The Castle of Love by Barbara Cartland Page A

brought to the Earl's chamber.
    The men began to climb the castle steps with their burden. The doctor hurried alongside, keeping an anxious eye on his patient.
    Suddenly above them the castle door was flung open and Felice appeared. When her eyes fell on the unconscious Earl, they widened.
    "He is not dead, Countess," said the doctor quickly. "There is hope."
    With a great cry Felice collapsed weeping on her husband's body.
     Jacina watched numbly from the foot of the steps.
    "We must take him to his chamber, Countess," urged the doctor.
    Felice allowed herself to be drawn from the Earl. She took a handkerchief from her sleeve and began dabbing the tears from her cheek. Her hand abruptly stayed as she caught sight of Jacina starting up the castle steps. She watched for a moment and then turned sharply on her heels.
    As Jacina arrived at the top of the steps, the heavy oak door was slammed firmly in her face.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     All day the Earl lay unconscious.
    The bullet had entered his head over the left brow. The locum thought it had travelled under the skin and lodged at the back of the skull. He did not consider himself experienced enough to operate, so a surgeon from Carlisle was sent for.
    While awaiting his arrival everyone in the castle was subdued. There was little chatter in the kitchens. The servants went about their duties with long faces.
    The corridor outside the Earl's chamber was as silent as the tomb.
    As dusk fell a figure could be seen flitting through the castle like a ghost, candle in hand. It was Jacina.
    She had waited all day and could wait no longer. She was desperate to see the Earl and judge for herself what chance he had of living. Sarah had told her that a nurse had been summoned from the village to sit with the Earl. Surely the nurse would not object if Jacina crept in to see him?
    She reached the Earl's chamber and knocked softly. She heard footsteps in the room beyond. The door opened and there before her stood – the Countess Felice! Jacina recoiled in dismay.
    "What do you want?" asked Felice coldly.
    "I c-came to see the Earl."
    "You came to see my husband, hein?"
     "Y-your husband, yes. I j-just wanted to – "
    Felice cut her off icily. "You are not welcome here. My husband is lying eeel because of your meddling. If he dies it will be your fault. Do you understand, mademoiselle? Your fault!"
    Jacina stepped back from the doorway. She stood for a moment, her breast heaving. Then she turned and stumbled back to her room.
    The candle guttered out in her hand.
    All that night and the next morning the Earl's chamber was guarded by the Countess. She dismissed the nurse from the village and allowed no one other than the doctor to enter.
    She seemed determined to nurse her husband herself. Everyone agreed that she was proving herself an exemplary wife. Fronard had been a bad influence. With him gone Felice could be herself again.
    Jacina in her torment did not know what to think. Was it possible that Felice really loved the Earl after all?
    She remembered Felice weeping over the Earl's body when he was brought wounded to the castle.
    Perhaps Felice had been telling the truth, when she said Fronard had been importunate with her and that his attentions had been unwelcome.
    It had not looked that way in the folly that night, but perhaps Jacina had misread the situation. Perhaps she had been wrong all along.
    This thought threw her into a fever of remorse.
    "If he dies it will be your fault."
    How could she blame Felice for those bitter words? They were only too true. If she had not gone for that moonlit walk – if she had not seen Fronard and Felice seemingly embrace – if she had not spoken of it to Sarah and the Earl – then the Earl would not now be hovering at death's door.
     She sat for hours at her window, her eyes glued to the road. She was willing the Ruven coach to appear, bringing the surgeon from Carlisle.
    Her watch was finally rewarded, when she saw the Ruven coach come racing