The Sign of Love

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by Barbara Cartland


  “Can I still – excite you, my darling?”

  The colour rose in her cheeks, her eyes were suddenly very shy and she hid her face against his neck.

  “Last night was so – wonderful!” she whispered. “I felt as if you – carried me up to the stars – the same stars we shall see again when we reach Suez.”

  “We will stand and gaze at them as we did that night,” the Duke replied, “and you can tell me once again that you feel it a privilege to be alive.”

  “And a privilege to be your wife,” Bettina added with a passionate note in her voice, “and very very privileged because you – love me a – little.”

  “Do you really think it is only a little?”

  “I love you with all of me and perhaps one day you will love me with all of you.”

  “I am not going to say that I love you as much as it is possible for me to love anyone,” the Duke replied, “for the simple reason that every day I find that there are new depths to my love that I did not even know existed.”

  He raised his head to look down at her.

  At the flush on her cheeks, at the first dawning of desire in her eyes, at the breath coming quickly between her parted lips and the rise and fall of her breasts beneath the thin silk nightgown.

  “What is there about you that makes you so different from anyone else?” he asked.

  He swept her hair back from her forehead as he said,

  “You are very beautiful, your features are perfect, but it is so much more than that. Perhaps my precious, it is the purity of your soul shining in your eyes and it speaks to my soul. And I had really forgotten I had one until I met you.”

  Bettina’s eyes widened.

  He had never spoken so seriously to her before and then she put her arm round his neck to draw his lips close to hers again.

  “We belong to each other and I am sure now that we are one person, but my beloved husband, you are the most important part – and I am so very privileged to be a little – bit of you.”

  “The bit that really matters,” the Duke replied, “because I realise that it is you who has found the secret of happiness for both of us.”

  “Which is – love?”

  “Of course,” he answered, “the love I thought I would never find and which was not surprisingly completely lacking in the places where I looked for it.”

  She knew that he was thinking of the gaiety and at the same time the emptiness of those who congregated at Marlborough House and at his own house in London.

  Then he said almost as if he was speaking to himself,

  “We still have our responsibilities, my beautiful wife, towards the place that we have been born to and the state of life that it has pleased God to call us to.”

  She knew what he was trying to say and she responded in a low voice,

  “You must help me not to make – mistakes. I realise how – ignorant I am, but if you are there with me I shall try to do – everything you want me to do.”

  “You are very young,” the Duke sighed, “but there is so much wisdom in that small head of yours.”

  He kissed her forehead and added,

  “We will not anticipate today what lies ahead in the future but only be happy because this is our honeymoon and because we are together on Christmas Day.”

  “That is what I want – and there is – something I want to – say to you.”

  “What is it, my darling?” the Duke asked.

  She put her head back against his shoulder and then she said in a very low little voice,

  “Last night I was thinking just before I fell asleep how – wonderful you were and how wildly – inexpressibly happy you have made me.”

  The Duke’s arms tightened round her and he kissed her hair as she went on,

  “I thought too of all the things you have given me, my magnificent engagement ring, the fur coat to come on this voyage, the gowns that we are to pick up at Nice and now Mama’s little diamond star. Oh, Varien, there are so many, many!”

  “And so many more I want to give you. I love you so much, my darling, that I would like to take the stars from the sky and hang them around your neck.”

  “That is what you have done,” Bettina whispered, “but you have put them in my – heart.”

  “As they are in mine.”

  “I have not finished what I was telling you.”

  “I am listening.”

  “I was thinking that I had nothing to give you in return.”

  The Duke would have spoken, but she put her fingers on his lips and he kissed them and he did not speak.

  “I longed to give you a sign of my love, something that could not – be bought with money because I have none, but would tell you how much I love you and how – grateful I am for – you.”

  There was a little pause and then Bettina, moving even closer to the Duke and holding onto him very tightly, said,

  “Then it was almost as if a voice told me – what my sign of love must be.”

  “Tell me,” the Duke asked tenderly.

  “I will try to give you – lots and lots of sons, all just like – you.”

  “And I want lots of daughters like you, my precious.”

  There was a note in his voice that told Bettina that he was deeply moved by what she had said and there was a flicker of fire in his eyes.

  “If we have children,” she went on, “they will fill The Castle and it would not seem so – imposing for – me.”

  “You need never be frightened while I am with you,” the Duke asserted.

  “And if you are – not?”

  He knew how much lay behind this simple question and he bent his head until his mouth was against hers.

  ‘Wherever I am, you will be. You belong to me, Bettina, and I can never live without you. My body is yours and yours is mine, but so are our minds and our thoughts and our dreams. My life is indivisibly merged with yours, now and for Eternity we are one.”

  As if it was the reassurance she had wanted, it swept away the last lingering doubts in her mind.

  As her lips, very soft and yielding, waited for his, she knew that the last barrier that the Duke had erected within himself had fallen.

  He was hers completely and absolutely, as she was his.

  Then he was kissing her demandingly, possessively, passionately and, as she surrendered herself to the ecstasy and rapture of love, he carried her towards the stars.

  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

&n
bsp; 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 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

  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

  Love in the Ruins

  Crowned with Love

  Love is a Maze

  Hidden by Love

  Love is the Key

  A Miracle in Music

  The Race for Love

  Call of the Heart

  The Curse of the Clan

  Saved by Love

  The Tears of Love

  Winged Magic

  Born of Love

  Love Holds the Cards

  A Chieftain Finds Love

  The Horizons of Love

  The Marquis Wins

  A Duke in Danger

  Warned by a Ghost

  Forced to Marry

  Sweet Adventure

  Love is a Gamble

  Love on the Wind

  Looking for Love

  Love is the Enemy

  The Passion and the Flower

  The Reluctant Bride

  Safe in Paradise

  The Temple of Love

  Love at First Sight

  The Scots Never Forget

  The Golden Gondola

  No Time for Love

  Love in the Moon

  A Hazard of Hearts

  Just Fate

  The Kiss of Paris

  Little Tongues of Fire

  Love Under Fire

  The Magnificent Marriage

  Moon over Eden

  The Dream and the Glory

  A Victory for Love

  A Princess in Distress

  A Gamble with Hearts

  Love Strikes a Devil

  In the Arms of Love

  Love in the Dark

  Love Wins

  The Marquis who Hated Women

  Love is Invincible

  Love Climbs in

  The Queen Saves the King

  The Duke Comes Home

  Love Joins the Clans

  The Power and the Prince

  Winged Victory

  Light of the Gods

  The Golden Illusion

  Never Lose Love

  The Sleeping Princess

  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 positi
ve power of love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.

  The Sign of Love

  Barbara Cartland

  Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd

  This edition © 2019

  Copyright Cartland Promotions 1978

  eBook conversion by M-Y Books

 

 

 


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