Ilitta laughed and he thought that it was the prettiest sound he had ever heard.
“I feel the same, now quickly tell me your plan before Papa comes back from the gallops.”
“Is that where he has gone?”
“Of course! That is where he always goes in the morning. He is quite certain that he has two horses that will beat yours next time they run!”
“He can beat any horse I have in my stable,” the Duke said, “as long as I can marry you, Ilitta.”
“You can do that now today – or tomorrow!”
“It is what I want, my precious one, but I think it would cause a scandal and not only shock your father but upset my mother.”
“Then what can we do?” Ilitta asked.
“What I am going to suggest,” the Duke said, “is that when your father returns I will tell him that despite the letter of apology he received this morning, I thought it might appear that I had been rude, unless I came in person to explain how the fog prevented me from reaching him.”
“He will be so delighted to see you that he will not worry about anything else.”
“That should make it easier,” the Duke said. “Then I want you to tell him in my presence that you have had a letter asking you to stay with a friend in Gloucestershire.”
He smiled before he went on,
“I shall tell your father that by amazing coincidence I am travelling to Gloucestershire myself and, if he will allow me, I will be delighted to escort you there early tomorrow morning. Your lady’s maid can travel in my brake behind us.”
Ilitta clapped her hands.
“You are so astute! I might have known that you would think of a perfectly reasonable explanation for my travelling with you. Besides, as Papa wishes me to be married off, he will think it an excellent way of our getting to know each other better.”
“Which is exactly what I want myself,” the Duke said. “Not only to know you better, my lovely one, but to make sure that you are mine, now and forever, and that there is no chance of your ever running away from me again!”
“You need not be afraid of that,” Ilitta said. “How could I ever want to – leave you when I love you so much – and there is nobody in the world but – you?”
There was a touch of passion in her voice that the Duke had not heard before and it made him pull her almost roughly against him to kiss her demandingly, fiercely, as if he was making sure that she was his and she could never escape him.
Ilitta was not afraid, she only felt as if she was being carried on wings to Mount Olympus and, if he was a God, he had made her his Goddess.
Their feelings were too ecstatic, too perfect to be anything but divine.
Only when the intensity of what they were feeling made them both breathless did Ilitta with a little murmur hide her face against him again.
“God, how I love you!” the Duke exclaimed. “How could I have ever guessed that love could be so different from any emotion I have ever known or felt before?”
“It is – wonderful – perfect – but you must teach me how to make you – happy, so that you will not be – disappointed.”
“I could never be that.”
He kissed her hair as he spoke and thought that the scent of white lilac was a magic spell that held him captive forever.
Then with a hint of laughter in his voice he said,
“Despite all I have heard about your instinct, you ran away from me, although Fate meant you to marry the Duke of Marazion.”
“I cannot imagine why I was so stupid, but actually it was a fog that brought us together.”
“Or rather, a gentleman to whom I shall always be grateful for sending you scurrying into my bedroom for safety.”
“How can you say such things?” Ilitta asked, but she was laughing and her eyes were shining.
“You will certainly have to start writing the book that we have planned for our children and our grandchildren.”
He watched the flush creeping up her face and added,
“You must illustrate it and, although they will have to be kept under lock and key, I am looking forward to the drawings you will do for me of my friends, my enemies and everybody important you will meet as the Duchess of Marazion.”
Ilitta gave a little choked laugh.
Then she said,
“I expected that you would tell me I was never to draw again.”
“I shall insist upon your drawing,” the Duke said, “but will constitute myself as censor of what may be shown to other people and what is especially for me.”
“They will all be for you,” Ilitta cried, “just as everything I do and everything I think will be for you exclusively!”
The Duke knew this was exactly what he had always wanted his wife to feel.
Because there were no words to express the happiness running through him, he pulled Ilitta back into his arms and found her lips.
As he kissed her, he knew that he was setting out on an adventure that was so thrilling and so exciting that nothing he had ever done in his life before would equal it.
Once again he was the winner, the victor, the conqueror, only this time he had gained the ultimate reward of all – a love that could only have come from Heaven.
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
Count the Stars
White Lilac
Too Precious to Lose
The Devil Defeated
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 n
ovelists. 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.
WHITE LILAC
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2013
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1983
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
White Lilac Page 15