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

ridiculous? You were only a child when I came to your home.”
    “I was ... old enough to fall ... in love,” Natalia answered. “I loved you when I saw you coming towards me through the mist over the lake. You looked as I had always ... imagined ... ”
    She stopped.
    “What did you imagine?” Lord Colwall asked curiously.
    “It is difficult to ... explain,” Natalia answered. “Papa said once that instead of an angel to ... watch over us, we each have a Knight ... like the ... Knights of Malta to ... guard and protect us from ... evil. In my ... dreams he looked exactly like ... you!”
    There was a little throb in her voice which was extremely moving.
    Lord Colwall took a deep breath.
    “This is not what I anticipated,” he said. “I think, Natalia, the best thing we can do is to sit down and discuss this matter sensibly.”
    Obediently, as if she was a puppet that must obey his commands, Natalia seated herself on the edge of the sofa. She put her hands in her lap and raised her eyes to his.
    She suddenly seemed very small, very fragile—a waif, rather than the glowing, happy girl who had walked down the aisle on his arm.
    “I do not know how much you know about my first marriage,” Lord Colwall said. “There is in fact no reason for you to learn the details. It is sufficient for me to tell you that what happened then made me determined never again, as long as I live, to be embroiled in the misery, the degradation of what is called love.”
    “And yet you ... wished to marry ... again?” Natalia said.
    “I married so that I could have children,” Lord Colwall replied. “You know the history of my family. You have learnt that this Castle has been handed from father to son all down the centuries. I want an heir, Natalia, and that was why I chose you.”
    “Any ... woman could have served the same ... purpose,” Natalia said in a low voice.
    “Not any woman,” Lord Colwall corrected. “It had to be someone whom I would be proud to acknowledge as my wife and who would be a fitting mother for my children. You have both these qualities, Natalia.”
    “But they are external assets,” Natalia answered. “They do not affect me ... the real ... me. I would never have married ... anyone I did not ... love.”
    “It is unfortunate,” Lord Colwall admitted, “that we could not have this discussion before the Marriage Ceremony took place! But I could not be expected to imagine that a girl to whom I had spoken once three years ago would consider herself in love with me or expect me to love her in return.”
    There was something almost defiant in the way he spoke.
    “I see ... now that it was very ... foolish,” Natalia said in a low voice.
    “If you admit that,” Lord Colwall said in a brighter tone, “I think the best thing for you to do is to forget that, by an unfortunate chance, you overheard a private conversation between myself and Sir James. You are my wife, Natalia, and I shall always treat you in a manner to which I am quite certain you can never take exception.”
    He seemed to consider his words and he went on:
    “There is much here which I am sure will give you pleasure. The Colwall family jewels are magnificent. You will not find me an ungenerous husband in every other way, and I am sure that our children, when we have them, will make up to you for all the shortcomings of their father!”
    Natalia was very still and then she said:
    “Are you really ... suggesting that, now I know you do not ... love me, I should ... permit you to give me a ... child?”
    For a moment Lord Colwall looked embarrassed, but he said in an unemotional voice:
    “I can appreciate that you are very innocent in these matters, but you will find it not too unpleasant to accept me as your husband—in fact, as well as in name.”
    There was the slightest twist of his lips as he added:
    “I am not inexperienced where women are concerned, Natalia, and I am confident that I can make our association, if that is the