The beautiful Vanora is helping her uncle, Lord Blairmond the distinguished Statesman who lives in London, to write his autobiography, when she has an urgent call from her brother, Ewen, to return immediately to Scotland. He has just become Chieftain of the McKyle Clan and she wonders why he wants her. The McKyles have for years fought with the MacFiles whose Chieftain is the Earl of Glenfile. The Earl has also returned to Scotland because his father is dying and he has been tricked and deceived by two women he has been having affaires-de-coeur with in London He comes to the decision that he will never fall in love again and trusts no one. Vanora finds when she reaches Scotland that her brother wants her to steal back from the MacFiles the sacred Stone of the Clan McKyle, whose Chieftains have used it down the centuries when they accepted the allegiance of their Clansmen. Ewen has seen that the Earl is advertising for a librarian and thinks that is a good excuse to get his sister into Killdona Castle in disguise. When Vanora refuses to do what he wants, he threatens to have her exiled from the Clan which is something she contemplates in horror. Finally she goes to The Castle, which she finds very different to what she had expected. It is filled with the most marvellous treasures including books she had always longed to feel and read. She saves some of the Earl’s greatest treasures from being stolen and finally as he is so handsome, she falls in love with him. She is certain that, when he knows who she is, he will never speak to her again and drive her away from his castle. How the McKyles get back their Stone and how the Earl and Vanora find real love is told in this exciting and unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Fresh from heroic exploits in the Battle of Trafalgar, Captain Conrad ‘Tiger’ Horn has returned to Portsmouth take command of a magnificent new ship, The Invincible, which he is to sail to Antigua to defend British trading routes against American privateers and, of course, the French. But the fly in the ointment is that he is obliged to take with him on his voyage his cousin, Lady Delora Horn, whom he has never met but whom he already loathes, assuming that she is cut from the same cloth as her obnoxious brother, the Earl of Scawthorn, who has arranged for her to marry in Antigua a certain Lord Grammell, who is the Governor of the British island. Conrad at once feels sorry for her, as Lord Grammell is not only past sixty and notorious as a drunkard, he is also hugely fat, unpleasant, foul-mouthed and debauched. And he is only interested in marrying Delora for the large fortune she has inherited from her American mother as he will be able to control it once they are wed. But Delora’s appearance comes as a shock to Conrad. Far from the hard-faced mature woman he anticipates, she is young and utterly lovely with eyes the colour of the deep blue sea, golden hair, and with an air of unsophisticated and unspoilt innocence. Soon amid perilous battles on the high seas when Conrad is seriously wounded in the leg by enemy grapeshot, the beautiful Delora saves the Captain’s life and limb and love blossoms between them. But so does despair for she is already unwillingly betrothed to the monstrous Lord Grammell, who is waiting eagerly for her when The Invincible eventually does arrive in Antigua.

Soon to be twenty-one years old, the lovely red-haired Gisela Musgrave is tormented and oppressed by her cruel and jealous stepmother until one day riding with the local hunt, Gisela rushes to the aid of a beautiful woman who has fallen from her horse. Everyone but Gisela notices her striking resemblance to this Noblewoman, who reveals herself to be none other than the exquisite Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, whose beauty is renowned throughout Europe and who is staying incognito in the English countryside for the hunting season. And then suddenly Gisela’s life is transformed by two pieces of shocking news. First, that she is not truly her father’s daughter, but the daughter of her mother’s lover before she married and secondly that her true father’s identity makes her the Empress’s half-sister! Groomed in her new-found status, Gisela agrees to exploit her likeness by pretending to be the Empress at an invitation to stay with an ageing Lord, while the Empress herself continues to indulge her love of hunting. But on arriving at the Lord’s most impressive Castle, Gisela is greeted by his dashingly handsome yet imperious heir, Lord Quenby. And so begins an all-powerful love that seems doomed to oblivion even before it sprang so unexpectantly into being –

After the tragic death of her mother and father when their horses took fright and sent their carriage hurtling into a river, orphaned Pandora was taken in by her uncle, the Bishop of Lindchester. She has never been happy with him, but now she is horrified to overhear that he plans to marry her off to his Chaplin, the Honourable Prosper Witheridge. There is no denying the will of her Guardian – but just maybe she can fill her husband-to-be with revulsion at the very thought of marrying her! With this is mind she invites herself to stay with her cousin, the shockingly decadent Earl of Chartwood, who is notorious for ‘entertaining’ ‘droxies and play-actresses – women with whom no decent man would be associated...’ ‘Perfect!’ she thinks. But arriving at the awesome Chart Hall she is appalled by the outrageous goings on. If only her Guardian would relent and release her to embrace the love she finds burgeoning in her heart...

The beautiful Adella May is filled with joy as she sees Digby Dryden, the man she loves, walking towards her. But why does he turn away, refusing to look at her? Humiliated and hurt and her golden dream of love in ruins, what can Adella do now and where can she turn? Will she be forced to give up her hopes of seeing Digby again and obey her tyrannical Uncle Edgar and accept the proposal of the rich and suitable aristocrat, Lord Ranulph Fowles, a man she cannot love? Adella’s dear school friend, Jane Hartley, holds an exquisite bouquet to her heart. The card attached to it bears the signature of the man she adores, but it is intended for another woman. Jane must endure the torment of knowing that she will never be loved by him, for she is just a humble Governess, while he, the most eligible bachelor in London, is from the highest echelons of Society. Trapped in a cruel web of deceit and obsession, the two girls fight to hold onto their dreams, but can they ever be happy in a world that does not recognise their right to love? Find out all in this enthralling and unusual romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The tenth Earl of Narbrooke is a miser. He is obsessed with money and is prepared to starve himself as well as his household and will not give a penny to his family even though he is the Head of it. He has locked himself away in his vast mansion and neglects the estate until it becomes a disgrace. Colonel Euan Campbell, who had been wounded in the War with Napoleon, is very hard-up and accepts the position of managing the Earl's horses. He is given a cottage for his wife and his daughter, Devona, aged thirteen. The Colonel is killed by a wild horse that the Earl insists on buying because it was cheap and, as they are destitute, Mrs. Campbell and Devonia are taken into the big house so that they can help the servants although they are not paid. Mrs. Campbell dies of pneumonia in the unheated house while Devona stays on. Then one morning the miserly Earl is found dead from a stroke and Devona sends a message to the next Earl who lives in London. Before he arrives, however, she finds the Earl's will in which every penny he possesses is to be buried with him. Because she is terrified that the new Earl will be like his brother, she burns the will, thinking that if the money goes to the family they will help her. When the new Earl does arrive, he is the miser's nephew and to Devona's surprise he is young, tall and handsome and when he asks the beautiful Devona who she is, because she is so scared, she says that she is the daughter of his uncle. How after the funeral the new Earl visits the Bank and finds that his uncle has left a huge fortune of one million pounds. How Devona is stunned to learn that as she is the next of kin, the money goes to her. How she comes to an arrangement with the new Earl and how because it leaks out that she is the heiress she is terrorised by a fortune-hunter, but eventually finds love is all told in this unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lady Novella Crownley has been teaching at a girl’s school far from her ancestral home, Crownley Hall, and one day her mother asks her to return. She leaves at once only to find that so much has changed since her last visit home. Her beloved father, the Earl of Crownley, had died some years earlier, leaving her mother lonely and unable to cope on her own. Unknown to Novella her mother had remarried and the first time she met her new stepfather, Lord Buckton, she did like him at all. In her absence Lord Buckton had been selling off everything at the Hall he could lay his hands on to pay for his debts and lavish lifestyle, and even had plans to sell the house and the estate as well. To her horror Novella found that he had sold her favourite horse, Salamander, to a near neighbour, Sir Edward Moreton. She was deeply suspicious of the charming and handsome Sir Edward, but her heart softened when he invited her to ride Salamander again. Her mother became seriously ill and Novella was forced to clash with her stepfather over the cost of medical care for her. Her relationship with her stepfather became worse while her feelings for Sir Edward began to intensify. She came to realise that she was in great danger from her stepfather who was determined to take everything from her and her mother at any cost. How Novella was able to defeat the forces ranged against her with the help of Sir Edward and find her own true love is told in this exciting and dramatic romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Intrigue and imminent danger await the young men brave enough to join ‘The Great Game’, the political conflict between the British and Russian Empire, and Captain David Ingle is one the bravest as he saves a Fort in India from attack, disguised as a Muslim Holy Man. Returning to Calcutta, David is congratulated by the Viceroy for service to his country, but warned that the Russian agents he thwarted now threaten his life. More importantly his grandfather, the Marquis of Inglestone, has died in an accident and the family title and estate is his. Excited at returning to England to see Ingle Hall and the lovely grounds he remembers from boyhood, he is horrified to discover that his eccentric grandfather had become a miser and allowed the estate to fall into disrepair, refusing to spend a penny on it. Even more oddly, he had withdrawn the large family fortune, in coinage, from the bank and hidden it. David finds Ingle Hall dilapidated and without any servants. The only ray of light is discovering the presence of a distant cousin, Bernina Falcon, and her nanny. Bernina is beautiful, young and very innocent, and they grow closer daily as they hunt together for the hidden treasure. Just as they are exhausting their search, a girl from David’s past in India arrives, Stella Ashworth. She is stunning, sophisticated and very interested in David - now she knows he is the Marquis. Determined to get her man, Stella will stop at nothing to get a ring on her finger. With threats from the Russians, pressure from Stella and the constant fear of poverty and letting down the village that rely on him, David is beset on all sides. The only person that offers him constant support and encouragement is Benina, but will that be enough to save Ingle House and all that live and work there?

Having sailed with Sir Francis Drake, swashbuckling privateer Rodney Hawkhurst yearns for a galleon of his own with which to plunder the Spanish Main in the name of Queen Elizabeth. Seeking investment from Sir Harry Gillingham, he has a fleeting encounter with an elfin, tomboyish golden-red-haired beauty ? Sir Harry?s youngest daughter Lizbeth ? and is bewitched by her limpid green eyes. Yet it is fair and golden-haired elder sister Phillida with whom he first falls in love... Granted his finances on the condition that Sir Harry?s weak, possibly even traitorous son sails with him in the hope that the mission will make him a man, Rodney embarks on a voyage of blood, honour and glory in which he gains great riches but loses his heart, not once, but twice. The risks are great but so are the rewards: wealth beyond compare and, as Rodney finally discovers, a greater, deeper, more passionate love than he ever imagined possible.

Dashing Lord Victor Brooke has displeased his Godmother, Her Majesty Queen Victoria, with his latest indiscretion with one of her more attractive Ladies-in-Waiting and he is dismayed to find that his punishment means missing his beloved Social Season in London! Her Majesty orders him instead to escort the eighteen-year-old Princess Sydella to Zararis, where she is to marry King Stephan, who has requested an English bride so that his small nation will receive the British Empire’s protection against Russian incursions. Bored and embarrassed, Lord Victor passes off his chore as a ‘secret mission’, but little does he know that his lie is soon to come true. As soon as they embark on a British Battleship, he is astounded to find himself captivated by the Princess’s beauty and her enchanting joie de vivre. And when he saves her from an assassin’s bomb on their arrival at Zararis and then from certain death at sea, he wins her heart, as she has already won his. Yet no sooner than they find love, they know that all is lost – for Sydella is already committed to marry the King of Zararis –

When Angus McKeith knocks on the door, the lives of Fiona Windham and her niece and ward Mary-Rose are changed forever. Following the recent death of Fiona’s father, Lord Ian Rannock, and sister, Rosemary, the child has become heir-presumptive to her Scottish uncle, the Duke of Strathrannock, who has summoned Mary-Rose to his castle in Scotland. Reluctantly complying, but insisting that she accompany Mary-Rose, Fiona finds the Duke handsome, yet distant and cold. Ostracised by the Highland community after the mysterious disappearance of his wife, the Duchess, and a bitter feud with his father, the Duke has withdrawn from Society and seems an insensitive, even brutal man. Soon, though, as Fiona’s innocent beauty warms the Duke’s cold heart and love between them blossoms. But when she attempts to solve the mystery that traps him in the past, Fiona finds herself in mortal danger at the hands of a woman possessed by a deranged desire for vengeance.

The Marquis of Craigmere, who is one of the most handsome and attractive men in the Beau Monde, is pursued by an exotic and beautiful married woman called Peony Lawson The Marquis finds this affaire-de-coeur amusing and enjoyable until Peony says that that she intends to tell her husband what they have been doing and ask him for a divorce. The Marquis is horrified because he was determined never to get married until he is much older and needs to have an heir. He knows, however, that Peony is serious and he will have to be exceedingly clever not to be involved in a scandal that would force him to live abroad for some years. He is at Royal Ascot and is hoping to win the Gold Cup. He is not successful, but as the race ends he sees the Duke of Hawkhurst, who was a friend of his father’s. The Duke has always been in debt and a way suddenly occurs to the Marquis of saving himself from the horror of Peony’s intentions. He tells the Duke that he wishes to marry his daughter, Natalie, in two days’ time. The Duke thinks it strange, but he realises that a very rich son-in-law will save him when he is on the verge of bankruptcy. However, his daughter Natalie is in love with the charming son of a neighbour, who is far from being a rich man, and she is in despair at the prospect of being married to the Marquis. Her cousin, Silva, who is beautiful and intelligent, urges her to elope and promises that she will somehow keep the knowledge of it from the Duke until it is too late for him to prevent it. How Silva arranges for Lady Natalie and the man she loves to set off for Gretna Green and how to save not only her cousin, but also herself from what has been for her a life of misery at the Duke’s Castle, she takes her place at the altar. And the Marquis only discovers the switch when they are on their way to Dover for their honeymoon on his yacht. Find out what happens next in this intriguing and fast moving love story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The Marquis of Whisinford and his friend Lord Alfred Middleton meet at White’s Club and tell each other how bored they are with the London Season and the same parties with the same people night after night. They commiserate with each other for finding life so repetitive where nothing new ever happens. Listening to them, the old Duke of Dunstead tells them that he has a solution to their problem and so he bets one of his well bred horses against one of theirs that, if they go out disguised as ordinary men, they will undoubtedly find an adventure of some kind on the open road. Because it is a bet and betting at White’s is traditional, the Marquis agrees to ride North as far as Northumberland disguised as an ordinary man, while Lord Alfred is to go South to Land’s End. The Marquis sets off alone, his only possessions being what he can carry on his horse, Samson, using the name of Neil Barlow. But he has not gone very far when a very pretty girl joins him on the road in a state of agitation and asks him if he will be kind enough to allow her to ride beside him. She explains that she is running away from her stepfather who is forcing her into marriage with a man she loathes and detests. She tells the Marquis that her name is Velina, but does not say anymore and he tells her only his Christian name and they ride on until they reach what appears to be a quiet inn. After dinner, when the Marquis goes out to see if their horses are happy, he overhears three men talking and learns that they have been sent by Velina’s stepfather to kidnap her and take her forcibly back to her home. The Marquis alerts Velina and they slip away at four o’clock in the morning before anyone else is awake and it is then that the Marquis suggests that they should stay off the main road and travel North by the twisting lanes of England. How they encounter even more dramas than they have already. How they rescue a small boy and his dog from a cruel drunkard. How eventually Velina saves the Marquis’s horse and him from a highwayman and how they find even more on a road to romance, is all told in this exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Shana, the beautiful daughter of Lord Hallam has not yet been a debutante as she has been helping her father write his autobiography. Although retired from the Foreign Office, Lord Hallam agrees to go abroad leaving his daughter alone in the country. Before he leaves he asks Shana to run an errand to the landlord of the village inn known as the Rose and Crown, where she finds there is a crisis in the kitchen and offers to cook luncheon for the Marquis of Kilbrooke and his shooting party. She not only cooks the food, but helps to wait at table and she meets the Marquis who to her surprise is young and very handsome. Shana returns to the Rose and Crown to cook again for two strangers who turn out to be Italians and overhears, as she speaks Italian fluently, their dastardly plot to rob the Marquis of his extremely valuable collection of gold and silver heirlooms. She feels it is her duty to warn the Marquis of their plot and in doing so becomes involved in an exciting and dangerous adventure. How Shana overcomes the perils confronting her and unexpectedly finds love and happiness is told in this unusual and exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Tania, the lovely daughter of the late Lord Amesly, leaves her school in Paris and is travelling to Boulogne when her train crashes. Amongst the fear and confusion she is helped and befriended by a charming young Englishman – Captain Rupert More – and with him she reaches the ferry where she unexpectedly meets two friends of her late parents, Charles and Selina Bracebridge. Captivated by Tania, and awed by her bravery in the face of adversity, Rupert is convinced that she is uniquely special. Tania, innocent in the ways of love having spent so long in her convent school, is similarly smitten by the dashing young Captain. It seems that Cupid’s bow has struck in the most unusual of circumstances, but as the young couple get to know each other their happiness is shattered by the threat of war in the Crimea. Promising that she will wait for him, Rupert prepares himself for the battlefield. Back in London Tania’s hostile stepmother makes it clear that her stepdaughter is no longer welcome in her own home. Eager to discharge her duties as legal guardian, the second Lady Amesly decides the easiest way is to marry her pretty stepdaughter off as quickly as possible. So when Lord Watford, an eligible widower with a shady past, asks for Tania’s hand in marriage, her stepmother is determined that the answer will be ‘yes’. Terrified at the idea of having to marry someone she does not love, and wishing that Rupert were still close by, Tania runs away to the Bracebridges and begs them to help. The Bracebridges are close friends of Florence Nightingale, who is determined to recruit nurses to look after the troops wounded in the war. Joining Florence and training as fast as she can, Tania secretly leaves England, following Rupert to the frontline. As war breaks out and the casualty figures rise, Tania works tirelessly in the British Military Hospital in Scutari. With every newly injured soldier arriving needing care and comfort, Tania eagerly scans their faces hoping to see her lost love, and begs for news of Rupert. Will they find each other again? And if they do can their love survive the horrors of war? Or will Lady Amersly discover her whereabouts and demand that she return home to marry a man she neither loves nor respects? Tania will need all of her courage and belief in the powers of true love for the challenges ahead.

Innocent young Candida is almost destitute after the death of her beloved father. Resolving to keep up the family’s modest Elizabethan manor house in Hertfordshire and support Ned, the family’s faithful servant, she sees no alternative but to sell her beloved pitch-black stallion, Pegasus. So, when the worldly Major Hooper offers to take her and her mount to Hyde Park where she will undoubtedly find a high price, she agrees, though with a heavy heart. Little does she suspect that Major Hooper trades in young women as well as horseflesh – and soon she finds herself and Pegasus ‘sold’ to the dashing but awe-inspiring Lord Manville. A terrible maze of misunderstanding ensues and just when Candida realises that she has lost her heart to his Lordship, the London Society that seemed so carefree turns cruel. Even as she flees astride Pegasus, she is heartbroken, knowing she may never again see the man she loves –

The Duke of Laverdale is ambitious to be appointed Master of the Horse and the new Queen Adelaide is determined that behaviour at Court should be moral after the licentiousness of King George IV. The Duke therefore ends his affaire de coeur with the enchanting Lady Sybil Mersham and drops his ballet dancer mistress as well. Up to now he has been determined not to be married, but he now decides to become respectable and find a suitable bride as befits his standing. As he has always avoided debutantes, he asks the Marquis of Coleburn, whom he has known since he was a boy, to help him. The Marquis is delighted and tells the Duke that he has the perfect wife for him in his beautiful daughter Oleta, who would have been a debutante by now but for family mourning. The Duke arranges to visit the Marquis, who returns home to tell his daughter that she is a very lucky girl. Oleta, however, is horrified at the idea of marrying a man she has never seen and who obviously cannot be in love with her. She is very romantic and loves the country especially the woods, which have a magical influence on her and she talks to them when she rides through them on her beloved horse, Apollo. When the Marquis tells her that she cannot refuse the Duke, even if he has to drag her to the altar, Oleta runs away to her old Nanny in Norfolk, having no idea of the dangers she might face on the journey. When the Duke arrives to stay with the Marquis, he is appalled to learn that, because she is afraid of him, Oleta has ridden off on her own. He then follows her as he has a much faster horse than anyone else. How the Duke finds Oleta in a dangerous predicament and how he saves her. How, not knowing who he is, she is impressed by his intelligence, his kindness and his bravery. And how, when they finally escape from horse-thieves, he takes her to a place where they can be alone and how there they can both dream the same dream of love, is all told in this thrilling romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The beautiful Konstantina Millbank has become an orphan after her adored parents have both suddenly died. In the autumn of 1892 she finds herself in a country East of the Danube en route to live with her recently appointed Guardian, the shadowy Countess Mordhile Megherny. Konstantina knows nothing of her Guardian except that she is a recluse who lives at Megherny Castle – the Castle where Konstantina’s own mother grew up, loveless and lonely. Much time has elapsed since then, but the past and its passions are far from dead. Encountering the brooding and handsome Prince Gregor Razghadi, Konstantina finds herself enmeshed in a disturbing story of love and betrayal. Between the enchanting moments she comes to spend with the Prince by moonlight and the bewildering life she leads at Megherny Castle with only her Guardian, the unappealing Baron Schenck and the mysterious Madame Zand for company, she is forced to confront the workings of her own heart. Her trust is shattered when Konstantina suspects that Prince Gregor is not, and never will be, free to love. Meanwhile, the Countess Mordhile has her own reasons for keeping her young and vulnerable Ward under her strict control. How the web of conflicting intrigue surrounding Konstantina eventually unravels. How she tries to escape from her Guardian and Megherny Castle as well as her own heart. And how she finds out that her prayers are answered and that love can be hers, despite so much turmoil, is all told in this exciting romantic story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The Earl of Cariston is faced with insuperable problems as he has completely run out of money. He has sold everything on his estate that he can, but even so there is nothing he can do to support those who rely on him and they are on the verge of starvation. In desperation he calls into his Club to find an old friend, Lord Shield, and tells him all his woes. Lord Shield is in a bad way himself, but does suggest that he visits a certain Mr. Randon who is temporarily in London and beg for his help. Mr. Randon has made a fortune in America and used to be a good friend of the Earl’s father. The Earl goes off in some trepidation to a hotel to meet Mr. Randon, who is very ill and on the verge of dying. He tells him his sad story and is astonished when Mr. Randon makes him a most extraordinary proposition. If he will agree to marry his daughter, Kristina, at eleven o’clock the next morning, the Earl will receive a very large sum to rescue and restore his estate! The Earl has no option but to accept and is faced with marrying someone he has never met within just a few hours. Equally Kristina is forced into marriage with a complete stranger by her forceful father. How the Earl and Kristina manage to cope with their joint predicament, find out about each other and eventually gain everything theirs hearts could desire is told in this enthralling romantic story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Left on the verge of starvation by her dissolute father’s gambling and drinking, the beautiful but resourceful young Syringa Melton is at her wits’ end. Not only has their delightful Manor House and all its contents been put up for sale at auction to pay off his huge debts, but also her beloved horse, Mercury. When the rakishly handsome Earl of Rothingham overhears her sobbing to Mercury in a last desperate farewell, his heart melts for her and without Syringa’s knowledge he not only buys the Manor House and Mercury but as well, through a strange misunderstanding , Syringa herself! A man determined to avoid marriage at all costs, the Earl finds himself reluctantly but irresistibly drawn to this innocent beauty who compares him to the Roman God, Jupiter, no less! But soon the conceited but enchanting Lady Elaine Wilmot, determined to snare the Earl for herself, entraps Syringa in a wicked plot that leaves the young beauty terrified and threatened in the filth of Newgate Prison, facing a flogging and the gallows. Unless, as she prays fervently over and over again, her ‘Jupiter’ can come to her rescue.

