The Castle of Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

the bath, which stood in the corner of the chamber behind an ivory screen.
    "Nancy, you are making me feel guilty," laughed Jacina.
    "You enjoy it, miss," said Nancy. "It won't last forever."
    Jacina spent every morning with the Earl as usual. In the afternoons she read in her chamber or continued the studies that her father had begun with her in French and Latin. Sometimes she would go to the nursery, where Sarah would make tea and gossip.
    If the weather was fine she would put on her cloak and set out to visit poor families on the estate. She would take them provisions, which cook was always happy to make up for her in a little basket.
    The Earl dined alone unless he had guests. Then Jacina was invited to join him. The Earl and his guests discussed estate business or politics. Jacina was happy to listen and gaze about her at the ornate dining room.
     If she did not join the Earl she took supper in her room, or with Sarah. Afterwards she would wander the long corridors looking at all the paintings. She had to pinch herself to think she was actually a guest in the castle she had admired for so long.
    One morning, the Earl asked Jacina if she would like to see those parts of the castle that had been shut up since before the old Earl died. Jacina was intrigued and said that she would be delighted.
    A little while later her heart fluttered with anticipation as a huge oak door creaked slowly open onto a long gallery.
    The day had turned windy and storm clouds were gathering over the crags. Boughs lashed the mullioned windows as the Earl and Jacina strolled along. Portraits of early ancestors hung on the gallery walls.
    Jacina stopped in front of a painting of a beautiful young woman.
    "Who is that, my Lord?" she asked.
    "You must describe her to me before I can answer," the Earl gently reminded her.
    Jacina blushed at her mistake. She described the painting. The woman had huge eyes and raven tresses. She wore a magenta gown and a diamond necklace glittered around her white neck.
    The Earl nodded. "Ah, yes. That is my grandmother. Her private chambers occupied this part of the castle. After she died my grandfather could not bear to come here and had it all closed up. But yesterday I ordered it reopened."
    Jacina sighed as she gazed at the painting. "She is so
    – so lovely. Her dress is such a beautiful colour. And the necklace – "
     The Earl looked thoughtful. "Would you like to see that necklace?" he asked.
    Jacina's eyes grew wide. "You – still have it, my Lord?"
    The Earl laughed. "It is a family heirloom. Come with me, Jacina."
    Such was his memory of the castle's layout, that it was with no difficulty he led Jacina to the end of the gallery and thence into a corridor that ran to the North-East tower.
    As if by instinct he stopped outside a door that opened from the corridor into a large and opulent room. The walls of the room were hung with yellow silk. The four poster bed was of carved oak. The mirrors on the walls were framed in gold. A walnut dressing table stood by the window.
    The Earl let his fingers roam over the dressing table until they found a blue leather jewellery case. He opened it and Jacina gasped.
    There, on a purple velvet cloth, lay the necklace she had seen in the painting.
    "Try it on," suggested the Earl.
    With trembling hands Jacina draped the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp. She stood back and gazed at her reflection in the dressing table mirror.
    "How do they look?" asked the Earl.
    "They – they dazzle – " she replied in a low voice.
    She wished that the Earl could see her. She looked very becoming in the necklace.
    The Earl sighed behind her. "It is family tradition that they are handed on through each generation to the eldest son's bride" he said.
    Jacina understood in a flash. This part of the castle had been re-opened for Felice. This room was being prepared for Felice. And this necklace, this string of diamonds and rubies that dazzled her in the mirror, was also for