.
He handed it to the Prince, who tore it open with fingers that seemed to tremble with impatience.
The letter contained only one word, written with an exquisite precision in the centre of the page,
“Tonight.”
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 pub
lished 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 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.
The Enchanted Waltz
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2014
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