The letter from the beautiful and innocent Una Thoreau’s dissolute father seems urgent when it arrives at her Convent School in Florence, where she is being taught by very protective nuns.Since he abandoned his family and went to Paris to pursue a career as a painter she has barely seen him, so in response to his request that she join him, she departs immediately. On arriving in Paris she is horrified to find that her father has died in an accident, but she is not told that he was extremely drunk at the time. She is alone in the world – an innocent abroad in a fin de siècle City of sin. Alone that is until her father’s agent, the scheming Monsieur Philippe Dubucheron, takes her under his wing and introduces her to the handsome ladies man, the Duke of Wolstanton, who has just arrived to stay in his grand house in Paris in order to escape from an affaire-de-coeur in Londonthat has become too difficult for him to handle. The Duke at first assumes that Una’s naïvety and simple honesty are an affectation designed to prise money and jewels from his hands as so many women have done in his past. But, as her winsome ways and innocence win him over, he realises that he has lost his heart for the very first time in his life.

The Duke of Brockenhurst, bored by Society and cynical about the beautiful women who cast themselves before him in a desperate bid to become his Duchess, accepts a wager to ride from London to York alone and incognito. Outraged by the suggestion that he has lost his verve and the command he once had whilst distinguishing himself in the Army, he decides to reflect on his future, whilst setting himself the challenge to move amongst ordinary people undetected. Valora Melford is bereaved of her beloved father and left in the care of her grasping stepmother. Determined to force her lovely stepdaughter to marry the dissolute Sir Mortimer, who is willing to pay ten thousand pounds for the pleasure, she first entreats and then threatens Valora to do as she is told. However, Valora is made of stronger stuff than her fragile exterior would suggest and she tells her stepmother in no uncertain terms that she will not marry the repulsive old Baronet. In fact Valora is adamant that she will never marry at all, as she does not believe that true love exists. Overhearing a distraught Valora arguing with her cruel stepmother in the room next to his, the Duke of Brockenhurst decides to step in and help the maiden that he can hear is clearly in distress. With his disguise unbroken, he decides to help her escape from the inn they are staying in and avoid an unwanted marriage. Immediately trusting the handsome stranger who offers to protect her until she reaches the shelter of her grandfather’s house in York, Valora packs her few possessions and they steal away together. But ten thousand pounds is a lot of money to lose and it does not take Valora’s stepmother long to realise that her stepdaughter has escaped. Outraged, she quickly dispatches two henchmen hell-bent on dragging Valora back to the altar. With her captors in hot pursuit, it appears that Valora’s escape is doomed and the Duke’s mask will be uncovered. Drawing ever closer, the Duke must use all of his Military skills and natural quick wits to keep them safe. With danger and trickery at every turn, Valora is forced to depend upon a man whose real name she does not even know.

It is almost impossible to believe, but it appears that the handsome young Italian Prince Antonio di Sogino has stolen an exquisite Florentine antique necklace from Jennie, the Marchioness of Kirkham, with whom he has enjoyed a brief dalliance on a visit to London. Distraught and terrified that her ageing husband will discover the loss of the necklace, she seeks help from her brother, Lord Mere, a military hero and a close confidant of Queen Victoria. Determined to help his sister Lord Mere travels to Florence and uncovers a sinister blackmail plot by the ugly and depraved Prince Vincente Gorizia, trapping a young beauty named Florencia into an unholy marriage. Lord Mere is struck hard by this appalling injustice and smitten in a trice by Florencia’s ethereal Raphaelite beauty, as he has always admired and been enchanted by Raphael’s paintings of other worldly Madonnas. Heroically he proposes to challenge her persecutor and meticulously plans his campaign to rescue Florencia from a dreadful fate worse than death. And, as he finds his sister’s precious necklace, he realises that he has lost his heart. But can he and Florencia ever be free of the evil Prince, free to marry and be together forever?

On the point of starvation after the death of her father, an inveterate gambler who has gamed away all the family fortune, young and beautiful Valessa Chester is literally starving and on the verge of suicide by throwing herself in the river. But then it seems that Fate has intervened when three friends of the rich and powerful Lady Sarah Barton appear at her door seeking help after her Ladyship has been injured in a fall out hunting. In gratitude for Valessa’s ministrations, Lady Barton offers Valessa the huge sum of two hundred pounds to help her with a secret charade that she is planning for her house party at her nearby mansion. Little does Valessa know, as she shyly agrees because she is in desperate need of the money, that the charade is Lady Sarah’s wicked plot for revenge on the haughty and handsome Marquis of Wyndonbury, who has snubbed her marriage proposal after he has been having a torrid affaire de coeur with her. The cynical charade duly takes place and Valessa finds that she has been unwittingly married legally and properly to the Marquis. And in his understandable rage she finds him terrifying yet magnificent. But, as they voyage to the South of France on his luxury yacht to escape the fallout from his marriage, he is transformed in Valessa’s eyes from the ogre she so feared to her tender and considerate ‘Man in the Moon’ – with whom she is falling irreversibly in love.

The dashing Marquis of Oakenshaw is asked by the Foreign Secretary to visit Siam to reassure the King who has been upset by Britain and France quarrelling over the frontiers. Wealthy, handsome and a confirmed bachelor, the Marquis asks several friends to accompany him on his yacht to stave off the boredom of the long journey, including the latest Social Beauty – the recently widowed Lady Bradwell. At the last moment, Lady Bradwell, having accepted excitedly, finds herself without a lady’s maid. Her cousin Tarina, also very beautiful but extremely poor, agrees to come with her under a disguised name. How Tarina learns for the first time of the intrigues and temptations of Society but how she also lifts her eyes to the stars is told in this romance novel by Barbara Cartland.

Wealthy businessman John Gardner counts his wife, the widowed Countess Napier, as his finest possession. Beautiful, refined and a devoted mother, the Countess has the one thing that all his money cannot buy – a place in Society. When she dies still grieving for her first husband, the volatile Mr Gardener decides that his stepdaughter, Lady Selina, should become his passport into the titled classes. Eager to fit into a world that values birthright over cash, he decides to marry her off to the highest bidder. But he hasn’t bargained for his vivacious stepdaughter’s willful defiance. Determined to marry only for love, Selina flees the harsh discipline of Gardener Manor and takes her chances on the open road. Rescued from peril by the Marquis of Castleton, a serious and thoughtful man committed to doing his best for the people of his estate, Selina finds in him an unlikely ally. Equally appalled at plans for his own arranged marriage, the pair join forces against those intent on pushing them up the aisle. Pitched into an exciting adventure that sees them chased across Europe, Selina and the Marquis soon discover that despite their age difference they are both romantics searching for true love. But will they find it, or will their sense of duty see them both married to the wrong person? Trickery, deception and a tangled web of emotions will see their good intentions pushed to the limits, before the final explosive showdown where the Marquis finally proves himself a man of shrewd wit – and passion.

The Marquis of Milverton strides into White?s Club in a high state of irritation as he is being pestered by his family to take a ?suitable? girl for his wife. He is not surprised to find that his aristocratic friends are suffering the same pressure and they gather together to complain about their plight. They are all having affaires-de-coeurs with seductive married ladies and the Marquis himself is very much involved with a glamorous Countess. However they all recognise that they will have to marry eventually to carry on their ancestral titles and family legacy. Listening to their grumbling is the Duke of Sandelford and he challenges them to go out into the countryside in disguise and find a beautiful girl to be their dream wife. If after three months, they failed they were to admit failure and accept their family?s suggestions. He also offers a one thousand pounds prize to those who succeed. He left them feeling it was at least a sporting chance and the Marquis was the first to accept the Duke?s challenge. Disguising himself as John Milton he sets out alone on his horse and has a number of unlikely adventures with people he would normally have never encountered. He helps some of them to happiness, then becomes bored and decides to return home, but will give one more village a last chance. How the Marquis becomes involved with a ruthless gang of horse thieves and then unexpectedly finds all he is seeking and can claim the Duke?s prize is told in this exciting and different tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

After years of fighting with the Duke of Wellington against Napoleon, the Marquis of Melverley has neglected his family seat, preferring his dalliances with London’s Beau Monde beauties. Now, betrayed by his latest mistress, he returns to Melverley Hall to lick his wounds, but nearing home he is halted by an accident and meets the beautiful young Christina Churston, heartbroken at the death of her old but very beloved pony. Soon, he is appalled to find that she is not only orphaned but also being pestered by a lecherous old womaniser, who lives nearby. So the Marquis promptly offers her his protection at Melverly Hall to be chaperoned by his old Governess, Miss Dickson. Just as Christina melts his heart and he sets about saving the local people from penury, she is kidnapped by the Marquis’s evil cousin, Terence Verley, who is the Heir Presumptive to the title and the estate. Kidnapped, imprisoned and about to lose her life, or worse, Christina realises too late that she has lost her heart to the Marquis, whom she is sure that she will never see again –

While staying at Lady Merrill’s French Riviera villa, flame haired and beautiful American heiress Nevada van Arden passes her time by casually breaking the hearts of her many ardent suitors – particularly that of young David, Lord Merrill. When his uncle, intrepid explorer and diplomat Tyrone Strome, overhears her cruel humiliation of his lovelorn nephew, he resolves to teach this ‘vixen’ a lesson – and save David from his misery. Tyrone Strome abducts Nevada, spiriting her away in his luxury yacht to Morocco. There the reluctant voyager, swaddled in native clothing, is terrified by the perils of the Sahara and its nomadic tribesmen. But, as they flee from certain death or worse, they find sanctuary in a beautiful hidden valley, a second Garden of Eden, where to Nevada’s surprise, love begins to blossom in the desert.

When John Chester returned to England after suddenly inheriting a Dukedom he knew his life had changed forever. But he didn't know just how much. Gina Wilton was like a breath of fresh air. But she was also everything John disapproved of in a young women, independent, assertive, always ready to contradict him. Yet she had ideas about restoring his dilapidated castle, and he found he needed her help. The more they were together, the more he noticed how pretty she was, how witty and sparkling. But how could he believe that Gina was attracted to him, when it was she who produced an heiress and advised him to marry her? And when she was so clearly in love with another man. But there were more surprises in store for him. How they sorted out the love triangle in a way that nobody could have anticipated, is all told in this romantic novel, the 665th by BARBARA CARTLAND.

After her young nephew and two nieces’ parents are drowned in a tragic sailing accident off the coast of Cornwall, the beautiful red-headed Tamara is devastated by their loss and realises almost at once that she is the only person who can look after the three children as she loves them so much. She speaks to the local Solicitor, who tells her that there is no money left in her brother-in-law’s estate and so she has no choice but to take the three children to their uncle, the Duke of Granchester, who lives in splendid isolation in a vast sprawling but intimidating Castle in Gloucestershire. The prospect at once appals Tamara. Firstly because she despises the Duke for the way he had cut off all contact with her sister and brother-in-law as he disapproved of their marriage, thinking that she was an actress when in fact she was a renowned opera singer. Worse still, Tamara has written a somewhat scurrilous novel portraying the Duke as the vile character she believes him to be! And the novel is just about to be published in London! Arriving at Granchester Castle in the guise of the children’s Governess, she finds the Duke to be as arrogant, high-handed and annoyingly handsome as her fictional portrayal of him and she hates him even more bitterly. Until a touch of love intervenes and changes everything forever.

When her father, the Grand Duke, tells the lovely young Princess Tora of Radoslav that she is to marry the aged King of Salona, she is appalled and horrified. But no amount of pleading by her will change her father's mind. So Tora decides that she must find a way to see her prospective husband without his being aware of her presence and then try to find a way to escape her awful Fate. Since she is a talented musician, she has little difficulty in persuading her dear friend, Professor Lazar Srejovic, the nation's greatest musician, to allow her to join his famous quartet for a concert at the King of Salona's Palace. She devises a cunning plan to escape from the Palace of Radoslav, so that her father cannot stop her and joins up secretly with the Professor's quartet to travel by carriage to Maglic, the Capital of Salona. But on arriving at an inn on the way disguised in peasant dress, she is terrified to unexpectantly overhear a sinister plot to murder and violently overthrow the King of Salona and seize his country by force. Her life is now in danger, but, when a dashing and handsome stranger comes to her rescue when she is hiding in a wood near the inn, she loses her heart to him utterly in a moment and just as quickly loses all hope that they can ever be together. And her future is sealed for ever with no hope of love and happiness.

After the death of her beloved mother, the beautiful young Salrina Milborne and her father, Lord Milborne, have found themselves in straitened circumstances. And now that her father has hurt his leg in a riding accident he is unable to complete the training of the horses they depend on for their income. Reluctantly Lord Milborne has agreed to sell one of his most precious thoroughbreds and, against his better judgement, he allows Salrina to ride unaccompanied to complete the sale some distance from their Manor House. When a vicious storm strikes, Salrina takes shelter in the stables of a Posting inn and there she overhears a conversation that will change her life. An English aristocrat is scheming with a sinister Frenchman to assassinate the Prince Regent at one of his extravagant parties at Carlton House in London! In the middle of the War against Napoleon this would have a devastating effect on British morale and would hand a considerable advantage to the French Emperor. Terrified, Salrina takes the news to the haughtily handsome Alaric, the Earl of Fleetwood, who at first believes that her story is a ploy to gain entry to his exclusive parties. She dislikes the arrogant Earl intensely, but is impressed by his magnificent houses in London and the country. But gradually, as she discerns his heroic hidden qualities, her hate turns to an all-encompassing love.

Demure young beauty Carola Greton’s brother, Sir Peter, comes home from London with a very strange proposition for his sister. He asks her to pretend for a few days to be the wife of his friend, the Marquis of Broxburne! The reason for the charade is that the Marquis is in line for the post of Chairman of a new automobile Company founded by an American acquaintance, the multimillionaire Mr. Alton Westwood. Although eager to secure the position of Chairman, the Marquis is desperate to avoid Mr. Westwood’s attempts to marry him off to his daughter Mary-Lou – so he has told the American that he is already married. And that is where Carola comes in – playacting the part of the Marchioness of Broxburne for the duration of the Westwoods’ stay at Brox Hall. Thus begins a tangled web that leads to Carola pretending to be her brother’s cousin as well. It is a web that ties her in knots of anguish when she falls head over heels in love, but it seems that her own lies will ensure that this Divine love can never be fulfilled –

The Marquis of Stowe is on the verge of a dreadful scandal that threatens to ruin both him and the lovely, but married, Lady Burnham. Knowing that their secret is out and that her husband will be plotting revenge, the Marquis casts about desperately for a way to avoid the scandal, which he knows is inevitable despite the wealth and good looks that have made him a darling of the Beau Monde. Seeing a perfect solution, he decides to offer marriage to the Duke of Dawlish’s daughter and leaves for the country. Surely the Duke will be grateful for his daughter to make such a match? There is only one problem – marrying the Duke’s daughter might provide a way out of his current dilemma, but having met her the Marquis is dismayed by her dullness. Horrified at the sacrifice he would have to make, he suddenly realises that there is another way to put the cuckolded husband off the scent and preserve his freedom – as long as he can find a young woman happy to go along with his seemingly foolproof idea. Eager to renew his acquaintance with Ajanta Tiverton, the beautiful daughter of a local Vicar, the Marquis hurtles to the Vicarage to tell her his plan and the role that only she can play. Certain that this will get him out of immediate danger and sure that he can offer an attractive financial incentive to help the impoverished family, it seems that if their daring charade is successful everyone involved will benefit. All Ajanta has to do is play her part and all will be well. Swept into a rich luxurious world they have never known before, the Marquis sets out to charm the Vicar and Ajanta’s sisters. Delighted by their new surroundings and excited by the attention of the eloquent Marquis they cannot believe the happiness Ajanta has bought into their lives. But the Marquis is not the only one masking the truth – Ajanta too has a family secret she would prefer not to share and, as the deception continues and feelings run high, she cannot help but worry what will happen in the final Act of their play and where the curtain will fall.

The Marquis of Kexley seems to have everything a girl could want – wealth, good looks, intelligence, athletic prowess – and a title. The only thing he doesn’t possess is respect for the legion of women who throw themselves at him, desperate to claim some of his attention. He firmly believes that the woman that could love him forever, and whom he could love in return simply does not exist. Plagued by debutantes with ambitious mothers who have their eyes firmly set on all that he has to offer, the Marquis becomes renowned for his relationships with bored society wives. But this time is seems that he has sorely misjudged the situation and he is horrified when glamorous widow, Isobel Heywood his current affaires-de-coeur, softly suggests that they should be married. With marriage the last thing on his mind, and cursing himself for getting involved with a woman free to marry, he evades her question by pretending to sleep whilst plotting to escape as quickly as possible. With his prized yacht at his disposal the Marquis beats a hasty retreat from London and makes for Scotland to stay with the Earl of Darendell, and enjoy the salmon fishing on the Earl’s large country estate. But it seems that the Marquis cannot escape his past no matter how far he runs. Within hours of arriving a surprise member of the household threatens to ruin him, and the daughter of the house, Celina, with her ruthless plotting. Once more on the run, and offering the beautiful Celina his protection, the Marquis seeks sanctuary in the tranquility of the Orkney Islands. With danger at every turn, together, they set out an adventure that neither will ever forget.

Having watched her dissolute father squander the family’s fortune on his disreputable and extravagant lifestyle, young flame-haired beauty Aria Milborne despises the empty glamour of Society. So she is dismayed when she is forced take a job with an American millionaire in order to save the beloved family home, Queen’s Folly, where her brother, Charles, works night and day to make ends meet. Appalled by Dart Huron’s arrogance and the behaviour of his spoilt film star floozy Lulu Carlo, who is desperately trying to marry him, Aria finds herself at loggerheads with her new employer while being pursued relentlessly by his amorous aristocratic friend, Lord BAuckleigh. When Dart offers Aria a fortune to agree to a pretend engagement designed to free him from the grasping Lulu, she finds herself emblazoned across the Press throughout the land to her shame and humiliation. Her heart fills with hate for the dashing Dart Huron until the news that he has been shot almost stops her own heart and she understands that this is not hate at all – This is love.

The beautiful Iona Langdale is walking in her favourite wood the day before her wedding, which is planned to be a huge Society event with marquees and fireworks and attended by her large family and all her smart friends from London. She is musing dreamily about how happy she will be once she is married to her next door neighbour, John Moreton, whom she has known since childhood. Beside a hut by a pool in the wood, she sees her fiancé’s horse tied up to a post and can hear voices coming from inside. She listens without really meaning to and it is John who is speaking to the Vicar’s daughter, Mary. He is telling her how much he loves her, but he has to go through with marrying Iona because he needs her money to repair his house and pay off his father’s debts and Iona is a millionairess. Iona is deeply shocked and disillusioned and, despite her wedding happening tomorrow, she decides to run away as she cannot marry John after hearing that he is so desperately in love with Mary. She sets off not knowing where she should go and after a number of adventures she unexpectedly becomes the cook at the magnificent house of the Earl of Woodbridge. The few servants in his house are frightened of him because of his bad temper which is caused by the fact that he has spent several years looking for his family’s treasure hidden by his miserly uncle before he died, but to no avail. The Earl has spent all his money in searching for the elusive treasure and now he cannot even afford to pay his servants. How Iona cooks superb dishes for the Earl, how she saves his life and how she finds the real love she is seeking is all told in this fascinating story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

An unexpected letter from an old friend, His Royal Highness Prince Kraus of Oldessa, to the Duke of Norlington contains a surprise that could change the lives of the young Duke and his ravishing sister, Lady Latasha, forever. Happily living on the Norlington family estate, quietly content amongst the lovely gardens and beauty of the English countryside, both siblings are astonished to learn that the Prince is seeking the Duke’s consent for his brother, Prince Stefan, to ask for Latasha’s hand in marriage. Appalled at the thought of marrying a man she has never met, Latasha quickly realises that this is a political alliance that would benefit Prince Kraus, regardless of her feelings. Beautiful and intelligent, Latasha understands her main charm for him is her blood link to the Royal family, and the British protection such a marriage would afford his small principality from a Russian takeover. Whilst appreciating the severity of the situation in the Balkans, Latasha quickly makes it clear that she intends only to marry for love. Defiant and headstrong, she is horrified when she realises that Queen Victoria is happy to give the match her blessing. But can she really sacrifice her own future happiness to secure the safety of others? Torn between patriotic duty and her wish for romance, Latasha reluctantly agrees to visit Oldessa in disguise to find out what Prince Stephan can offer in return for her freedom. Accompanied only by her elderly Nanny, and with the dark forces of the Russian army threatening all those living in ‘The Kingdom of Flowers’, Latasha’s dreams are tested to the limits as she battles to save a principality – and find true love.

Eighteen-year-old Fenella is a mischievous as her freckled elfin beauty and feline green eyes suggest – but beneath that puckish charm she hides her ardent desire to do all in her power to make her beloved cousin Periquine, Lord Corbury, happy. When to her chagrin the dashing Lord returns from the Napoleonic War after fighting with Wellington, penniless and passionately in love with another – a woman of great wealth and even greater beauty, whom he cannot marry without wealth of his own, Fenella sacrifices her private passion to his wellbeing. Laying her life and her love on the line, she joins Periquine in a swashbuckling and death-defying life of crime as highwaymen, robbers and smugglers. Will their exploits reap the riches he needs? And will Fenella’s all-conquering love remain unrequited? Only when Perequine faces losing her forever will he find the answer in his heart...

