Sword to the Heart (Bantam Series No. 13) Read Free Page A

given at the home of the Bride.”
    “Naturally,” Sir James agreed.
    “But in 1496,” Lord Colwall went on, “Randolph, the elder son of Sir Hereward Colwall, was married at the Castle to a bride who came to him from Northumbria. It seemed, when I found the reference, an interesting coincidence that my wife comes from Cumberland.”
    “Were they happy?” Sir James enquired.
    “As they had eleven children how could they be anything else?” Lord Colwall replied mockingly.
    “Then let us hope that for your sake history repeats itself,” Sir James said, but he spoke without conviction.
    The Dritchka chariot moved along the highway at a quicker pace than had been possible on the previous days of the journey.
    “Look, Papa, it has hardly rained here at all!” Natalia exclaimed.
    “I believe it has been a dry October in the South,” the Reverend Adolphus Graystoke replied in a tired voice.
    He had found the long journey somewhat exhausting while it appeared that his daughter was fresher and in gayer spirits than when they had first left their home in Pooley Bridge.
    Everything en route was of interest to Natalia; even the rough, muddy roads that they had encountered on the first part of their journey had been no hardship.
    This was due to the well-sprung travelling chariot which Lord Colwall had sent for them. When it arrived at the Vicarage, its silver accoutrements and four magnificent horses had evoked the admiration of the whole village.
    Even the Vicar had been astonished at the luxury at which they travelled.
    His Lordship’s horses had been waiting at every Posting Inn, and the journey had been made easy by frequent halts, while a courier in another carriage containing the servants and their luggage left well ahead to see that everything was in order before their arrival.
    “We might be Royalty!” Natalia said in awe-struck tones, at their first stop.
    They had been ushered into a private Sitting-Room by a bowing Landlord and she found upstairs that a maid had already unpacked one of her trunks and a valet was attending to her father.
    “His Lordship is extremely considerate,” the Reverend Adolphus agreed.
    “He thinks of everything!” Natalia said softly.
    She had walked across the panelled room to touch a huge vase of fresh flowers that were arranged on a table.
    In front of them lay Lord Colwall’s visiting card, and she found the same attention waiting for her everywhere they stayed.
    Each time she admired the flowers she felt that they had a special message for her and she treasured the cards, placing them carefully in her bag.
    ‘Could any man be more attentive to his future bride?” Natalia asked herself.
    Lord Colwall had sent not only his carriages, his horses and his servants to Pooley Bridge.
    A week before Natalia was due to set out on the journey a trunk had arrived containing new gowns and for the journey a cloak lined with fur!
    “Ermine, Mama!” Natalia had exclaimed. “I cannot believe it!” She was so overcome by the magnificence of the gift that she had not noticed the strange expression on her mother’s face.
    Lady Margaret had already been informed that Natalia’s trousseau from a Bond Street dressmaker would be waiting for her when she arrived at the Castle.
    Lord Colwall had written:
    ‘It will not be possible for you to buy in the North the type and variety of gowns Natalia will require as my wife. I have therefore instructed Madame Madeleine to prepare what is required. Kindly send all the measurements necessary to the enclosed address.’
    “I would have preferred that we should provide Natalia with her trousseau,” Lady Margaret said to her husband in private.
    “Colwall knows we live in a backwater,” the Vicar had replied. “And to be honest, my dear, it would be difficult for us to find the money.”
    His wife’s face was still troubled and he added with a smile: “Natalia looks lovely whatever she wears, but I would like to see her in an expensive gown