An Innocent in Paris

by Barbara Cartland

  She rose from her knees a little comforted. It was only now that she realised how alone she was. Her aunt had gone and there was nothing for her to do but to go back to England and find work that would at least keep her from starvation.

  She stood still looking down at the Duchesse, the lines had gone from her face and she looked younger and really beautiful as she lay there.

  Gardenia felt the tears coming and told herself that she must not give way, there was so much for her to do and so much to plan.

  She saw that the little grey book of the Baron’s was on the eiderdown and she picked it up. Nothing of the Baron’s should be beside her aunt now. He had murdered her as surely as if he fired a pistol at her and she only hoped that, when her aunt’s death was announced, he would realise what he had done.

  Almost angrily, because she hated even the thought of him, she pulled open the door into the sitting room. The room was full of sunlight and for a moment, after the darkness of her aunt’s room, it was difficult for her to see.

  Then she saw that there was a man in the room, a man standing looking out through the open window towards the sea.

  For a moment Gardenia thought it must be the Baron and then something in the shape of the head and set of the shoulders made a sudden flame flicker through her and she quivered as though she had suddenly come to life.

  “Gardenia!”

  He turned from the window and came quickly towards her.

  “Lord H-Hartcourt!” she stammered his name, her voice hardly above a whisper.

  “The train was late,” he began, “and they told me you were out. I was waiting until you returned.”

  “You came to see me?”

  Her eyes were searching his face. She thought it must be imagination or the sunlight, but he was looking at her with an expression that made her heart pound in her breast.

  He took her right hand in his and touched her cold fingers with his lips. .

  “My darling,” he said. “I came to ask you if you will honour me by becoming my wife.”

  “Oh, no, no.”

  She could hear herself crying out the words.

  Then her hand was freed and she walked blindly away from him to hold onto the sofa.

  “You have not forgiven me,” Lord Hartcourt said. “I don’t blame you. I could kill myself for being so stupid, for hurting you as I did, for humiliating you and for my own stupidity.”

  “No,” Gardenia replied. “It was not that ‒ I just did not understand.”

  “I saw it all afterwards,” Lord Hartcourt said in a low voice. “I was so blind, so stupid. I must have seemed to you an insufferable cad. Forgive me, Gardenia. If you will marry me, I will be the happiest man in the world, no, the Universe.”

  “No, stop,” Gardenia pleaded. “Please stop. I have something to say to you and I want to say it first. You must listen to me.”

  “But, of course, my darling,” he answered. “I will listen to anything you want me to.”

  Gardenia then dropped the little grey book down on the soft cushions of the sofa. It had suddenly ceased to be of any importance.

  It was only much later that she was to learn what a blow she had struck at German pride and Diplomacy.

  “I so want to tell you,” she said in a voice which trembled, “that I realised after I had left Paris how blind, stupid and childish I have been. You see I had been brought up very simply. I did not understand that a woman like my aunt could be a Duchesse and yet belong not to Society but to the Demi-Monde. It was only when I knew and when she explained to me what her life had been that I understood exactly what you and Mr. Cunningham expected of – me.”

  Lord Hartcourt would have spoken, but she put her hand up to stop him.

  “Of course that was what you thought,” Gardenia insisted. “It was only that I did not understand. So everything you said and did bewildered me so and when you kissed me,” her voice faltered for a moment before she continued steadily, “and I knew that I – loved you, I thought, of course, that meant we would be – married and be together forever.”

  “That is what it should have meant,” Lord Hartcourt said, his voice deep with emotion.

  “But I just did not understand,” she continued, “until that day in the restaurant and when I asked you if you meant to marry me and you said ‘no’, I thought the end of my world had come. I was ashamed and humiliated and, I suppose, in a way disgusted.”

  “My darling, forgive me,” Lord Hartcourt murmured.

  “No, let me finish, please,” Gardenia said. “But I have been thinking about it afterwards. I understand now what Aunt Lily has made of her life and what in a kind of way, because I am her niece, she has made of mine. So I – thought that if I ever saw you again and, if when you – saw me you still – wanted me, I would come to you – and live with you – because I love you and as I understand now it is better to have a little happiness in life than none at all.”

