A deep, icy chasm had claimed her forever.
Jacina covered her face with her hands. She heard footfalls in the snow as the Earl came to her. She felt his strong, tender arms clasp her safely to his manly chest.
“My darling, oh, my darling!” he whispered. “I have yearned for you for so long. Even before the woman I thought was my fiancée came to Castle Ruven – your voice melted my heart. I tried so hard to remain strong in the face of duty. I made myself cold towards you when you so innocently offended Felice. I made myself doubt your words, when you told me what you had seen in the garden. But now, at last, I may claim you! Tell me that is your wish. Tell me that you have longed for me as I have longed for you!”
“Oh, y-yes, my Lord – I have,” breathed Jacina.
“Then you are mine!” cried the Earl. “Body and soul – you are mine!”
“I love you – I love you – I love you – my Lord –”
He held her even tighter and looked adoringly into her eyes.
“I now realise that I must have loved you from the moment I rescued the best bonnet from the stream and gave it back to a tiny enchantress with golden hair and green eyes. You have been my ideal for all these years and now I can declare my eternal love for you.”
His lips sought hers. The blizzard raged about them, the wind howled, but they were lost in their mutual embrace. The heat of passion burned in their veins.
At last the Earl pulled away with a long sigh. Gazing deep into Jacina’s eyes, he traced a finger gently across her cheek.
“Sweetheart, let us drive on to Savrin. We will return to England, to our friends at Castle Ruven. There we will be married. And this time, my darling, it will be a marriage made in Heaven, with both our hearts entwined and we will make it last forever. We will make it our own Castle of Love”
Jacina felt herself melt, softer and more yielding than the snow itself.
Castle of Love Page 14