The Wicked Widow Read online

  She looked just so happy and so radiant that, when Charles started telling them what had occurred after they had left, he suddenly stopped.

  “I have a feeling, Rollo,” he said, “although I might be wrong, that something far more sensational has happened here.”

  Kyla looked shy as the Earl went on,

  “You are quite right, Charles, and I do hope you are going to give us a decent Wedding present.”

  “That is the best news I have ever heard,” Charles said as he smiled. “I knew as soon as I saw Kyla that she was just the right woman for you and I have never known anyone so brave. Congratulations and where is the champagne?”

  “I knew you would ask,” the Earl replied. “The servants brought it in, but we forgot to drink it.”

  “Well, I certainly need a drink,” Charles said, “and I think Terry deserves one too.”

  “Are you saying,” Terry asked Kyla, “that you are going to marry the Earl?”

  “He has asked me to do so,” Kyla answered, “and says that The Castle will be a lovely home for you.”

  “You mean I can live here?” Terry enquired. “That’s really spiffing! I shall really enjoy it.”

  “And, of course, riding my horses,” the Earl commented.

  “I will love that and I will explore all the hidden passages,” Terry said.

  “Now, what made you think The Castle has secret passages?” the Earl enquired.

  Terry looked at Kyla.

  “It is all right,” she said. “I am sure he knows that we hid in one when Stepmama came.”

  “I saw you as it happens,” the Earl pointed out.

  “You – saw us?” Kyla exclaimed.

  “I did not believe for one moment the story that ‘Miss Taylor’ had taken ‘Gerald’ to see Lady Blessingham’s sister,” the Earl replied, “so I got up after I had gone to bed and walked down the secret passageway leading from my room and saw two little runaways fast asleep in the Priest’s Hole.”

  “And we had no idea of it,” Terry added.

  He looked at his sister reproachfully.

  “We never took our pistols,” he said, “and if the highwaymen had found us, they might have killed us both.”

  “The highwaymen do not know about the secret passages,” the Earl said firmly, “and you will please, neither of you, show them to anyone else.”

  “But you will not mind if I go in them, will you?” Terry pleaded. “It is a spiffing place to hide.”

  “I can see that I shall have to design a special badge for us to wear as ‘Guardians of the Secret Passages’,” the Earl laughed, “and I shall put you, Terry, in charge.”

  Terry gave a whoop of excitement.

  “I shall like that!”

  “Now, come along, young man,” Charles said. “You and I have now to drink the health of the bride and bridegroom and wish that they will live happily and safely ever after.”

  “That is a jolly good toast,” Terry approved, “and, of course, it is what we wish them.”

  He accepted a glass from Charles and, as he raised it, he said,

  “It was Kyla who thought of coming here and Kyla who made friends with Bill so that he helped us.”

  “Your sister is a most remarkable woman,” the Earl said, “and that is why I intend to marry her as quickly as possible so that she can never run away from me.”

  “That is – something I have – no wish to do,” Kyla said in a low whisper.

  “I know that, my darling,” the Earl answered, “but I will not feel sure of you until you are actually my wife.”

  Charles raised his glass.

  “To you both!” he toasted. “And, if that is the way you feel, what are we waiting for?”

  “You are right,” the Earl said, “and now that I think of it Lady Shenley’s death will have to be announced, which means that Kyla and Terry will be in mourning.”

  Kyla looked at him in surprise.

  Then the Earl said,

  “No one is going to know and I mean no one, exactly what happened today. I know I can trust my Head Groom and Jenkins. No one else need ever be aware that you were threatened by highwaymen. It will appear only that in riding away from us they killed Lady Shenley.”

  “What about the Magistrates?” Kyla asked.

  “I have told my Head Groom and Jenkins to say that it was they who fought with the highwaymen, who they thought were trying to steal some of my horses. The highwaymen themselves would gain nothing by denying this nor do I think that they will be in a condition to do so.”

  “That is extremely clever of you,” Charles said. “It will be of much less interest to the newspapers than if it was thought that they were trying to attack you or were hand in glove with Lady Shenley.”

  “I am glad you approve, Charles,” the Earl said. “The idea came to me out of the blue. I told Jenkins what I wanted and I know that he will carry out everything that I have suggested to the letter.”

  “As he did when we were in France,” Charles said. “Telling this story will ensure there will be no scandal and therefore you and Kyla must be married before Lady Shenley’s death is announced.”

  “I will send for my Chaplain immediately after luncheon,” the Earl informed them.

  “I hope you will also find a Wedding veil for Kyla,” Charles suggested.

  Kyla gave a little cry.

  “I had not thought of that and perhaps you will be – ashamed of me because I don’t look – smart enough to be your bride.”

  “You are so lovely that the angels themselves will be jealous whatever you are wearing,” the Earl said in a low voice.

  She looked up at him as he spoke and for a moment they forgot that there was anybody else in the room.

  With an effort he said,

  “If you suggest that you will not be properly dressed, that will be an insult to Mrs. Field and not me.”

  “Of course, Mrs. Field will have everything!” Kyla laughed.

  “Except for the Granston jewels,” Charles said, “and so naturally Rollo will arrange that you wear the lot!”

  “Certainly not,” Kyla protested. “I should look like a Christmas tree and I do so want to look lovely – for Rollo.”

  “No one could be lovelier,” the Earl said firmly. “I hope, Charles, you have brought your decorations with you as I naturally shall be wearing mine.”

  “You might well have warned me that this sort of thing was going to occur,” Charles complained, “but some of your decorations will be on my coat just as they are on yours.”