Calina Hart’s mother, the lovely Lady Carol Wood, was being forced by her ambitious father, the Earl of Hurstwood, to marry the Duke of Denholme, who is dull, boring and a poor rider – but is a Duke! Early in the morning of the day of her Wedding to the Duke Lady Carol runs away with John Hart, who is a brilliant trainer of her father’s horses, as she has fallen in love with him and refuses to marry a man she does not and cannot love. The Earl is furious and the Duke is made to look a fool and Society is understandably scandalised and fascinated by the story of the runaway bride. They marry at once and then escape to Cornwall and nobody knows where they are and soon their adored daughter, Calina, is born and she becomes more beautiful every year. Lady Carol and John Hart had always been very happy together until he died of a virulent fever in Egypt whilst taking four outstanding horses he had trained to the Khedive. Calina and her mother had been about to travel to Egypt to visit his grave when her mother had died more of a broken heart than anything else. Although Calina did not have much money, she wanted to carry on with the journey that she and her mother had planned and she left on a ship bound for Cairo. As she was not chaperoned, she wore widows weeds and called herself ‘Lady Hartington’ after making slight alterations to her mother’s passport. As she has a title, she is invited to join the Captain’s table and there she meets the good-looking Marquis of Merryfield, who is gracious and charming to her and they enjoy each other’s company. Later in the voyage after stopping at Naples she meets Mr. Oliver Bagshot, an American millionaire, who never stops talking about himself and he is instantly attracted to Calina and begins to pester her. How she finds Mr. Oliver Bagshot in her cabin one night after dinner with a bottle of champagne in his hand and how she runs desperately to the Marquis for help and with a most unexpected result is all told in this romantic and intriguing tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When the Balkan Prince Stanislaus demanded an English bride, Queen Victoria decided to send him Lady Lavina, whose family had a slight connection with royalty. Determined to avoid this fate, Lavina threw herself on the mercy of the Marquis of Elswick, a disagreeable man who had turned his back on the world following betrayal by the woman he had loved. Surprisingly, he agreed to help by pretending to be engaged to Lavina, and, with her father, they left to visit her relatives in Scotland. In the highlands Lavina began to find herself attracted to the Marquis. Beneath his harsh manners he had a heart a heart that perhaps she could win. But nearby was the Queen's country home, Balmoral, and when Her Majesty arrived with Prince Stanislaus, they knew that there was still a battle to be fought. Now Lavina learned the shattering secret that was the real reason the Marquis had agreed to help her. And that secret was to threaten to take from her the man she loved. How she discovered the truth in a way that nearly cost him his life, is told in this romantic novel, the 658th by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Almost identical in their golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty and similarly named, cousins Antonia ‘Toni’ Combe and Latonia Hythe are nevertheless very different personalities. Desperate to avoid a journey to India forced on her by her stern uncle, Kenrick Combe, the new Lord Branscombe, and which would prevent her marrying the man she desperately loves , the flirtatious and capricious Toni beseeches her cousin to take her place as her Uncle Kenrick has not seen Toni for many years. So conscientious Latonia nervously accepts the pretence, assumes the role of her cousin and then sets sail with her stern protector for India. Berated and frowned upon by his Lordship for her cousin’s ‘misdeeds’, Latonia nevertheless looks forward to the adventure of visiting and seeing India, until her deception is revealed to his Lordship’s fury! But, when she overhears a sinister plot to kill him, she rushes in the night to warn him and is rewarded with passionate kiss, she suddenly knows that it is not hate but love that burns in her heart – love for a man who must surely despise her forever –

Hugo, the Duke of Wynchester enjoys many affaires de coeur and his latest lover, the beautiful but scheming and spoilt Olive Lady Brandon, is trying to blackmail him into marriage by forcing her husband to divorce her. Storming angrily from her house, Hugo finds a strange stowaway aboard his carriage. It transpires that this frail elfin beauty is none other that Janeta Brandon, Olive’s step-daughter, and that she is fleeing the marriage her stepmother has arranged to an old man known to beat not only his servants and horses but also his late wife. When the Duke realises that Janeta means to kill herself rather than face a loveless marriage, he is struck by a cunning way to rescue them both by announcing their ‘engagement’. They are then married in a quiet ceremony in the Duke’s private Chapel. It is only when Janeta saves him from death by poisoning by the hand of her stepmother that the Duke realises that he has been in love with her from the moment he first saw her. But surely the scorned Olive’s fury will ensure their love is doomed before it can blossom.

Innocent and lovely Shimona Bardsley’s father, the celebrated actor Beau Bardsley, has fallen desperately ill and yet he insists on persevering with the evening’s performance as Hamlet at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. A concerned Shimona accompanies him to the theatre where she overhears the notoriously disreputable Duke of Ravenstone – known as ‘His Disgrace’ – offering her father the huge sum of five hundred guineas to find him an actress to play ‘a part’ for just two nights. Desperate to raise enough money to take her father to a warmer clime and thereby save his life, Shimona accepts the Duke’s offer and finds herself reluctantly embroiled in a deception that her conscience finds hard to bear. Unchaperoned in the grand Ravenstone House in London with the devilish Duke and an imperious Clan Chieftain, Shimona is afraid, alone and in trouble – But soon, to her bewilderment and ecstasy, she finds that she is also in love.

At the ball that was to change her life, Rona Trafford danced with a mysterious Harlequin. She learned that this prospective suitor was being unfaithful to another, and so fled to Paris, taking up a job as a governess. Her employer's brother joined them. Unknown to her, he was concealing a dramatic secret, one that threatened to destroy them both. How they confronted danger, and how Rona learned more about the Harlequin, is told in this exciting romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Teresa is everything her father Sir Hubert Bryan could wish for – clever, loyal and sharp-witted. The only problem is that she was born a girl and not the son he hoped would follow in his footsteps. But Teresa sees no reason why her gender should prevent her from being an asset to him in his mighty shipping empire, and tells him so. Sir Hubert is astounded at her request – he is far more concerned that his beautiful daughter will fall prey to the scavengers and fortune hunters amongst London Society. Having made his own vast fortune the hard way he is only too aware of what men will do to have access to the kind of wealth his lovely daughter will inherit. So when his dear friend the Marquess of Walstoke begs for help to prevent his heir Harry, the Earl of Lanbourne, making a disastrous marriage to a notorious actress he sees an opportunity to help his friend, and set a test of intelligence for his daughter too. Together, the two men hatch a plot to ‘save’ Harry from himself and prevent him from ruining his life. Promising her work in the family business, Teresa agrees to her father’s pleas to play a central character in a daring deception. But Harry is not a fool, and astounded at his uncle’s lack of faith in him he storms off to Bourne Hall, his family estate, taking Teresa with him. Teresa is torn; she loves her father but the longer she spends with Harry the more her loyalties are tested. Experiencing strange new feelings, she begins to have her own reasons to make sure that Harry puts the past behind him. But are these reciprocated? Or is Harry destined to shake the foundations of Society by making his flame-haired actress the new Countess of Lanbourne?

When the Duke of Barningforde was told by his second son, Alastair, that he had married an actress in Paris without his approval, he exiled Alastair from England with only a very small allowance. His wife, Grace, actually came from a good Scottish family and was not an actress, but had a very fine soprano voice and sang with a famous French orchestra. But the Duke would not listen and Alastair and Grace never again set foot in their homeland. They were blessed with one beautiful daughter, Kayla, who is well educated thanks to Grace’s efforts after Alastair’s untimely death. Then Grace dies and Kayla, now eighteen, is left all alone in the world. At her mother’s suggestion, she returns to England and throws herself on the mercy of her grandfather, the Duke. Grudgingly the Duke takes her in to Forde Hall and is permanently hostile towards her, but at least she has somewhere to live. Then, to score off his neighbour, the Earl of Rothwoode, the Duke arranges for Kayla at a moment’s notice to marry his son, Christopher, the Viscount Roth. They do not meet until their wedding day and they both hate the marriage forced on them and inevitably dislike each other. To distance himself from his father, Christopher then sets out for Nepal with his new bride. How in that beautiful country, called ‘the roof of the world’, Kayla and Christopher find the key to everything they are both seeking in life is told in this unusual romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When fog leaves the Duke of Marazion stranded at a bleak inn, he soothes his restless soul with a brandy, a book and a roaring fire. A glittering figure amongst London Society, the rich and handsome Duke has everything he could ever want – apart from true love. As he sits, determined to continue his journey as soon as possible, he cannot foresee the consequences of answering a late night knock at his door. Astonished to find a young woman alone and in distress, he naturally takes on the role of her rescuer. Calming her frightened tears, he discovers that lovely runaway, Ilitta, is not only a talented artist but also a perceptive girl whose judgment he can immediately trust. Offering his protection and an introduction into the coveted London art world in exchange for her instinctive response to his new business partners, they set off together. As refreshing as a spring morning in comparison to the worldly-wise beauties he usually spends time with, the Duke is amused and then enchanted by his unlikely new friend. Determined to discover the secrets behind Ilitta’s decision to run away, the Duke hopes that soon she will accept his sensible advice and return home. But just as the Duke discovers his true feelings, the seductive charm of a tempting Comtesse forces him to make a decision that will change his life forever.

Banished by her malicious stepmother, Lady Cranleigh, after the death of her father, Melita braves a long and lonely sea voyage from England to the Caribbean island of Martinique. With a heavy heart at leaving her childhood home, as her father has left her penniless, she has no choice but to comply with her stepmother’s bidding and accept her reduced circumstances with grace. As the ship sails ever closer to her destiny, Melita is determined to face her new life as a lowly Governess to motherless little Rose-Marie with fortitude. Arriving in the French colony, Melita is delighted to discover Martinique is a sun-drenched island blessed with beauty. Overwhelmed by the clear blue skies and the abundance of colourful flowers and shrubs, she begins to believe that she can be happy again, especially when she meets the handsome and surprisingly young, Comte de Vesonne, her new employer. Gazing at each other in astonishment, both are pleasantly surprised to discover something that they were not expecting. But not everyone at the sugar plantation is so pleased to welcome her and, when Melita hears drums pounding softly in the night, shattering the tranquility of the safe haven she has found at Vesonne, she remembers with foreboding the warnings she has heard about Voodoo practiced by the African slaves. Can the mysterious old woman that the slaves call their Mamba really call on the spirits of the dead? And if so, do they mean to help or harm her and the Comte she so much admires and is beginning to love? One thing is for sure – she will protect her young charge, little Rose-Marie, with her life if needs be.

Following the sudden death of his rakish father, Seldon Burn unexpectedly inherits the title of Duke of Otterburn. Returning to the family estate, he swiftly discovers that the title is the only thing he has inherited – along with a mountain of his father’s debts and nothing to pay them with. A brave and proud soldier, nothing has prepared the new Duke for the devastation to the family coffers caused by his late father’s love of lavish entertainment, Gaiety Girls and good living. Meeting with the family Solicitor, the Duke is horrified to discover the Ducal properties are crumbling, everything of value is entailed and even the racehorses have not been schooled properly. Desperately seeking to rebuild the family fortune and honourably fulfil his duty of care to the old and infirm of the village, his cousin Edith, a sophisticated Socialite, offers a solution. She suggests that he follows in the footsteps of many an impoverished English aristocrat and marries a wealthy American heiress – she even has a fitting bride in mind from her recent visit to New York. With no viable alternative and a pressing demand for money, a wedding is hastily arranged – but will the English traditions of generations of the Burn’s family be overshadowed by the razzle-dazzle of the Duke’s mother-in-law to be, Mrs. Vandevilt, the renowned New York hostess? Horrified at being married for his title and not love, the Duke is so angry that he barely considers the feelings of his young and vulnerable bride. Meanwhile, the lovely Magnolia Vandevilt, one of the richest heiresses in America, is equally disgusted and contemptuous of a man who is marrying her only for her money. Joined together in holy matrimony, can this marriage of convenience ever be more than a disappointment and battleground as both parties dream of the love they might have had?

The Marquis of Havingham visits his mother in Harrogate to tell her he intends to marry Lady Beryl Fern, the most acclaimed beauty in the Prince Regent’s circle. This should be the happiest day of his life – he is handsome, fabulously wealthy and now about to be a bridegroom. There is only one cloud on the horizon – he is not in love. Convinced that true love is not worth the heartache, and that marriage to the ‘Incomparable’ Lady Beryl, will work because of their shared interests and position amongst the Beau Monde, only his mother is worried that he may be making a terrible mistake. For Torilla, the daughter of a clergyman working in the deprived mining village of Barrowfield, the news of the wedding means travelling South to be her cousin, Lady Beryl’s, bridesmaid. Torilla is excited, not only about the wedding, but also the opportunity to return to the genteel parish she and her father left after the tragic death of her mother. For a young woman who has spent time amongst the grime and squalor of the mines, the lavish preparations and generosity of her cousin seem at times almost overwhelming. But as the wedding draws ever nearer Torilla cannot help wondering how attached the betrothed couple really are to each other. Their relationship is certainly nothing like the perfect soul mates that the cousins used to dream of. Afraid to question her cousin, Torilla unknowingly shares the same concerns as the Marquis’ mother. Can a marriage really work that is based only on convenience? And as Torilla gets to know the Marquis better she becomes even more convinced that this is not a match made in heaven. But will anyone be brave enough to say something? With her feelings in turmoil and filled with concern for the future happiness of all, Torilla certainly hopes so.

Beautiful, flirtatious and romantic Valeria Montford is used to attracting admiring glances from the most eligible young men in Society. But galloping through the French countryside she discovers that pride definitely comes before a fall. A confident horsewoman, she is mortified when she is thrown in full view of Lord Charles Waterford. Embarrassed, and missing the usual praise for her equine skills, she decides that she hates Lord Waterford for making her feel humiliated. Then she meets Sir Peter Cousins – devastatingly handsome, exciting and slightly dangerous. Enchanted by Sir Peter’s charm and obvious admiration Valeria becomes even more contemptuous of Lord Waterford’s quieter nature. Back in England, Valeria’s beloved father sadly confesses that a cad has defrauded him of his fortune. He can see only one way to pay his creditors and escape total financial ruin – Valeria must make a good marriage, and he already has a prospective suitor in mind. Still dreaming of Sir Peter and horrified at the prospect of a marriage without love, Valeria’s heart is thrown into confusion. So when Lord Waterford suggests that she helps him restore his Castle she seizes the chance to escape, hoping against hope that Sir Peter will find her and offer a proposal that will satisfy everyone. In London, as the cream of Society prepares for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, Valeria is faced with the most difficult decision of her life. Should she accept her father’s choice of suitor and assure her family’s place in Society? Or hold out for the man she really loves? But just as Valeria comes to understand the true nature of love, friendship and security it seems that she has lost all chance of happiness forever.

The handsome and debonair Marquis of Raventhorpe is known throughout the Beau Monde as something of a ladies’ man until he falls under the spell of Society beauty Lady Sarah Chessington. But when he arrives at the Earl of Chessington-Crewe’s house to propose, he realises that Lady Sarah wants him only for his wealth and position and he leaves in a fury, vowing that he will never marry. By the wayside he encounters a young exquisite beauty utterly different from any woman he has ever met, in fact she looks like an angel who has just fallen from Heaven by mistake. She is the Earl’s niece and ward, Ula Forde, who is running away from her Guardian, who mistreats and beats her savagely. Outraged, the Marquis rescues her and plots to punish Lady Sarah and the Earl by making Ula the belle of every ball and the toast of London Society. It is only when the despicable Earl kidnaps the terrified girl that love for Ula blossoms in the Marquis’s heart. He must rescue her – if he is not already too late –

Daughter of the Earl of Longwood, a gentleman gambler, and the Countess of Longwood, a society beauty, Lady Yolanda Wood has an exciting if unconventional childhood travelling around the casinos and racecourses of Europe. But life changes dramatically after the tragic death of her father, and she and her ravishing mother are left penniless and alone. In mourning for her husband, and dependent on the kindness of self-made millionaire Oliver Garrack, the Countess’s gratitude swiftly turns to romance and Yolanda finds herself with a stepfather she neither likes nor respects. For several years Yolanda finds solace in her French Convent School but her world is rocked again when her mother suddenly dies, leaving her an orphan with only her stepfather to protect her from poverty and destitution. As fate forces them together, Yolanda begins to understand how much her stepfather worshipped her mother, and gains an insight into the workings of his clever brain. As her feelings change from acceptance to admiration she is shocked to find that he will stop at nothing to make money.Torn between helping him gain a contract that is certain to make him even more millions, and repaying an old debt to a friend of her fathers, Lord Milborne, Yolanda is plunged into the darker side of business. But when she secretly visits Lord Milborne she finds he is not in the least what she expected, and her loyalties are tested to the limits. Torn between who to trust and a desire to find true love, Yolanda faces difficult choices and challenges that she could never have dreamt of along the way to true happiness.

The beautiful Lady Celita Dale, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Langdale, is dismayed to hear that her best friend Judy’s father, Lord Waterforde, intends to marry his daughter off against her will to the Duc de Sahran who lives in the exotic South of France and whom she has never even met. Worse still, Judy is secretly in love with a charming young man called Clive Cunningham. Despatched to Provence to meet the Duc at his Fairy tale château the two girls are in despair until the resourceful Celita colludes with the dashing Duc in a subtle deception. To appease Lord Waterforde instead of proposing to Judy, the Duc declares his undying love for Celita, thus freeing Judy to marry her beloved Clive. The ruse appears to work until the Duc’s jealous former lover lures Celita into mortal danger. Just as she realises that she has lost her heart to the handsome Frenchman, she is also about to lose her life –

Dutiful, demure and far lovelier than she knows, Princess Zosina, the eldest daughter of the Archduke Ferdinand of Lützelstein, is reluctantly obedient when her father announces that she must marry King Gyórgy of neighbouring Dórsia in order to create an alliance between the two nations that will defend them against the threat from the German Empire. Arriving in Dórsia on a State visit she is greeted by the country’s Regent, a kind, handsome and very considerate Prince. By contrast and much to Zosina’s dismay, her future husband King Gyórgy is as wild and disagreeable as his reputation had suggested. It seems that for the sake of her country she must yield to a life without love – until dramatic events supersede even the power of Kings and the hope is rekindled in the young Princess Zosina’s heart that happiness and true love will triumph after all.

Dorina's father had been an industrialist, an inventor and a genius who trained her to be his heir, sending her abroad to learn many languages. While she was in France she learned that he had died, and she must now take over his business. But she does not feel ready, especially as she knows he has been trying to design a horseless carriage. For a while she keeps his death a secret, to give herself time to learn, and goes to work for his great rival, the Earl of Kennington. He is younger than she had expected, and much better looking. Working closely with him, and living in his house, she finds herself drawn to him. Then she learns that he too is designing a horseless carriage and realises that they are in direct competition. What will he say when he discovers her true identity? As she fears, he is bitterly hurt and angry. How they competed in a daredevil race, and what the Prince of Wales did to bring them together is told in this romantic novel.

When her grandmother dies, Paola, the beautiful young daughter of the Earl and Countess of Berisforde is dismayed to find that the family’s customary six months’ mourning means that she will miss her debut in the London Season. Instead her mother sends her to stay in the ancient and historic Italian town of Lucca with her aunt, the Contessa Raulo, who is to be her chaperone. Paola’s adventurer cousin Hugo arrives just before she leaves and asks a favour of Paola that is to prove fateful. Having promised her mother that she will avoid him at all costs, Paola must now seek out a notorious ‘ladies’ man’, the Marchese Vittorio di Lucca, and deliver a precious package to him. It is a huge diamond set in a ring that had been presented some years earlier to the Marchese by the Nizam of Hyderabad, which had been stolen and which Hugo had brilliantly retrieved at great risk to his life. Within the spectacular mediaeval ramparts of Lucca, Paola accomplishes her mission, falls in love with the beautiful town – and then, after a terrifying ordeal at the hands of murderous thugs, with its most prominent citizen as well!

Since his beloved wife’s death, Sir Robert Royden finds it unbearable to stay at home in his ancestral Manor House and instead spends his nights drinking and gambling away the family fortune in the low spots of London, leaving his beautiful young daughter Crisa to her own devices and her adored horses. One day, after a long absence, he brings to their home an American millionaire, who wants Crisa’s hand in marriage in return for a large sum of money that will keep her, the family estate and her father in comfort in perpetuity. And so poor Crisa is virtually forced into marrying him and then finds herself in a ‘golden cage’, trapped at the huge and ugly New York mansion of the aged Silas P. Vanderhault. When her husband dies suddenly after a stroke on the Liner to New York, she is besieged by his grasping family, who have been cut out of his will as he has left everything to Crisa. She carefully prepares her plan and then manages to make her escape from them by using a false name and passport to voyage back to England on a French luxury Liner. Mid-Atlantic and by pure chance she meets a mysterious, handsome but temporarily blinded man in one of the best suites on the Liner, who needs her help as a secretary for his correspondence. And in a matter of days, she is in love – A love that surely is doomed from the very start!

After a rash argument in White’s Club, Sir Denzil Caversham is embroiled in a duel, which ends in his accidentally killing his foe, a well-known member of Society, and he is forced into exile for three years in America. His absence leaves his ailing wife impoverished, so their beautiful daughter, Thalia, decides to rescue the family by working at a fashionable milliner’s shop serving the tastes of the ladies of London’s Beau Monde. Under the assumed name of ‘Thalia Carver’, she catches the eye of the dashing and handsome Earl of Hellingham, who is instantly determined to make her his mistress and offers her endless inducements and she refuses them all. The Earl has no idea who Thalia really is, nor that she is the anonymous author of a provocative book poking fun at the ‘English Gentleman’ that is the talk of the Social World and all the Gentleman’s Clubs of St. James’s. At first appalled by the Earl’s advances, Thalia is soon irresistibly drawn by his magnificent magnetism and his underlying tenderness. But, as love blossoms in her heart, she knows that it can never be. The Earl must never find out the true identity of the milliner’s work girl who has stolen his heart.

Young, handsome and very rich the Marquis of Harlington has just ended yet another unsatisfactory love affair that has left him feeling bored with women and resigned to the fact that true love simply does not exist amongst the upper class echelons of London, which are his usual habitat. Casting around for a speedy escape route he is offered the prefect exit when the Prime Minister asks him to travel to Egypt and report on the Suez Canal, which is currently under construction. Delighted, the Marquis visits his neighbour, Lord Durham, and is horrified to overhear him threatening to beat his daughter Delisia unless she agrees to an arranged marriage with an ugly, but rich French Comte. Leaving Lord Durham’s house in a state of moral outrage, the Marquis is aware that there is a blue ribbon peeping out of the box at the back of his chaise but decides not to investigate until he is well away from the wrath of Lord Durham. Upon discovering the beautiful Delisia, who is the owner of the ribbon and running away from her dreadful father, he agrees to take her with him to Egypt masquerading as his young niece. But Delisia is a young woman full of surprises. Not only is she fluent in Arabic, she is also intelligent and blessed with the gift of second sight. Arriving in a politically volatile Egypt, Delisia quickly becomes indispensible despite her young age. But is the Marquis merely fascinated by her views of life and unusual intellect? Or are his feelings deepening into something that he believes would never happen to him?

London Socialite and friend of King George IV, the Duke of Strathnarn enjoys his London life is reluctant and resentful when he inherits from his hated father the title – and onerous responsibilities – of Chieftain of the Clan McNarn. Arriving bitterly angry in the highland fiefdom he fled as a youth, he’s faced with a terrible dilemma. To free his young nephew and heir from the clutches of his Clan’s mortal enemies, the Kilcraigs, he must marry Clola, the daughter of their fearsome Chieftain. Appalled, he complies with bad grace, but refuses even to look his young bride in the face, so certain is he that she will be coarse, uneducated and unattractive, so unlike the sophisticated beauties with whom he is wont to dally in London Society. Soon, however, a terrifying plot against the King involving a sinister poisoner and her deranged and vengeful son unfolds – and it is Clola, aided by a ghostly Grey Lady, who comes to the rescue. Only now, after so terribly misjudging and ill-treating her, does the Duke see his bride for what she is – a raven-haired, musically talented and courageous beauty. But is it too late for their marriage of convenience to be transformed by the blessing of true love?

Eighteen-year-old Mistral is an innocent abroad in the sophisticated Côte D’Azur, where princes and millionaires mingle in the casinos and sumptuous hotels while others plot to relieve them of their riches. Accompanied only by her embittered and domineering Aunt Emilie and kindly servant Jeanne, Mistral appears dressed all in grey like a ghost in the salons and ballrooms of Monte Carlo and sets Society’s tongues wagging. It’s not long before her waif-like beauty has men falling at the feet of Madamoiselle Fântóme – gentlemen such as Sir Robert Stanford. But on her sister’s bewildering but strict instructions, she must not converse with any but the Russian Prince Nikolai, who’s also keen to woo her, as is an opulent Indian Rajah… Something about Mistral touches Sir Robert’s heart – and he cannot understand why Mistral appears afraid to be with him. Yet both of them crave love. Only if Mistral’s innocent eyes are finally opened to the truth – that Aunt Emilie’s motives are borne not of concern for her niece but of pure evil and greed – will she find her heart’s desire…

Charles, Lord Hartley, was at his wits end. He had spent a fortune on his cousin John, and still the embittered John demanded more money. Charles knew he needed an heiress and he became swiftly attracted to Cliona, who had recently moved in to the neighbourhood. He did not know that she was an heiress. When he found out, he felt there was no way that he could approach her with honour. But Cliona, a spirited girl, had her own ideas. Charles was the man she wanted, and when John appeared again, determined to court her for her money, she put an audacious plan into practice. To win the man she loved she first had to win an extraordinary game of cards, using skills that no lady was supposed to have. How her lucky star helped her triumph over villainy and win the man she loved is told in this exciting and romantic novel story.

