Sword to the Heart (Bantam Series No. 13) by Barbara Cartland

pendant from its box, and Natalia saw that it was attached to a long, thin chain which glittered with diamonds.
    He held it out to her and once again she wondered if he would put it around her neck, but it was in fact her father who did so.
    “Thank you ... My Lord,” she said when it finally lay on her chest, nearly reaching the little hollow between her breasts.
    Lord Colwall moved from the table back to the hearth-rug.
    “I think, Sir,” he said to the Reverend Adolphus, “you will be interested tomorrow to see how a Medieval Wedding Feast can still be produced in modern times.”
    “Tomorrow?” the Reverend Adolphus ejaculated in astonishment.
    Lord Colwall did not reply.
    “Are you telling me that Natalia is being married tomorrow?”
    Lord Colwall raised his eyebrows:
    “It appears to surprise you!”
    “I had no idea the ceremony was to take place so soon!” the Reverend Adolphus exclaimed. “After all, we might have been delayed.”
    “I was not afraid of that!” Lord Colwall answered. “My arrangements are made with the greatest precision, and I would have been extremely incensed with my coachman if you had not arrived today at exactly the time I expected you!”
    The Reverend Adolphus looked at Natalia.
    “My daughter might have been expected to be tired after the long journey,” he said. “I should have thought a few days’ rest would have been an obvious consideration.”
    “But I am not tired, Papa,” Natalia protested.
    She felt uncomfortable at the note of criticism in her father’s voice.
    “I felt certain, in view of the quite small number of miles you have had to travel during the last three days,” Lord Colwall said slowly, “that you would not be in the least exhausted, and I have in fact made all the arrangements for our wedding to take place tomorrow.”
    “I am quite happy to agree to anything Your Lordship has planned,” Natalia said.
    Because she felt there was still a feeling of obvious disapproval emanating from her father, she quickly tried to change the subject: “Your horses are so splendid that you were quite justified in trusting them to bring us here at exactly the time you had planned.”
    She looked up at him with a smile on her face and added:
    “Of all the wonderful gifts you have given me ... and I have so much to thank you for ... the best of them all was, of course, Crusader!”
    Lord Colwall looked puzzled.
    “Crusader?” he queried.
    “My horse ... the one you sent me. I have ridden him every day, and I was going to ask you later if he could be brought here to the Castle. I cannot bear to be without him.”
    “But of course,” Lord Colwall agreed. “That is very easily arranged. When your father returns tomorrow he can carry my instructions to the groom to bring Crusader home.”
    “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” Natalia cried. “I knew you would understand how much Crusader has meant to me all these years.” She did not see the look at first of incredulity and then of anger on her father’s face.
    The Reverend Adolphus could hardly believe that, having travelled all the way from Cumberland to attend his daughter’s wedding, he was to be sent back like an unwanted servant as soon as the marriage had taken place.
    Then with a Christian-like forbearance he realised that it would be embarrassing for Natalia if he were to protest.
    As if Sir James realised what was passing through his mind, he tactfully drew the Vicar on one side to show him a collection of exceptionally fine snuff-boxes which stood on a table at one side of the room.
    For a moment they were out of ear-shot of Natalia and Lord Colwall, who remained at the fire-side.
    “As I have already said, My Lord,” Natalia remarked, “I do not know how to begin to thank you for everything you have given me! My trousseau is so beautiful ... I cannot really believe it is mine.”
    “Your trousseau is a replica of the one provided for the daughter of the first Lord Colwall when, in the reign of