Vladilas’s lips were very near to hers as he said,
“You are quite certain that is what you will not be in the future?”
“Is that what you are going to bully me into being?”
“Not bully you, my precious, just love you.”
He smoothed her hair away from her forehead before he added,
“I adore your beauty and love your quick, intelligent little brain, but what I want in a woman is somebody who, when she is with me, is as you say very soft, gentle and feminine.”
Because of the way he spoke Ileana felt her whole being respond to him and yet some little flicker of independence within her made her say provocatively,
“And if you – cannot immediately get your own – way, I presume you will force me into – doing what you – want!”
“I forced you into marriage because we were pressed for time,” Vladilas replied, “but I did not force you to come to me tonight. In fact I was expecting to lie sleepless, wanting you, but determined not to come to your room, as I longed to do.”
Ileana looked up at him.
Then she said,
“What I think you are saying is that you were fighting me in a rather crafty manner. Is that the truth?”
“Perhaps,” Vladilas admitted.
“You were attacking the enemy skilfully and subtly,” Ileana went on, “but at the same time you could not have known that the bats would play a leading part in your offensive.”
“If it had not been the bats, it would have been something else,” Vladilas said. “But I knew eventually you would be mine, as I wanted you to be.”
“In simple words – I surrendered!”
“Exactly!” he agreed. “That, my darling, is what you did, but I did not mean to make you cry.”
“And yet, because I was – frightened, and because you – made me so – unhappy it was very feminine.”
“Very feminine,” Vladilas agreed, “and very adorable, but I promise I will try in the future never to make you cry again, even if it has given me what I wanted!”
She looked up at him enquiringly and he explained,
“A woman I can protect and comfort, a woman who turns to me because she needs me as a man.”
Ileana looked shy for a moment before she said,
“Perhaps if I am always complacent and clinging you will be – bored with me.”
Vladilas smiled.
“I adore your clinging to me.”
“And if I do – not?”
“Then I may leave you alone with the bats!”
Ileana gave a little scream and held onto him.
“How can you – think of anything so cruel – so wicked?”
Vladilas looked at her very tenderly.
“I am only making sure, my sweet, that you cling to me and need me.”
“Oh, darling, I do!” she whispered. “I need you – desperately – I need your love – I want to be – with you!”
“You can be quite certain of that! We shall be together both by day and by night and I promise you that I will never allow you to be frightened and there will certainly be no other men kissing you behind my back!”
Ileana laughed.
“I have no wish for – anybody to – kiss me except – you. You are so wonderful!”
“Can you really be saying that to me?” Vladilas asked.
Ileana laughed again.
“It is rather surprising,” she admitted, “but every time I look at you, every time I think about you, and every time you touch me, I find you so wonderful that there are no words to express exactly what I feel – ”
She put up her arm as she spoke and pulled his head down to hers.
“I have never been in love before,” she murmured, “and I want you to – teach me what I should say – and what I should do – to make you love me.”
Vladilas drew in his breath.
“That is very easy,” he answered. “All you have to do is to give me yourself, completely and absolutely. I want your thoughts, your ideas, your feelings, and of course, my precious love, your beautiful exquisite body.”
His hand was touching her again and Ileana felt herself quiver.
The thought flashed through her mind that it would be wonderful if he gave her a son who looked like him.
The future was no longer dark and frightening, but brilliant with colour and a thousand possibilities – which all concerned Vladilas and love!
“It is – all so – exciting!” she murmured rapturously.
“I want to excite you, my beautiful wife,” he replied, “and now I can see what I longed for when I thought despairingly it would never happen.”
“What is that?” she asked curiously.
“That the fire in your green eyes is not the fire of hatred, but love!”
The way he spoke made Ileana feel the fire leap within her breasts and she said,
“When you touch me – and when you – make love to me – I feel there is not only fire in my eyes – but that the flames are – running through my body – it is very – thrilling, very exciting and something that has never – happened to me before.”
She knew that what she said excited Vladilas for now she saw a fire in his eyes.
Then he was kissing her again, kissing her as if he wooed her and at the same time was determined to dominate her.
She knew he was asking her to surrender herself to him completely and absolutely, so there was nothing else in the world except him.
She knew, as they drew closer and closer to each other, that this was what the future held.
A love so tremendous, so overwhelming, that it not only made them complete in themselves, but through it they could create a country of beauty, peace and prosperity for all those who followed them.
Then as Vladilas made her his there was only the love that is life itself and Heaven too.
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
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 continuou
sly 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.
BRIDE TO A BRIGAND
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2012
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1984
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
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