Cordelia looked surprised and the Chaplain continued,
“Captain Stanton’s consideration for his crew and his magnanimity to those he captures on the high seas show Christianity at its best.”
She was touched by the Chaplain’s voice and the sincerity in his words.
Yet she had thought that Mark was hard, cynical and ruthless!
‘That was before I knew him,’ she told herself and remembered his kindness when she had been so frightened.
One of the most interesting places Cordelia was taken to see by the Chaplain was the Hospital or Sacred Infirmary.
“The Hospitals,” he explained, “as I expect you know. Lady Cordelia, are the raison d'être of the Order. They are essentially the most sacred service of a true Knight.”
He paused to say impressively,
“Even our enemies respect our Hospitals.”
“I have read,” Cordelia said, “that, when the Christians were driven from Jerusalem, the Moslems allowed the Hospitallers to keep their Infirmary until the sick were healed.”
“That is true,” the Chaplain answered, “and the first act of the Knights on reaching Cyprus, then Rhodes and lastly Malta was to improvise a Hospital.”
There was, however’ certainly nothing that justified the word improvised about the Hospital in Valetta.
It stood on the shore of the Grand Harbour and the Great Ward measured one hundred and eighty-five feet in length.
The Chaplain explained that the Hospital provided for the sick and wounded of all races, creeds and colour free of charge. And slaves were also admitted.
“In the past,” the Chaplain told Cordelia, “every Knight would work in the Hospital and each Tongue had its day of duty.”
“But not now?” Cordelia queried.
“Only the Novices now nurse the sick and sadly the Grand Masters who waited upon the poorest patient once a week only visit here occasionally.”
Cordelia learnt that many changes had been made in the last ten years including the closing of wards and private rooms.
The silver plate that had astonished visitors in the seventeenth century as it was used by every patient was now kept for the affluent.
Yet there were still three hundred and seventy beds with canopies and three hundred and sixty-five without for fever patients.
There was also a women’s Hospital with two hundred and fifty beds, which took in foundlings and bastards. These were boarded out to foster-mothers at the expense of the Order.
The Chaplain then took Cordelia to the Church of St. John, which was the pride of the Order.
Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, its most revered relic was a portion of the Saint’s arm.
Centuries had transformed the original severe and Monastic building into a Mausoleum for the finest and best of European Chivalry.
Cordelia looked at the swords and helmets of ancient warriors, at the Grand Cross of Jean de la Valette and the ikon of the Madonna attributed to St. Luke.
It seemed to her that the Knights whose bones lay beneath the floor, each covered by a tablet with their Heraldic Arms in inlaid mosaic, had imbued the very air with their courage and idealism.
She could feel them near her, men who had dedicated their lives to the service of God and had died as they lived with a prayer on their lips.
Theirs was the great ideal that had existed for seven centuries surmounting even defeat and expulsion.
“For Christ and St. John!”
She could hear the cry echoing down the years, inspiring the young and ardent, defending the weak and healing the sick.
‘Please God, take care of David,’ she prayed. ‘Keep him true to his beliefs and his dream. Let him never fail himself.’
Raising her head she looked at the exquisite beauty of the glass windows and at the statues of the Saints and felt almost as if she was receiving a special Blessing.
Religion had always played a big part in Cordelia’s life. Her mother had been very religious and she had been instructed in the Catholic faith from the time she was a small child.
She accepted it as a part of her life even as she accepted that she breathed, ate and slept and it was so familiar that she knew it had inspired her in the same way as it had David.
And now, because she was grateful, she thanked God and her prayer had a reality about it that she had not felt on other occasions.
She was about to rise from her knees when she thought of something else.
‘Let me find love, she prayed, ‘the love that Mark told me about – the love that will not frighten me – but which is pure and Divine.’
She felt in that moment of prayer as if something within herself reached out towards all that she sought.
She could not explain it in words, she felt it must be an awakening perhaps of her heart or of her spirit and that because of what she felt she was growing in stature.
‘When I am in love,’ Cordelia told herself, ‘I shall cease to be a child and I shall become a woman.’
It was an intriguing idea and, as she rose from her knees, there was a smile on her lips that made her look more beautiful than she had ever looked before.
*
Cordelia hoped that she would see Mark during the afternoon, but he sent a message to say that he was dining at the Grand Master’s Palace and David, she knew, was dining in his own Auberge.
She felt a little neglected, but she recognised that she had to be sensible and that from now on she must learn to be more independent.
However to be alone at home was very different from being alone in a strange country and staying in a strange house with strangers.
The Count and Countess could not have been kinder, but their interests were different to hers, their friends were just names of people she had never met, and when they did not talk of the Knights it was hard to keep the conversation going.