Queen's Ford, built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and home to the noble Forde family for centuries, is crumbling into ruin. Devastated by the reduced circumstances in which he finds himself due to the outlandish spending of his late father, the current Lord Fordcombe simply cannot afford to repair it. With only a few loyal servants to serve the family, even the once beautiful gardens and stables are shabby and unkempt. In fact the Forde family, blue-blooded and aristocratic, who have entertained more than one English Monarch during their illustrious past, are now so poor that they struggle to find money for food. Driven beyond endurance and crushed by the monotony of poverty, Jeremy, the handsome twenty-one year old son of Lord Fordcombe decides that something desperate must be done. Artfully persuading his eldest sister, Mariota, to sacrifice her principles and go along with his daring plan, she joins him in holding up a coach masquerading as highwaymen. But as the usually honest and kind Mariota catches a glimpse of the terrified woman they are robbing, she knows that this is something she should never have allowed. About to call off Jeremy, who is wild-eyed with excitement and oblivious to the upset he is causing, she suddenly sees a gentleman taking aim with his gun behind her brother. In a split second she fires, blinded to the consequences of her actions through her love for her brother. As the dust settles on the lonely road she realises that the handsome Earl of Buckenham is injured and, eager to avoid the gallows, the subdued siblings bring him to their home to heal. Desperately sorry by the trouble they have caused, Mariota proceeds to nurse him better, praying for forgiveness and willing the Earl to improve. But the unforeseen dramas that arise from that one action alter the lives of everyone involved forever.

Marooned in Constantinople in the midst of the Turks’ war with their native Russia, young beauty Yamina and her seriously ill father risk being exposed and lynched as spies. One day in the Bazaar, Yamina witnesses an ugly scene as a Turkish mob sets upon a man they suspect is a Russian spy. She is rescued by the noble handsome English diplomat, Lord Castleford, and no sooner is she safely home than the Turks are searching house-to-house for Russians and, worse still for Yamina, her beloved then father dies. Now all alone in a hostile world and in a desperate bid to escape certain death, she finds herself enslaved in the Sultan’s harem where an even worse fate awaits her. Her friends in the harem smuggle her aboard a ship bound for the safety of Athens hidden in a golden trunk, a gift from the Sultan to the new British Ambassador to Greece. To her horror, the new Ambassador is none other than Lord Castleford himself, who is furious at her intrusion, until one night a passionate kiss changes everything forever and Yamina and his Lordship become slaves, not to the Seraglio, but to love.

When her irresponsible brother rents the family home, Langston Manor, for the duration of the Royal Ascot races to Valient, Earl of Trevarnon and his wild gentleman friends, lonely and innocent young Demelza is afraid. Although married to a woman who has lost her mind and is in an asylum, Trevarnon is a well-known ‘ladies’ man’ – and, for her own safety and modesty, Demelza agrees to hide among The Manor’s maze of secret passages. As she watches, though, through the old house’s ancient peepholes, she sees another, very different, side to the notorious Nobleman. Suddenly one moonlit night, under a honeysuckle arbour, Demelza realises that she has lost her heart utterly to this dashing stranger. But her love is wrong. Valient Trevarnon can never, ever be hers! Then, when she secretly foils a sinister plot against her beloved, she triggers a chain of events and an overwhelming passion far beyond her control – and perhaps now she dares to hope for her heart’s desire –

When the lovely but demure eighteen-year-old Safina, daughter of the Earl of Sedgewick, is called home from her Finishing School in Florence by her stepmother, Isobel, her heart leaps at the happy thought of going back to her beloved home, Wick Park, and seeing her father again after living abroad for so long. But to Safina’s dismay, Isobel has summoned her to return under false pretences to force her to marry the penniless Duke of Dallwyn, a gentleman she does not even know, let alone love! The Duke too has been duped and Isobel is using blackmail to coerce him into this marriage with Safina. So the reluctant bride and bridegroom meet for the first time at the altar in the family Chapel at the Duke’s house to seal their terrible fate. The whole plot is designed to ensure that the wicked Isobel can get her grasping hands on the enormous fortune left to Safina by her adored late mother. But, as the Duke discovers before very long, there is much more to the beautiful Safina than meets the eye. Finally events conspire to prove to all concerned that the magic of love is infinitely more powerful than evil.

Young London man about town Hamish McMurdock bears a grudge against his uncle, the Earl of Kilmurdock, because he refused to consider Hamish’s money-making plan of selling lobsters, crabs and salmon from the family estate The refusal is unreasonable but understandable because, although a young man, the Earl is embittered, hating all women after having his heart broken unforgivably. Hamish, though, plans to teach his uncle a lesson by sending an unknowing young woman to the Earl’s Highland castle to care for what she believes is a blind and deaf old man. Almost destitute after the death of her parents, innocent young Jacoba answers Hamish’s advertisement. Arriving timidly at The Castle in Scotland, she is horrified when the Earl flies into a fury and orders her away rudely. It is only when she collapses in exhaustion that she is allowed to stay. And when the Earl is terribly wounded by poachers, she nurses him tenderly back to health. All the time love is blossoming in her heart – but surely as soon as he recovers from his wounds he will simply send her away – ?

Arliva Ashdown is not only the most beautiful girl in London Society but the richest as she has inherited her father’s huge fortune. At a ball she is giving she overhears two people talking outside the window and she is horrified to learn that, although they are very much in love with each other, the man is telling the girl that the only chance he has of obtaining money for his crumbling house and estate is to marry Arliva. A little later she overhears another conversation between the Countess of Sturton and her son, Simon, who is a rather unpleasant young man Arliva has been trying to avoid. The Countess insists that her son proposes to Arliva as they too need money to upkeep Sturton Castle and, although Simon has no wish to do so, the Countess persists, saying that Arliva will accept him because of his grand title. Disgusted by what she has heard, Arliva makes a dramatic decision. She decides to hide away in the country and see if she can find someone who loves her for herself and not for her money and so she manages to become a Governess to Lord Wilson’s three grandchildren whose parents have been drowned at sea. With great brilliance she leaves her house in London where she is chaperoned by her aunt without anyone realising where she is going and installs herself in Lord Wilson’s house in the country. Here she is able not only to make the children happy with new ideas and activities that no one has thought of before but to drastically change the routine of the household. Suddenly, when she least expects it, she is kidnapped by the Countess of Sturton, who makes her a prisoner in Sturton Castle and she is starved until she can no longer refuse to marry her son. How she is prays fervently that she will be rescued from a terrible fate How a man, who she thinks is an angel, saves her by what seems to her a miracle just before the day of the wedding. How they both find a happiness that only comes from God and is the love that all people seek, is told in this unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Having survived the 1871 siege of Paris with her mother the Queen of Dabrozka, Princess Ilona is summoned back to the war-ravaged kingdom of her father, a tyrannical monarch whose unjust rule has divided the nation into two factions: her own Radák people and the Sáros. Worse still, Russia threatens to march on Dabrozka to impose their iron-clad style of order. Only Ilona can save her country from this fate – by making a terrible sacrifice. At the Prime Minister’s request, she must marry the Prince of Sáros, their union bringing together the people. This she will do; this she must do – but what her pride will not allow her is to love the aloof, indifferent Prince. Humiliated by the Prince’s evident disregard, and beaten by her own father on the eve of her wedding, it seems that love will never fill her heart – but as warclouds gather over Dabrozka, both the Prince and the Proud Princes are about to share a dramatic change of heart!

Just eighteen, beautiful and intelligent, Yola Beauharnais lives a blessed Fairy tale life at her magnificent family castle on the Loire. Then her grandmother announces that she has been promised in marriage by her late beloved father to the Marquis de Montereau. Yola is appalled. She has heard of the Marquis, who, although handsome and sophisticated, has a reputation in Paris as a rake, socialite and ‘ladykiller’. How could she possibly marry such a man, one who wants her only for her castle and the extensive estate? Determined to marry only for true love, wherever she may find it, Yola is helped by her father’s mistress and travels ‘undercover’ to Paris in the guise of a woman of questionable morals to meet the notorious Marquis and find out for herself whether he might fall in love with her as herself and for herself only. Or whether she must betray her father’s dying wish and refuse her unwanted suitor. On meeting the Marquis in her disguise, Yola finds that there is much more to him than his reputation suggests and, as love blossoms between them, she comes to bitterly regret her deception. Will she really find her true love or will she be condemned to live a life of disappointment and delusion as the Sleeping Beauty of her enchanted castle?

Lord Robert Templeton is adamant that the responsibilities of his newly inherited Earldom are not for him. Leaving his family home, Ledbury Hall, in the capable hands of his younger brother, Alec, he plunges headfirst into the heady delights of London nightlife. But his carousel of gambling, drinking and selfish pleasure is cut short and he is forced to return to home. Disenchanted by the society beauties that relentlessly pursue his handsome face and title, and willfully ignoring the attentions of an attractive but overbearing widow, the Earl swears that he will never marry. Feeling doomed to a life in the country, the Earl is delighted by his timely acquaintance with Miranda Whitby, a childhood friend who once saved his life. Beautiful, capable and determined, Miranda inspires the Earl to plan for the future of his estate. As their friendship deepens and the Earl eagerly shoulders the responsibilities he once shirked, he is reminded of a promise he made Miranda many years earlier. But can a promise made as children withstand adult secrets? When the mysterious Lord Brookfield suddenly appears, danger hangs over Miranda threatening to destroy her dreams and the future happiness of everyone.

The young and handsome Duke of Barenlock is twenty-seven and is being constantly pestered by his mother and his family to get married. They are not only frightened he will not produce an heir to the Dukedom, but the Castle, one of the most famous in Scotland, is in desperate need of repair. The Duke’s cousin Moira introduces him to an attractive American girl, Mary-Lee, who is an immensely rich heiress. Moira tries to pressure him into proposing to Mary-Lee, but he is idealistic enough to hope that one day he will fall in love with someone who will love him not for his title but for himself. To escape the pressure he goes for a walk by his river, which he shares with his Clans’ arch-enemies, the MacFallins. He sees a poacher in the shape of a young girl fishing his water and he is just about to order her off when she hooks a salmon and he cannot resist netting it for her. It is her first salmon and she is so delighted that he finds it hard to tell her she has no right to it and he then discovers that she, Sheinna, is the daughter of the dreaded Chieftain of the MacFallins. They agree to meet the following morning at the same place and Sheinna tells him that her father is forcing her to marry Sir Ewen Kincard, who is over seventy with a terrible reputation. How the Duke and Sheinna find a way together to resolve their problems and bring their Clans together, and how after severe danger they find real love for themselves is told in this exciting and stirring story of Scotland by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Vanda Sudbury and Robert, the Earl of Cunningham, had been friends from childhood. They knew all each other’s faults and weaknesses and squabbled like brother and sister. So when her father tried to force a marriage between them, they were equally horrified. Fond though he was of Vanda, Robert was sure he could never love such a forceful, strong-minded female. She was equally dismissive of him as a husband. Together they fled, going first to France, to see the great Paris Exposition, and climb the newly built Eiffel Tower. That was only the first of their adventures, which included travelling to Vienna on the Orient Express and on to the romantic city of Venice. Along the way they learned many things about each other. For the first time in his life Robert experienced passionate jealousy and began to see Vanda in a totally different light. By the time they reached the temples of love in Greece, they no longer felt like brother and sister. But then tragedy intervened and they almost lost each other forever. How they learned to face their feelings for each other is all told in this romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Have you ever been so desperate that you would do literally anything for money? This is the tragic situation Giselda finds herself in, with no money for an operation her younger brother desperately needs to save his life, and no one to turn to. Ground down by poverty she plucks up her courage to offer the only thing she has of value ? her purity. Choking back her pride and knowing that she is about to forfeit his respect, she approaches her wealthy employer, the handsome Earl of Lyndhurst, who is recovering from his injuries sustained in the Battle of Waterloo. Appalled that this frail and innocent young girl should be faced with such a terrible decision, he vows to find a way to help her without offending her dignity. He knows she would never accept his charity, and she refuses to confide in him the reasons for her family's poverty. Intrigued by the air of mystery about a girl of obvious quality reduced to the role of maidservant, the Earl decides to discover why a beautiful young woman of strong principles has been reduced to such extreme measures. Discovering her to have gentle hands and wonderful nursing skills he employs her as his private nurse and turns his sharp mind to uncovering her secrets ? and learns his own lessons in love in the process.

Madly envious of her demure stepdaughter’s loveliness, Isobel Fairburn, Lord Blackstone’s new bride, banishes young Sandra to the wilds of Bedfordshire where she is to live a miserable, isolated existence with her aged great-aunt. Desperate to escape this ‘living death’, Sandra secretly flees her home and, securing the post of ‘companion’ to the age-withered and cantankerous Dowager Countess of Kyle, soon finds herself amidst the glamorous Beau Monde in Brighton. Here Sandra meets the handsome Earl of Kyle and initially despises him for his cynical and sarcastic manner – but before long she finds that there’s more to him than meets the eye. But no sooner has love begun to grow timidly in her heart, than her hopes are dashed when she finds he is already married to a French woman. Worse still, she hears of a sinister plot to extort money from her ‘Knight of Chivalry’ but what can she do? And how will she ever find a match for this man beyond compare?

Carina was alone in the world and unsure of what the future held for her. Then a troupe of musicians, called 'Bertie's Beauties', had an accident outside her gates and she found herself swept up in their fate as she took over from their injured pianist. Now one of the troupe, she went to perform at the Duke of Westbury's castle, never suspecting that the Duke would turn out to be the young man she had met for a few dramatic moments many years before. To hide her identity she allowed him to see her only when she was masked. He soon became so intrigued that he made advances to her. Horrified that he should consider her a woman of loose morals, Carina fled the castle and became a full time member of 'Bertie's Beauties'. If she could not find love, at least she could fulfil her gifts as a musician. Knowing she could never marry the man she loved, she agreed to marry Bertie, who had fallen in love with her, although he know her heart was given to the Duke. But the Duke had never got over her desertion and he was determined to find her. What happened when they met again is told in this intriguing and romantic novel by Barbara Cartland.

About to leave her school, the Five Oaks Boarding School for Young Ladies, the beautiful but penniless Rosilda Harvey is told by her unsympathetic Guardian that she must take a junior teacher’s job at the school and not come and live with her in the Lake District as she had hoped. Very depressed at her uncertain future, she is unexpectedly offered a position by Sir Andrew Dexter, a handsome but autocratic official of the British Foreign Office, who suddenly appears unannounced at the school. He wants Rosilda to act as chaperone and companion to one of her school friends, Princess Marianne of Montdeaves, as it is his mission to protect her from potential enemies. The Princess is to return to her country high in the mountains in Central Europe immediately and in secret as her life is in danger from determined revolutionaries. Rosilda, the Princess and Sir Andrew set off at once and, after a series of adventures, arrive in the Principality of Montdeaves, which is considered of vital importance to Great Britain and to future peace in Europe. How Rosilda and Sir Andrew eventually manage to bring the headstrong young Princess to safety. And what happens when they finally reach Montdeaves and meet the Ruler, Prince Franz, and a number of suspicious characters is all told in this exciting romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Amidst the exciting preparations for the grand opening of Prince Albert’s prized Crystal Palace, a young orphan, Sorilda, is being forced into marriage by her recently cuckolded uncle, the Duke of Nuneaton. Having sheltered lovely Sorilda since the tragic death of her parents, the usually fair-minded Duke has been driven to jealous retaliation by his deceitful new Duchess. Suspecting his close neighbour, the Earl of Winsford, of ungentlemanly conduct with his beautiful wife, the Duke issues an ultimatum. The Earl must renounce the Duchess and marry the Duke’s flame-haired niece or face the public embarrassment of a scandal. Handsome, intelligent and fabulously wealthy, the Earl makes his choice and reluctantly marries Sorilda, his helpless bride. Angry at being pressured into such a union and aghast that he does not know, let alone love, his wife, the Earl remains distant and determined not to let Sorilda into his life. Enjoying the freedom from the miserable prison of her uncle’s home, Sorilda’s natural charm and positive nature soon force their way to the surface, despite the coldness of her bridegroom. Delighted by everything around her, it is not long before she has made her way into the hearts of everyone she meets. But, as London Society eagerly awaits the Great Exhibition, a spurned Duchess is busy plotting. Furious at being caught in a compromising situation, and filled with hatred for Sorilda, who has married the man she desires, she will not rest until she has her revenge.

After the death of her great uncle, orphan Lady Rosanna Donnington was overwhelmed to learn he had left her his vast fortune. It was then her life changed and she became the target of unscrupulous fortune hunters. But she was determined to marry only for love. When the loutish Sir Walter Fenwick insisted she marry him, Rosanna decided enough was enough. She fled London and journeyed to Donnington Hall, her new country estate. She had heard that the Earl of Melton, whose estate bordered her own, desperately needed a nurse, having injured his leg in a riding accident. She had encountered him fleetingly on her flight from London, when he had been very ill. Making a shock decision, Rosanna decided to apply for the job as his nurse, know she could hide at Melton Castle under a false name. What would happen when Rosanna and Lord Melton met again as master and servant and would he discover her secret? Would Sir Walter track her down to Melton Castle?

Wrestling with wartime life and the conceits of her father, a famous but profligate painter, and having to look after her younger siblings leaves the beautiful Fenella Prentis little time for love. It is difficult enough making ends meet and persuading her father to hand over the proceeds of his current portrait of the grasping and flirtatious model Elaine so that she can pay long overdue bills. But Fenella’s head is turned by the unexpected arrival of the dashing Major Rex Ransome, who needs their house to billet Army Officers and at the same time she is blind to the gentler attentions of injured war hero and her nearby neighbour, Sir Nicholas Coleby – until he offers to save her from scandal, notoriety and poverty by marrying her. Although Sir Nicholas is totally in love with her, still Fenella has eyes only for the womanising Major. Slowly, though, the husband she so cruelly shuns and humiliates reveals his true qualities – “a man cool and calm, used to authority, ready to give the right answer to a question, not assuming leadership, but being by instinct a leader among men”. And finally, like a flash of bright light and irrevocably, it suddenly dawns on Fenella that this time it’s love.

Reluctant to accept her arranged marriage to an English Duke she has never met, beautiful young American oil heiress, Emmeline Nevada Holtz, nicknamed ‘Vada’ after the State, travels to Paris to buy her trousseau before meeting her husband-to-be. When her travelling companion, Nancy Sparling, has an accident and hurts her leg, Vada assumes her name to avoid unwelcome attention and travels on with just her elderly maid, determined to make the most of her last chance to explore Bohemian Paris and the wonders of the City that she had heard and read so much about. At her hotel she finds a handsome intruder in her suite, not a thief as she at first thinks but a journalist looking to interview the famous heiress Emmeline. Smitten by this charismatic Frenchman and his talk of poetry, Vada finds herself agreeing to go with him to the Soleil d’Or, wellspring of the Symbolist movement. Soon they are deeply and uncontrollably in love, a love that is surely doomed by her deception, her betrothal to the Duke and now a terrifying ordeal at a Satanist Black Mass on the dark side of the City of Light.

The Duke of Ravenstock is the most attractive and elusive bachelor in London – and the most notorious.His exploits and romantic escapades keep the salons of the Social world buzzing – but never more so than when he announces that he will marry. His friends soon realise that what has captured the Duke’s heart is the purity and innocence of his intended bride.The wedding date has been fixed when the Duke discovers by accident that his fiancée has taken a lover, a close friend of his.Shattered and disillusioned, the Duke plots a cruel revenge. When he reveals to his sister, the Mother Superior of a Convent in Paris, that he seeks the most innocent girl he can find for his bride, she introduces him to Anoushka, a novice in her care at the Convent.Anoushka has a mysterious background, having been brought secretly and anonymously to the Convent as a child.n Somewhat reluctantly Anoushka agrees to marry the Duke, but, to his amazement, her beauty and innocence prove more of a challenge than he could possibly have imagined.

Tasked by the Prime Minister himself with bringing to justice the smuggling gangs that are rife around the Kent and Sussex coast, esteemed Napoleonic war hero Lord Cheriton is surprised to find a beautiful young girl called Wivina living in his dead and deeply hated father’s supposedly vacant mansion. She has no idea who he is – and when he hears his reputation as a cold-hearted Lord who would turn her out without a qualm, he tells her he is just a passing friend... Nevertheless Wivina seems terrified by his presence – but why? Realising the entire village is at the mercy of a cut-throat gang and Wivina’s prey to its murderous leader, Lord Cheriton endeavours to save the young beauty who’s stolen his heart while accomplishing his mission to stop the smugglers once and for all. For the first time, he is fighting not for his country but for the love of his life – and the life of his love.

Venetia was very lonely after the death of her parents. So when her cousin Mary begged her to help to save her from a forced marriage, Venetia was ready. Mary was in love with another man and expecting his child. yet the Queen wanted her to marry the Earl of Mountwood at a moment's notice and go with him to India. A reckless impulse made Venetia promise to take Mary's place at the altar. She would worry about the consequences later. Lord Mountwood was handsome, but he was also haughty and autocratic, demanding instant obedience from his servants and his wife. When he discovered the trick Venetia had played on him he was furious. She had only her quick wits to protect her from his wrath. On the journey to India they quarreled and sparred, each getting the measure of the other, while the growing attraction between them became impossible to ignore. In India they travelled to the Northwest frontier, to a fort that was under constant attack by the Russians. And there, just as she and her husband discovered their love, they were caught up in danger that threatened to part them. How they overcame all the obstacles is told in this exciting and romantic novel by Barbara Cartland.

The daughter of a wealthy, ambitious man, Rowena knew that her father longed to marry her to a title, preferably the Duke of Wenfield, whom she disliked and did not wish to marry herself. To avoid marriage, they hatched a plot. Posing as brother and sister, they would take a trip on a yacht with their likeminded friends and would help each other find the love of their dreams. Plans went awry on the Mediterranean, when Rowna was kidnapped by a Sultan, and was imprisoned in his harem. It seemed that they would be parted forever. How the Duke rescued her, and they found their true love, is all told in this exciting and romantic novel by Barbara Cartland.

"Protected by loving parents, young, beautiful and happy, Lady Ravina Ashley has the world at her feet. Unused to harsh words, she is taken aback when a stranger at a ball in London takes her to task for her behaviour towards a clumsy suitor. But Ravina hopes that one day she will fall madly passionately in love and refuses to think of marriage to anyone until then. With her parents away in the Balkans, Ravina leaves London to stay with her cousin, Dulcie, at Curbishley Hall, the Ashley estate in Dorset. She is travelling with Sir Michael Moore, who has begged a lift in her carriage to his home a few miles away from hers. To Ravina’s surprise on the journey she once again meets the man who felt he had the right to criticise her behaviour – Sir Richard Crawford! Sir Michael’s attentions, however, are far more complimentary and Ravina’s belief in her own judgement of men cannot be shaken. What will happen when Sir Richard is forced to ask Ravina for hospitality at Curbishley Hall? Why is he so anxious to spend so much time in her company and is he hiding some secret from her that could threaten her and her family? What happens to Ravina, who she eventually falls in love with, and how she fights against the dangers that surround her is told in this romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND."

