The room was lit with huge candles set in high gold candlesticks.
Here there were no windows, but the walls were decorated with very different murals from the ones downstairs.
All the birds to be found in Monk’s Wood encircled the room.
There were the green tits, the little brown sparrows, the blackbirds and starlings, the speckled thrush, the blue-winged jay and black and white magpies.
There were also brilliant butterflies fluttering over wild roses, bees seeking pollen from golden honeysuckle and dragonflies hovering on their transparent wings.
Below them were arranged real flowers, lilies, tuberoses, carnations and night-scented stocks, making a bower of blossoms and scenting the whole atmosphere with their fragrance.
Against the North wall there was a huge couch-like bed with a carved headboard exquisitely painted in the Florentine fashion with flowers.
But the ceiling, instead of the curved dome that Syringa had expected, was covered with blue silk in the deep Madonna blue of the Italian paintings.
She looked at the Earl as if for an explanation.
“I want to show you my last surprise,” he said, “and to see it as it should be seen, will you lie against the pillows and look up?”
Surprised, but ready to do anything he asked, Syringa seated herself on the bed.
As if she knew that he expected it, she took off her little satin slippers and lifted her feet onto the Italian silk brocade of the cover. Then she lay back against the lace-edged pillows.
“Are you comfortable?” the Earl asked.
“I am so excited,” Syringa replied. “I did not believe that an Observatory could be so beautiful and the flowers make it almost like – ”
“ – our Secret Place,” the Earl interposed.
She smiled up at him and he hesitated for a moment as if he wanted to take her in his arms.
Then resolutely he went towards the candles snuffing them out one by one.
It was very warm and, as the Earl went round the other side of the bed where there were three more great candles, he drew off his close-fitting blue satin coat and threw it down on a chair.
His shirt was of very fine muslin, his white cravat, meticulously tied, was of the same material.
‘He is so handsome – so strong – so very much a man,’ Syringa thought to herself.
Then she blushed because his very masculinity made her feel shy.
The Earl started to blow out the last of the candles and, as he did so, Syringa saw that hanging from the ceiling at the side of the bed was a thick silken cord finished with a tassel, rather like a bell-pull.
As the last candle went out, she saw the Earl reach up to pull the cord.
Slowly the Madonna blue silk of the roof slid back and now Syringa with her head back on the pillows could look up at the Heavens.
The sky was bright with stars and the light from a nearly full moon flooded into the room filling it with a mystical silvery light.
It was so breathtakingly lovely that for a moment she could find no words in which to acclaim it.
Then, as she stared upwards, feeling that she had never seen anything so unique or so wonderful, she found that the Earl was on the bed beside her looking down at her.
His face was in the shadows, but his head and shoulders were silhouetted against the moonlight.
She felt a thrill run through her because he was so close to her and the sweet rapture of it made her breathless.
“Now you – really look like – Jupiter,” she said almost incoherently.
“And can I lift you up to the sky so that we forget the world and be aware only of ourselves and our love?” he asked.
“You remember – that was what – I said.”
“I remember everything that you have ever said to me,” he answered.
“And you have arranged – all this for – me?”
“For us both,” he said, “so that we shall never forget our Wedding Day and never forget that from now on that whatever we do we do it together. Will that make you happy, my beloved?”
Syringa drew a deep breath and then she whispered ,
“I think I – understand now what Mama – meant when she told me only to – give myself to – a man I loved with – all my heart.”
“You love me like that?” the Earl asked.
“I love you with – all my heart – my body – and my soul. I love you with – all of me. And I want you to tell me – how I can give you – myself.”
She reached up her arms as she spoke to put them round his neck and draw his head down to hers.
“My darling, my love, my wife!”
His lips passionate, insistent and demanding held her captive and she felt his hands touching her, his heart pounding against hers.
Then Syringa knew that he lifted her towards the stars and there was nothing in the whole Universe save themselves and their love.
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
An Angel Runs Away
The Duchess Disappeared
The Pretty Horse-breakers
The Prisoner of Love
Ola and the Sea Wolf
The Castle made for Love
A Heart is Stolen
The Love Pirate
As Eagles Fly
The Magic of Love
Love Leaves at Midnight
A Witch’s Spell
Love Comes West
The Impetuous Duchess
A
Tangled Web
Love lifts the Curse
Saved By A Saint
Love is Dangerous
The Poor Governess
The Peril and the Prince
A Very Unusual Wife
Say Yes Samantha
Punished with love
A Royal Rebuke
The Husband Hunters
Signpost To Love
Love Forbidden
Gift Of the Gods
The Outrageous Lady
The Slaves Of Love
The Disgraceful Duke
The Unwanted Wedding
Lord Ravenscar’s Revenge
From Hate to Love
A Very Naughty Angel
The Innocent Imposter
A Rebel Princess
A Wish Comes True
Haunted
Passions In The Sand
Little White Doves of Love
A Portrait of Love
The Enchanted Waltz
Alone and Afraid
The Call of the Highlands
The Glittering Lights
An Angel in Hell
Only a Dream
A Nightingale Sang
Pride and the Poor Princess
Stars in my Heart
The Fire of Love
A Dream from the Night
Sweet Enchantress
The Kiss of the Devil
Fascination in France
Love Runs In
Lost Enchantment
Love is Innocent
The Love Trap
No Darkness for Love
Kiss from a Stranger
The Flame Is Love
A Touch of Love
The Dangerous Dandy
In Love In Lucca
The Karma Of Love
Magic For The Heart
Paradise Found
Only Love
A Duel with Destiny
The Heart of the Clan
The Ruthless Rake
Revenge is Sweet
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.
The Ruthless Rake
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2015
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1953
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
The Ruthless Rake Page 21