He knew from the little ripple of excitement that went through Mimosa as he spoke that that was what she wanted.
Then, with a laugh of sheer happiness, he said,
“My darling, everything about you is so utterly and completely perfect!”
“You did not think so when you last saw me,” she reproached him, “and I know how unfashionable I looked. But I will try to look – as I did tonight, so that you will be – proud of me.”
She hesitated and then she asked,
“You did think that I looked – as you wanted me to look? I was trying so hard to be – what you wanted me to be.”
The Marquis put his cheek against hers.
“My precious,” he replied, “I would rather see you as you are now! But I know what you are saying and I was proud, of course I was proud, of the way you looked, so lovely, so totally and overwhelmingly beautiful and at the same time so elegant that every other woman in the room looked dowdy beside you.”
“Do you – really mean that?”
“I think you would know if I was lying,” the Marquis said. “I swear to you, all the compliments you received were only a quarter of what I want to say and what I feel about you.”
Mimosa drew in her breath and answered,
“That is what I want – and now I will try always to look – smart and elegant for you – just for you – so that you will look at me with – admiration.”
“I will do that anyway,” the Marquis said, “but when you are wearing what you are wearing now I will look at you with love.”
He gave a short laugh as he added,
“Do you realise how often I have seen you in nothing but a nightgown and how shocked and surprised people would be if they knew?”
“We must make – certain they never – know,” Mimosa said nervously.
“Yes, of course,” the Marquis agreed, “but that is how I want to see you, my darling, and it is very alluring when you wear a nightgown so that I can feel you really close to me.”
“It is very – wonderful,” Mimosa said softly, “but I do find your – decorations rather – uncomfortable!”
She put her hand, as she spoke, against her breast where she felt it being bruised by the diamond star that the Marquis was wearing on his chest.
He took his arms from her and she thought for a moment that he was annoyed by what she had said, but he merely took off his evening coat and flung it on the ground.
Then he pulled her back into his arms so that she could feel his heart beating through the fine lawn of his shirt.
“Is that better?”
“Much, much better,” Mimosa replied, “and now I can feel you loving me!”
“I will make you sure of that as soon as we are married.”
He pulled her closer to him and sighed,
“I have just remembered that you are in mourning. That will give us the perfect excuse to be married quickly and quietly as soon as I can obtain a Special Licence.”
He felt Mimosa draw in her breath with excitement, but she did not speak as he went on,
“You will not mind, my precious one, not having a grand wedding with bridesmaids and the Prince Regent present?”
“All I want is to be alone with you,” Mimosa said, “and have God – bless us so that we will be – happy ever – afterwards.”
“That is what we will be.”
“I am afraid that Lady Barclay will be disappointed – as she is determined to find me a husband – and is already planning my wedding. But it does not matter, does it?”
“No, of course not,” the Marquis said. “Nothing matters except that we love each other, you and I. I feel as if I have climbed to the top of the highest mountain to find you and now that I have, I swear that I will never, never lose you.”
Then he was kissing her again, kissing her with long, slow passionate kisses that seemed to Mimosa to draw her heart and soul from her body.
She loved him and now she knew that he loved her too.
They had found the Paradise that she had always known was there in the moon if only it was not so out of reach.
“I love you, my Mimosa,” the Marquis breathed again and again.
Then there was only the moonlight and the music of love, which came like a light from them both and made them one person for all Eternity and beyond.
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
&nb
sp; 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
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 positive power of love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.
Haunted
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2014
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1986
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
Haunted Page 14
