Temptation of a Teacher

by Barbara Cartland

  “I told you that I was not going to wait any longer. You are mine, Arletta, and only when you are my wife will I feel no longer afraid of losing you.”

  She realised as he spoke that just as she had been horrified by the terror that the Comte had inflicted on them in the dungeon, so for the Duc, because he loved her, it had been a ghastly experience to think that he could not protect her as he wished to do.

  She remembered how he had begged the Comte to spare her life and she felt that no man could be more wonderful or more loving.

  She was prepared to allow him to know what was best for them both without argument.

  In fact she thought with a little smile as she went back to her bedroom as he had virtually commanded her to do that he would always be her Master.

  It would be impossible to fight against him even though she might coax him with love into doing what she wanted.

  She therefore went to bed, her whole being vibrating from the wonder of his kisses and feeling that her head was in the clouds because of the plans that he was making for them both.

  “We will be married tomorrow,” the Duc had said, “and on the following day we will leave for my Villa in the South of France, where we shall be alone with nobody to disturb us, and I will tell you of my love for you in great detail.”

  “You – know that is – what I want,” Arletta said with a little quiver of excitement in her voice. “At the same time – we must not forget David.”

  The Duc smiled.

  “I thought that was something you would say and I have not forgotten David. I have already arranged for an Englishman who is studying French at the University of Limoges to come here in our absence and stay until we return, or perhaps longer, if you approve of him.”

  As Arletta gave a cry of delight, the Duc added,

  “Incidentally he is very keen on cricket and I suggested to him that he form a team from amongst the footmen and the other young men on the estate.”

  Arletta clasped her hands together.

  “How can you be so – wonderful as to think of – everything?”

  “I think of you,” the Duc replied and she knew that it was the truth.

  *

  When Arletta awoke very early on her Wedding morning, she found that he had thought of her in more ways than one.

  The housekeeper brought a Wedding gown to the room that had been worn by the Duc’s mother on her Wedding Day and which was only a trifle too large for her in the waist.

  Otherwise it fitted her very well.

  Of white satin with a very full skirt, the top was a lace bertha off the shoulder, which was embroidered all over with tiny diamanté and pearls.

  It was so lovely that Arletta could hardly believe when she saw herself in the mirror that it had not been specially designed for her.

  With the exquisite Brussels lace veil, which the de Sauterres had worn for generations, and a diamond tiara, she looked like the Fairy Princess she had visualised herself as being when she had first come to the Château.

  When she came down from the tower for the last time, since tonight she would be in the State bedroom, where the Duchesse de Sauterre had slept through the ages, there was a bouquet of white orchids for her to carry.

  The Duc was waiting for her, attired, as was the custom for Frenchmen, in full evening dress.

  He looked so magnificent with a ribbon across his white shirt and a number of jewelled Orders on his coat that Arletta could only gasp in admiration.

  Then, as he kissed her hand, he said,

  “You look as I wanted you to look. As my bride and as the Saint who lives in a shrine in my heart.”

  After their Wedding they went up to see the Duchesse and, as if she wanted to celebrate the occasion, she was festooned in even more jewellery than Arletta had seen her wear before.

  She kissed the old lady and so did the Duc and the Duchesse then said,

  “You see? I was right! I knew you had come here to ensnare my grandson!”

  “As I am very willing to be,” the Duc grinned.

  The Duchesse chuckled and then she addressed Arletta,

  “I have not only to thank you, my dear, for saving my grandson’s life but also for saving me from having to see his despicable cousin take his place as the new Duc!”

  “You are not to speak of it,” the Duc interposed.

  “I have not yet finished, Etienne,” the Duchesse said firmly. “I only wanted to tell Arletta that she is the best and most beautiful woman who has ever come to the Château and that we all love her, every one of us!”

  Because she was so moved, Arletta felt the tears come into her eyes.

  Then, when the Duchesse had drunk their health in champagne and they had kissed her again, they left the room.

  The old maid was waiting outside.

  “You’ve made Madame ever so happy, monsieur,” she said to the Duc. “I’ve never known her so thrilled or so delighted as she is today.”

  “That is what I am feeling myself,” the Duc admitted as he and Arletta went downstairs.

  There was one more party to attend, which was the luncheon arranged for the staff, the tenants and the labourers on the estate.

  The huge room, which Arletta learnt had once been where revels had taken place in Medieval times, was decorated with flowers and bunting.

