The Castle of Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

towards the castle. It drew to a halt, the horses panting and steaming. The surgeon leapt out and ran up the steps with his Gladstone bag.
    Three hours later the good news flew through the castle. The bullet had been successfully removed. The Earl had regained consciousness and was out of danger. There was no permanent damage.
    Jacina felt faint with relief. She pressed her hands together and gave a prayer of thanks.
    The surgeon left before supper. He declared himself satisfied with the Earl's condition. A week of rest and he would be able to resume normal life.
    Jacina was at last able to relax. She fell into a deep sleep and was only wakened by Nancy bringing her some supper on a tray. Nancy was about to leave, when she suddenly thrust a hand into her apron pocket.
    "I nearly forgot, miss. This is for you." She handed Jacina a note, bobbed a curtsy and left.
    "Dear Jacina," the note read, "the doctor ordered theCountess to take some rest so I am sitting with the Earltonight. He has asked for you. Come after ten. Sarah."
    Jacina coloured as she stared at the note.
    He has asked for you.
    What did this mean? Was he going to reprimand her for all the trouble she had set in motion? If so, she did not care. Even to hear his voice, stern and cold, was better than not hearing it at all.
    She waited in a fever of excitement until ten o'clock
    struck. This was the hour when the household usually retired.
     She lit a candle and, shielding it with one hand, opened the door. The corridor was empty. Indeed the whole castle seemed quiet as the grave. She saw no one on her journey except a maid at the end of a corridor, carrying a jug of hot water towards the Countess's chamber.
    The door to the Earl's chamber was ajar. Jacina gave a soft knock and pushed it open.
    She had never been in this room before and for a moment its opulence took her breath away. Scarlet brocade curtains were drawn over the windows. The walls were hung with rich tapestries. Chairs were covered with blue damask.
    The room was full of shadows. Candles flickered in silver candlesticks and a fire burned in the grate.
    Sarah sat dozing in a wing chair.
    Jacina hesitated and then tiptoed to the side of the large four poster bed.
    The Earl lay in almost complete shadow under the canopy. His open eyes were like dark pools. A white bandage tinged with red bound his brow.
    "Jacina?" he murmured as she gazed sorrowfully at him.
    "My – my Lord," she started. "How did you – know?"
    The Earl smiled. "You think I do not recognise the tread of my little helper?"
    Jacina had not expected such a gentle tone. A tear spilled from her eye and trickled down her cheek. She wiped the tear away.
    "My – my Lord. I am very sorry to have been the cause of so – so much discord. I thought I was – was acting for the best – "
    The Earl raised his hand.
    "Hush, Jacina, hush. It is all forgotten. I believe Fronard to be the villain of the peace, not you. He had an unhealthy hold over my wife. You acted in all sincerity and that is why I asked you to come to me. I want to reassure you. Nobody knows of your role in this affair – except of course Sarah. Nobody blames you."
     "Th-thank you, my Lord." Her voice was choked and she had to wait a moment before she could speak again.
    "Is there – any news of Fronard, my Lord?"
    "None," replied the Earl grimly. "The gig he took was found abandoned two miles further along the road, but he himself has disappeared into thin air."
    Jacina digested this news. Wherever Fronard was, she hoped with all her heart he would never return to Castle Ruven.
    "I am so glad that you are better, my Lord," she said.
    "I am indeed better," said the Earl. "In fact, I shall soon be well enough to travel."
    "T-travel, my Lord?"
    "My wife has suggested that she and I spend some time in Switzerland. She is convinced the mountain air would aid my recovery. She will travel ahead to find a chateau for us to rent. I will follow on later."
    "Oh," whispered Jacina