The Cruel Count (Bantam Series No. 28) Page 18

  He did not kiss her but only stared over her head and said in a voice she hardly recognised:

  “You believe in me! I swear that I will never fail you!”

  There was so much emotion in his tone that Vesta felt the tears come into her eyes. Then when she raised her head to look up at him, she saw there were tears on his cheeks.

  Putting up her hand to wipe them away with the tips of her fingers, she said very softly:

  “There is only one thing I ... regret.”

  “What is that?” the Prince asked.

  “The cave where we were going to be ... alone,” she whispered, “I did so want to look after ... you.”

  His arms tightened.

  “After we are married,” he said, “there will be a Banquet so tonight we must stay in the Palace. But tomorrow I am taking you away on our honeymoon, not to a cave, my dearest Heart, but somewhere very quiet where we shall be together.”

  His eyes were dark with desire.

  “I have a villa by the sea. We shall be guarded because I will never risk your precious life again, but we shall not see those who guard us. I want to teach you, my adorable perfect sweetheart, about love now that my Sleeping Beauty is awake.”

  He bent his head and his mouth was very near to hers as he said:

  “Have you forgotten that I have to fan that little fire within you into an all-consuming blaze?”

  Vesta’s lips were almost touching his as she replied: “It is already ... burning, darling Miklos.”

  Then his mouth made her captive, and at his kiss, fierce, passionate, demanding, something wild and incredibly glorious leapt within her.

  She felt the ecstasy he evoked in her carrying them both towards the mountain peaks and beyond into a sunlit sky.

  “I love you ... I love you...”

  It was said in their hearts, it pulsated in the trembling of their bodies, it was the voice of their souls.

  “I love ... you...”

  There came a knock at the door. It was a signal to remind them that the people of Katona were waiting for their Prince and Princess.

  Barbara Cartland, the celebrated romantic author, historian, playwright, lecturer, political speaker and television personality, has now written over 150 books. Miss Cartland has had a number of historical books published and several biographical ones, including that of her brother, Major Ronald Cartland, who was the first Member of Parliament to be killed in the War. This book had a Foreword by Sir Winston Churchill.

  In private life, Barbara Cartland, who is a Dame of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, has fought for better conditions and salaries for Midwives and nurses. As President of the Royal College of Midwives (Hertfordshire Branch), she has been invested with the first Badge of Office ever given in Great Britain, which was subscribed to by the Midwives themselves. She has also championed the cause for old people and founded the first Romany Gypsy Camp in the world.

  Barbara Cartland is deeply interested in Vitamin Therapy and is President of the British National Association for Health.