  There were long trestle tables groaning with food, although how it had been organised so quickly she could not imagine until she learned that the chefs had been working literally all night.

  There was home-brewed cider as well as wine for everybody who wanted it and David was particularly excited because the Duc had told him that in his absence he was to play host.

  He sat at the head of one of the long trestle tables and Pauline at the other and Arletta knew that it was impossible for the two children to be more thrilled by the responsibilities that the Duc had given them.

  The Duc made a speech thanking everybody for their congratulations and good wishes and saying that a new era of happiness had begun at the Château and it was up to them to make certain that everybody forgot the unhappiness of the last few years.

  As he spoke, Arletta swore in her heart that she would make up for all that everyone else had suffered.

  They left the party to go back alone to their own luncheon, which was arranged in one of the smaller rooms that Arletta had not seen before.

  What she ate and drank she had no idea, because, although while the servants were in the room, they talked of ordinary things, the Duc’s eyes were telling her of his great love.

  It was impossible to think of anything but the sensations he aroused in her.

  When at last they were alone, she thought that he would take her into the study.

  Instead they walked up the grand staircase towards the State rooms and now she thought that he would perhaps take her to the ballroom where he had watched her dancing alone and claimed that it was there he had fallen in love with her.

  Instead he went on down the long corridor to where at the end was his own bedroom, the most important in the whole house.

  Next to it was the room that the housekeeper had told Arletta she would occupy when she left the tower bedroom.

  David had not shown her these rooms on her tour of the house because the shutters were closed in the Duchesse’s room and he was too nervous to take her into his uncle’s.

  Now Arletta found that the rooms were more beautiful than anything she could imagine in her dreams.

  What was more, her room was decorated with white flowers, which, in contrast to the pale blue brocade walls, made a perfect background for the colourful Fragonard pictures, which were appropriately of lovers and cupids.

  There was a huge canopied bed carved with gilded cupids under a ceiling depicting Venus rising from the foam.

  “I shall not feel – real in such a beautiful room,” Arletta said in an awe-stricken little voice.

  “Come and look at mine,” the Duc suggested.

  He opened a communica
ting door and she found that his room was even larger than hers.

  It was decorated in almost the same manner, but was more masculine. The bed was hung with curtains of red velvet with the de Sauterre crest over a carved and gilt headboard.

  What was surprising, she thought, was that the flowers that decorated his room as well as hers were white orchids and lilies.

  As she looked round, she realised that the Duc had closed the door and was now closer to her. And she thought that he was about to kiss her.

  Instead he lifted the tiara from her head and put it on top of a chest.

  Then he took off her lace veil and threw it over a chair.

  She waited, accepting that he wanted to do things his own way, but longing for him to kiss her. She felt as if her whole body was pulsating with a heavenly rapture while she waited for him to do so.

  Instead he drew the hairpins from her hair and it fell over her shoulders in soft waves.

  “Now you look as you did the first time I saw you,” he said in a deep voice, “except, my darling, that you have on far more clothes than you had then!”

  “Y-you are – making me feel – shy,” Arletta told him in a hesitant little voice.

  “I adore you when you are shy.”

  As if he could wait no longer, he lifted her chin and his lips were on hers.

  As he kissed her and the rapture within her heart began to leap up to her lips, she felt him undoing her gown.

  A moment later it fell like a soft sigh to the ground.

  He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the huge bed.

  For a moment she did not really understand what was happening, she only felt a wild excitement sweep over her that seemed to be part of the beating of her heart.

  And yet her love was more than that.

  It was in her mind and in her soul and they belonged to the Duc.

  He laid her down against the lace-trimmed pillows and drew the sheet over her.

  Then, as the sunshine streaming in through the windows that overlooked the gardens and the fountains seemed to blind her eyes, he was beside her.

  His arms were around her and she felt herself trembling with the wonder of it.

  She knew that he too was feeling as if the angels were singing and already they had left the earth and were flying into the sky.

  “Je t’aime! I love you!” the Duc sighed.

  His lips were on hers and his hand was touching her body and she could feel his heart beating against hers.

  “Teach – me. Oh, teach me about – love,” she whispered.

  Then she knew that there was no language on earth that they could express what they felt for each other in.

  But there was no need for words.

  Their love was life itself, the life that came from God and which was to be theirs for 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 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.