“Then, what is – it?”

“I think it is the goodness vibrating from you and I have known very few good women.”

Honora gave a little cry.

“That is a lovely thing to say to me and I promise that I will try very – very hard to be – good so that you will always be – proud of me.”

The Duke put his arms around her, but he did not kiss her as she expected, but put his cheek against hers.

“If you are going to be good for me,” he said, “then I must be good for you and it is something you will have to help me to be.”

“That will not be difficult,” Honora sighed, “because love comes from God.”

“I know,” the Duke said, “but we have to live our lives on earth, my precious, and sometimes it is difficult to give love to people who are not lovable. Besides there are always temptations and choices between good and bad.”

He thought as he spoke that it was something he had never thought out before, but now was very obvious.

In the past he had spent far too much time with what was intrinsically bad.

Now, almost as if it was a gift from Heaven, Honora had come into his life, so pure, so good, so innocent, that he was afraid that what he had become and what he had done might spoil their happiness.

As if she knew what he was thinking, Honora put her arms round his neck and whispered,

“I love you and because I can – feel what you are thinking – I know that – everything about you is – fine and – noble.”

The Duke drew in his breath.

Then, as if he came down from the heights to which his thoughts had taken him, his lips sought Honora’s.

He kissed her until he felt her body move as if to music and she knew that she wanted him as a man.

Slowly, as if he was still afraid to frighten her, he took off his robe and climbed into the bed beside her.

Then, as she moved into his arms and he held her closer and still closer, he knew that this was the love that would overcome all difficulties and sweep away everything that was wrong, wicked and bad.

This was the love that Honora believed came from God and it was theirs now and for all Eternity.

“I love you, my precious, adorable one!” he said hoarsely.

Then, as he kissed her and felt her heart beating against his, the sunshine, the music and the flowers were with them as Love carried them up into the glory of the sky.

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.