It was very lovely with the last rays of the setting sun turning it to gold.
Then, when she turned to look at the clearing, she saw on one side of it that there were sticks and logs for a fire that had not yet been lit.
On the other side of it was something she had never seen before, but which she thought she recognised, even though she was not quite sure.
The King watched her face.
Then, as she looked up at him for an explanation, she knew that what she was seeing was a gypsy bed of flowers such as was always used by the gypsies after a wedding.
She gave a little gasp and the King’s arms went round her.
“You have bewitched me, my gypsy wife,” he said very softly, “and where else should I make you mine?”
“How could you have thought of anything so – wonderful – perfect – so magical?” she asked.
The King kissed her and then set her on one side.
“First we must light the fire,” he said, “then we will drink to our happiness with the wine the gypsies brought us and there is one more present I have not yet shown you.”
“What is that?” Laetitia asked.
It was difficult to speak or understand completely what the King was saying because her heart was beating so wildly and she was pulsating with the wonder and rapture he always evoked in her.
Only now it was more intense, more ecstatic than it had ever been before.
The King lit the fire and, as it flared into life and the flames shot up against the darkness of the trees, the sun sank over the horizon and already it was night.
But she could see clearly that the cup he held towards her was a replica of the Loving Cup from which they drank at their gypsy wedding.
It was exquisitely made, the gold engraved with magic signs, the jewels of many colours in it, glistening in the firelight.
The King gave it into her hands and then filled it with the wine from the third bottle the gypsies had brought him.
Then he put his hands one on each of hers and said in his deep voice,
“This is a Loving Cup, my precious and, as we drink from it, I swear I will love you, worship you, protect you and keep you with me not only all the days of our lives but for all eternity.”
It was a vow that seemed to vibrate on the air and, when he had finished speaking, Laetitia raised the cup to her lips and drank and the King followed her.
Because the gypsies had given them five presents and they knew it was a magic number, they each drank five times from the cup.
Then the King set it down on the ground and, as the flames flared higher and higher and the stars came out overhead, he drew Laetitia to the blossom-petalled couch.
As she sank down into it, he pulled off his white tunic and threw it down onto the ground before he joined her.
Then, as the fragrance in which they were lying seemed to become part of the love she felt for him, Laetitia whispered,
“If this is a dream, then you are my dream lover whom I have always longed and yearned for – but thought he could – never really – exist.”
“And you are the wife I have been seeking to fill the empty shrine within my heart,” the King said, “and I worship and adore you, my darling.”
Then his lips were on hers and, as he kissed her, she felt his hand touching her body and something wild and wonderful awoke within her to respond to the passion of his lips.
“I love – you – I love – you,” she tried to say.
And far away in the distance she thought that she heard the music of the violins.
The King kissed her lips, her neck, then as his mouth moved over the softness of her skin towards her breasts she knew that the ecstasy rising within them both was part of an inescapable magic.
Then. as the flame of the fire leapt higher and higher and there was the scent of the flowers, the wild melody of the music and the light of the stars, he carried Laetitia up into the sky where there was only the magic of love for all eternity.
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
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
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, h
er 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.
Gypsy Magic
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2013
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1983
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
Gypsy Magic Page 16