The Runaway Heart Read online

  She opened the door and let herself out into the passage.

  She walked down it and came to the hall. The servant who had shown her in picked up her suitcase.

  “The Memsahib will require a taxi?” he enquired.

  Karina shook her head and took the suitcase from him.

  “I will – walk,” she managed to say, her voice broken with tears.

  She made no attempt to wipe them away. It did not seem to matter any more. She walked out into the hot sunshine, past the brilliantly coloured flowers, down the shady drive and onto a road lined with trees.

  She had no idea where she was going. She only wanted to get away from Garland. She felt it would break her heart if she had to hear his voice speaking to her again with that tone of contempt.

  Every word had been a stab of pain. Every word only twisted her heart the more thoroughly because she loved him so deeply.

  The suitcase was heavy and it was very hot.

  She walked on. She saw some cars and carriages ahead of her, wondered why they were stationed there and looked up to see a notice, The Taj Mahal.

  A sudden flicker of interest aroused her and came like a shaft of light through her misery.

  Whatever happened to her, she must see the Taj Mahal before she left India.

  She remembered how as a child she had pored over the pictures of it, how she had read about its beauty and thought that perhaps one day she would be able to visit it. Here, to her was the most beautiful building in the world. She would not go without seeing it.

  Nobody took any notice of her as she walked up the steps and through a gateway. There were Indians selling postcards and small replicas, there were a few tourists and many visitors from other parts of India.

  But no one spoke to her or worried her as she pushed her way through the crowd.

  And then quite unexpectedly she saw the Taj Mahal.

  It was even more beautiful than she had imagined. Pink and opalescent against the blue sky, it seemed as if it was just about to take off on a magic carpet.

  She went down the steps towards it.

  There was the long row of cypress trees reflected in the water which, with its fountains, carried the eye towards the perfection of the Taj Mahal itself.

  She did not go straight towards it. Instead she turned aside, finding a seat on the green lawn that lay on either side of the cypress trees.

  She sat down and stared at the round dome and the exquisite minarets.

  ‘It was built for love,’ she told herself.

  And she knew that it would always remain to her a memory of her own lost love – a love that was unattainable for her as Mumtaz Mahal had been to Shah Jahan who had built this wonder as a memorial to her.

  It was so beautiful that the very beauty of it seemed to seep into Karina’s whole being. It was so glorious that she felt herself a part of its beauty and its sorrow.

  Then, because she could bear neither its beauty nor her own unhappiness any longer, she began to cry.

  She had covered her face with her hands and the tears were trickling through her fingers, when suddenly she heard someone say her name.

  “Karina!”

  She did not move. She did not even look up.

  Then she felt him sit down beside her and his arm go round her shoulders.

  “Don’t, Karina. Don’t cry like that.”

  “I c-cannot help – it,” she murmured in a sobbing childish voice. “It’s so – so – b-beautiful and he must – have been so – unhappy – as unhappy as – I am.”

  “Who?” Garland asked.

  She answered,

  “He – loved her and – and he lost her.”

  Her tears broke out afresh.

  Somehow nothing seemed to matter now but her own unhappiness and the sadness of the Taj Mahal.

  “Stop crying! Stop!” Garland cried. “I cannot bear it. Karina, don’t cry like that, I beg of you, or you will make me cry too.”

  She was so incredulous at what she heard that she opened her eyes and looked up at him, the teardrops glistening on the end of her eyelashes and her mouth quivering with the intensity of her grief.

  She saw then that his face very close to hers and realised almost with a sense of shock that she had been talking to him almost without realising who he was.

  “Oh, you baby, you child!” he exclaimed. “How could I be unkind to you when I love you so utterly?”

  ‘It is all a dream,’ Karina thought. ‘He cannot be saying these things. It must be something to do with the magic of the Taj Mahal.’

  She was hypnotised or caught up into another world. Perhaps she was dead and she didn’t know it.

  “I love you!” Garland asserted again. “You have driven me mad. Do you think I have not been thinking of you and Jim together every moment since I left England? I have tortured myself with visions of him kissing you and being so gay and amusing. And then, when you came here just when I was thinking of you, praising him and telling me how much he has done for you, I lost my temper.”

  He smiled as he continued,

  “Forgive me, Karina. It was good and brave of you to come all this way to tell me what had happened. I wanted to thank you, but somehow this damned temper of mine always makes me do the wrong thing.”

  “Y-you – love me?”

  She could hardly say the words and yet they were said and he heard them.

  “Of course I love you,” he replied with something of his old arrogance. “I have loved you since I first saw you, since that night on the balcony in Belgrave Square when I tried to find out who you were and nobody could tell me.

