Fascination in France

by Barbara Cartland

“She will!” he said firmly. “They will still be gasping as they drive away, so as not to miss the train from Arles. You and I my lovely one will be here alone before I take you to a very special place high up in the hills where I have another château, small compared with this one, but just made for lovers.”

  Celita’s eyes were shining.

  “You are – wonderful,” she said. “You think of – everything.”

  Then, as the Duc bent across to kiss her, she told herself that only a magician could be so magnificent.

  *

  They had laughed a great deal at dinner at the jokes the Duc and Gustav exchanged with each other.

  Then, as the ladies rose to lead the way to the drawing room, the Duc said,

  “I have some papers that have to be signed and I would be grateful if you, Celita, and you, Gustav, could witness them for me.”

  “Yes, of course,” they both agreed.

  “We will not be very long,” the Duc said to Lord Waterforde, “but I have put some presents for you in in the drawing room as mementos of your visit here. One very special one is also a wedding present for your wife.”

  “You are very kind,” Lord Waterforde replied. “I know she will appreciate it.”

  “There is also a present for Clive,” the Duc added, “which will keep you amused for several hours.”

  “Now you are making me curious,” Lord Waterforde smiled.

  He seemed to hurry towards the drawing room.

  Celita had already been let into the secret that this was a board game. Those taking part each had a horse that had to complete a Racecourse, taking jump after jump, but only, of course, if they could throw the right number on the dice.

  When the Duc had shown it to her, she thought that it was very intriguing.

  She was sure that when they were playing it, neither Lord Waterforde nor Clive would wonder why they were away for so long.

  Celita hurried to her bedroom.

  There as the Duc had promised her, was the veil that had been worn by many Duchesses de Sahran at their weddings.

  Beside it were some of the precious jewels that she had discovered behind the cascade. The Duc had refused to show them to her until they were alone.

  “They are for you, my darling,” he said, “because you brought them back to me. I want you to see them first, touch them first and I want you to decide what you would like to own personally.”

  “I am sure they are far too – grand for – me,” Celita had said, thinking that she might be overpowered by them.

  “I would not let you have anything that would not add to your beauty,” the Duc said. “It is very difficult to know how anybody could be more beautiful than you are now.”

  “Please go on thinking that,” Celita said. “I shall be always frightened that those ladies from Paris might lure you away from me because they know more about love than I do.”

  “I don’t want you to know more about love than I shall teach you, my darling, and teaching you will be the most exciting, the most thrilling and the most worthwhile thing I have ever done in my whole life.”

  He spoke with a deep sincerity that Celita found very moving.

  She knew that with every word he spoke to her and every time he touched her, he loved her more and more.

  She might know very little about love, but at the same time she could not help being aware that to the Duc she was something exceptionally precious.

  He therefore did not think of her in the same way as he thought of the other women he had been enamoured with.

  Now, as she saw the jewels waiting for her, she wondered if he was going to make her a glittering bride.

  As she picked up the first jewel that he had left for her, she knew that only he could have been so perceptive.

  To wear round her neck was a long diamond necklace that reached almost to her waist.

  It was very simple and at the end of it was an exquisitely beautiful cross. It was set with large but very simply cut diamonds.

  There was a very small tiara to wear over the veil on her head.

  It was made in the form of small field flowers – forget-me-nots, violets and daisies.

  It was so perfectly set it could actually have been worn by a child.

  But Celita understood why the Duc had chosen it for her and knew that nothing could be more becoming.

  She put it on.

  Then there was a bracelet, also of diamonds, from which hung quite a number of small crosses.

  She wondered who had collected them and then she saw that each one had a name and a date on the back of it.

  She was sure that she was right in thinking they were the dates when previous Duchesses de Sahran had been married.

  She knew that the date of today with her name would be added to the bracelet.

  There was nothing else.

  ‘Only the Duc’ she thought, ‘could have such exquisite taste and choose pieces that mean so much to both of us.’

  She was determined as soon as they were married to become a Roman Catholic so that they would worship together.

  There was a knock on the door.

  She knew that the Vicomte was waiting for her.

  When she joined him, he handed her a bouquet and again it was very simple, of white lilies tied with a satin bow.

  Celita knew that the Duc had given it to her as a symbol of purity. It was also the flower of the Mother of God whose name she bore.

  Without saying anything, the Vicomte drew her along the passage from her bedroom. At the end there was a secondary staircase, which led them to the back of the château where the Chapel was situated.

  When they came near to it, the Vicomte offered Celita his arm.

  As they moved slowly onwards, there was the sound of very soft music coming from an organ, which was completely hidden.

  The Duc was standing at the altar steps.

  His private Chaplain was wearing the white vestments that were symbolic of weddings and Christenings.

