06.The Penniless Peer (The Eternal Collection) (25 page)
Read 06.The Penniless Peer (The Eternal Collection) Online
Authors: Barbara Cartland
He paused for a moment and then he said,
“That was why I was going to India to make money for you, my darling one. To work so that we could live together at the Priory.”
He held her so tightly that she could hardly breathe as he said,
“How could I have been such a muttonhead as not to anticipate that you might find someone else when I was away? I just expected you to wait for me. I knew that we belonged to each other and I thought you must know it too.”
“I do belong to — you. I always — have.”
“You belong to me now,” he said. “And you can be sure of one thing, my precious, I will never let you go, never, never.”
“As if — I would — wish to leave — you!”
“And I will not have you flirting with Waringham or anyone else,” he said masterfully. “Let me make one thing very clear, Fenella, I shall be a very jealous husband.”
He kissed her forehead as he spoke sweeping away her hair.
“I swear I will make you so happy that no other man will interest you.”
Then he added,
“One thing I have done, which I think will please you, is that I have told Isaac Goldstein to vacate his house. I do not want him, and his sharp methods in the Priory grounds.”
“I am glad — so glad,” Fenella cried.
“And I have told Joe Jarvis to buy his dogs at any price lie wishes to ask for them. They can guard the Priory when we are not here, but I doubt if they will be much use when you pet and overfeed them.”
“How wonderful of you.”
“What is more a week ago I sent that damned Usurer £6ooo anonymously.”
He kissed Fenella’s hair.
“We start our marriage with clean hands, my sweetheart.”
“I want — us to do — that,” Fenella told him.
Then when he would have kissed her again she said,
“It may sound — unromantic, Periquine, but I am very — hungry. I could not eat any luncheon today and you did say there was some food down stairs.”
He laughed.
“I am hungry too. When I carne over here this morning to make arrangements for our wedding, Mrs. Buckle was not expecting me, and the only thing she could rustle up at a moment’s notice was some ham and eggs! But she promised us a cold collation for this evening.”
“That sounds delicious,” Fenella smiled.
“I cannot wait for you to try the food which Adolphus my Chef in Yorkshire produces,” Periquine said. “He is really superlative! And I hear my Chef in London is nearly as good.”
He kissed Fenella’s cheek, his lips lingering on the softness of her skin and said,
“Darling, darling, there are so many wonderful and exciting things to do together. Are you quite sure you love me?”
“I am absolutely — sure.”
“Then let us go downstairs and find something to eat.”
Fenella gave a little chuckle.
“You will have to find me something to wear. In your hurry to abduct me you omitted to provide me with any — night attire.”
“I will bring you a robe.”
Periquine got out of bed and went from the room to his dressing-room.
Fenella lay back against the pillows. She had never thought that she would lie in this bed with Periquine or be his wife.
How often she had tidied the room for him, how often she had cared for his clothes. Now she was his, as she had always wanted to be. It was like a wonderful dream!
He came back into the room wearing a long robe and carrying over his arm another made of soft green wool which Fenella recognised as one he had worn when he was at Eton.
She knew she could wrap it round herself and it would not be so overwhelmingly large as those he had acquired after he was grown up.
She sat up in bed holding the sheet over her breasts.
“That will do perfectly,” she said, “give it me and turn your back.”
He came towards her. Then as he reached the bed he looked down at her and suddenly walked to the other side of the room to stand with his back to the fire-place. As he did so he threw the robe he held in his hand down on a chair.
“Come here,” he said.
Fenella looked at him in surprise. She was uncertain of the reason for his change of mood or why his voice sounded suddenly hard.
“Come here,” Periquine repeated. “You have just promised to obey me, Fenella, and I expect you to do so.”
“But, Periquine,” she protested, “I am — n — naked.”
“I like you naked,” he answered. “Do as you are told.”
She hesitated for a second before bending sideways she blew out the two lights on the bedside table. Then she slipped out of bed and ran towards him and there was only the flames from the fire to throw its soft lights on her white body.
She would have flung herself in his arms had he not put out his hands and gripped her shoulders to hold her at arms’ length.
She felt the colour rising in her cheeks as he said firmly with an inflexible note in his voice.
“I love you, I adore you, I worship you, but I will never, Fenella, and this is important, I will never again take orders from a woman. Do you understand?”
She felt herself quiver and thrill because he was so masterful.
This is how she had always wanted him to be, positive, authoritative, sure of himself and very much a man.
Then he swept her into his arms and his lips were on hers.
She was utterly captive and helpless, beneath the fierce insistence and the passionate demand of his kiss.
Until as the rapture and glory of their desire carried them away once more into a secret world where nothing else could encroach, Periquine picked Fenella up in his arms and carried her back to the bed.
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 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.
THE
PENNILESS PEER
Barbara Cartland
This edition © 2012
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1974
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