Free The Castle of Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

heart.
    Her own loud cries of despair frightened her. She turned and buried her face in the pillow. The pillow was soon drenched with tears.
    As if in a sad mirror to her mood, heavy rain began to fall on the castle, the garden, the wood, the copse.
    Jacina barely heard it. She barely heard the wind rising, carrying more rain-swollen clouds over the neighbouring crags.
     The wind tugged at the catch that she had not quite fastened when she closed the window earlier that night. The catch loosened and the window swung wide.
    Chill air began to seep into the room.
    Jacina did not notice. She lay in a daze, the world a shadow to her. She did not notice how numb her feet became in her damp boots. She did not notice how her fingers turned to ice.
    She did not notice how, as the night wore on, fever took its burning grip upon her brow.
    *
    Steeple bells echoed through the frosty air. It was morning. Raindrops glistened on the boughs of trees. Pale yellow sunlight filled the sky and filtered through the stained glass windows of the Ruven family Chapel, where guests had gathered for the wedding.
    The wedding of the Earl of Ruven and Felice Delisle.
    The Earl stood waiting at the altar. Tall and straight, he never once turned to look at the congregation. He seemed lost in his own thoughts.
    Sarah sat at the back of the Chapel, turning her head every time someone entered from the porch. She was looking for Jacina. Jacina had left the nursery last night determined to go to the Earl with her story. She had not returned to tell Sarah what had happened. Sarah did not for one moment doubt that Jacina had indeed gone to the Earl.
    Why then was the wedding still taking place?
    Perhaps the Earl was going to make an announcement at the altar? Sarah dismissed that idea as soon as it entered her head. The Earl was a gentleman. He would never humiliate Felice publicly.
    The truth must be that he was so smitten with his fiancée that he was prepared to marry her no matter what.
     Sarah sighed. Then she turned her head at the sound of whispering by the Chapel door.
    Felice Deslisle was entering on the arm of Monsieur Fronard.
    A gasp swept round the congregation at the sight of Felice. Even Sarah had to admit that she looked beautiful. She was wearing a white satin dress with a long train. Her veil was held in place with a sparkling tiara and the Ruven diamonds gleamed about her long neck.
    At the altar the Earl stiffened. He could hear the rustling of Felice's train over the old stones of the aisle. He could also hear the steady tread of Fronard.
    Fronard delivered the bride to the altar. Then he stepped into a front pew.
    Sarah watched the ceremony quietly. Her lips pursed when the Earl slipped the ring on his bride's finger.
    Felice lifted her veil to receive a kiss. Then the couple turned and started back down the aisle. Sarah noticed that as Felice passed Fronard she threw him a quick glance. Her eyes glittered like the diamonds at her throat. Beside her the Earl's face was set and unsmiling.
    The Chapel bells began to ring, loud and clear in jubilation.
    *
    In her room at Castle Ruven, Jacina opened her eyes.
    Why were bells ringing? Was there a wedding? She seemed to remember someone had said there was going to be a wedding. She tried to raise her head, but there was no strength in her at all. Her head fell back on the pillow. Her breath came in gasps.
    Where was her father? He should be told that she did
    not feel well. Her head was so hot, so very hot. Yet her limbs felt leaden with cold.
     Where was she? She was not at home. No, she was – in a castle. She remembered now. In a castle. Who else was here? Servants. Yes, there were servants. And someone called Sarah. There were other people too – she did not want to remember – she would not remember.
    She fell into a doze. Then she was awake again. She had heard the sound of wheels and horses neighing. Perhaps it was Papa. Oh, she would be so happy to see Papa.
    Then came the sound of