The Castle of Love by Barbara Cartland

effort to talk with her fiancé. After all, they had so much ground to make up. It was true that Felice and her lawyer had a language in common. Yet the Earl spoke French and Felice had a good enough grasp of English for them to be able to communicate easily.
    When Jacina thought about it, the person she saw most often with Felice was Fronard. Even if the Earl happened to be present, the two of them would often be tucked away in some corner, heads together. Jacina often came upon them side by side in the corridors of the castle, looking at the portraits or the china in the cabinets. She began to form the distinct impression they were discussing the value of everything they looked at.
     She wanted to like Felice, for the sake of the Earl. She tried to make friends with her, but Felice had decided that Jacina was merely another employee and rarely addressed her.
    As if in deference to the sensibilities of his fiancée, the Earl in public adopted a more formal manner with Jacina. This would have made her unutterably miserable were it not for the fact that during their mornings together, he continued to treat her in the old manner.
    She was relieved that in this respect everything went on as before. Jacina read or played the pianoforte. She and the Earl talked about poetry and music. They sometimes strolled in the garden.
    They never discussed Felice or the forthcoming wedding.
    One day, walking on the woodland path with the Earl's arm resting on Jacina's, they happened to encounter Monsieur Fronard. He greeted them politely but his eyes narrowed as they passed on.
    The following morning when Jacina entered the library, she was startled to find Felice seated opposite the Earl at the fire.
    "I hope you are not objecting," cried Felice gaily to Jacina, "but I am thinking my English will improve if I am listening to you."
    "I am sure Jacina does not object," said the Earl. The tone of his voice was neutral.
    "Of course not," said Jacina as brightly as she could.
    She hesitated, looking around. Then she went and sat in the window seat. She opened the book that the Earl had chosen for that day and began to read.
    After about five minutes she heard Felice yawn loudly.
    The Earl leaned forward. "You are tired, my dear?"
     "Oh no," laughed Felice. "But zis book is not interesting to me."
    Jacina closed the book quietly.
    "Perhaps something else?" she suggested. "There must be something. I know you love books."
    Felice threw her a sharp glance.
    "Books? Oh, yes. I am always reading. But zis book you have is not in my language, so it is difficult. And besides, history – " she shrugged. 'I prefer – love stories. Tragic love stories – "
    Words tumbled out of Jacina before she could stop herself.
    "I am surprised that you like such reading matter when you yourself have experienced – "
    "Jacina!" said the Earl sharply.
    Jacina's hand flew to her mouth. "My Lord, I wasn't thinking – "
    "No," said the Earl, a thunderous look on his face. "You most certainly were not."
    Unable to speak, Jacina stumbled to her feet and fled from the room.
    What had possessed her to make such a remark? If Felice enjoyed reading novels they could only remind her of the sad loss she had endured, well then – it was no business of Jacina's to comment.
    But the Earl had not been fair. He really had not. It was rude of Felice to yawn loudly! And what had the Earl done when he heard it? Nothing! Nothing but express concern that she might be tired!
    It was clear that he was falling more and more deeply under Felice's spell. Jacina sank on to a seat in the Great Hall and covered her face with her hands. Why should a man not fall under the spell of the woman who was to be his wife? It was only natural. She had no right to feel like this, no right at all.
     Tears pricked her eyelids. She so wished her father would return and take her away from the castle, but she knew that was impossible at the moment.
    Her father had written to say that the epidemic in