“Once when you wrote to me from the battlefield. And again when I came to your Embassy here in London. You belittled me!”
Her hands holding the pistol trembled more than ever.
Ivan took a step towards her.
“Don’t move,” came another scream, and again the pistol wobbled.
Ivan stopped.
Unnoticed Cecilia now edged her way towards the sword.
“Too many years have I been abused – first by you, Ivan – and then by Peter.”
Natasha sounded as though she was gaining more control over herself.
Tears were streaming down her face, but her hands had stopped trembling and the pistol she held was pointed unwaveringly at Ivan.
Cecilia picked up the sword still in its scabbard.
“Abused – ?” Ivan’s voice was amused.
He seemed unafraid.
“I remember you appeared to enjoy all our times together and is that the diamond necklace you are wearing the one I gave you?”
Behind Natasha, Cecilia saw the slight downward movement of her head towards the magnificent necklace that hung around her beautiful neck.
She lifted the sword and scabbard and swung it as hard as she could against Natasha’s legs and caught her at knee height.
Natasha screamed in pain and then fell to the floor, the pistol discharging harmlessly into a chair.
Ivan grabbed her and pulled her to her feet.
She stood snarling at him like a wild animal at bay.
Several of the Earl’s servants burst into the room and looked in horror at the devastation.
“Call the Police,” said the Earl heavily to his butler. “The Countess Natasha needs to be taken into custody, she has killed Prince Peter. Bind her hands and keep her safe until they come.”
Natasha spat at him.
“I don’t care what happens to me now,” she pouted with an attempt at dignity as she was dragged away by two footmen.
“Come,” the Earl turned to Cecilia and Ivan. “Let’s withdraw to the library. We shall finish our champagne there.”
Ivan put his arm around Cecilia.
“I always wondered what your English sang froid was. Now I know. I shall look to our sons to be just as cool under pressure!”
*
Six weeks later, in the Chapel of the Royal Palace in Rusitania, there was a wedding.
Cecilia was escorted up the aisle by her father, the Earl of Yarlington.
She wore a dress of white lace with a tight bodice, narrow sleeves and a skirt that was drawn back into a lacy froth. A fine tulle veil made a cloud over her golden hair that was piled around a diamond tiara that would soon be exchanged for the crown of Rusitania.
The mountains of flowers in the Chapel released a heavenly scent and thousands of candles lit the glittering scene.
Seats were filled on one side with Ivan’s friends and Ministers.
On the other was the contingent from England that included Rosalind Dampier with her parents and her fiancé, Algy Montmorency.
As Cecilia advanced up the aisle, she had eyes only for the uniformed figure that waited for her before the altar.
Ivan watched as Cecilia walked proudly up to him, sacred organ music soaring all round her, her hand on her father’s arm.
As she arrived at his side, Ivan took her hand and she smiled at him through her veil.
The service was in both English and Rusitanian and Cecilia had learned her responses in the language of her new country.
Then came the magical moment when they were pronounced man and wife and the Priest suggested that the groom could now kiss the bride.
With steady hands Ivan gently lifted the veil over Cecilia’s head and looked down into her face, his eyes filled with love.
She smiled up at him, her heart beating so hard she thought it would explode.
Then his mouth came down on hers and once more her bones melted, her body fused into his and she knew without doubt that love had come to her at last.
The love that comes only from Heaven.
And is the gift of God.
To Cecilia and Ivan for ever, not just in this life but for the rest of Eternity and even beyond.
Where to buy other titles in this series
The Barbara Cartland Pink collection is available for download at the following online bookshops :-
www.barnesandnoble.com - epub format for the Nook eReader
www.whsmith.co.uk - epub format for the Smiths/Kobo eReader
www.firstyfish.com - epub format
ebookstore.sony.com - epub format for Sony eReaders
www.amazon.co.uk - For UK Kindle users
www.amazon.com - For international Kindle users
itunes.apple.com - for Apple iOS users
www.barbaracartland.com - Printed paperbacks
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
LOVE AT LAST
THE BARBARA CARTLAND PINK COLLECTION
Titles in this series
THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND
CHAPTER ONE 1873
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
Where to buy other titles in this series
Love At Last Page 14