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.Following the suggestion of one of his sisters, the doctors have used herbs instead of their usual medicines.In addition they prescribed iron, of which his body was seriously deficient.His Grace has now recovered his strength and is out of danger.There is great rejoicing at Oakenshaw Castle and the Duke himself has declared it is a miracle for which he is exceedingly grateful.”Charles read it twice to make quite sure he was not mistaken and said to himself that fate had clearly punished Silver even more effectively than he was able to do.He could just about guess at the disappointment of Wilfred Shaw, who was so obviously waiting to step into the title and the delight of the Duke’s other relatives.The Duke was, in fact, a comparatively young man, being just on fifty.Charles was extremely interested in his being cured by herbal medicine, as his mother had always been a great believer in iron.He remembered that whilst in France he had learned that if a man was almost dying, iron would often revive him.The French nurses would often put a rusty nail into a glass of water and then, once it had infused, make the patient drink the water.It seemed so extraordinary, but several soldiers had told him about the difference it had made to them, and he expected something like that had happened to the Duke.What he had read made him decide to see to it that the herb garden, which had been his mother’s great delight at Lyndon Hall, was kept in good order.Country folk passionately believed in the efficacy of herbal medicine and when he told Rania the story about the Duke’s speedy recovery as they were driving towards their dinner party, Rania said exactly the same.“I call it very interesting.We have a herb garden at home, but I have spent little time in it.As you know, Charles, we had to give up our gardeners.”“You must tell Harry to put it in order as soon as he has finished working for me at the Hall,” insisted Charles.“I am sure Harry will want to, but it will be a long time off.If he has to build your Racecourse and also see to anything you want done in the house, I think the Temple’s home will remain neglected.”“You will have to talk to your brother about it, but I do agree that even he cannot do two jobs at the same time.”“I am not worrying.As soon as I return home I will see to it.”Charles glanced at her.“Do you want to go so quickly?”“No, of course not.But this exciting drama cannot go on for ever.I am being sensible enough to enjoy every minute of it and I will not whine when it all ends.”“If I have my way, Rania, it will not end for you.I told you I am going to find you a rich husband and we will look round tonight to see if there is anyone you fancy.”Rania did not answer and after a moment he asked,“Why are you so very quiet, Rania, why don’t you say something?”“I was just thinking,” she replied.“Love does not happen like that.”“Like what?”“If love is coming to you, it comes without seeking or hunting for it.That would belittle the importance of it, and to me love is very very wonderful.”“But you have never been in love, Rania, so how do you know?”“Papa and Mama loved each other in a way which was so very special and moving.It made everything they said and did seem to be part of the sunshine.”There was silence for a moment.“It is very strange you should say that, because my father and mother too loved each other so very much and I was brought up in a house filled with love.I thought then, as I think now, it is what I really need in my own house.”He paused before he added,“But I was so foolish and simple to be deceived by a woman I thought would bring that special love to me.”The bitterness in his voice was so unmistakable that instinctively Rania put out her hand to touch his.“You are not to think of love like that.It is so easy for a man to make a mistake, but you have been fortunate enough not to be trapped completely and to escape being married to someone who was not good enough for you.”Her fingers tightened for a moment on Charles’s.“I pray you will be happy and I do feel that one day you will find a woman who really loves you and who is the other half of yourself.”Charles realised that she was thinking of the ancient Greek belief that man when first created by God was one single person and because he was so lonely, God had cut him in half and called the other half ‘woman’.She was the soft, sweet, gentle and spiritual side of their love.This is what every man and woman who followed them were seeking and when they found the other half of themselves they were one person and happy for all eternity.Charles could remember his mother telling him the story when he was small and he thought it very touching that Rania should refer to it.“You are so right, Rania, that is the perfection we all hope for and try to find.Perhaps one day both you and I will be lucky.”“I am sure we shall be,” she replied, taking away her hand.“And the people who disappoint and fail us are not worth thinking about.”Charles gave a little chuckle.“I do get the message.Tonight we will be enjoying ourselves and perhaps the two partners we are seeking will drop down the chimney or fall from the ceiling!”“In which case we will not be able to recognise them as they will be covered with soot and plaster!”They were laughing together as they arrived at the house where they were to dine.CHAPTER SIXRania and Charles were riding back from Rotten Row, leaving behind a crowd of young men who waited every morning to ride beside Rania in order to be able to boast that they had done so.As they turned into Berkeley Square, Rania said,“Dragonfly would love to race against you and your best stallion in the country.”Charles looked at her.“Are you bored already with being the beauty of all the beauties?”Rania laughed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]