Duel of Hearts by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland [Cartland, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780091221607
Amazon: 0099063301
Goodreads: 3788404
Publisher: Pyramid
Published: 1933-12-31T11:00:00+00:00

9

It seemed to Caroline that everything became hazy and indistinct. There were faces all round her, faces which seemed to float dizzily in front of her eyes. There were voices exclaiming, questioning, praising, jesting; hands touched hers, lips brushed her fingers, persons pressed in upon her until she felt as if it was all part of a nightmare from which she could not awake.

Then at last she was conscious of one person individually. Someone portly and resplendent in purple, the great jewelled cross on his chest twinkling from the light of the chandelier over his head. It was the Bishop.

'What is this I hear of a betrothal?' he asked, and his voice boomed out resonant and challenging as if he spoke from a pulpit.

'May I present Lady Caroline Faye, my lord, who has honoured me with the promise of her hand in marriage?' Lord Brecon asked.

Caroline made a deep curtsey.

'Vulcan's daughter?' the Bishop questioned. 'Then let me indeed congratulate you, my dear boy. I have stayed at Mandrake —a magnificent place, one might almost say a palace. And the table set by the Marquis is a most treasured memory.'

'I must pay my respects to your father and mother, Lady Caroline,' the Bishop said affably, 'and tell them this betrothal has both my approval and my blessing.'

'Will you come with me into another room, my lord, where we can speak quietly?' Lord Brecon asked; and when the Bishop acquiesced, they moved slowly, the three of them, across the ballroom towards the door which led into the hall.

Just as they reached it, Mrs. Miller appeared. Caroline

thought that she must have been in the card-room and had only just heard the news, for there was an expression of astonishment on her face and the crimson feathers on her head were fluffed sideways as if she had been hurrying.

'They tell me, lord-' she started, but Lord Brecon interrupted her.

'You are the very person I wish to see, Mrs. Miller. Give instructions that the Chapel be opened immediately.'

'The Chapel?' Mrs. Miller's mouth dropped open for a minute and then she said quickly: 'But, m'lord, 'tis impossible. It has not been in use for years. Things are stored there and-'

Lord Brecon gave her one look which silenced the spate of words tumbling from her lips.

'I said immediately, Mrs. Miller,' he said, and they passed on, leaving her gasping after them.

As they reached the hall, Caroline felt a sudden faintness sweep over her.

'Will you excuse me, my lord?' she asked, 'for I would retire to my room.'

'As your ladyship wishes,' Lord Brecon replied with a courtesy which was curiously belied by the expression in his eyes. 'I will arrange that you are informed when my Lord Bishop is ready to perform the ceremony. I collect that will be about midnight.'

Caroline could only drop a curtsey and then move slowly away up the stairs, holding on to the banister. When she reached her bedchamber, the faintness passed; but she had been there only a few seconds before there was the sound of feet hurrying down the passage.

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