  “A Wedding! We are going to have a Wedding!” Terry exclaimed. “I know that Jane will enjoy every minute.”

  The Earl looked guilty.

  “I had forgotten about Jane,” he admitted. “Terry, run up the stairs and fetch her down for luncheon and then tell Nanny that we are having luncheon in the dining room and she is to come too.”

  “Nanny is going to have luncheon with us?” Terry asked.

  “Of course,” the Earl replied. “She has been a great help in all our plans and we must not neglect her.”

  “She will be very excited,” Terry commented.

  He ran from the room as Kyla said,

  “Oh, thank you – thank you for being so kind to Bill. I am so glad that he does not have to be a highwayman anymore.”

  “Because I am so happy at finding you,” the Earl answered, “I want everybody else in the world to be happy too.”

  “I am sure that Nanny, when she knows that we are to be married, will be planning to fit everything into the nursery besides Terry.”

  “Of course you realise,” Charles interrupted, “the most important thing is that you will now need a new Governess.”

  Kyla laughed as the Earl proposed,

  “I think we had better find a Tutor for Terry. He is old enough for one and if one small boy does not give him enough to do, he can teach Jane as well.”

  “I am sure Jane would love that,” Kyla said, “and it would be better fo
r Terry to have a man to look after him.”

  “The trouble with you, Rollo,” Charles said, “is that you are a born planner and happy only when you are thinking of new ways to do things. I am nervous to think what next you will introduce into the quiet English countryside, besides, of course, a large number of little Rollos!”

  Kyla blushed and the Earl said,

  “You are not to make Kyla feel shy, but you are quite right, Charles, I am going to plan a great number of different things, including building on to The Castle as my ancestors have always done.”

  “And there are causes I would want you to fight for in the House of Lords,” Kyla said, “particularly to help the men like Bill, who have come back from the War to find their jobs have gone and, since they have no money, have to take to robbery.”

  “Quite right,” Charles approved. “You can imagine how persuasive Rollo will be in the House of Lords. He is just the right person to head a Crusade of one kind or another.”

  “That is what I will make him do,” Kyla said, “and I know he will be wonderful and win, just as he won today.”

  She looked up at the Earl adoringly.

  He knew that she had given him the answer to the question he had asked himself when he had left Paris.

  It was what did he want in life?

  What he wanted, although he had not known it then, was somebody like Kyla, somebody he could love and somebody who at the same time would inspire him to do great deeds.

  To bring happiness and security to the country just as he wanted to bring it to those he loved.

  As it flashed through his mind, he knew how lucky he was.

  As he looked at Kyla, he felt his love for her welling up inside him like a flood-tide.

  It was a very different emotion from what he had ever felt before for any woman.

  Then, as he went on looking at her, he realised that Charles had left the room and they were alone.

  He put his arms round Kyla and drew her, almost roughly, close to him.

  “I love you!” he said. “I love you so much that I feel a century will pass before you are my wife.”

  “You are really quite certain,” she said a little hesitatingly, “that you are not – making a mistake?”

  “I have never been so certain of anything ever,” the Earl answered. “I know that we were made for each other. We are not two people but just one, my darling. Tonight I will explain to you exactly what that means.”

  Kyla moved a little closer to him.

  “How can I have – been so – lucky?” she asked. “I prayed that we might – be saved and then God sent you to – save us.”

  “I believe that is true,” the Earl said, “and that is why I want to tell you, my precious, that I will devote my whole life to making you happy and doing the things you want me to do and to be worthy of your love.”

  The way he spoke was very moving.

  As Kyla felt the tears come into her eyes, he pulled her closer still.

  She could hear angels singing songs of love and devotion.

  Then, as he kissed her, she knew that he was carrying her into a Heaven that was all their own and that she would never have to run away again.

  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 D
andy

  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

  Fire on the Snow

  A Revolution of Love

  Love at the Helm

  Listen to Love

  Love Casts out Fear

  The Devilish Deception

  Riding in the Sky

  The Wonderful Dream

  This Time it’s Love

  The River of Love

  A Gentleman in Love

  The Island of Love

  Miracle for a Madonna

  The Storms of Love

  The Prince and the Pekingese

  The Golden Cage

  Theresa and a Tiger

  The Goddess of Love

  Alone in Paris

  The Earl Rings a Belle

  The Runaway Heart

  From Hell to Heaven

  Love in the Ruins

  Crowned with Love

  Love is a Maze

  Hidden by Love

  Love is the Key

  A Miracle in Music

  The Race for Love

  Call of the Heart

  The Curse of the Clan

  Saved by Love

  The Tears of Love

  Winged Magic

  Born of Love

  Love Holds the Cards

  A Chieftain Finds Love

  The Horizons of Love

  The Marquis Wins

  A Duke in Danger

  Warned by a Ghost

  Forced to Marry

  Sweet Adventure

  Love is a Gamble

  Love on the Wind

  Looking for Love

  Love is the Enemy

  The Passion and the Flower

  The Reluctant Bride

  Safe in Paradise

  The Temple of Love

  Love at First Sight

  The Scots Never Forget

  The Golden Gondola

  No Time for Love

  Love in the Moon

  A Hazard of Hearts

  Just Fate

  The Kiss of Paris

  Little Tongues of Fire

  Love Under Fire

  The Magnificent Marriage

  Moon over Eden

  The Dream and the Glory

  A Victory for Love

  A Princess in Distress

  A Gamble with Hearts

  Love Strikes a Devil

  In the Arms of Love

  Love in the Dark

  Love Wins

  The Marquis who Hated Women

  Love is Invincible

  Love Climbs in