The Gates of Paradise Read Free Page A

very little movement.
    Narina was sure that when they reached the Bay of Biscay, she would retire to her cabin and not be seen again until the end of the voyage.  The Bay was notorious for storms and strong winds, leading to even the most experienced sailor’s often feeling seasick.
    Fear of sickness soon turned out to be only one of the tribulations of the journey, especially travelling in such a small party.
    Narina soon found the rather flowery compliments the Baron kept paying her rather embarrassing.
    Excusing him for merely trying to be kind at first, it soon became increasingly difficult to smile politely and thank him as he made yet another remark about her beauty.
    She reflected that his behaviour was so different to the way that people usually treated her, especially men.  As a Clergyman’s daughter, they were often over-polite and inclined to treat her differently from the way they treated other girls.
    In her experience, they all expected her to be shocked at the slightest thing and so never overwhelmed her with compliments on her beauty or the way she was dressed.
    She was well aware, and it rather amused her, that some men thought it was not fitting, as her father was in the Church, for her to be so outstandingly pretty.
    In fact if they did pay her a compliment, they would begin by saying,
    â€œI daresay your father would think it improper for me to say this, Narina, but you are undoubtedly the most beautiful girl here tonight.”
    When she told her father, he merely grinned.
    â€œI seem to put a curb on their turning your head too quickly, but I agree with them, you are much prettier than any of your contemporaries.  But I promise that I will not rebuke them for being truthful in saying so!”
    â€œOf course you wouldn’t, Papa, but I am only afraid that I might be missing something.”
    â€œI think you will be told a great number of times by many men that you are very lovely.  I remember when I first married your mother, she told me that men used to say to her, ‘I am longing to flirt with you, Mrs. Kenwin, but I am terrified your husband might put a curse on me’!”
    Narina thought that this was hilarious.
    â€œAnd did you, Papa?”
    He shook his head.
    â€œI had no need to do so.  Your mother and I fell in love with each other the moment we met and from then on it was impossible for either of us ever to find anyone else attractive.”
    Narina had always believed that their devotion was the reason that every house the family lived in was filled with love and the sun always seemed to shine.
    It was the kind of sublime love she wanted for herself, but she was secretly afraid that it would never happen.
    Certainly the men she had met so far seemed somewhat dull and rather ineffective compared to her beloved father and, although she enjoyed dancing with them, they had very little else to offer her.
    Her father never seemed to worry, as her mother had, about her getting married.
    And in fact he had said more than once,
    â€œThere is no hurry for you to be married and, as we are so happy together, there is no point yet in your thinking of yourself as an ‘old maid’!”
    Narina had giggled.
    â€œI certainly don’t do that!  It’s only when the girls who came out at the same time as me get married that I begin to feel a little that I am being left behind.”
    â€œThere is no hurry about love,” her father advised.  “It will come to you one day out of the blue and it will be the right sort of love we all seek in our hearts and some of us are privileged to find.”
    â€œAs you did, Papa.”
    â€œAs I did.  I know that your mother and I will meet again when I join her in Heaven and I am quite certain she is listening to us both now, knowing that what I am telling you is the truth so there is no need for you to hurry.”
    Narina had kissed him.
    â€œAs long as I have you, Papa, I have no wish to