  There was a pause and then Lord Hartcourt with a sort of strangled exclamation went down on one knee and taking the hem of Gardenia’s dress in his hands raised it to his lips.

  “This is what I think of you,” he said hoarsely, “my stupid, ridiculous, wonderful little love. I am not worthy to kiss the hem of your dress. No, Gardenia. Do you really think that I only want you in that way? I thought I did! I was stupid, conceited, arrogant and stuck-up and altogether a fool because I did not comprehend that I had been offered the most wonderful and perfect thing any man could ask for in life. The true and real love of someone who was innocent, trusting and unspoiled by the wicked world.”

  He rose to his feet.

  He was very close to her and Gardenia held her breath.

  “I love you,” he said softly. “I love you and so I want you and only you to be my wife. I have known a lot of women but I have never, and this is the truth, Gardenia, asked one of them to marry me and so I don’t want you on any other terms, I want you as my wife, as the mother of my children, as the woman I love with all my heart and soul and worship because she is pure and perfect.”

  Gardenia was trembling, but it was with happiness that was almost too great to be borne.

  “Oh, Vane,” she said unsteadily, “I love you ‒ so terribly.”

  He swept her into his arms, his lips found hers and she knew then that nothing in the world mattered to either of them except for this wild, glorious, passionate and overwhelming love which seemed to consume them both like a flame, leaping higher and higher.

  “I love you,” Lord Hartcourt said, not once but a dozen times and then again, “I love, you. Oh, Gardenia, I love you.”

  Time stood still and it might have been a century later that Gardenia drew herself from his arms.

  “There is something I have to tell you,” she then said,

  “Let me just go on looking at you,” Lord Hartcourt smiled. “I don’t think there has ever been anyone so beautiful in the whole world,”

  He would have kissed her again, but she put up her hand and laid it against his lips.

  “Please, Vane, you must listen to me. Aunt Lily is dead. She had taken all her sleeping tablets. I think in a way her whole world had come to an end.”

  Lord Hartcourt nodded.

  “That is the truth. That was one of the things I was going to tell you. The warrant is out for her arrest, she could never under any circumstances go back to France.”

  “But, you do see, all her money and possessions are in France,” Gardenia explained.

  “I was afraid of that, my love, and even if she had gone to England things might have been difficult. Bertie told me that he had advised you to go to Monte Carlo and it was the best thing he could possibly have done.”

  “Bertie was very kind,” Gardenia said. “Without him we would never have got away.”

  “Had I known about it. I would have come with you,” Lord Hartcourt said. “As it was, I waited for one thing only, Gardenia, and that was to hand in my resignation.”

  “You have resigned!” s
he exclaimed.

  “Yes,” Lord Hartcourt smiled. “I am going to live in England with my wife. My estates need attention, I shall have plenty to occupy me. Besides I want desperately to be with you.”

  “Are you sure, quite sure?” Gardenia asked a little tremulously, “that I am the right wife for you? What will people say and think?”

  “I would not care what they say or what they think,” Lord Hartcourt said. “But they are going to have nothing to say, not because it worries me, but because in the future it might well worry you. I am going to take you back to England at once, Gardenia. The fact that your aunt is dead is going to make things easier, as it happens, and there will be no scandal about that because, if there is one thing that the authorities in Monte Carlo hate, it is a suicide. They will announce that the Duchesse has died of a heart attack. We can leave it all in their hands.”

  “You mean that I am to go away at once?” Gardenia asked.

  “At once,” Lord Hartcourt said. “I am not going to have you making any more decisions. I am going to look after you, Gardenia, as I ought to have done from the very beginning. I am going to take you back to England to my mother. She is a very understanding person, but there will be no need for her to know too much. She lives in a world of innocence where people like the Duchesse and the Demi-Monde of Paris have never encroached.”

  Gardenia gave a little sigh.

  “It sounds safe and very wonderful.”

  “You are quite certain you want to marry me?” Lord Hartcourt asked her softly.

  “I know only that I want to be with you now and for always,” Gardenia said simply.

  “Oh, my darling one, that is exactly the right answer, I love you for now for ever and for the whole of 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.

  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.