Cordelia began to wonder how long she should stay in Malta. She had to face the fact that her presence would mean very little to David and it was doubtful if she would see much of him.
She was quite sure that as soon as it was possible he would beg to be sent on a ‘caravan’ and she knew that when he was away she would find that every day her anxiety and fears for his safety would increase.
She found herself almost resenting, although she knew that it was ridiculous, the fact that she was now of so little importance to her brother that it was unlikely it would matter to him whether she stayed or whether she left Malta.
She saw now only too clearly how from his point of view it would have been so much better if she could have been married before he started his training as a Knight. And before he dedicated his whole life, as he wished to do, to the Order of St John.
But when she thought of the two men who had offered for her, she knew that any unhappiness she might suffer alone would be better than being tied to a husband she disliked.
Especially one like the Duca, who both frightened and disgusted her.
She thought that she could never be sufficiently grateful to Mark for having saved her from his repulsive attentions at what seemed to have been the very last moment.
Even to think of it made her feel again his strong arms pulling her against him and see his lips seeking hers and his eyes burning with a fire that terrified her.
Mark had come into her life unexpectedly, but she had known on board the ship that she was vividly aware of him as a commanding figure and a man of authority.
Yet at the same time he was someone who could explain to her about love.
She had never known anyone like him and it was hard to recognise in him as he was today the cousin who, as a boy, had teased her and whom she had hated because he had taken David from her side.
When dinner was over, Cordelia excused herself to her hostess and retired to bed.
She thought as it was early that she would not sleep, but almost before she expected it she slipped away into a dreamless slumber to be awakened by Church bells.
She jumped out o
f bed feeling excited at how much more there was to see and do and of all the many days that stretched ahead of her.
The Countess had promised that today she should meet the Grand Master von Hompesch and that they would also visit the ramparts and the great Fort of St. Elmo.
It was all very exciting, but Cordelia wanted more than anything else to see Mark and David.
‘Surely they will visit me this morning?’ she thought to herself.
Almost as if her need of them communicated itself to their minds, she had hardly finished breakfast before Mark arrived.
She was so glad to see him that she sprang up from the table to run towards him impulsively the moment he was announced.
“I was so hoping you would come,” she cried.
“I expect you would like to talk to your cousin alone,” the Countess said. “Why do you not go into the garden room where no one will disturb you?”
Cordelia thanked her and they went into a beautiful sitting room at the back of the house, which had large windows opening onto a small flower-filled garden.
They sat down in comfortable chairs where what breeze there was came to them from off the sea.
“It’s going to be very hot later,” Mark informed her.
“Do you realise it is the 6th of June today?” Cordelia asked. “One must expect great heat, especially in the Mediterranean.”
“Of course,” he agreed.
There was something in the way he spoke that told Cordelia his mind was on other matters.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I have wanted to talk to you, Cordelia,” he said, “because it is important that we make arrangements for you to return to England as soon as possible.'”
“Why? Why?” she asked. “You have not said – anything about this before.”
Mark knew that he had to choose his words with care.
He did not wish to explain to Cordelia that it was the inadequacy of Malta’s defences that made him feel it imperative to get her away to safety.
“Have you decided who you will live with when you return home?” he enquired.
“No,” Cordelia replied. “David said there was no hurry for me to do so because I should be here with him for at least six months or a year.”
“I don’t think that is at all practical.”
“But why? The Count and Countess seem only too pleased to have me. They have already said so and if not there are doubtless other people who would not object to having a guest – who would pay her expenses.”
“I do not want you to stay.”
She looked at him, her grey eyes searching his blue ones and then she said,
“I know you have a reason for saying this. Can it be possible that you think I might be in danger here?”
“I am not prepared to answer any questions,” he replied. “It is just that I would like your permission, Cordelia, to arrange for you to travel on the first available ship going to England.”
Cordelia gave a little laugh.
“I think in that case I shall very likely be here for a very long time. The Count said last night that most ships are afraid of travelling far from their own Ports.”
She paused, saw that Mark was not impressed and went on,
“Besides I might be captured by one of the Barbary pirates. Surely you would not wish to think of me in prison in Algiers or Tangier?”
“I am serious about wishing you to leave, Cordelia.”
“And I am equally serious in saying that I intend to stay.”
She put out her hand towards him.
“You have been very kind to me, Mark. I am deeply grateful for the way that you saved me from the Duca. At the same time I want to stay in Malta and I intend to do so.”
“You will find me very obstinate where you are concerned,” Mark said, “and I promise you, Cordelia, I am thinking only of you.”
“I think the truth is that you would be glad to be rid of such a tiresome encumbrance!”
She was laughing as she looked up into his eyes.
Then quite unexpectedly they were both very still.