Devastated by the treachery of the woman he loves, the Marquis of Kenworth leaves London and the Prince Regent’s intimate circle of pleasure loving friends, to join the Duke of Wellington’s army as plain Captain Ivan Worth. Facing hardship and the grim reality of battle he is convinced that no woman can ever be trusted to love him for himself, rather than his title, and turns his back on romance forever. Now, wounded by a shell from a French gun, he is in Paris, an invalid guest of his close friend the Duke, waiting for his wound to heal and nursing his broken heart. Into this house of despair comes Shenda, the beautiful daughter of Lord Linbury, who is orphaned after the death of her esteemed, but poverty stricken father. Alone in the world, she has travelled to Paris to fulfill her father’s last wish that she seek the protection of his old friend, the Duke of Wellington. Still celebrating his victory at the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke quickly realises that his new ward is young and innocent, as well as beautiful. Knowing that his reputation with women precludes Shenda from staying in his own house, he sets her the task of nursing Captain Worth. Despite her patient’s rages and his obvious disgust for women, Shenda enthusiastically sets to work, using her mother’s traditional herbal remedies in place of the synthetic medicines prescribed by the French doctors. But are Shenda’s powers of healing enough to make the cantankerous Captain change his mind and allow her to stay? Or will he cast her out onto the dirty, rough streets of Paris? As she plays her music for him, putting her heart and soul into every piece, can she soothe his troubled mind as well as heal the bullet hole in his shoulder? Or will she be cast out onto the streets of Paris to fend for herself ?

Since the death of her almost bankrupt father, the beautiful Andrea Clerefall has been reduced to the status of a drudge under the stern eye of her stepmother and her two unpleasant stepsisters. Her only friend is her late mother’s old Nanny, Hattie, who is teaching her the art of embroidery. When Andrea encounters by chance the new Viscount at nearby Mannerly Hall and falls for his considerable charms, she never dares dream that her fortunes will soon be closely entwined with his. Unexpectedly she and her stepfamily are invited to the Mannerly masked ball, but her stepmother spitefully ensures that Andrea is excluded from the glittering occasion. However Hattie comes to the rescue at the last minute and in the guise of ‘Griselda’, Andrea goes to the ball where she is a sensation and attracts the attentions of the Viscount, who by the end of the night declares that he will never let her escape him. But escape she must as she is not of his class. By the time he discovers who she is, his heart is in chains to the calculating Lady Bethel and Andrea herself faces a life of degradation as the employee of the nefarious Madam Fabrice in the heart of London. Only love can free her and only her love can break the chains that hold the Viscount imprisoned. Find out what happens to Andrea and how her prayers are eventually answered in this intriguing story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Anastasia is about to be married, which should be the most exciting day of any young girl?s life. Pretty, impulsive and wise beyond her years it seems that the young Princess will make an ideal bride for one lucky man. There is only one flaw in the wedding plans ? she is not in love with her bridegroom. Commanded to marry by Queen Victoria, Anastasia is horror struck at the thought of an arranged marriage. Having dreamt of true love since childhood, she despairs that a marriage based on political allegiance can ever be a happy one. Especially when her bridegroom, the handsome King of Maurona, is reputed to have a preference for anything French, including the seductive wife of Maurona's French ambassador. Determined to do her duty, Anastasia prepares to meet her future husband just days before their wedding. The roar of the assembled crowd tells her that she has won the love and approval of the people, but will she ever have the love of their King? As passions and political intrigue simmer amidst the idyllic palaces and sun-kissed olive groves of Maurona, Anastasia decides that this is a challenge she must rise to. As well as ensuring British protection for the tiny Principality from the greedy hands of neighbouring France, she determines to make her marriage a success. But can an innocent English rose compete with the dark smoldering beauty of the sensual Comtesse le Granmont? Two women, one man and only one winner ? but as danger grows ever closer will the King realise who his real friends are, and which woman should be at his side, in time to save his country?

The beautiful eighteen year old Karla Stanton, who is living in the country with her brother training horses, is astonished when her half-sister Penelope, now Lady Melford, who is renowned as a great beauty in London, unexpectedly calls on her. She wishes Karla to disguise herself as her aged aunt and chaperone and to go with her to Paris where she intends to spend three days, ostensibly shopping for clothes, but actually to be with the Marquis of Welbourne, who she is having a passionate affaire-de- coeur with. Karla who has never been out of England and who knows nothing of the Social world and its ways is astounded at the request and frightened that she would be unmasked. However, she obeys her sister when she produces a wig, dark spectacles and theatrical make-up to hide her face and make look much older. Karla is thrilled with the beauty and glamour of Paris where everything is new and intriguing to her. But the Marquis has a rival in the Duc de Alezia, who does his best to monopolise Penelope. How the first women’s horse race takes place privately on the famous Racecourse at Longchamps. And how Karla saves her sister’s face and the Duc’s bet on his Arab stallion at the last moment and finally finds love is told in this unusual and fast-moving story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Impoverished and lonely but contented enough to live with her much-loved Nanny in the now-empty family home, shy, unworldly Pandia sorely misses her recently deceased father – the handsome Hungarian scholar and writer. When Selene, the capricious twin sister, who abandoned them years before, appears out of the blue Pandia is amazed, then appalled when Selene announces she’s told the Social world that Pandia is dead! She then demands that Pandia impersonates her at a family funeral to cover for Selene’s illicit tryst with her lover! Pandia reluctantly agrees and at the Church meets the dashing Lord Silvester Stone, a famous explorer and writer who ignites the ‘fire in the blood’ she inherited from her father. The passion between them is instant and electric. Pandia knows now that she will love Silvester forever – but how can she tell him that she is not who he thinks she is? Or that they can never ever meet again?

The heart-breakingly handsome Duke of Tynemouth is appalled to find that his torrid affaire d’coeur with the alluring Aline, Countess of Langstone, is destined to end, because Queen Victoria insists that he marries one of Prince Albert’s German relatives, who is fat and ugly. To refuse is unthinkable, so, in desperation, he agrees to pre-empt his Monarch by cynically marrying Aline’s innocent young niece, Honora. The beautiful Honora is horrified at the prospect of marrying a man she has never met, let alone love, but she has little choice. Heartbroken and facing a life without the love she has always dreamt about, a husband who seems to hate her and a wedding night she dreads, she flees and falls prey to an even worse fate. Now that he might lose her forever, the Duke realises that it is not hate for Honora that beats in his heart. It is love! But has his awakening come too late?

Raised by her aunt and uncle, the sanctimonious Duke and Duchess of Berkhamsted, the golden-haired and beautiful Alida Shenley lives in the shadow of the ‘shame’ that her late and much-loved father brought upon the family by marrying for love – and because her mother was a ballerina. Being on the stage was tantamount to prostitution in Alida’s Guardians’ eyes and they inflict terrible punishments and humiliation upon her for what they see as her parent’s appalling sins. Even worse than her uncle’s savage whippings is the fact that he forbids her ever to marry as the carries the ‘bad blood’ of her mother. But hope eventually stirs in her heart when she is asked to accompany her cousin Mary on a voyage to Russia to meet the handsome young Prince Vorontski, whom Mary is to marry even though she flirts outrageously with the sinister Count Ivan, who is on the Steamer escorting them to St. Petersburg. In Russia Alida’s dreams of happiness are dashed as she falls hopelessly in love with Prince. Worse still she finds that Mary has conspired with Count Ivan for her to marry his father, a Russian General as despicable and brutal as her uncle. But just as she despairs of ever finding love with the Prince, Fate intervenes amid a life or death confrontation with a murderous pack of wolves in the Russian snow and her life is changed forever.

Although beautiful young Laetitia is a Princess, she and her family lead a life more befitting paupers. Despising them for the gypsy blood that runs in their veins, the Grand Duchess, their cruel Cousin Augustina, bullies and oppresses them just as she persecutes the Romany people and banishes them from Ovenstadt’s Capital. If only Laetitia could call upon some ancient gypsy spell to make things right. Worse still, Laetitia hears that the hateful woman has arranged for her daughter, Princess Stephanie, to marry King Viktor of Zvotana, despite her love for Laetitia’s handsome brother Kyril. Determined to save Stephanie from a loveless marriage, Laetitia enlists the help of a Romany Voivode and his powerful gypsy magic and then meets the King disguised as a gypsy princess – only to find herself enraptured by the Voivode’s spell and filled with a love too powerful to be denied –

The father of the demure but beautiful Iola Herne, an imperious Army General not given to romance or sentiment, is overjoyed to receive a request for her hand in marriage from the ageing Lord Stoneham, the Lord Lieutenant of the County and the scion of local Society. But Iola is appalled by the prospect of marrying an old man whom she does not and never could love. To escape her Fate she runs away to seek the advice of her beloved Nanny – only to find that that Nanny herself is on the brink of a new adventure with an exciting new job caring for a young heiress on a luxury yacht in the glamorous South of France. Tragically, though, Nanny dies in the night and, on an impulse, Iola takes her job and travels to Monte Carlo in her place. Instantly she is captivated by her charge, the precocious five year old Lucy – but dislikes her handsome but haughty father, the wealthy Sir Wolfe Renton, who is dismissive of Iola’s inspiring ideas of teaching his daughter and abrasive in his tone. But, when Lucy is kidnapped by French vagabonds, it is Iola who holds the key to her rescue and, as he then suddenly realises, to his heart!

Admired by men and adored by women, a raffishly handsome adventurer and ladies’ man, the Duke of Darleston is known to all as ‘The Dasher’ after his father’s successful horse of the same name. And yet in his heart he yearns for something more in his life and he is suddenly compelled to gather some friends together to travel to Egypt to witness its ancient wonders and glorious Temples. Among the party is the coquettish recently bereaved beauty Lady Lily Cairns, who is determined to ensnare the Duke. And sure enough he is instantly captivated by her calculated charms until Fate intervenes. At the Temple of Luxor, the Duke is transfixed by a beautiful young woman, at once a stranger and yet somehow strangely familiar. All thought of Lily is gone as the lovely Irisa Garron, for that is her name, elevates him spirituality in a mystic meeting of minds and of hearts and souls. Suddenly they know that they are eternally bound together and that they were lovers in another previous life in Egypt and in many other lives as well And now Fate has drawn them together once more on the banks of the Nile, the Eternal River of Love.

When her father, Colonel Alister McCarron, asks her to accompany him to a family Wedding in the North of Scotland, the beautiful young Sona jumps at the chance, not just to meet her relatives in the venerable McCarron Clan but also to see the dashingly handsome Marquis of Inver, for it is he who is to be wed. Thrilled by the Fairytale grandeur of Invercarron Castle and her heart fluttering at the Marquis’s considerable charms, Sona is bemused to find that his fiancée is the extremely plain Lady Jean McBora. Then she overhears that he is being forced by his father to marry Lady Jean to reunite the squabbling McCarron and Borabol clans and to prevent him from marrying a London beauty who would not be suitable for a future Chieftain of the Clan. And too late to stop herself, she finds that she has fallen hopelessly in love with the Marquis. And he with her. But their love is doomed. First by his forthcoming marriage of convenience to Lady Jean and then again when the Marquis is charged with the murder of his bride-to-be, a crime that Sona knows in her heart of hearts that he did not commit.

With her flaming red hair and emerald green eyes, Xenia’s unusual beauty makes her stand out in any crowd – that is until she unexpectedly meets her long lost cousin, Johanna, amidst the wreckage of a railway accident. Incredulous at finding her mirror image and desperate for a friend, Xenia’s initial joy is soon replaced by misgivings when Johanna suggests an outrageous plan to swap lives for two weeks. However, these are soon swept aside by her forceful cousin and Xenia finds herself agreeing to help Johanna enjoy ten final days of freedom with the Englishman she loves before her arranged Royal marriage. As her cousin steals away from the site of the train crash, Xenia suddenly realises all that impersonating Johanna, even for a short while, will entail. Especially as her cousin was travelling to meet and marry her fiancé, King István of Luthenia, and the journey must continue so suspicions are not aroused. Surrounded by servants and diplomats, Xenia struggles to assume the Royal role that Johanna inhabits so easily and prays that her true identity will not be discovered. Arriving in Luthenia, Xenia is instantly plunged into a world of political intrigue and drama a million miles away from the quiet life she previously enjoyed in the English countryside. With a Constitutional crisis threatening and rumours of revolution, Luthenia desperately needs this arranged wedding to go ahead to cement allegiances and maintain the balance of power in Europe. As the Luthenian Court prepares for a grand State wedding and the nuptial date grows ever nearer, it seems that the beautiful cousins have only one desire in common – they both want to marry for love. But who shall be their bridegrooms?

The Earl of Bracken is meeting his good friend Captain Charles Kenwood at his Club in St. Jamess Street. He has just returned from a visit to Syria where he had been introduced to Sheik Abu Hamid, the owner of the most magnificent Arab horses the Earl has ever seen. They are both keen to buy horses from the Sheik who is reluctant to sell unless his greatest wish can be fulfilled. He wants to receive a Royal Princess as his guest at his house in the desert, so that he can show his neighbours how important and prestigious he in..the Earl and Charles concoct a plan to take a fake Princess with them to Syria, but cannot think how they can find a suitable candidate for the role until Charles suggests his beautiful sister, Vanda. The Earl has another reason for this escapade and leaving England in that he is being ruthlessly pursued by the glamorous Irene, Lady Grantham, and he is becoming disenchanted with her. Charles has no difficulty in persuading Vanda, as she is most enthusiastic about Arab horses. And they set off in the Earls yacht together. They are greeted cordially by the Sheik and Vanda plays her part splendidly as the Princess. They are very impressed by all the Arab horses, but dangers soon arise as Vanda is too convincing as Royalty and their whole mission is jeopardised. How the Earl saves the day and Vanda finds the love she has always sought is told in this gripping story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Two attractive, intelligent people with one thing in common both of them have sworn never to marry, unless it is for true love. Beautiful and headstrong, Lady Elva Chartham shocks her family when she denounces the debutante balls and festivities of London as a waste of her time. Determined not to bow to the pressure of polite society into an early marriage, she returns home to the pleasures of the country and to dream of travel and adventure. Little does she know that opportunities for both will be presented to her during a surprise visit from her cousin, the enigmatic Duke of Sparkbrook. Handsome and equally adamant that he will not marry the eligible young ladies paraded before him, they enter into a pact to help the British Government. Leaving the safety of England for Russia and the opulent court of Empress Catherine, Elva and the Duke grow closer as they face great danger amongst the plotters and espionage they discover. Will they succeed in their mission and return safely back to Britain? Or will their deception be discovered as they get drawn ever deeper into a court filled with desire, betrayal, revenge, and ultimately love?

Beautiful eighteen-year-old Norina is dismayed when her widowed father Lord Sedgewyn quickly remarries to society beauty Violet – and even more so when she discovers her new stepmother’s wicked plot to poison her and inherit a fortune held in trust for Norina. In fear for her life, she flees in disguise, securing a position as secretary to a temporarily blinded French Nobleman who whisks her away to Paris and then to his opulent South of France villa. Just as her rakish new employer’s eyes begin to heal and are opened to Norina’s innocent loveliness, the evil Violet’s henchmen kidnap her. Facing certain death in a monastic cell, Norina realises that her employer, Le Marquis de Charlamont, will never know that she has given him her heart –

Craig Vandervelt, handsome son of the richest man in America is begged by his cousin, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the British Foreign Secretary, to undertake a secret mission in the most flamboyant principality in Europe - Monte Carlo. Intrigued by the fact that one of Britain’s top agents in India, the reclusive but respected Randall Sare, has disappeared without a trace, Craig agrees once more to use his playboy status as a mask to find out what is really happening. Craig is also told to beware of a beautiful Russian Countess suspected of being a spy. Young, glamorous and continually in the company of Lord Neasdon, a newcomer to the Foreign Office, she is suspected of using her charms to lure Neasdon into inadvertently give her information regarding the British interests in Tibet. Moving amongst Europe’s elite and the beauties of the Beau Monde in the gambling houses of Monte Carlo, Craig is soon drawn into danger and treachery, which threatens the delicate political situation between Britain and Russia. But as he uncovers each secret, moving ever nearer to the centre of the plot, he discovers something he never expected to find – true love.

Helsa, the exceptionally beautiful daughter of the Reverend Alfred Irvin, is thrilled when she learns that Irvin Hall, their vast ancestral home, has been rented for a large sum by a certain Lady Basset. Her Ladyship wishes to host a grand house party and has invited a number of distinguished guests including the handsome Duke of Mervinston. Helsa’s friend, Mary, agrees to play the vital role of lady’s maid to Lady Basset. But at the last minute Mary cannot do it as she has to visit her ill grandmother. So Helsa has to step into her shoes and be the lady’s maid. To everyone’s surprise Lady Basset organises a steeplechase and the Duke is the favourite to win on his stallion Masterpiece. However Helsa uncovers a dastardly plot on the day of the steeplechase to lure the Duke into marrying against his will. How Helsa saves the Duke and unexpectedly finds the love of her life is all told in this exciting romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The handsome Viscount Trent finally makes up his mind to accede to the pleadings of his family and get married. He is twenty-seven and for a long time they have been begging him to take a wife and produce an heir to his illustrious title, his famous stately home and his vast estate. On the whole he finds debutantes extremely boring and has enjoyed a number of affaires-de-coeur with older married women. However there is one girl, Marigold Marlow, he considers outstanding and she is the acknowledged great beauty of the Season. As she is so beautiful, the Viscount is convinced that Marigold will make him a perfect wife, but he is astonished when, having proposed to her, she tells him that she has not quite made up her mind. She will let him know on Wednesday if she accepts his proposal of marriage. As the Viscount expects her to fall immediately into his arms, he is surprised, but content to wait until Wednesday for her answer, which he is certain will be ‘yes’. As he drives away from Marigold’s house, a young girl holding a white Pekingese in her arms begs him to give her a lift to London. He sees no reason to refuse and finds as they drive off that she is Salvia, a cousin of the beautiful Marigold. He then learns that Marigold has her eyes on the son of the Duke of Northerncliff, who is seriously ill. In fact if he dies as expected, she intends to marry his heir as one day soon he will be a Duke. Feeling surprised and angry, he is even more astonished to learn that Marigold is cruel to animals and that Salvia is running away because she is so unkind to her dog as well as to her. How the Viscount dreams up a way to avenge himself on Marigold and, if the Duke does recover, how he can escape marrying her as he has now changed his mind. How the Viscount’s plan succeeds. And how Salvia takes London by storm, faces appalling danger and finally finds the love of her life is all told in this unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

1820 is a worrying time for His Royal Highness Prince Lászlé as the might of the Prussian Empire moves ever closer to the boarders of his independent principality, Opava. Concerned for the welfare and happiness of his subjects, he reluctantly sends his beautiful daughter, Princess Zoleka, on a secret mission to the neighbouring state of Krnov, which is in crisis. Masquerading as Lady in Waiting to Princess Udele, the heir to the throne, Zoleka is horrified to discover that Krnov is in political turmoil. Greeted by demotivated palace staff, shocked by the dilapidated buildings and poverty throughout the principality, Zoleka vows to discover the strange malady that has struck the head of state, Prince Majmir, and restore Udele to her rightful place. Discovering that Princess Udele, although she is eighteen, is kept away from state matters and still treated like a child, Zoleka decides to teach Udele the skills necessary to be a Princess so she can gain the respect of the people and help Krnov become strong again. But has Princess Zoleka arrived too late to stir the Royal Place into action and stop the ever increasing danger from the Prussian Army? Even the unexpected arrival of His Royal Highness Prince Vaslov of Cieszyn, and the dedication of Zoleka’s loyal aide decamp, Count von Hofmannstall, may not be enough to keep Krnov independent as the tension mounts. Against this dramatic backdrop the Princesses forge a deep friendship and learn lessons in life – and, unexpectedly, in love too. As Krnov hurtles towards its darkest hour, hearts are won and lost and the meaning of true love and loyalty are tested to the limits.

Wealthy, popular and famously handsome and dashing, Draco, the Duke of Atherstone has the world and most of its Society beauties at his feet. Yet, as his arrives on his yacht in Algiers he is dissatisfied. If only he could find the woman who would complete the other of him – as has his wise and supremely contented Russian friend, Nicholas Vlastov. Visiting what appears to be a slave market in the Kasba, the Duke notices that among the drugged girls being callously auctioned is a beautiful young waif who is utterly different from the rest – and when she whispers, “save me!”, he knows that she in English and that he must rescue her. So begins his and Selina’s flight from the evil slavers to Monte Carlo, then from murderous kidnappers who hold them for ransom and then from the Society beauty determined to claim the Duke in marriage. Not once, but twice, the dashing Duke puts his life on the line to save Selina, as he falls wholeheartedly in love for the very first time. But how, Selina wonders desperately, can a noble Duke, possibly marry a girl he has found in a harem?

The beautiful Yolisa Warren lives quietly in the country with her father, her mother having died five years ago. Unexpectedly her uncle, Lord Langford, who is a brilliant Diplomat and who is sent all over the world on secret missions, arrives at their house. He says that he would like Yolisa to come with him to Kavalla, a small independent country in the Balkans, where he is to travel on behalf of Queen Victoria and the Prime Minister. Yolisa is thrilled at the idea, but on her way to London, Yolisa is told by her uncle that the visit will not be exactly what she has been expecting. Because the Russians are determined to infiltrate all over the Balkans, Queen Victoria and the Prime Minister are afraid that they will try the same tactics with Prince Nikos of Kavalla as his country lies on the North coast of the Aegean with access to the Mediterranean, which is what the Russians have always craved. The Prince has begged Queen Victoria to send him a Royal bride from England to safeguard his throne. And only then will the Russians cease to menace Kavalla. How Yolisa is asked to play a very strange part to deceive the Russians. How, when she meets the Prince, she finds that he is very different from what she was expecting. How the Russian menace closes in on them and they find themselves in a very dangerous position but true love wins in the end is all told in this exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Just seventeen, Lady Caroline Faye is already the toast of the Season and accustomed to the ways of genteel Society. So when notorious cad Sir Montagu Reversby offers to drive her in his phaeton from London to Sevenoaks, she innocently accepts – little knowing that he is planning to fake a broken axle so that she will be forced to spend the night alone with him at a remote country inn. But Lady Caroline of made of sterner stuff than the predatory Sir Montagu imagined. Escaping his lecherous clutches, she finds refuge in the imperious Brecon Castle only to discover that her new-found haven and its master, Lord Brecon, harbour dark and terrible secrets. A murderous plot is afoot and Caroline’s innocent mistake will come back to haunt her as heartbreak and humiliation in the dark, foreboding castle turn to hope and then ardent, all-consuming passion.