  What Celita found very touching was that the Duc had had the whole Chapel decorated with Madonna lilies. They were on the altar, against every wall, and in huge vases in the Chancel.

  As they reached the Duc, he put out his hand to take hers and she could see the love in his eyes.

  The Wedding Service started and Celita knew that this was the perfect wedding for both of them.

  Nothing could disturb or upset their happiness and the future was theirs.

  When the knelt for the Blessing, Celita felt as if they were both suddenly enveloped with a vivid light.

  It did not come from the candles on the altar.

  But she knew in her heart it was the Light of Love.

  A light that came from the Divine and of which they were both aware when they prayed.

  When the ceremony was over, without speaking the Duc took Celita up the same stairs she had come down with the Vicomte.

  Gustav went away to join the others.

  She knew that the Duc’s plans had gone exactly as he intended.

  She thought that he would take her to his own room.

  She was therefore surprised when he opened the door of the Master suite, which was at the end of the corridor.

  They went into the great bedroom where the Duchesses had slept for generations.

  It was also decorated with Madonna lilies and there were lights burning on each side of the huge four-poster bed with its gilded and carved posts and exquisitely decorated canopy of cupids and angels.

  The Duc locked the door.

  Then he said,

  “My darling, you are my wife. I can hardly believe that you are really mine and I need no longer be afraid that I shall lose you or that you will fall in love with someone else.”

  Celita gave a little laugh.

  “I have had no opportunity of doing that!”

  “And that is something which will never happen in the future,” the Duc said.

  Very gently he took off the little tiara of field flowers and th
e diamond cross.

  Then he was kissing her as he undid the back of her gown until it fell to the ground with the soft rustle of a sigh.

  Picking her up in his arms, he carried her to the bed.

  Lying with her head against the pillows, she thought that it was impossible for anyone to make a room more enchanting or more romantic.

  She realised that the Duc had left the curtains undrawn. The casement windows were open so that they could see the stars that filled the sky.

  Then, before the Duc joined her, he blew out the candles by the bed.

  Now, which Celita had not noticed before, the moonlight came into the room with a silver light.

  It seemed almost as if it came from Heaven itself

  The Duc put his arms round Celita.

  “Have you enjoyed your wedding, my precious?” he asked.

  “It has been wonderful. The most perfect, the most beautiful wedding any woman could ever have.”

  “It had to be perfect for you,” he said, “because you are perfect. And now we start our perfect life together.”

  “I love you! I adore you!” Celita sighed. “But, darling René, I am – frightened!”

  “Of me?”

  “Of course not! But in case you expect – too much from me. You have thought of – all this and made – everything so utterly – beautiful I could not – bear you to be – disappointed.”

  “Do you really think I could be disappointed?” the Duc asked in a very deep voice. “I love you and I swear to you that this is true. I have never known love before. Of course, I have thought I was in love, but it was just an excitement and a physical satisfaction, which, like a delicious meal, is soon forgotten after one has eaten it.”

  “And what – you feel – for me really is – different?” Celita asked.

  “I love you, but I also worship you. When you were married to me as Mary Celita, I knew that your name would always be part of our marriage. I saw you holding the baby as Mary, the Mother of God, and that is how I think of you in my heart and in my soul.”

  “Oh, René! How could you say anything so marvellous?” Celita asked.

  “I am trying to express in words what I feel in my mind and in my heart,” he said. “That is what we must always do to each other, but you will have to help me.”

  “You know I – will do – anything – you want,” Celita said. “Anything to – make you – happy.”

  “I am ecstatically happy, my darling, and I know that we have been guided and helped towards each other. Now there is so much for us both to do.”

  “That is what I want you to say,” Celita said. “It is not – only for – horses, is it?”

  The Duc shook his head.

  “No, my precious one, you have taught me that I am not only responsible for those who depend upon me here but also for my country. There are many things we must both do for France. But I cannot do them unless you help me.”

  “You know – I will do – that,” Celita said. “But please – darling, love me and never – stop loving me.”

  “Do you think that is possible?” the Duc asked.

  Then he was kissing her.

  At first very gently and tenderly, as if she was infinitely precious and he was afraid of frightening her.

  Then he felt her respond and her body moved against his.

  He knew that he had ignited in her the tiny flames of the fire that consumed him.

  It was a fire that was spiritual as well as physical.

  A fire that was like the light that had covered them in the Chapel and which was still in their souls.

  Then as the Duc made Celita his, he knew that they were one.

  Not just for this life but for all 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
<
br />   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

  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.

  Fascination in France

  Barbara Cartland

  Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd

  This edition © 2014

  Copyright Cartland Promotions 1993

  eBook conversion by M-Y Books