Riding In the Sky Read online

  The Wedding took place early in the morning.

  Then Filipa changed into a beautiful going away gown, said goodbye to Mark and drove away with her husband.

  Now she saw him as she had wished to do, tooling a four-in-hand.

  The horses were perfectly matched and she thought that nothing could be more exciting.

  Except, of course, riding with him, as she knew they would do the following day.

  They were starting their honeymoon at the Marquis’s hunting lodge in Leicestershire.

  He told her that it was looked after by old servants, who had known him since he was a boy.

  It was, Filipa thought, because it was built in the same period, very like her own home.

  The exception was that everything was perfect, very luxurious and exceedingly comfortable.

  When she told her husband what she was thinking, he said with his arm round her,

  “I thought, my darling, it might be an idea when we are at Kilne Hall to put your own house in order and make it as comfortable as this.”

  Filipa looked at him and asked,

  “Could we – really do – that?”

  “I intend that your brother Mark should live there and look after the many Arab mares he will bring back with him from Syria.”

  Filipa gave a little cry of joy and the Marquis continued,

  “It is the least we can do to keep him away from the gay lights of London that I know you disapprove of.”

  “It would be wonderful for Mark!” Filipa said. “And the Seymours have lived there for three hundred years.”

  “Then we must make certain they will do so for another three hundred!” the Marquis smiled.

  She moved closer to him.

  “How can you be so kind – so very very different from what I thought you – would be when I first – saw you?”

  “You did not like me?” he asked.

  “I was frightened of you and I thought that you were very overpowering and autocratic.”

  “That is what I hope I am, except where you are concerned.”

  “Nonsense!” Filipa replied. “You are the kindest most wonderful man in the whole world! I am sure that everybody who knows you loves you as much as I do!”

  The Marquis laughed.

  “I think, darling, you are prejudiced, but that is what I want you to be.”

  He drew her to her feet, led her to the window and pulled back the curtains.

  They looked out over the countryside stretching away to the horizon.

  The sun was just sinking in a blaze of glory and Filipa murmured,

  “How is it possible that – everything around – you is so – beautiful?”

  “And now I have the most beautiful one of all,” the Marquis said. “You!”

  “I-I want you to think that,” Filipa replied. “Now and for – ever!”

  There was a depth of feeling in her voice that made the Marquis pull her close to him.

  Then, when he would have kissed her, he said,

  “My precious, my darling, we have not known each other for very long, but I feel as if I have waited for an Eternity for you and perhaps that is true.”

  Filipa moved a little closer as he went on,

  “I think I have lived a thousand lives without you and now at last you are mine!”

  It was then that he kissed her.

  As he did so, he picked her up in his arms and carried her through the communicating door into her bedroom.

  It was a very beautiful room.

  The fragrance of the lilies that stood in huge vases on either side of the mantelpiece filled the air.

  There was no maid to wait on her.

  The Marquis took off the very elaborate and expensive negligée in which Filipa had dined with him and laid her on the bed.

  Then, as he had in the boudoir, he drew back the curtains so that they could look out into the dusk.

  There was a crimson glow in the sky from the setting sun.

  The first evening star was already twinkling overhead.

  She looked up, thinking once again that the Marquis was giving her beauty.

  Then he was beside her, pulling her gently into his arms.

  She felt herself quiver at the closeness of him and with the wild excitement that was creeping up through her whole body.

  “I love you!” the Marquis said. “I love you, my lovely wife, and while I must protect you from everything else, I must also protect you from myself.”

  He knew that she did not understand and he explained,

  “I am afraid of frightening you and perhaps making you feel that my love is not the Divine ecstasy that you thought it to be.”

  “How can I think anything else?” Filipa whispered. “When you pulled back the curtains – I knew that once again you were showing me a beauty that I have never understood before and that is because our love is the beauty that is part of God.”

  The Marquis drew in his breath.

  “That is what I want you to think, my precious. At the same time I am a man, and as a man I want you as a woman.”

  His arms were holding her and his lips were very near to hers as he said,

  “You told me you felt when I kissed you that you were riding in the sky, but suppose instead you are on earth and the magic is no longer there.”

  “But it will be,” Filipa insisted, “because I love you – because when you – touch me it is so – exciting I feel as if my body is filled with sunshine and, darling, I want to – ride with you in the sky. Love me please – love me!”

  She saw the fire in the Marquis’s eyes as she spoke and felt it on his lips, but she was not afraid.

  She only knew that her love welled up inside her and joined with the love that he felt for her.

  Then, as he carried her into the sky, she found that the beauty and wonder of it was so perfect that nothing could ever spoil it.

  It was the love that came from God, belonged to God and was theirs for ever and beyond for ever.

  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

&n
bsp; 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

  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

  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.

  Riding in the Sky

  Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd

  This edition © 2016

  Copyright Cartland Promotions 1988

  eBook conversion by M-Y Books