The beautiful Lady Eleta Renton returns from France where she has stayed long over her time at the Convent School in Paris. Because her mother had married again after becoming widowed and then she died too, Eleta was in no hurry to come home When she arrives back in London, rather sad at leaving the Convent School, she is horrified when her stepfather, whom she had never liked, tells her that she is to marry the Duke of Hazelware, because he is important to him in his business of shipbuilding and the Duke requires a wife with money. As she had never even seen the Duke, Eleta protested violently, especially when she learns her intended husband is over fifty, but her stepfather informs her that he is her Guardian by law until she is twenty-one and that will not be until the end of the year. As she is terrified at being forced into this marriage, she decides that the only course open to her is to run away She learns from her mother’s maid, Betty, of whom she is very fond, that there is an Agency nearby where she might be able to find a position as a secretary or a Governess. At the Agency the only place available is with the Marquis of Teringford, who has a very tiresome, badly behaved child of nine years of age, with whom no Governess will stay and has apparently run through a large number of them. One of them actually said when she left that she was a child of the Devil. Because she is desperate and despite Betty’s misgivings at the Marquis’s apparently doubtful reputation, Eleta takes the position and goes to his magnificent house in Hertfordshire. Here she finds that the small child has never been loved, which is the reason why she is so difficult. Also the Marquis is seldom there and, when he is, he scolds and lectures his daughter to distraction. How Eleta eventually tames and finds love for her pupil and for herself is all told in this romantic and moving tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lord Frodham and his friend Sir James Overton lay a wager that they can dupe the snobbish, horse racing-obsessed Marquis of Ardsley into falling in love with some beauty of the lower orders. They can hardly believe their luck when by chance they rescue lovely young heiress Indira Rowlandson from her dead father’s evil lawyer who is bent on marrying her off to a bankrupt stranger. Indira is set on joining a Convent to escape the unwanted attentions of men, whom she hates, but, agreeing to their plan out of gratitude, she finds herself among high Society at Ardsley Hall. And, finding that the imperious Marquis shares her passion for the mysteries of the Orient, in spite of herself she begins to fall in love.

While staying at Lady Merrill’s French Riviera villa, flame haired and beautiful American heiress Nevada van Arden passes her time by casually breaking the hearts of her many ardent suitors – particularly that of young David, Lord Merrill. When his uncle, intrepid explorer and diplomat Tyrone Strome, overhears her cruel humiliation of his lovelorn nephew, he resolves to teach this ‘vixen’ a lesson – and save David from his misery. Tyrone Strome abducts Nevada, spiriting her away in his luxury yacht to Morocco. There the reluctant voyager, swaddled in native clothing, is terrified by the perils of the Sahara and its nomadic tribesmen. But, as they flee from certain death or worse, they find sanctuary in a beautiful hidden valley, a second Garden of Eden, where to Nevada’s surprise, love begins to blossom in the desert.

When Rosina's dear friend leapt to her death after the man she loved betrayed her, she vowed vengeance on all men. Rosina declared that no man could be trusted, including Sir John Crosby, member of parliament, whom she had secretly loved since girlhood. Now a debutante, she found herself caught up in a whirl of social activity. An election was imminent and her father, Sir Elroy Clarendon, was favored to be made a government Minister. Her new friend Lady Doreen, daughter of the Earl of Blakemore was secretly in love with an unknown admirer. To Rosina's dismay he turned out to be Arthur Woodward, the man whose betrayal had destroyed her friend, and whose incriminating letters Rosina possessed. In spite of his threats, she defied him. Sir John, after begging her to stop, tried to protect her. How they dealt with the venomous Woodward, and discovered true love, is told in this romantic novel, the 670th by Barbara Cartland.

Warren Wood is handsome, loyal and devoted to Magnolia. However, the one thing he lacks is a title and Magnolia betrays him in a heartbeat for the opportunity to be engaged to the Marquis of Buckwood. For beautiful and beguiling as she is, behind her perfect exterior lies a scheming manipulative personality that is desperate for wealth and standing in Society. Distraught and vowing to eschew love for evermore, Warren seeks solace in the African jungle, determined to forget the woman whose lovely face has nearly driven him to madness. But now the wheel of fate has turned and suddenly a legacy is calling him home to take up responsibilities he never dreamt would be his, and the chance to be reunited with Magnolia who surprisingly begs his forgiveness. Determined not to answer her siren’s call, he leaves for England taking with him the sweet but mysterious Nadia, another young person desperate to leave behind the past. Together they concoct a charade that should free Warren from Magnolia’s clutches and offer Nadia a new life. As the time for Warren to meet Magnolia again grows closer, he begins to feel nervous. Will he be able to resist the seductive charms of the woman he once loved to distraction? For above all else Magnolia is determined to marry well and she is not going to let a little thing like Warren’s heart stand in her way.

When Justin, the tall and handsome Marquis of Alton, comes to the rescue of an elfin young beauty named Sylvina, whose dog, Columbus, has been wounded by a snare in the woods on his estate, he is instantly smitten by her beauty and innocence, so unlike the scheming and worldly wise ladies of the Social world in London. Of course Sylvina does not know that he is the Marquis of Alton, just that he is her ‘Knight Errant’ and saviour when she most needed one. And, when he suggests that they repair to Alton Park, he is dismayed to find that she is terrified by the idea of meeting the Marquis. He is even more appalled when, after the idyllic time they had spent in their private woodland Eden, Sylvina refuses ever to see him again. What the Marquis does not know is that Sylvina is being blackmailed into marriage to the unsavoury Mr. Cuddington, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Only when Cuddington himself is exposed for betraying his country to Napoleon Bonaparte and the French does the Marquis realise that Sylvina has loved him from the second they had first met. And more and more he is falling in love with Sylvina and now he is determined to set her free from the demons surrounding her, even if he has to kill to do so!

Even amid the genteel grandeur of Venice, the Marquis of Wynchcombe’s ennui is undiminished. His fiery mistress Francesca, a beautiful and flamboyant Venetian actress, bores him almost as much as the company of the Beau Monde and royal acolyte with whom he associates. So when an impoverished but delicately alluring young Englishwoman – Lucia – accosts him at a café and beseeches him to peruse the painting of her dying father, he is intrigued – more so when he realises that Lucia’s father is a genius... But then he dies. Lucia is distraught and destitute but the Marquis saves her from penury by buying her father’s every painting, promising to take her home to England. Enraged by her beau’s apparent infatuation with the young ingénue, Francesca stabs him with a stiletto... But it’s Lucia who has truly pierced his heart and stolen his soul – and just as the Marquis thinks she will be his forever, she delivers the heartbreaking words: ‘Although I love you with all my heart I cannot be your wife...’

Employed by the beautiful but mean Mrs. Schuster as a lady’s companion on her trop to Morocco, Melina Lindsay is thrilled to at last visit the beautiful land of which her late father had talked with such fondness. But when , jealous of the attention Melina’s beauty and youth attract, Mrs. Schuster peremptorily sacks her, she finds herself her alone and helpless in a strange country . Suddenly, a dashing stranger disguised as an Arab appears on her balcony seeking refuge. And, when Melina hides him from his murderous pursuers, it transpires that he is an English agent on a desperate mission to save a young boy who has been kidnapped by evil subversives and whom they will surely murder. Joining the handsome Bing Ward on his perilous mission, she puts her life in his hands and very soon he will also possess her heart – but only if they survive!

Clive, the Earl of Bourne, nearly twenty-eight, tall, handsome and pursued by enumerable women is determined not to get married. He is sick and tired of his father, the Duke of Shelbourne and his relations begging him to produce an heir and he has decided that he will not marry until he is very much older. To his horror the Duke comes back from Windsor Castle to tell his son that Queen Victoria commands him to marry Princess Gilberta of Saxe-Coburg, who is arriving in England almost immediately. The Earl quarrels with his father who says that, unless he does as he is told, he will refuse to pay off his very large debts. In despair the Earl goes up to the nursery to see his old Nanny who has always loved him and to whom he has turned with all his troubles since his mother died. Nanny is appalled at the idea of him having to marry a German woman he has never seen and she therefore has a clever idea and suggests to the Earl that he runs away. In fact, to cover his tracks, Nanny suggests that he should elope with the person he loves more than anyone else, who is actually himself! The Earl does exactly as Nanny suggests. As he thinks his father will send someone North to prevent him marrying at Gretna Green, he drives his horses South and eventually arrives at Land’s End, where he rescues a very pretty girl from a highwayman, who his attempting to steal her favourite horse. The Earl then takes a job looking after horses for a distinguished General, who is the father of lovely girl. How, unexpectedly, he finds what he has always been seeking without really being aware of it, is told in this fascinating story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Prince Nicolo of Vienz is irritated by his family and his Prime Minister continually begging him to be married for the sake of his country and to prevent it being taken over by a neighbour. He finally agrees to meet Princess Marziale, the daughter of the ruler of Bassanz. However when she arrives, the Prince learns by accident that she is very much in love with the Comte who had been sent to escort her to Vienz. Because the Prince has no wish to marry anyone, least of all someone who is in love with another man, he runs away to Venice without anyone, except his valet, Texxo, knowing that he is leaving the Palace. He orders Texxo to look after the horses at a hotel, while he hires a gondola to explore Venice. On his way down one of the canals the Prince is suddenly aware that a young girl is leaning out of the window of a grand house. Then he sees to his surprise that she is deliberately letting herself down by a rope into the canal. Thinking quickly he moves his gondola so that she falls into it and she begs him to take her away before anyone sees what has happened. How the Prince then finds that the girl he has rescued is incredibly beautiful and extremely intelligent. And how they set off on a thrilling adventure, knowing only each others’ Christian names and how they eventually fall in love is all told in this unusal romantic story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Robert Lyndon, heir apparent to a dukedom and newly spurned lover is desperate to save face amongst the young dandies and court ladies of Regency London society. Handsome, wealthy and decorated for his bravery in the army fighting for King and country, Robert is recognised as one of the most eligible bachelors in Society. Yet despite his success with the ladies, it seems that he cannot find the perfect wife.Beautiful Rania Temple is living in impoverished gentility in the country. Away from the fashions and trends of the city, she is devoted to her family home and much loved horses. The only stain on her otherwise perfect landscape is a serious lack of money, without which she stands to loses all she holds dear. A chance meeting sees them join forces to enter a deception that will benefit both of their needs. But are they capable of pulling off a charade that will fool everyone from Harry, Rania’s beloved brother, to the leader of the Beau Monde, the Prince Regent himself? As a tangled web of deceit is spun around the couple, it seems that Robert is not the only player in this game with a taste for revenge.

Get away from me. As far as I am concerned, David, you are dead to me and this entire family! The handsome Viscount Kennington has never enjoyed a good relationship with his father, the Earl, but he loves his grandparents and they love him. But when a family scandal is aired after the sudden death of the Viscounts grandfather, the Marquis, the family feud grows worse. The Viscount retreats to the huge mysterious house in Devon left to him by his grandfather. At the same time the lovely orphan, Luella Ridgeway, has been travelling through France with her aunt, but now finds herself on the Viscounts doorstep. She is being relentlessly pursued by Frank Connolly, the youngest son of a minor Irish Lord. He is obsessed with her and tries to blackmail her by threatening to reveal a dark secret in Luellas past that she fears will prevent any decent man considering her a suitable match. But the Viscount soon becomes smitten with Luella and when Frank Connolly puts her life in danger, can he save her and convince her that he loves her in spite of her past? And will he ever be reconciled with his father? Find out how love wins through in the end in this exciting and dramatic story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Eugenia Dovedale's father had been High Steward to the Marquis of Buckbury and after her father's unexpected death, Eugenia had to leave 'Paragon' the family's beautiful and much loved cottage on the estate. She and her mother now lived uncomfortably with her Great-aunt Cloris in London as they could not afford anywhere else. Mrs Dovedale maintained strong hopes of her daughter making a good marriage and improving their position. She was thrilled when the Marquis returned from France and began to show considerable interest in Eugenia.However Eugenia was determined only to marry for love and passion and she dreamed of being swept off her feet. She resisted the overtures of the Marquis and then a Russian painter called Gregor Brodosky came to paint her great-aunt and Eugenia fell for his obviously charms and goodlooks.Mrs Dovedale suffered a nasty coach accident and the Marquis invited her and Eugenia to stay at Buckbury Abbey to recover. The Marquis's admiration of Eugenia intensified and her mother more than ever pushed her towards the Marquis, but Eugenia's heart longed for Gregor. Her life became more and more distraught and confusing particularly when Gregor arrived at Buckbury to paint Eugenia'a portrait. How she eventually found happiness at 'Paragon' and realised her dreams after many twists and turns is told in this intriguing and spellbinding story.

Viola Brookfield has not a care in the world until the awful day when her parents are tragically killed in a road accident, leaving her all alone in the world. So when her Aunt Mary, Lady Wakefield, writes to invite her to come and live with her in India, Viola decides to accept. But when she arrives, she finds a country fraught with unexpected dangers and that her uncle, Lord Wakefield, behaves as if she is not welcome. Violas life is further complicated when she meets the handsome but enigmatic Earl of Devonport. Amidst a backdrop of unrest and the threat of Russian invasion, Viola soon discovers that she is not the only one in Mandavi to admire the Earl and that life in India is more complex than she had thought. And when she chances upon evidence of Russian spies close to home, she puts her very life in danger. Will the Earl come to her rescue in time and just what is the family secret that hangs like a cloud over her aunt and uncle? Can Viola find love in such a mysterious and exotic land? Read what happens next in this exciting, romantic tale, by BARBARA CARTLAND

All eyes are on Lady Tamina Braithwaite as she dazzles the cream of London society at a masked ball. Dressed as a bird of paradise, even the sumptuous silks of her costume cannot detract from the glow that love has given her. In love for the first time with a handsome young politician, it would appear that they are a couple destined for great things. But is she the only one who is pretending to be something other than she is? Underneath Tamina’s frothy exterior there is an intelligent young woman who values truth and loyalty above all else. A late night telephone call threatens to destroy her happiness forever, so donning yet another mask Tamina flees London for Europe on board the Blue Diamond. On a voyage that no one will ever forget, Tamina’s strong spirit is tested to the limits as old wounds are healed, new friendships are forged and the meaning of true love finally discovered.

Beautiful Jasmina Winfield is a thoroughly modern American girl who likes to make her own decisions. A skilled and daring horsewoman, she is used to taking care of herself and takes orders from no one – especially not a man. Arriving in Yorkshire from Missouri to visit her relations, the Duke and Duchess of Harley, Jasmina is captivated by the sad romantic tale of her near neighbour the reclusive Earl of Somerton. Leaving Harley Grange to spend Christmas with cousins in nearby Debbingfield, Jasmina makes a wish that she could meet him to discover the mysteries that shroud his impressive home, Somerton Castle, and his loyal staff. And is seems that her wish is granted as a raging blizzard and runaway stallion conspire to halt her journey and she finds herself an unwelcome guest at Somerton Castle. Stranded by the weather with no means of communicating with the outside world, the fiercely independent young woman is forced to accept the grudging hospitality of the seemingly bad tempered Earl. As two cultures collide the fireworks begin to fly as the Earl tries to curb Jasmina’s exuberance and make her conform to his old fashioned ideas of feminine behaviour. But the Earl soon comes to recognise that alongside her free spirit runs a deep vein of loyalty and bravery, which is tested to the limits as dark forces gather like the clouds heralding more snow around the bleak castle.In an adventure that is fraught with danger and treachery Jasmina and the Earl battle against unknown forces, discovering friendship and ultimately love along the way.

Katie King is a girl with big dreams for the future! A dancer in the heart of London’s theatre land, Katie is awaiting her big break, when her name will finally be in lights above the Gaiety Theatre. Fun-loving, cute and adoring of her charming boyfriend, the enigmatic Harry Carrington, Katie is sure that her unusual crowning glory of wild auburn curls will help catapult her out of the chorus line and into the leading roles she deserves. But Katie’s dazzling smile masks a tragedy – she is desperately ill and her enforced absence from the stage means that she does not have the money for the private healthcare she so badly needs. A few streets away, illness has touched the life of another young woman with distinctive Titian hair, Larentia. She is nursing her sick father, the eminent historian Professor Braintree, and suffers similar horrors when he is diagnosed as incurable. Whilst brilliant and an expert in his field, the Professor’s books gain him respect, not money and they too cannot afford the surgery needed. At first it seems that the only two things that the girls have in common are their astoundingly beautiful hair and a desperate need for money to employ the services of the pioneering surgeon Mr. Curtis Sheldon. However, the sudden death of the 4th Duke of Tregaron, a cad of the first order, whose unwanted attentions and lewd behaviour caused a naive Katie such pain in her first year in London, results in Harry coming up with a daring plan to capitalise on their short lived relationship. If Larentia agrees to play her part, and the new Duke, Justin Garon, believes their story there is just a chance that they can raise enough money to save both Katie and the Professor. But can an innocent young woman, with no experience of the darker side of life, be able to trick everyone? And what will be the ultimate cost of the deception if she fails? For this final curtain call Katie must sit back stage as Larentia prepares to give the performance of a lifetime.

The beautiful young Corena Melville is horrified when a sinister Greek man with the name of Mr. Thespidos calls on her at her home to announce that he is holding as his prisoner her beloved father, Sir Priam, a prominent archaeologist and an expert on Ancient Greek antiquities. Without Corena to help him, Sir Priam is presently in Greece excavating around the Temple of Athena where he is confident of finding a long lost statue of the Goddess Aphrodite, which is obviously coveted by Mr. Thespidos, who will sell it to the highest bidder on world markets. What is worse is that the only way that she can save him from torture and death is by travelling to Greece with the wealthy Lord Warburton, an avid collector of Greek treasures, from whom they aim to extract the whereabouts of other ancient statues they want to steal and then sell. In effect she is to be the bait in the wicked trap set for Lord Warburton. When Lord Warburton refuses her request for passage to Greece on his yacht to go to her father, the kidnapper smuggles her secretly on board. She is discovered and, initially angry, his Lordship is soon utterly bewitched by her and sees as the Aphrodite he has sought all his life. For what the evil kidnapper does not reckon with are Corena’s knowledge, beauty and intelligence and indeed the all-conquering power of love!

Malvina is young, beautiful – but most of all very rich. She dreams of marrying a man that loves her, and whom she in turn can love forever. Unfortunately her father has other ideas. Only too aware of the fortune hunters that prey on vulnerable young heiresses, he is determined she should marry the boy next door, Charles Arram, the son of the Marquis of Arramford. But Malvina has other ideas. Feisty and independent, she is horrified at the idea of marriage to a stranger, even a stranger that will unite their great families and ensure that their family estate becomes one of the most prestigious in England. Learning that the man her father intends for her is living a life of gaiety amongst the most beautiful women of the Beau Monde in Paris, Malvina becomes even more disillusioned. How can she possibly compete with the famous courtesans and actresses? More importantly does she want to even try? As her father leaves for Scotland, Malvina decides she will snatch the chance to travel incognito to Paris, where she will be able to see Charles Arram without him knowing he is being spied on. Taking her old Nanny along as a chaperone, she is sure that this will give her the opportunity to find out if this is a man she can love. Astounded at the decadence of Paris Society, a million miles away from her austere French Convent School, Malvina is soon learning a different kind of education amongst the wealthy men and famous cocottes. Are the salons of Paris really the place for an innocent abroad? Risking her fathers certain disapproval, and befriended by the Duc de Lavissé, the brother of her old school friend, Malvina will stop at nothing to discover the secrets of true love as she plunges headlong into the steamy world of the Beau Monde.

“You are a very lucky young woman!” demure but beautiful Donela Colwyn’s stepfather tells her condescendingly and then announces that she is to marry his friend, who he is so impressed with, the wealthy and influential Lord Waltingham. But Donela feels anything but lucky at the appalling prospect of wedding a man old enough to be her father and who she has only met once. Desperate to escape she flees by stagecoach, little caring to where it is heading. And once aboard she meets the exotic Supper Club performers Basil Banks and his Three Belles, who are en route to perform at an aristocratic stag party in one of the country’s most celebrated stately houses. Ignorant of the world beyond her stepfather’s stables and her Florence Finishing school, Donela knows nothing of the ‘poses plastiques’ in which young women perform all but naked. Or of what coarse men expect of such girls. So when she agrees to stand in for one of the Belles, who has been taken ill so that she cannot perform, she is appalled by the audience’s behaviour and afraid of the host, the dashing and seemingly overwhelming Earl of Huntingford. Alone, terrified and penniless, Donela has lost everything she holds dear, but little does she know that she is also about to lose her heart.

Handsome, infinitely wealthy war hero, the Duke of Buckminster or ‘Buck’ to his many friends, is bored with civilian life after the excitement of the Great War. His fabulous yacht, The Siren, is packed with guests, including Dolly, a famous Society beauty who is determined to trap the Duke into marriage. He reluctantly agrees to sail to Constantinople so that he may purchase for Dolly a treasure trove of jewels and sables, exploiting the desperation of Russian refugees from the 1917 Revolution. The Duke is appalled by the poverty and suffering of the Russians and Turks alike – and when an old ally, Prince Ivan Kerenski whom he met before the war in St. Petersburg, demands that he uses The Siren to smuggle Russian Royalty out of the clutches of the Bolsheviks, who are hounding them, he quickly agrees. Almost instantly, he is captivated by the beautiful young waif Militsa, daughter of the Grand Duke Alexis. Pure, innocent and intelligent, she is everything the spoilt Dolly is not – but surely love between them is impossible. After all as an Englishman he is the enemy and Her Serene Highness Princess Militsa makes it very clear that she hates him –

Scandal, adultery and an angry husband has to be avoided if the Duke of Rockinston, one of the most handsome and charming bachelors in London, is to keep his family honour and his preserve his place at the centre of Society. With the furious Earl of Darran hot on his heels, the Duke narrowly escapes complete social ruin after being discovered leaving the home of the lovely Countess at three o’clock in the morning. Unable to convince the Earl that their liaison was nothing more than innocent friendship, the only way the Duke can save his family from scandal, and the Countess from an unpleasant divorce, is by announcing his engagement to someone else as quickly as possible. Aware that any number of London’s debutants would jump at the opportunity, but already bored by their vacuous company, the Duke decides to approach his great friend the Duke of Lynbrook to ask for the hand of his beautiful daughter, Venetia. She has everything he is looking for in a wife – renowned beauty, a good family and most importantly having spent the last three years in a Convent school in Paris she will be completely ignorant of his reputation as a rake. There is just one flaw to his magnificent plan. Venetia and he have never met, and are most certainly not in love with each other. Undeterred by this minor detail, Venetia is summoned home by her father, the newspapers are informed and the wedding date set for two weeks time. But neither man has considered how Venetia might feel about their master plan. The Duke of Rockinston may be a charming, wealthy adventurer, but Venetia has always assumed that the man she marries will be her perfect match and is astounded to discover that she is expected to marry a complete stranger. With the Earl still seeking revenge and the elusive Duke away in Scotland until the day of his wedding, will Venetia comply? And if she does, can this marriage of convenience possibly make either the husband or wife happy? With only a fortnight to the big day, Venetia must use all of her exceptional intelligence to work out a way to make a marriage, conceived in desperation, become a love story with a happy ending for everyone.

