A Royal Rebuke Read online

  It was the most noisy and triumphant journey imaginable and it was impossible for either Sydella or Victor to speak to each other.

  He was holding her right hand tightly in his and they were both pulsatingly aware of each other.

  The cheers of the crowd seemed to echo and re-echo amongst the trees lining the route.

  Those behind the Palace were brilliant with gold and silver baubles that glistened in the sunshine.

  Because he thought it inappropriate, Lord Victor had insisted that there would be no banquet following the wedding and the Coronation. That would be postponed out of respect for the late King for at least a month.

  “It will be a great disappointment for those who would have been invited,” the Prime Minister had protested.

  “They will understand that we are mourning King Stephan,” Lord Victor replied, “and also that my wife and I will want to be alone together.”

  The Prime Minister had therefore somewhat reluctantly agreed that Lord Victor should have his own way.

  Now as King he thought that it was something he intended to have for the rest of his life!

  He was well aware that to build up Zararis the way the Marquis of Salisbury had wanted was almost a Herculean task.

  However, it was what he intended to do.

  He knew that he would be helped in every way possible because Sydella was with him.

  The adoring way she looked at him and her beauty would, he knew, make him strive for the well-being of the country he now belonged to.

  ‘I love her!’ he told himself. ‘And as long as she loves me, I will do great deeds and make Zararis a power in Europe simply so that I can lay every triumph at her feet.’

  When they drove away from the Cathedral and she slipped her hand into his, he knew that no man could be more fortunate than to be her husband.

  It was not only her exquisite beauty that was his but also her soul.

  As they walked up red carpet covering the Palace steps, she said in a rapt little voice,

  “How could I have known? How could I have guessed when I was so frightened yesterday that I would be so happy today? I feel as if the angels are all around us.”

  “That is where they are, my lovely one, and dozens and dozens of them,” King Victor replied.

  They were toasted as Their Majesties by their guests before they went upstairs to their apartments.

  On King Victor’s instructions they occupied the same rooms that they had been allocated the night before.

  He had decided not to move into the Royal Suite until it had been totally redecorated, as he did not want Sydella to think of anyone dying in the rooms they were to live in.

  She had no idea that Alexander had tried to murder her again last night or that Victor had foiled him.

  He had called in the Officer in Charge of the sailors from H.M.S. Victorious and Alexander’s dead body had been hurriedly removed by them and disposed of.

  No one else was aware that anything untoward had happened.

  “It would upset Her Royal Highness to know that her life had been threatened once again,” Lord Victor had said. “I am therefore trusting all you men to speak of it to no one. As he was wearing British uniform, it is not something we can be proud about.”

  They had understood.

  Lord Victor had closed the window in the Princess’s bedroom and gone to his own room.

  When Sydella awoke in the morning, she thought that the night had passed without incident and that nothing had happened to make her feel apprehensive on her wedding day.

  Now as she went into the sitting room, she gave a cry of joy.

  Before they had left for the Cathedral, Lord Victor had given an order to the Comptroller of the Household.

  It was that every lily and every other variety of white flower available should be arranged in the sitting room.

  It made a bower of beauty and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air.

  King Victor closed the door behind them, pulled off his Coronation robe and set his crown down on a table.

  The Queen was looking round the room.

  “You – you did this – for me? Oh, Victor, it is – lovely – and now I really feel – that I am – married!”

  He laughed as he replied,

  “I am making certain of that! And now, my beautiful Queen, I can tell you without any interruption how much I love you.”

  She went towards him eagerly.

  He took off her crown, which was a very pretty one, and he thought that no Queen could ever have looked more beautiful.

  Then he threw her long Coronation robe on the floor and began to undo her elaborate white wedding gown.

  “Wh-what – are you – doing?”

  “We are married, my precious,” the King answered, “and after all I have suffered thinking that I had to lose you, I am wasting no more time before teaching you, my beautiful, perfect little Goddess, about love.”

  “Oh, darling, darling, that is what I want,” Sydella said, “but I thought I should have to – wait until – tonight.”

  “We are not waiting for anything!” Victor declared. “We are starting our honeymoon from this moment and I have made it very clear that I wish to be alone with you.”

  The gown dropped to the floor and, as he removed the hairpins from her hair, he said,

  “Tomorrow there will be many problems to solve and orders to be given. But until tomorrow this is our glorious hour and no one shall disturb us!”

  “That is – wonderful – wonderful!” Sydella whispered.

  She thrilled as her husband lifted her up in his arms and laid her gently down on the bed.

  The sun coming through the open windows was dazzling.

  And she felt as if it was a special blessing sent by God.

  Then, as Victor joined her, she knew that she was more blessed than any woman had ever been.

  He drew her close to him.

  She felt his hand touching her gently before his lips held hers captive.

  The wonder and glory of it was part of the sunshine and the angels that had been with them in the Cathedral were singing.

  It was then that Victor carried Sydella into a very special Heaven. which lovers find only when they have passed through the perils of darkness.

  They had found the love that comes from God, is part of God and is God.

  It was theirs for Eternity and beyond.

  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

  L
ucifer 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 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.

  A Royal Rebuke

  Barbara Cartland

  Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd

  This edition © 2013

  Copyright Cartland Promotions 1996

  eBook conversion by M-Y Books