A few seconds later she was in his arms.
She met him at the top of the stairs and he pulled her close to him.
As he did so, she burst into tears.
“Oh, leopard – leopard!” she sobbed. “I prayed that you would – save me – ”
“You are safe, my darling,” he answered.
*
Wivina sat in the Captain’s cabin on the Valiant and waited.
It seemed to her that she had been waiting for a very long time, but there was only one person she wished to see, one person she longed to be with.
A steward had brought her coffee and food, and because she had no wish to disappoint him, she tried to swallow what he put in front of her, although she had no idea what it was.
Even now she could not believe that the nightmare was over and she need no longer be afraid.
Lord Cheriton had taken her aboard the ship, then had gone back to superintend the chaos that was taking place in Roscoff.
The fire from the guns of the Valiant had set two warehouses blazing with an almost intolerable heat once the kegs of brandy had been set alight.
The smugglers had tried to fight off the invaders, but they were taken by surprise and most of them had been captured before they even had time to pull their pistols out of their waist-bands.
Only a few had escaped, and Lord Cheriton was to be glad later when he learnt that eight of the younger men from Larkswell had taken a boat belonging to another gang and in the confusion had rowed away, without being seen, keeping close to the coast until they were clear of the Port.
The rest, sixty to seventy in all, were being put in chains and taken aboard the Revenue Cutters.
While Wivina was waiting for him, Lord Cheriton was in fact making a search of the whole village for Tom Johnson.
But as soon as he had heard the firing, he must have slipped away, and the only person they found in his house was a woman who swore at the men who questioned her and who tried to scratch their faces when they searched unavailingly for its owner.
As the last smuggler was taken into custody and the flames of the warehouses vied with the rising sun, Lord Cheriton gave up the search for Tom Johnson and knew that in this particular mission, at any rate, he had failed.
He was sorry, but, at the same time, nothing mattered except that he had found Wivina and she was safe.
He knew how frightened she had been from the way she had trembled against him and from the tears she had shed against his shoulder.
He told himself it would soon all be an ugly dream which she would forget in the happiness they would find together.
He put his pistol away and walked down the jetty to where the boat was waiting to take him back to the Valiant.
As he stepped aboard, he saw Richard, accompanied by two midshipmen exploring the ship with an expression of delight on his face.
Wivina had already told Lord Cheriton how Richard had done his best to protect her, and there was a red mark on his face which would soon turn black and blue.
‘The boy is made of the right stuff,’ Lord Cheriton thought.
He would not only send him to Oxford, he decided, but he would also arrange for a first class Surgeon to examine him to see whether his leg could be reset so that he would no longer walk with a limp.
Then with a smile on his lips, his thoughts only of Wivina, he walked towards the Captain’s cabin.
She was standing at the porthole, looking out, the sun turning her hair to a golden halo as it had been the first time he had seen her.
She did not hear him open the door and for a moment he stood looking at her.
She was, he thought, the embodiment of everything he had ever wished for and never dreamt might one day be his.
Then, as if she knew instinctively that he was there, she turned and he saw her eyes light up with an incredible radiance, as with a little cry of joy she ran towards him.
He put his arms round her and she whispered:
“I was – so afraid – you were so long – I thought something might have – happened to you.”
“It is all over now, my precious,” Lord Cheriton said, “and we are going home.”
She raised her face to look up at him.
“To Larks Hall?”
“To Larks Hall,” he answered. “Your home – and mine!”
She looked at him with a question in her eyes and he explained,
“I am Lord Cheriton!”
For a moment she stiffened, then she exclaimed,
“But – why did you not – tell me?”
“I had reasons for being disguised,” Lord Cheriton replied, “but, what was more important, I loathed the house and wanted it to fall to the ground.”
He smiled as he added,
“That was until I realised that you had swept away not only the ghosts of the past but also my hatred.”
“Have I – really done that?” she asked in a low voice.
“I know now you have made it the place it was meant to be,” Lord Cheriton said, “and together we will restore it into a home where we will both find happiness.”
Wivina gave a little cry of sheer delight.
“Do you – mean that? Do you really mean it?”
“Do you think you would be happy there with me?” Lord Cheriton asked.
It was an unnecessary question, for her eyes were soft with love and her lips were trembling.
He looked down at her.
Then, as if he could resist her no longer, he was kissing her, a long slow passionate kiss that made her feel as if she melted into him and they were no longer two people but one.