The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Earl Granville travels to Windsor Castle for an audience with Queen Victoria. He had been asked by Count Yuri Unkar of Samosia, a small but significant country in the Balkans if an English bride of Royal Blood could be found to marry Prince Ivor and thus ensure the country’s protection of Great Britain and the Union Jack. Queen Victoria had already sent many of her relations to sit on thrones to protect the Balkans from invasion by the Russians, who were intent on expanding their Empire at the expense of many small States. This time Queen Victoria could think of no one as she was rapidly running out of suitable relatives. However, Earl Granville had been awake all night thinking of solutions to the problem and then he remembered. Prince Vladimir a cousin of the Queen. He had married a woman who played the piano in public, which was not considered correct for a Prince of Royal Blood. They had been banished from London and had gone to live in a small village in Devon and then forgotten. Earl Granville leaves immediately to see Prince Vladimir to ask if his beautiful daughter Linetta would go to the Balkans as bride to Prince Ivor. Linetta finally agrees but only on the condition that she could get to know the Prince first and if she did not like him then she would return home to her beloved parents. She plans to go to Samosa as a Governess to the Count’s children and in that way would meet the Prince without him realising who she was. How they met for the first time when Prince Ivor heard Linetta playing the piano as beautifully as her mother had taught her. How Linetta saved the Prince’s life by her quick reactions. And how she finds the love of her life through the beauty of herself and her ethereal music is all told in this exciting and romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The Duke of Buckhurst, handsome, wealthy, a brilliant horseman and known to everyone as ‘Buck’ has sworn that he will never marry. Cutting a swathe through the sophisticated beauties of the Beau Monde, who are drawn to his sardonic charm like social butterflies to a bright light, he has only one requirement for his amours – that they are safely married to someone else. That is until he discovers that his heir apparent, his dissolute cousin Edmund, has married an actress. Horrified that a common showgirl will become the next Duchess and bring his family name into disrepute, the Duke is forced by his family into finding a bride. Bored by the very thought of being tied to a young, inexperienced young woman, he sets his loyal sisters the daunting task of choosing a suitable wife within the month, so that he can be married before the Royal races at Ascot. With time running out, Buck’s sisters are in despair – until they meet Lady Samala Wynn, the daughter of the honorable but impoverished Earl of Kenwyn. Lovely, innocent and angel-faced, she seems the ideal bride, but can they persuade her to marry their rakish brother, Buck? For Samala is a young woman with her own ideas about marriage – and they include love and romance. But can a marriage between two strangers, built on a foundation of the groom’s resentment and the bride’s family duty, ever bring happiness and love? As the Duke, furious at the prospect of losing his freedom, dallies with the latest married woman to fall all too eagerly into his arms and Samala worries how her beloved father will cope living alone in his crumbling estate, it seems that this is a match that is doomed to bring nothing but sadness.

Notorious throughout the Beau Monde as something of a Casanova, the dashing and raffish Virgo, Marquis of Fane, cares little for the swooning Society beauties who fall at his feet. His true passion is for his racehorses and for art – and it is love at first sight when he sets eyes on a painting of the Madonna entitled The Virgin of the Lilies. But while investigating the painting’s dubious provenance the Marquis encounters Cyrilla, the shy and beautiful daughter of the artist and is instantly, utterly bewitched. Soon their two hearts beat as one and their love seems Heaven sent. “My darling, you are not only divine and ethereal, but also human,” the Marquis exclaims. “Let me take you away – find a house – we will be alone!” But the Fate that brought them together seems bent on tearing them apart when Cyrilla realises no that matter how deep her love, she cannot do what he asks.

Young London man about town Hamish McMurdock bears a grudge against his uncle, the Earl of Kilmurdock, because he refused to consider Hamish’s money-making plan of selling lobsters, crabs and salmon from the family estate The refusal is unreasonable but understandable because, although a young man, the Earl is embittered, hating all women after having his heart broken unforgivably. Hamish, though, plans to teach his uncle a lesson by sending an unknowing young woman to the Earl’s Highland castle to care for what she believes is a blind and deaf old man. Almost destitute after the death of her parents, innocent young Jacoba answers Hamish’s advertisement. Arriving timidly at The Castle in Scotland, she is horrified when the Earl flies into a fury and orders her away rudely. It is only when she collapses in exhaustion that she is allowed to stay. And when the Earl is terribly wounded by poachers, she nurses him tenderly back to health. All the time love is blossoming in her heart – but surely as soon as he recovers from his wounds he will simply send her away – ?

Although she lives in an elegant and impressive household in London’s prestigious Belgrave Square, young Angelina Medwin’s life is not a very glamorous or romantic one. Most of her time is taken up with caring for her ailing grandmother Lady Medwin and acceding to the demands of her beloved “Lion Pekingese”, which Angelina frequently walks in the Square’s beautiful, secluded and leafy private park. London is buzzing with excitement about the forthcoming Coronation of King Edward VII – and the neighbouring Cephalonian Embassy, aglitter with official brass and braid, is no exception. Just before the great event, though, a chance meeting in the square with the dashing young Prince Xenos of Cephalonia, no less, puts her whole life in a spin as she loses her heart utterly to a man who can never marry her. But little does she know, her one hope of true love and happiness lies in the Greek blood that courses in her veins, and which she has always kept secret!

Simona Bell, the lovely daughter of Lord Belgrave, has been invited by her friend, Karoline von Honentaal to stay with her family in Berlin. Simona finds that Karoline’s father, the Baron, owns an amazing collection of art which interests her greatly. Alone for a moment, she finds her way into the Baron’s private Sanctuary, where she admires an unusual Sedan Chair. Hearing voices and frightened she might be discovered, she slips into the Sedan Chair and closes the door. The Baron and another man enter the room and Simona overhears them discussing an Englishman called Watson, who has been working on a new naval gun with the Marquis of Midhurst. Watson has been kidnapped by the Germans, who are desperate to learn the secrets of the gun. The Baron is persuaded to invite the Marquis to stay with him in Berlin and agrees to ask a beautiful Countess to seduce his secrets from the Marquis. Simona leaves the Sedan Chair undetected and is anxious to warn the Marquis. When he arrives she finds a way to tell him all she has overheard, and he is extremely grateful for her help. How the Marquis enlists her in his daring quest to free Watson, how they arrange to spirit him out of Germany and Simona finds the love she has been seeking is told in this exciting and spellbinding book by BARBARA CARTLAND.

“I cannot let you die for my sake.” The beautiful Zena prayed fervently that the Comte de Graumont would survive the duel with the Marquis de Sade early in the morning in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. Would he ever forgive her for embroiling him in such a dreadful situation. It would break her heart in two, but after this wonderful week in Paris they would never meet again. Zena is really Princess Marie-Therese of Wiedenstein, a small independent Principality between France and Germany. Her brother, Kendric, is the heir to the Throne. Together they had eluded their escorts to escape Court rigour and to spend seven carefree days in Paris under assumed names before Zena becomes engaged to an English Duke. In the glittering whirl of gaiety that marked the Second Empire, Zena pretends to be her brother’s mistress, only to find, because of her beauty, that this brings many unexpected problems, not least when she falls madly in love with a debonair French Comte. Zena would count the world well lost for the Comte’s impassioned kisses, but could true love triumph over a Royal decree and her father’s anger?

Although Chandra’s father Professor Barnard Wardell is the world’s most distinguished Sanskrit scholar, his earnings are barely enough to support him, his daughter and their faithful servant Ellen. So when the dashing Lord Damon Frome invites him on a highly paid expedition to Nepal it is a Godsend. But, having spent much of his advance, the Professor is struck down by a heart attack. So, to the fury of the woman-hating Lord Frome, demure young Chandra arrives in Nepal in her father’s place. An arduous journey through Nepal’s mountains follows, during which Chandra is entrusted with a sacred treasure by a mysterious wise man. Soon the haughty Lord and the scholarly girl find another treasure that cannot be measured in money – the precious love that lies hidden in the Himalayan clouds.

Small and slight with fair hair the colour of Spring sunshine and china-blue eyes, young Tilda is dismayed that by command of Queen Victoria, because of her Royal connections, she is to marry the Prince of a distant country called Obernia. Not only has she never met the Prince, she does not want to marry him, as she wishes to marry for love one day and certainly not for political convenience. In Munich on her way to meet her Prince, Tilda insists on attending a rowdy Beer hall and becomes embroiled in a violent student riot. But luckily she is rescued by Rudolph, an impossibly handsome dashing stranger, who she had spied on when walking in the woods near King Ludwig’s beautiful Palace, the Linderhof. In their flight from the riots, he is shot by the Police and they take refuge in the home of Frau Sturdel, a local midwife, who helps Tilda to nurse the young man back to health. Soon Tilda has fallen head over heels in love with Rudolph – and he with her. But surely their love is doomed unless, somehow, she can extricate herself from her impending Royal mariage de convenance.

Martina knew that Sir Hugh Faversham adored her. She was uncertain how she felt about him, but she knew she could always turn to him for help. So when her friend, Harriet, begged her for help to avoid a forced marriage, Martina went straight to Sir Hugh with her plan. She proposed that the two of them should ‘marry’, with Harriet taking her place at the altar at the last minute. Afterwards nobody could be sure who was married to whom and they would all escape on Sir Hugh’s yacht and sort everything out later. Sir Hugh tore his hair at her absurd idea, but he could not let his darling take such risks alone. So much against his better judgement, he plunged into the maddest scheme he could possibly conceive. At the last minute they were joined on the yacht by Robin, a young friend of Sir Hugh’s who was immediately attracted to Harriet. While they were falling in love Martina came to know Sir Hugh better and began to understand her own heart. But then, just when she discovered that he was the man she loved, it seemed that a stupid mistake could have left him married to Harriet after all. They would have to part for ever. How they resolved their problems and found the love they sought is told in this romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lost in a woodland daydream, cherubic eighteen-year-old Anita Lavenham is awoken from a reverie inspired by a sermon about the Devil by the sonorous voice of a handsome gentleman asking her to open the gate she’s leaning on – a gentleman whose imperious, yet raffish air leads her to think that he is Lucifer personified! Anita and her two sisters are impoverished after the loss of their father and their Mama’s illness – and soon she is obliged to go to live in Harrogate with her severe Great-Aunt Matilda, who, to Anita’s chagrin, is determined to marry her off as soon as possible to the ageing and boorish local Parson. It seems she is fated to a life of misery until, by chance, she meets the Dowager Duchess of Ollerton at the Harrogate Pump Room where, to her amazement she realises that the Duchess’s son is none other than her very own handsome fallen angel! Blessed by the kindness of the Duchess, who rescues Anita from the prospect of a loveless marriage and enlists her in the search for a bride for her discerning and disinterested son, Anita finds joy in her magnificent new surroundings and exalted company but still, surely, it is too much for her to hope that she herself might find a true love of her own?

When dire financial straits force her brother Harry to sell the increasingly dilapidated family seat, Queen’s Hoo, Anthea Brooke, the beautiful daughter of the late Lord Colnbrooke, puts on a brave face. And she is delighted that Harry, under an assumed name, will take up the position of estate manager to the new owner and oversee the restoration of the ancient house while Harry, Anthea and their aged Nanny move to the much more compact Dower House. Anthea takes an instant dislike to the handsome but haughty, cynically womanising new owner, the Marquis of Eaglescliffe., known to everyone as ‘Eagle’ So when she is called upon to play the piano incognito for his rather disreputable house party she is daunted and apprehensive as her brother has warned her severely against even meeting the Marquis. But no sooner than she flees the Marquis’s unwanted attentions by escaping through a series of secret passages unknown to him, she overhears a sinister plot to kill him. Not just once, but twice and Anthea acts at once to save the Marquis’s life on both occasions. And slowly but surely their shared passion for music, in particular the piano, is transformed into a love that they will forever share.

The handsome and eligible Prince Ivan of Rusitania urgently needs to find a bride who is very young, very pretty and very rich. His cousin, Prince Peter of neighbouring Voskia, is determined to prevent him marrying as he intends to inherit Rusitania. He needs revenge on Ivan. Peter invaded Rusitania hoping for a quick victory, instead he suffered a disastrous defeat. Danger follows Ivan from Rusitania to Paris and then to London, where he meets Lady Cecilia Beaumont, who undertakes to help him find a suitable bride. Almost-on-the-shelf, Cecilia is intelligent, stylish and very wealthy. Wary of suitors after her fortune, she has given up on marriage and devotes herself both to her father, the Earl of Yarlington and the clinic she has founded to help the poor of London. Soon Cecilia finds her life threatened and her heart captured. Then she meets Peters and Ivans ex-mistress, the voluptuous Countess Natasha. Neither is what they seem on first sight. What happens as Ivan and Cecilia fight for happiness and their lives is told in this absorbing romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Destitute after the death of her beloved Papa, Carmela is miserable working as Nanny to the brattish children of the local vicar. So when her closest friend Felicity asks her to take her place in the home of her guardian, the dictatorial Earl of Galeston, she nervously agrees. The subterfuge is necessary to ensure Felicity can marry the love of her life – and possible firstly because none of Felicity’s feuding family have set eyes on her since she was a child... And secondly because both young women are blue-eyed, blonde and beautiful. The Earl’s ancestral home is awe-inspiring – but it is the Earl himself who makes the greatest impression on Carmela. Growing to appreciate the profound kindness behind his steely façade, she falls deeply, utterly in love... But can true love live when it’s based on a lie? The Earl finds the answer in his heart when Carmela’s life – and any hope of love – is at stake...

Princess Zelda of Brienz in Switzerland is being harassed by her father to marry a King or Prince of one of the small countries of Europe. Zelda is very beautiful and determined that when she does marry it will be for love and only love and she cannot possibly fall in love with any of her father’s suitors. She runs away from her home to her cousin, Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who has always been very fond of her. She tells him that she is determined to find out the truth about a scandal that has been repeated ever since she was born. This was that her real father was the fourth Duke of Milverden from one of the foremost aristocratic families of England. She is also hoping to find the love of her life. To please her, the Prince sends her to stay in London with an old friend of his, Lady Craven, so that she can discover for herself if she is really one of the Milvers. Prince Johann also gives her an introduction to Queen Victoria who, he is well aware, knows more about Royalty in Europe than anyone else. How Zelda is advised to behave in a very strange way both by Queen Victoria and by her Prime Minister, Mr. Disraeli. How she manages to meet the present Duke, who succeeded her supposed father and finds that owing to a humiliating experience when he was a young man he has become a recluse and hides away in his magnificent house filed with treasures and will see no one. How in an assumed personality, but being intelligent and astute, she attracts and puzzles him. And how finally they both find happiness is all told in this unusual romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When Russian revolutionaries burn down their beloved home in the Caucasus with their sick father still inside it, Ivor and his beautiful sister Weena decide to leave Russia for good and travel to England. Their mother, who was now dead, had been English and so they themselves speak the language fluently. Ivor told Weena that he had been expecting trouble from the locals for some time and had been secretly removing valuable paintings and objets d’art from their home and storing them in a warehouse at the docks. These they would bring to England and by selling them they would have enough money to live on until they both married, as Ivor insisted, to an heiress for himself and a rich millionaire for Weena. And then all their troubles would come miraculously to an end. Ivor also has the brilliant idea that they would impress and intrigue the Social world in London if they called themselves Prince and Princess as the English always loved people with titles from any country. And anyway anyone of any standing in Russia always boasted a grand sounding title. When they reached England, they would say that they were great friends of a rich influential and real Russian Prince, who had been very popular in smart circles in London and who had now died, so that they would then be invited to Society parties and balls where they would meet their future rich spouses. On board ship to England Weena meets a man called David Hart and she becomes very attached to him, especially after an uncouth passenger tries to kiss her forcibly in the moonlight one evening as she is so beautiful. Then David rescues her at the critical moment from a desperate situation and he is to rescue her again. What happens when they arrive in England with all their treasures and how love comes to both Weena and Ivor is told in this unusual and romantic tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

At The Battle of Worcester in 1651, Prince Charles with thirteen thousand troops, both English and Scottish, is heavily defeated by Oliver Cromwell and flees to France. Clive More escapes the battlefield to a friendly house and is saved from Cromwell’s men by the Nanny of Alissa aged nine. Nanny disguises him as a girl and hides him in her bedroom. After the Prince is restored to the throne as King Charles II in 1660, Alissa, her father the Earl of Dalwaynnie, her stepmother and her stepsister Nancy, move to London. The King, grateful for the Earl’s support, gives them Apartments at the Royal Palace of Whitehall. Clive More, who is now the Marquis of Morelanton, comes down from the North. He and the King are the same age and spent a great deal of time together including playing tennis at which they both excel. The Countess, the new wife of the Earl of Dalwaynnie, is determined that her daughter Nancy should marry Clive now he is a Marquis and contrives to keep him away from Alissa, who has grown in the nine years since they last met into an outstanding beauty. How the Countess intrigues with a strange man called Lord Pronett to remove Alissa from the Court and away from Clive. How Nancy helps Clive save her. And how they find love and happiness is all told in this exciting historical romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When Madelina Winston, a beautiful American heiress, arrives in England, she has at first only one thought on her mind, to try and trace her late father’s English family. Her stepmother, Mrs. Winston, has other ideas. Madelina might have beauty and a fortune, but as far as Mrs. Winston is concerned she lacks the crowning glory of life, an English title. Mrs. Winston knows that there are many impoverished aristocrats hoping to marry money and wastes no time in setting about finding a likely candidate for Madelina’s hand. Madelina meanwhile, is distracted by a handsome, if arrogant, gentleman called Oliver de Burge whom she sees at The Langham Hotel, so she is not at all enthusiastic when a new acquaintance, Duke Tunney, invites herself and her stepmother to his county seat, Belmont Hall, and she is convinced it means that she will never see Mr. de Burge again. Belmont Hall, however, proves to be a place of destiny. There she will find herself entangled in a web woven by both her stepmother and the Duke and there she will re-encounter de Burge and the jealous Lady Kitty. And there she will discover more about her father’s past than she could ever have wished. It is a past that threatens to strangle the bond evolving between herself and Oliver de Burge. And how she must cross what seems to be a very ocean of love before she can find a haven in his arms is all told in this thrilling romantic tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Jilted by her faithless fiancée and at risk of cruel gossip from the debutantes and dowagers of London Society, life is not going as expected for beautiful Anthea Preston. Eager to leave the scandal behind, Anthea is heartbroken afresh when her beloved Mama dies of a sudden illness. So she is delighted when her indulgent Papa offers to raise her spirits with a Grand Tour of Europe. Intelligent as well as extremely lovely to look at, Anthea is excited to see all the wonderful places that she has only ever read about. Unfortunately fate has more in store for her. Whilst Anthea is away she receives a telegram to say that her father has unexpectedly married again and she has a new stepmother. To make things even worse her stepmother seems intent on marrying her off to the first rich man who offers – regardless of her feelings. Thankfully, a chance meeting with the young and willful Lady Linette Hayworth brings Anthea the chance to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life. Torn between staying at home with the father she loves, despite her meddling stepmother, and onboard adventures as chaperone to Lintette, she quickly packs her bags and steals away into the night. However, her new employer – the handsome Earl of Hayworth – is not all that he appears. A man of principles and family honour, dark secrets lurk in his past that not even his daughter knows about. Looking deeply into his amber eyes as he entrusts Linette to her care, Anthea is fascinated and eager to know more. But a journey to Naples, and an advantageous business deal for the Earl, sets the wheels in motion for secrets to be revealed and dangerous liaisons made. As Linette and Anthea enjoy the Italian sun, both dreaming of true love, the darker side of business threatens to overshadow their joy. As the girls make happy plans for the future, the Earl prays that he can keep them safe from his business rivals and the dangers that stalk them all.

The Marquis of Elvington, heartbroken to discover the woman he intended to marry has deceived him, decides to leave England and put as many miles as possible between them. Handsome, intelligent and a great favourite at the Court of King William IV and Queen Adelaide, the Marquis is used to the admiration of women and respect of men, so the duplicity of his intended wife strikes him a cruel blow. However, a thick fog makes it impossible for his yacht to leave Dover Harbour, so he is forced to remain on British soil another night. Anger swiftly chasing his sadness, he decides to visit a cheap quayside inn to escape the loneliness he feels and drown his sorrows. Sitting alone, his mind firmly fixed on how the woman he loved has betrayed him, he vows never to love or trust again. But Fate seems determined to challenge him as almost immediately he is forced to act as a ‘Good Samaritan’ to protect a young lady, Ola, intent on escaping the clutches of her hateful stepmother and dishonourable cousin. Blaming his act of charity on the vast quantities of brandy he consumed and against his better judgement, he offers to sail her in his yacht, The Sea Wolf, to Calais. Ola is brave, opinionated and daring – as well as possessing the most flaming red hair he has ever seen. From the moment she steps aboard, decrying men and their dastardly intentions, the Marquis is hard put to keep in step with her wild ideas and brave deeds. In turn admiring her free spirit and amazed at her lack of understanding of the ways of the world, they form a strange truce based on the fact that both vow never to marry. But Fate has not finished meddling yet and they are soon embroiled in incredible adventures, too fantastic for either of them ever to have imagined, that push their friendship to its very limits.

When beautiful nineteen-year-old Roberta’s beloved father, the Earl of Wentworth, dies, she is left alone and bereft in North Africa. Now she must travel to America to live with her aunt, Lady Margaret. On finally arriving, she is dismayed to find that she has died, her preacher husband has disappeared and that a cruel local Minister lives there instead, savagely mistreating Lady Margaret’s young adopted son, Danny When the Minister dies of a heart attack, Roberta flees with young Danny and his loyal dog, posing as the boy’s mother and, finding herself lost and in danger, she calls at an isolated shack for help. When the door opens, she is staggered to see the handsome stranger, Adam, she had encountered on the train from New Orleans – and that he is a talented Impressionist artist. Before long, love blossoms, bringing a new set of problems that send Roberta fleeing once more. It seems that her love for Adam is not to be –

Brought up in London by her widowed mother and her step-uncle and Guardian, Sir Uriel Reece, the beautiful Rosaleena knows little about the estate in Ireland she is about to inherit together with the lovely Rosscullen House. All she knows is that it is the place where she was born and where her father, the late Lord Rosscullen, died. She knows when he died and where, but how is a complete mystery. To Rosaleena amazement the subject is never discussed in Sir Uriel’s household – indeed, it is a matter that is actively avoided by everyone and no one will tell her the truth of what happened. Now, on the eve of her twenty-first birthday, Rosaleena is about to meet the man who will bring her face to face with her unknown past – the enigmatic and mysterious Colonel Joyce. When Rosaleena invites the Colonel to her birthday ball at Sir Uriel’s London house and he graciously accepts much to the strangely virulent disapproval of Sir Uriel, she sets in motion a sequence of events that will turn her life upside down. Journeying from fashionable London Society to the rugged mountains of a remote part of Ireland, Rosaleena will discover not only that true love never does run smooth but that it is by its nature never tame. After many twists and turns and disappointments, she gradually discovers the horrifying truth about her father’s death and how eventually she finds her heart’s desire is all told in this intriguing tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lady Julia Wood was extremely happy living in the country with her father, the Earl of Wentwood, after her mother’s death, until he remarries unexpectantly after a visit to Paris. Her stepmother, who is very rich, does not want Julia in the ancient family home, which had been there for centuries, but which had become very dilapidated because the Earl was so short of money. Her stepmother informs Julia that her father is seeing a recently arrived neighbour in the County, who is a millionaire, and is demanding that she marries his eldest son, Hubert. Julia is completely horrified as she has no intention of marrying someone she does not love and anyway she finds him unattractive. When she talks to Hubert, he feels the same and has no intention of marrying anyone. She, therefore, has a brilliant idea of how Hubert can go abroad as he is longing to do and in return he tells her that she can have the use of the yacht he has just bought so that she can visit Scotland where she hopes to meet her mother’s relatives. How Julia reaches Scotland in the fine yacht that she has been lent. How she cannot find the members of her mother’s Clan as she hoped to do, but instead she encounters terrible suffering which has fallen on the Clan, who are starving to death on an island in the sea that is dominated by a ruined Castle. How she saves her Clan and how she finally finds the true love that she is seeking is told in this intriguing story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Beautiful young Araminta Sinclair’s world is turned topsy turvy when her brother Sir Harry loses six hundred pounds at cards to the famously ruthless Marquis of Wayne. It seems that all is lost, but then Araminta has an idea! Using the superb culinary skills with which her epicure father endowed her and with the help of her uncle, General Sir Alexander Bracknell, she will earn the money to repay her brother’s debt of honour by posing as a chef. When her uncle boasts that his mysterious new cook rivals even the legendary Carême, the Prince Regent’s chef, the gentlemen at White’s Club cannot resist turning the situation into a bet. But no sooner is she at work in the kitchen of the Marquis of Wayne himself, than she uncovers a murderous plot and then to her surprise love blossoms in her heart – a love that seems doomed by her deception until she finds that the cynical Marquis does, after all, have a heart.

