The Castle of Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page A

Felice.
     With trembling fingers, Jacina tore it from her neck and threw it into the box.
    "Please – I wish to – return to my room now, my Lord," she stuttered.
    The Earl had heard the sound of the necklace dropped rudely into the box and was puzzled.
    "What is the matter?" he asked gently.
    "N-nothing. I – do not feel well, suddenly. That is all."
    The Earl hesitated and then gave a small bow. "As you wish," he said.
    In her room Jacina threw herself into a chair by the fire and stared miserably into the flames.
    The more time she spent with the Earl, the more she resented the mere idea of Felice Delisle. Yet she knew this was unjust. It was not the fault of Felice that she had accepted the Earl's proposal. Felice had already suffered so much in her life, why should she not grasp at any opportunity of being happy?
    The wind rattled the windows and sent smoke back down the chimney. Jacina drew her legs up under her and rested her chin on her knees. She reminded herself sternly that the Earl needed her. He enjoyed her company. She must be content with that for as long as it lasted and no more.
    The following morning her mood had improved and so had the weather. By noon the sun had so warmed the air, that the Earl suggested Jacina read to him out of doors.
    They sat on a wrought iron bench placed in the shade of the castle wall. The Earl asked Jacina to read some poetry.
    The sun was warm on Jacina's face. She turned the pages and read in a dreamy voice.
     Suddenly the Earl raised his head.
    "What was that?" he asked.
    "My Lord?"
    "I heard the sound of coach wheels."
    Jacina listened. Now she heard it too. A moment later a coach swept out of the line of trees on the other side of the moat and clattered over the stone bridge.
    The Earl rose to his feet as the coach drew up at the castle steps.
    Jacina also rose, her heart full of foreboding.
    A footman hurried out of the castle to open the coach door. First a gentleman in a cloak stepped out. He threw a sharp glance round him before turning to help out a second traveller.
    This was a tall woman in a scarlet jacket. A veil was drawn down over her features, but Jacina had no doubt who it was.
    Felice Delisle!
    The bride-to-be had finally arrived at Castle Ruven.
    Jacina knew that her idyll was over.

CHAPTER FOUR
     Felice Delisle raised her veil and her eyes fell at once on Jacina. Her gaze was so cool and appraising that Jacina stepped back in surprise. She would never have guessed from this expression that here was a young woman about to meet her husband to be for the very first time.
    She had to admit though that Felice was very handsome. Her auburn hair was arranged in the very latest fashion. Her eyes were large and the colour of amber. Her heart shaped face was fuller than Jacina had imagined, but then Felice was no longer the girl of sixteen with whom Crispian Ruven had fallen in love. She was now an elegant young woman of twenty-one.
    Felice turned her cool gaze from Jacina to the Earl.
    "You are Hugo, I think!" she said in a low voice.
    The Earl bowed and Felice extended her hand. The Earl seemed to sense her gesture. With barely a falter he took her hand and lifted it to his lips.
    "Welcome to Castle Ruven," he said, in a most solicitous tone. "I hope your journey was not too tiring."
    "It was terible, zis journey," said Felice with a shrug. "But anyhow, we are arrived." She gestured toward her travelling companion, seemingly unconcerned that the Earl could not register such a gesture. " Zis is my – how do you say it in England? – lawyer, yes? Monsieur Fronard."
    "At your service," said Monsieur Fronard with a bow. He had a long, sharp face and a piercing gaze.
     Felice's eyes flicked back to Jacina. "And who is zis person?" she asked.
    "I am Jacina Carlton, madame," said Jacina, curtsying.
    The Earl smiled. "Ah, yes. Miss Carlton is my little helper."
    "Zat's nice," said Felice. "And in what does she help you?"
    "Mostly Miss Carlton reads to me,