When he raised his head, she hid her face against his neck.
“I love you! Oh, leopard, I love you so much! I did not think it was possible for you to save me – and yet you came – and no one could be more – wonderful or more – splendid!”
“You should have trusted me,” Lord Cheriton said.
All the same, he thanked God that he had been in time.
“I would have been – married if it had not been – for the fog,” Wivina said. “The lugger was becalmed – and it took us so long to reach Roscoff that we could not be – married yesterday as – he intended.”
Lord Cheriton did not miss the note of horror in her voice and he said quickly,
“Forget it! Forget everything that happened! It was all a nightmare and now you will be safe forever as my wife and like this, my little love, in my arms.”
“That is where I want to be,” Wivina said, “with you, close to you. Oh, leopard – is this really – happening? Are you quite sure it’s not a – dream?”
“Quite, quite sure,” he answered.
As he spoke, he heard the anchor being raised and knew the ship would soon be under way.
He drew Wivina across the cabin and they sat down on a comfortable sofa.
She laid her cheek against his arm in a gesture that was both graceful and endearing.
“I love you!” Lord Cheriton said. “I love you so much that it is hard to think of anything but you and your beauty. But, darling, we have to make plans.”
She looked up at him a little nervously as he said,
“Only to be married as soon as possible! I have not really asked you, have I? Will you marry me, my lovely one?”
“You know I want to be your wife, but I did not realise that you were – Lord Cheriton. Are you quite – certain that I am – important enough?”
He smiled.
“You are the most important person in the whole world to me, and the most important thing either of us can do is to restore the house, turn Larkswell back into a happy village, and improve and enlarge the estate.”
“Is that what you want?” she asked. “Are you quite certain that you want to live in Larks Hall? Mrs. Briggs has told me how cruel your father was to you when you were a boy, and I could not bear to hear about such unkindness, even though I did not know then it was – you.”
“I have forgotten it,” Lord Cheriton said and he
knew he spoke the truth. “We both have things to forget, my darling, and what has happened to me and to you in the past is of no consequence. We have only the future to think of, plans to make for ourselves, for Richard, and perhaps, in the future, for our children.”
Wivina blushed and hid her face against him.
“I always thought there ought to be – children in Larks Hall,” she whispered. “I used to imagine them running down the passages, sliding on the polished floor of the picture-gallery, or dancing in the ballroom.”
Lord Cheriton’s arms tightened round her.
“We will fill the place with children and laughter,” he said, “but most of all with love.”
He put his fingers under her chin and turned her face up to his.
“What have you done to me?” he asked. “I have always been a soldier, thinking only of battles, of fighting, of victories. Now all I want to be is a country Squire sitting by my fireside with my wife and my dogs, planning the rotation of crops.”
Wivina laughed.
“I have a feeling there will be many more things than that for you to do. There is not only the damage the smugglers have done to be put right in the County, but many, many other things. Papa used to talk about them and say there was no one with any authority or any interest to fight for what was right and just.”
“We will fight for those things together,” Lord Cheriton promised.
Then he was kissing her again, kissing her until it was impossible for them to think of anything except themselves and the wonder and excitement their kisses brought them.
He kissed her until her eyes shone like stars and the breath came quickly between her parted lips.
He thought she was not only more beautiful than any other woman he had ever known, but there was something spiritual about her that aroused his soul as well as his body.
“I love you,” he said in his deep voice.
“And I love you!” Wivina cried. “I love you so – much that – everything seems filled with love – even this ship!”
Lord Cheriton pulled her a little closer to him.
He knew that the feeling he had had as they had crossed the Channel, that he was in command of an Armada of vengeance and hope, had been justified, and his hope had materialised to the point where the future was golden because he had found Wivina and Wivina was love itself.
“I adore you! I worship you!” he exclaimed, and thought it was strange to hear himself saying such things, and yet they came from his heart.
“Oh, leopard, I am so – wildly – marvellously happy!” Wivina murmured.
Then he was kissing her again, kissing her wildly, fiercely, possessively, knowing that he held in his arms a wonder and glory he had never known existed until this moment.
This was living – this was a battle in which he had been the victor – and yet the vanquished.
The battle of love.
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
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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
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.
LOVE AND THE
LOATHSOME LEOPARD
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2012
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1977
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
Table of Contents
Cover
Love and the Loathsome Leopard
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Chapter One 1814
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND
Copyright
Love and the Loathsome Leopard Page 15