If was as if something passed between them, something strange and magnetic, something that Cordelia could not explain and yet it was there.
She felt almost as if Mark drew her nearer to him and yet he had not moved.
She felt her heart begin to beat rather quickly when suddenly the door burst open.
Cordelia turned her head expecting to see David, but it was Ludwig von Wütenstein who stood there.
“Captain Stanton,” he began breathlessly, “I knew you were here and I have run all the way.”
“What is it? What has happened?”
“We must put to sea immediately,” the Baron gasped. “There is no time to be lost. It is an opportunity that may not come again.”
“Supposing you explain a little more coherently?” Mark suggested.
“A ship of the Order has just arrived in Port. It apprehended a pirate ship off the coast en route for Tunis. It contained a fabulous cargo of spices worth hundreds of scudis and they also took fifty prisoners!”
“That is good news!” Mark said. “But how does this affect us?”
“There were two pirate ships! Two! The Santa Maria had to let one get away,” the Baron replied, “But she shot down its main mast and it will not be able to move quickly.”
Mark did not speak and the Baron cried,
“Can you not see how easy it would be for us to apprehend it? And there is no other ship of the Order in the Harbour ready to leave immediately as we are.”
Mark smiled.
“Then it is obviously our duty not to allow the pirates to get that cargo to safety.”
“I knew you would agree, I knew it!” Ludwig cried excitedly.
He turned towards the door.
“I am going straight to the St. Jude. Will I meet you there?”
“Within a quarter of an hour,” Mark replied.
The door slammed behind the young Baron and they heard him running along the corridor.
Mark turned to Cordelia.
“I am afraid that our conversation must be postponed until my return.”
“You will be away – long?”
“I should imagine not more than a week, perhaps less,” he answered. ‘Take care of yourself, Cordelia.”
He put out his hand and, as she took it, she moved closer to him.
“And you must take care of yourself. Will it be – dangerous?”
“I will not tempt Fate by answering that question,” he replied with a smile.
Her fingers tightened on his.
“I wish you were not going,” she said in a low voice. “I shall be – worried and – anxious all the time you are away.”
“I want you to enjoy yourself, Cordelia, so forget about me.”
“It will be – difficult to do so.”
She looked into his eyes and once again was held by some strange magic.
“Please – please be – careful,” she said in a voice that was little above a whisper.
For a moment Mark was very still.
Then almost as if he could not help himself, as if it was inevitable, his arms went round her.
He pulled her close against him and his lips came down on hers.
It was a very gentle kiss such as a man might give a child and her lips were soft beneath his.
Then Cordelia felt something most peculiar and quite inexplicable happen within herself.
It was a feeling so rapturous and so marvellous that for the moment she could hardly believe that it was happening. It was a wonder that she had never imagined possible.
It seemed to rise from her heart into her throat and then to her lips, which Mark held captive.
It was a feeling so perfect that it was as if she kissed the sunlight and it enveloped her.
Then, before she could be sure of it, almost before she could realise what it meant, he set her free.
“Goodbye, Cordelia.”
; She thought that his voice was low and a little hoarse.
Then, without looking at her again, he walked from the room closing the door quietly behind him.
Chapter Five
After Mark had left the room Cordelia stood staring at the door, as if she felt that it held the answer to the turbulent feelings within her.
Instinctively her hands went to her breasts. Then she walked towards the window to look out with unseeing eyes at the small flower-filled garden.
She knew as if a voice from Heaven had spoken that this was love!
This was what she had been seeking.
This was the realisation of her dream.
She had found the man who could bring her the love that had subconsciously been part of her thoughts although she had not been aware of it.
She had always known that when she found love it would be, as Mark had said, Divine.
She felt herself quiver as she remembered and felt again the strange inexpressible wonder he had aroused in her.
She had not known that a man’s lips could be so firm and yet while he had held her captive she had not been afraid.
She admitted to herself that she had wanted him to go on kissing her, to feel the incredible enchantment of being close to him and of knowing that her whole being responded to an ecstasy that came from her heart.
“I love – him!” she said aloud in a voice that trembled.
She felt as if the sunshine was suddenly more brilliant, the flowers more colourful and the music of the birds and bees joined in a paean of joy.
This was love! It illumined the whole world and Heaven itself, and she knew that, as she had foreseen, she had grown from a child into a woman.
How long she stood there gazing out into the garden she had no idea. She only knew that a happiness not of this world enveloped her like an aura of light.
It was not much later that the Countess came to find her and was surprised that she was alone.
“Has your cousin already left, Lady Cordelia?”
With an effort Cordelia managed to reply in what was almost a normal voice that Captain Stanton had been called away.
“Is there anything special you wish to do this morning?” the Countess enquired.
The Dream and the Glory Page 9