He was wearing full evening dress, which she was aware was customary in France.
It was the first time that she had seen his decorations and she resolved that one day soon she would ask him why he had received them and was certain that some were for gallantry.
He watched her come slowly down towards him and, when he met her as she reached the bottom step, he said very softly,
“No woman could look so perfect! I know, Heart of my Heart, that you are an angel come to me from Heaven!”
She smiled at him beneath her veil and he put her arm through his and drew her down a long corridor away from the centre of the château and she guessed that the Chapel would be on the East side.
As they neared it, there was the soft sound of organ music, but when they entered, Loretta could see only the Chaplain waiting for them at the altar with two servers on either side of him.
It was a very short Service, as Loretta was not a Roman Catholic, but, as they knelt and they were blessed, she told herself that she would become one so that she could worship with Fabian and with their children when they had them.
The little Chapel did not seem to her empty, as she rose for Fabian to lead her away from the altar.
She felt that the faith of those who had worshipped here over many centuries was so vivid and so inescapable that there was no need for a living congregation to wish them happiness.
To Loretta’s surprise they did not go, as she had expected, into a salon and toast each other in champagne.
Instead, Fabian took her up the stairs and into another bedroom, which she thought must connect with hers.
It was larger, just as beautiful, but more magnificent, with a painted ceiling and antique furniture that must have escaped the Revolution.
There was a huge bed draped with crimson curtains and embroidered with Fabian’s coat of arms under a canopy, so exquisitely carved and gilded that Loretta wanted to inspect it more closely.
But it was impossible for her to have eyes for anything but her husband.
He closed the door and drew her across the room to the window so that she could look out at the fountains playing in the flower-filled garden.
“This is your home, my precious,” he said, “and I want you to love it as I do and to make it a place of love for everyone who lives in it.”
“That is what I – want to – do.”
Then she moved closer to him, as she asked,
“Are we really – married? Am I really your – wife? I was so sure when you were – angry with me you did not – want me – anymore.”
“You are my wife,” Fabian said in a deep voice, “and I intend to prove it, my darling one, so that it is something you will never doubt again.”
As he spoke, he very gently lifted the tiara from her head and after it the lace veil.
He put them both down on an adjacent chair and drew her close to him.
Tipping up her chin, he kissed her at first very tenderly as if she was infinitely precious, and then, as he felt her quiver with the excitement and rapture he always evoked in her, his kisses became more passionate, more demanding.
As she felt as if once again she was dancing on a rainbow up into the sky, she felt her gown slither from her body down onto the floor.
Then, as Fabian lifted her up into his arms, she gave a little exclamation of surprise.
As he carried her towards the bed he said,
“Cinq-à-Sept in France is a time for rest and, because I am teaching you French customs, my adorable one, that is a polite way of saying I want to love you.”
He put her down against the soft lace trimmed pillows and, as she lay there, she was sure that once again she was dreaming.
When she woke up, the château and its fountains would have vanished and she would find her dream lover had been only a figment of her imagination.
Then Fabian was beside her and as, she felt him pull her into his arms, she knew that it was real – she had found him and she was his wife.
She felt then as if the love that had moved like sunshine in her body all day seemed to intensify.
It swept her like a tidal wave towards him, closer and closer until she felt, as his heart beat against hers, they were one person and indivisible.
“My precious, my darling, my perfect and adorable little wife!” Fabian said in a deep voice. “You are mine and we have escaped not only from our fathers, but from the world and from everything that is ugly and unpleasant.”
He pulled her closer as he went on,
“We are starting a new life, you and I, and our love will show us the way to a happiness which may seem incredible, but which I know is ours for eternity.”
“I – love you – I adore you, Fabian,” Loretta whispered.
She felt him kiss her lips, her neck, her breasts and his vibrations captured and imprisoned hers until she had no identity of her own.
She was a part of him and a rainbow was carrying her higher and higher up into the sky.
Flashing through her body, it turned into little flames of passion, which joined with the flaming fire in Fabian.
She could feel the heat of it consuming her until she could no longer think, but only feel – and feel – !
“Oh – Fabian, I love you!”
“You are mine, my darling my perfect little Goddess – my wife. Give yourself to me.”
“I am – yours – all – yours!”
Then, as the rainbow touched the stars above them and the rapture became an ecstasy which was almost a pain in its intensity, Fabian made Loretta his.
* * *
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
Love in the Clouds
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.
Dancing on a Rainbow
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2013
Copyright Cartland Promotions
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Dancing on a Rainbow Page 14