  “But I know what you think of me,” he added with a rueful smile. “ – The last man on earth whom you would ever marry.”

  He gave a deep sigh.

  “It’s all right, Karina, I did not mean to worry you. But you looked so pathetic sitting there crying and it all came out before I could stop it.”

  “You – love – me!” she repeated.

  “Yes, I love you,” he answered. “So much so that if you look at me like that I cannot hold myself responsible for not going on telling you so or from trying to kiss you, Karina, as I kissed you once before.”

  “Why – did you not – tell me?” she asked.

  “Would it have made any difference?” he replied. “It’s Jim you are fond of, isn’t it?”

  She shook her head.

  The tears still in her eyes, they seemed to make a rainbow over his head, which also encircled the domes and minarets of the Taj Mahal.

  “No – she whispered. “I told Jim that I did not love – him. He knows that – I-I love – y-you.”

  She felt Garland stiffen beside her.

  She felt him hold his body rigid.

  “Say that again,” he commanded. “Say it in case I did not hear it aright. I warn you, Karina, if you are not telling me the truth, you are playing with fire.”

  She put her hands out towards him.

  “It – it is the – truth. I did not – know it, but I have loved – y-you for a long time. But I-I – thought that you would never love – anybody, least of all – m-me.”

  “My darling, my little one! I was waiting for you. That is why I could not love anybody else.”

  He pulled her almost roughly towards him and then it seemed as if something broke within him and, in a voice shaken and quite unlike his usual self, he said,

  “Be kind to me, Karina. I have never known real love and tenderness and I am afraid of it.”

  She had no words to answer this.

  She could only put up her little hand and touch the side of his face.

  He covered it with his own, kissing her palm passionately, lingeringly, with lips that seemed hungrily possessive.

  Then he looked down at her again.

  “I have imagined you here,” he sighed. “Imagined you in India ever since I arrived. I thought that perhaps one day I might be able to bring you here as my companion, as my secretary, in some way or another. I
never thought that you would come as my wife.”

  “Oh, Garland!”

  The words were only a murmur.

  “You will marry me, Karina?” he asked. “Now, at once. Why should we wait?”

  “There are a – lot of – things to do first,” she replied. “All – that trouble – waiting for you at – home.

  “What trouble?” he asked. “Oh yes, of course! Well, I have just heard something that I think solves everything.”

  He spoke impatiently, as if it was really of no account and he could hardly waste the time talking about it.

  “What have – you – heard?” Karina asked.

  “Just after you left me,” he said, “ – oh, Karina, how could you run away like that? – my host came in to say he had heard on the radio that there had been an air disaster to one of the planes travelling from Zurich to London. He thought that I might be interested as there were several important British people aboard. Among them was a man called ‘Eric Cowley’.”

  “He was – killed?” Karina enquired.

  “They were all killed,” Garland answered. “That only leaves me Felix Mainwaring to deal with.”

  There was something in his voice that made Karina say quickly,

  “Don’t be – cruel to him. If he cannot hurt you – what does it matter? There has been so much unhappiness – and greed and cruelty around us, don’t add to it.”

  “It shall be as you say,” Garland said quite humbly. “Don’t you understand, Karina? I only want to do what you want. If you want me to let him go, I will do so. He can even keep the things he has stolen for Cowley. But he cannot have the pink elephant because you brought it to me. You brought me back my luck, Karina. You have brought yourself, which is all that matters.”

  “I cannot – believe it’s – true,” Karina said wonderingly.

  She still felt as if she must wake up. She could not really be sitting here with Garland’s arms around her in this beautiful peaceful garden, the Taj Mahal just in front of them. It still seemed to glow like a pearl, but it was no longer sad.

  The message it gave her now was one of happiness.

  “You are so sweet,” she heard Garland say and she looked up at him.

  “Is it really – true?” she asked. “You do – love me? We are – together? This isn’t a – dream?”

  “It is a dream we will go on dreaming for the rest of our lives together,” he answered.

  She felt his arms tighten about her.

  She felt his hand underneath her chin, lifting her face towards his.

  Then his lips were on hers, his mouth no longer brutal and rough as it had been before, but gentle, tender and passionate with a new love and a new understanding.

  She felt a sudden flame shoot through her body.

  She felt as if he drew her like a magnet into his keeping.

  “I love you” Garland said triumphantly, “And I will never leave you! You are mine, Karina, mine. Tell me again that you love me. I cannot believe it. I am so afraid of losing you!”

  She was trembling, but her face was radiant.

  So softly, so that he could hardly hear her, she whispered,

  “I love – you – I love – you – with all – my heart.”

  She felt him draw her closer still, until they were one, indivisible – one heart, one soul, one love in all Eternity.

  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 Trapr />
  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

  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

  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.