Heir to the throne of Valdina, beautiful Attila vows two things – to do everything in her power to return her beloved sick father, King Sigismund, to health and to find true love. But it seems that her stepmother, the scheming and selfish Queen Margit has other ideas for her future. Desperate to marry her as quickly as possible to Prince Otto, a young man with a shadowy past, Queen Margit’s eyes are set firmly on the throne for herself. And it seems she will stop at nothing to get her own way and rule Valdina alone.Turning to Father Jozsef, her childhood mentor, for help Attila agrees to go on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Janos, not only to avoid Prince Otto, but also to pray for the King’s speedy recovery. Guided by the spirit of her mother and the unconditional love of Father Jozsef, she also fervently prays that she will find a man to love worthy of her royal blood. In a journey filled with spiritual insights, adventure and great sadness, Attila comes to realise the true meaning of love when a handsome stranger awakens in her feelings that she has only dreamt of.But will the happiness she finds be snatched from her as Attila bravely returns home? Will she be forced into a loveless, but politically astute marriage? Or will true love protect her from the dangers surrounding her?One thing is for certain life in Valdina will ever be the same again as love battles to overcome the difficulties of royal duty and the intrigues of Queen Margit.

"?Do you really think you could work as I had to work to keep your mother from starvation? My dear child, you have lived in the lap of luxury all your life. You could no more earn a penny piece than fly over the moon!? Kasia?s father laughs scornfully. This is justification for his decision to marry her off to a man she does not love ? purely to save her from fortune hunters. So Kasia runs away to prove him wrong by working as Governess to the Duke of Dreghorne?s unruly nephew. As Kasia gains the trust of the child, she earns first the respect and then the growing affection of the Lord. But when she and the boy are kidnapped the stakes are irrevocably raised and the Duke?s reputation as a Dare-Devil will be tested one final time... Will Kasia?s father forgive her? Will Fate finally unite the hearts of Kasia and the Dare-Devil Duke?"

Sir Robin Dunstead returns from India after his father’s death to find that he has inherited two of the largest ancestral houses in England, but no money to restore them. Amazed to find both houses empty of servants and in a state of disrepair he berates himself for not returning home earlier. Stunned to learn that his father has sold everything of value that is not entailed to future generations and squandered the family fortune on selfish pursuits, Robin is left with no income and not even enough money to buy food for himself and his lovely sister, Alena. In complete despair Robin commissions a forger to copy two lesser-known priceless paintings that are entailed for future generations and raise enough money to launch Alena and himself in society in the hope of attracting rich American’s dazzled by her beauty and his title. Robin is adamant; they must both marry for money to save the family estate, forgetting any dreams of true love. Their plan seems set to work, until Alena meets a charming artist, Vincent, who shares her appreciation of art but has no fortune. Can she really quash the blossoming feelings she has for Vincent in order to marry a millionaire? Meanwhile, Robin has his own dilemma as he chases a hugely wealthy heiress. Uncomfortable with his new role as a penniless fortune hunter, Robin finds it much harder to compromise his personal values than he ever imagined. As brother and sister struggle with the realities of their decision both are forced to reconsider their choices – personal happiness and poverty, or the financial security that only a wealthy spouse can offer

Wealthy Rupert Fitzalan leaves his successful Railway Company in America to claim his inheritance following the death of his doughty, proud Grandfather, Lord Fitzalan. A modern, forward thinking businessman, Rupert is also the last male descendant of the mighty Fitzalan Clan, and longs for the beauty of the Scottish Highlands he last saw as a boy. Back in New York, eligible bachelor Rupert is nicknamed, Rupert the Rock, as so far no woman has won his heart. But the truth is that faced with so many vapid American socialites, and their pushy mothers, he secretly fears he will never find a woman he can love and respect, and longs to find a partner who will treasure him in return.Expecting to see the Fitzalan Castle of his boyhood, Rupert is shocked to see an empty, dilapidated shell devoid of all but a few family treasures, and realizes the obvious poverty that his Grandfather has endured to keep it for his heir. Only Duncan, his grandfather’s faithful old retainer, is a reminder of all that is lost, and Rupert vows to restore his ancestral home to its former glories. But life is about to change in unexpected ways once he meets flame-haired beauty Celina Stirling, the fiancée of Hamish MacLean, son and heir to the rival MacLean Clan. Hamish swiftly makes it very clear that there will be no warm welcome for the new Laird, and that he and his father, Lord MacLean will stop at nothing to regain that which they believe to be theirs. Within days of his return Rupert is plunged into danger as he tries to resolve an ancient family feud, pursued by the relentless hatred of the MacLean family, and spurred on to find the truth and restore his family honour. His only surprise ally in his quest is the lovely Celina, but can she really be trusted? Or is she yet another woman destined to betray him and hand victory to the MacLean’s?

"Returning from finishing school in France, Louisa Hatton was full of enthusiasm for the life ahead. She was convinced it would be exciting and romantic. But her parents had already planned a very suitable marriage for her to Lord Westbridge, their new neighbour. He was a cold, hard man and he wanted Louisa despite her protests. Her parents would not support her. Her father owed Lord Westbridge money. It seemed that for help she could only turn to the mysterious, handsome Roderick Blake, whose dark eyes haunted her. But Roderick was only a groom. How could he protect Louisa from the forces ranged against her? How they faced danger together and Louisa discovered Rodericks secret is told in this thrilling romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND."

Orphaned young and cast upon the charity of her disapproving Aunt Willis, Elvira Carrisford has known little love and affection in her life. All that looks set to change for the better when Elvira is invited to become companion to her lively cousin, Delphine, who is hoping to make a match worthy of her wealth and status. With only hazy childhood memories of her last visit, Elvira is unsure of what to expect but is determined to make a good impression. Lost in the blizzard, and rescued by the enigmatic Serge, Elvira arrives at Baseheart Castle late, disheveled and in need of love and comfort from her family. But it seems that fate intends that their paths shall cross again, and Elvira is stunned when her rescuer turns out to be none other than the valet of the handsome French Prince, intended for her cousin. As a complicated web of love, betrayal and deceit unfolds, Elvira is plunged into a world where people are never what they seem and appearances are definitely deceiving.

When the handsome Marquis of Swayne is injured in a nasty carriage accident, his servants carry him to the house of the local physician, where he is nursed back to health by Doctor Winsford’s beautiful eldest daughter, Rowena. On his way to recovery the Marquis is surprised to find that the family is unable to provide the fine food and drink he is used to and discovers that the household and its children are considerably impoverished by the doctor’s over-generosity to his poorer patients and anyone else he feels sorry for. And immediately the Marquis sets about remedying the situation. Almost at first sight the Marquis falls in love with Rowena, and she with him, and it seems that all her dreams of love and happiness have come true until she is horrified and disillusioned to find that the Marquis’s excessive obsession with his family name and social status means that he will not marry her. Instead he means to keep Rowena in a luxurious house in London as his mistress. With her dreams in shreds Rowena’s love turns to hate and she is determined to beat the man she loves in a battle of will and wits and with a little assistance from her family. But she cannot avoid her destiny. And nor can the Marquis.

On receipt of a desperate letter, demure young beauty Romara Shaldon rushes to the aid of her distressed sister Caryl, who has run away with the disreputable and cruel Sir Harvey Wychbold, who not only mistreats her, but also refuses to marry her when he finds she is with child. After a violent confrontation that leaves her bloodied and bruised, Romara is ‘rescued’ and taken to the next door home of Lord Ravenscar where, in her concussed, semi-conscious state, she finds herself married to his Lordship as part of his crazy drunken ‘revenge’ on a Society beauty who has spurned him. Appalling as his behaviour has been, Trent Ravenscar’s dashing looks and Nobility steal Romara’s heart as he rescues her stricken sister – but just as Romara realises that she loves the stranger who is her husband, a terrible shooting incident forces her to flee and leave all hope of love behind –

Samantha Clyde, the beautiful, and dutiful daughter of the ailing Vicar of Little Poolbrook in Worcestershire , lives a cosy sheltered life attending to her father’s needs and helping out with the Church bazaar at The Castle her impoverished family once owned. Her world is turned upside down when celebrated fashion photographer, Giles Bariatinsky, is very struck by Samantha’s enigmatic and unusual beauty and whisks her off to a glamorous new life as a model of haute couture in London. Bewildered and intimidated by London Society’s decadence, she meets the dashing firebrand novelist David Durham, experiences her first ever kiss and loses her heart utterly in an instant. Almost as quickly, all her hopes and dreams are dashed when the man she loves despises her naivety. And since no other man will ever take David’s place in her heart, Samantha takes refuge in a Convent, resolving to become the sophisticated woman of the world that she imagines David Durham desires –

Horrified when her beloved dog, Rufus, is caught in a cruel snare while out walking in the estate of Arrow Castle, local Parson’s daughter Shenda is at first relieved when a handsome stranger comes to poor Rufus’s rescue and then at once she is abashed and confused when he claims a kiss – Shenda’s very first – as his reward. But then she is told that her father has been killed by a savage bull and that she must leave the family’s Vicarage forthwith. Penniless Shenda is obliged to take a job at Arrow Castle as a seamstress, where she stumbles across a letter from one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s spies to Society beauty Lucille Gratton, ‘the most beautiful Lady in England’, who is staying at The Castle. Reporting the discovery to the Earl, she finds that he is no other than her ‘gentleman stranger’ and just as she realises that she is falling in love with the heroic Earl of Arrow, she is embroiled in a counter-espionage plot that puts her young life – and her love for the Earl – in deadly peril.

The beautiful Princess Ileana is virtually ruler of Zokala because her father the King, has been in a coma for over six months. Enjoying the freedom her fathers illness allows her, she is shaken when the Prime Minister informs her that a large number of brigands under the leadership of General Vladilas have entered the country uninvited and are camping in the mountains. To her horror the Princess discovers that the Zokalan Army and its aged Generals have no intelligence of this potential threat, and no strategy to protect their people. A fearless rider and experienced mountain climber, Ileana sets off to see if she can spy on the camp and find out what the brigands are doing. With only one mountain guide to protect her, she bravely determines to discover whether the peaceful land of Zokala is under threat. To her dismay her worst fears are confirmed when she finds that the valley is filled with the latest and most up-to-date guns and weapons of war. Convinced that the brigands intend to invade, she desperately tries to formulate a plan. But before she can alert anyone to raise the alarm she is captured and taken before the General. How the Princess is, for the first time, confronted with a man who is stronger than she is and how she finds herself a victim and captive of a formidable, and relentless enemy is told in this exciting, dramatic and passionate 350th book by Barbara Cartland.

Hugo, Earl of Ruven, is sailing home after ten years in India, where he served with his regiment. His grandfather, the old Earl, has died and Hugo has inherited the title and estate of Castle Ruven. He has also inherited his late brother's fiancee, Felice de Lisle. No one who sees the handsome man standing at the rail with his face turned toward the approaching coast suspects the truth. During one of the first battles of the Indian Mutiny, Hugo was severely injured. The new Earl of Ruven is returning home blind. Meanwhile, Jacina and her father, Doctor Carlton, wait to welcome Hugo to Castle Ruven. Hugo was Jacina's childhood hero and she was devastated to hear of his injury. From the moment she sees Hugo again her heart is in turmoil. She knows he has a fiancee but considers herself happy just to be in his presence. Although Hugo refuses to be optimistic about the possibility of ever regaining his sight, in Jacina's company his spirits gradually lift. Then comes the arrival of Felice de Lisle. From this moment on, the lives of Jacina and Hugo are plunged into a world of deception and intrigue. From the misty woods of Ruven to the snowy slopes of Switzerland, their story is played out in an atmosphere of darkness and ever increasing danger.

Lord Salwicke is a very rich but worried man. His beautiful daughter, Tasia, is already twenty years of age, which has dampened his hopes of her taking London by storm. Though not quite an old maid, he fears she may have missed her chance for wedded bliss. So he decides to take matters into his own hands and finds her a suitable husband. But Tasia is not a young lady who likes being told what to do. Headstrong and stubborn she envisages marriage to a man who loves her, not a union of convenience to a man she hasn’t met. Determined to show her father the error of his ways, Tasia masquerades as a tutor and manages to obtain employment as teacher to the Earl of Linsdale’s two young sons, Peter and Simon. The boys have already frightened off previous learned tutors by their bad behaviour and flat refusal to take part in lessons. Entering the Earl’s home, Tasia soon learns that due to an unhappy early marriage, the Earl has set his face against all women, seeing them as untrustworthy and inferior in every way to a man. Believing that she can win the trust of the two boys, and spark an interest in learning before the return of the Earl, she sets to work with the help of her beloved cocker spaniel, Jimbo. But two dark clouds hang over the schoolroom threatening Tasia and the happiness she finds with her young charges. Firstly the fear of being found by her father and forced home to get married, and secondly worry that the Earl might return home unexpectedly and demand to know why his wishes regarding the education of his sons have been ignored. A loving but strict father, the Earl has his own ideas about the way two young men should be educated – and they could not be further away from the new regime that Tasia has installed since her arrival. Will Tasia be able to hide out until she has proved a point to her father? Will her success as a tutor challenge the Earl’s opinions of women? As the clouds loom ever closer Tasia faces the biggest decisions of her life - to conform or stand up for her beliefs and hold out for true love.

The beautiful Flavia Linwood had been living in the country until she was nearly nineteen. She should have been a debutante in London the previous year, but she was in deep mourning for her mother who had died suddenly. Now at last she travels to London for her Season. Her father, Lord Linwood, and his friend Lord Carlsby are courtiers in attendance on Her Majesty Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle and they are very proud of their position at Court. Quite by chance Flavia secretly learns that they are increasingly concerned that the Queen is becoming too interested in the handsome Earl of Haugton and heeds his advice rather than theirs. They therefore concoct plan to get him out of their way by marrying Flavia off to him. She is completely horrified at the idea! She has long ago made up her mind that she will only marry someone she loves and who loves her. How she tries to avoid the Earl, but finally meets him face to face and then finds that he feels exactly as she does and learns that, although he is nearly twenty-eight, he has no intention of marrying anyone, not even to have an heir to his title and fortune. How Flavia and the Earl plan to circumvent the ingenious scheme of Lord Linwood and Lord Carlsby. And, how by a strange and frightening drama at Windsor Castle, they finally find what they are both seeking is all told in this unusal romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

After the Battle of Waterloo and the subsequent Army of Occupation in France, the Earl of Monthurst returns to his ancestral home in England to find it in a very bad condition. Because labour had not been available during the war, The Hall, which goes back to Tudor times, was badly in need of repair, while the farms on his extensive estate were untenanted and the fields unploughed. Not only had all the local men been taken by the Army, but a large number had not returned. The villagers had faced near starvation and many older people had died from want of attention. The Earl had unwisely brought back with him a French Comtesse, who was very beautiful and possessive and was obviously determined that he should marry her. He had thought that he and the Comtesse could arrive quietly and remain unnoticed in his home. However, he finds the Vicar’s daughter, the lovely Raina Locke, is determined to make him realise his responsibility towards his people who have suffered so acutely during the war and he finds to his surprise they are confident that he will rescue them as well as his own estate from ruin. How Raina, through sheer persistence convinces the Earl to fulfil his responsibilities to his people and accept his ancestral duty. How Raina with the aid of her redoubtable Nanny saves the Earl on the first night of his arrival home from the disapproval of the local Lord Lieutenant and an inveterate gossip. And how she saves the Earl from a despicable plot by the evil French Comtesse and how she completely and absolutely falls in love is all told in this romantic and inspiring tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lara, the beautiful red-headed daughter of Lord Hurlington, a country Parson, is horrified to hear that her friend, Jane, is on the verge of a breakdown after being horribly pursued by the lecherous Lord Magor, a regular guest at The Priory, the fabulous stately home of the Marquis of Keyston, to whose niece Jane is Governess. Determined to teach Lord Magor a lesson and to seek out ideas for the novel she is writing about contemporary Society, Lara takes Jane’s place as Governess to ten year old Georgina. But, although Lord Magor is every bit as predatory as Jane had described, the Marquis is awe-inspiring, handsome and, as she soon discovers, much kinder and considerate than she or Jane had ever imagined. Just as Lara realises that she has fallen in deeply love with the Marquis, the wicked Lord Magor traps her in a locked room. Only her great-grandfather’s duelling pistol can save her. And on the spur of the moment, it seems that Lara has killed her cruel pursuer and will be taken away by the Police to prison for murder as well as dashing all hope of a second kiss from the magnificent Marquis who has stolen her heart.

Small and slight with fair hair the colour of Spring sunshine and china-blue eyes, young Tilda is dismayed that by command of Queen Victoria, because of her Royal connections, she is to marry the Prince of a distant country called Obernia. Not only has she never met the Prince, she does not want to marry him, as she wishes to marry for love one day and certainly not for political convenience. In Munich on her way to meet her Prince, Tilda insists on attending a rowdy Beer hall and becomes embroiled in a violent student riot. But luckily she is rescued by Rudolph, an impossibly handsome dashing stranger, who she had spied on when walking in the woods near King Ludwig’s beautiful Palace, the Linderhof. In their flight from the riots, he is shot by the Police and they take refuge in the home of Frau Sturdel, a local midwife, who helps Tilda to nurse the young man back to health. Soon Tilda has fallen head over heels in love with Rudolph – and he with her. But surely their love is doomed unless, somehow, she can extricate herself from her impending Royal mariage de convenance.

Young, happy and deeply in love the future looks rosy for local beauty Lilliana Parker and her beau Robert, the dashing Earl of Sherborne. Their friends and family wait with baited breath for news of their inevitable engagement, certain that nothing can harm the charmed life of this golden couple.However, fate has other plans and the Earl is called to rejoin his Regiment in India on a mission that is both dangerous and vital to Queen and country. Terrified of being apart the sweethearts enter into a secret engagement, pledging to love each other always.Whilst he is away, Lilliana’s father – Sir William Parker – becomes embroiled in a scandal that could not only cost him his political career, but also, his life. Certain of his innocence, Lilliana loyally explores every avenue to find the money to pay his exorbitant bail, vowing that any sacrifice is worth it to restore his good name and save her family from ruin. But it seems that the only way to free her father comes with a hefty price tag – marriage to Lord Farringdon, a cold and obsessive stranger. Can she really give up her dreams of true love with the Earl for a loveless marriage? Forced to choose between the life of her father and her love for the Earl, Lilliana is horribly torn between duty and following her heart. Her only hope is that the Earl can rescue her, but is love enough? Even if they did vow it would last forever?

Vida Anstruther’s father has gone missing on his latest secret mission, ostensibly to Hungary and her sixth sense tells her that he has actually gone undercover to Russia and is in desperate danger, perhaps at the ruthless hands of the Czar’s Secret Police. Having informed the Marquis of Salisbury, the British Foreign Secretary, of her intentions, she sets off under a false name, accompanied only by her faithful Nanny, Margit, and a Courier. Vida journeys into Russia, where she meets the supremely handsome notorious womaniser and ‘pet’ of the Czar, the playboy Prince Ivan Pavolivski, and instantly falls under his spell. Vida stays with the Prince at his stunningly beautiful castle and she is tempted to trust him, but is horrified when she overhears him talking with a Russian Secret Agent and it seems that the Prince is one of the enemy! But at least now she has learnt that her father is hiding in a nearby Monastery and flees the Prince’s castle to go to his rescue. Even as her heart swells with hope for Sir Harvey Anstruther, it breaks in the knowledge that the Prince she now loves is bent on betraying him.

Anthea Forthingdale and her sisters Thais, Chloe and Phebe have all been named after famous poems. All very beautiful, after their father’s death at Waterloo the girls and their lovely mother, Christobel, are alone and isolated, living in poverty in a small Yorkshire village. Struggling for money and appropriate suitors for her daughter, In May 1819 Lady Forthingdale writes to an old friend, the Countess of Sheldon in London and asks if she will have her Godchild Anthea to stay for the rest of the London Season. The Countess is delighted to have Anthea as her guest because otherwise her husband wishes her to leave for the country. How Anthea meets the handsome Duke of Axminster in her Godmother’s house, how he appears bored and contemptuous with her when they dance at Almack’s, how Anthea caricatures the Duke with far-reaching and dramatic results and how she learns never to laugh at love, is told in this 182nd book by Barbara Cartland. Published 1976

The beautiful golden-haired Orlina Runford is the daughter of the renowned author, Sir Nicholas Runford . She lives very quietly in the country helping her dedicated father translate ancient manuscripts from all over the world and, as she is so intelligent, she learns many languages including Ancient Greek. To her surprise her great friend, Lady Sarah Lonslow, arrives unexpectedly, She is the daughter of the Marquis of Avingforde, whose nearby house was burnt down and Sarah had then gone to London after her husband dies and was acclaimed a great beauty. Sarah has come to ask Orlina for a very great favour. Because Orlina has been such a success in the plays they arranged as children, Sarah asks her to pretend to be her chaperone at a party given by the Earl of Kentallan on his superb yacht. Sarah has made up her mind to marry the Earl who was, however, determined to avoid marriage. Because he was so rich and handsome women pursued him relentlessly and Sarah has little chance of succeeding where so many others have failed. At the same time she is determined to have her own way, but the Earl refuses to let her join his party unless she provides herself with a chaperone. The only person she can trust to do it is Orlina, who finally succumbs to Sarah’s blandishments and is dressed in elaborate gowns and hats to conceal her glorious golden hair, Made up as an elderly woman, she goes with Sarah to the Earl’s yacht to find a party of two attractive men and two dancers from the London stage. It is only when they hurry on the Earl’s insistence to the Mediterranean and on to the Aegean Sea that Orlina is convinced that he is on a secret mission on behalf of the British Government. How Orlina dramatically saves the Earl’s life, how he discovers her secret and how Sarah as well as she find unexpected happiness is all told in this exciting romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Oppressed and trodden on by her aunt and uncle, the Duke and Duchess of Bruntwick, who despise her because her father died in debt and her mother was French, Rocana Brunt yearns to escape the confines of their Bruntwick Castle. Yet when her dear cousin Lady Caroline is ordered much against her will to marry the imperious Marquis of Quorn, simply to extricate him from a potential scandal over one of his many liaisons, loyal Rocana agrees to take her cousin’s place at the altar so that Lady Caroline may elope with her beloved Patrick. At least she believes that this deception and the loveless marriage that would undoubtedly follow, might free then her from her virtual slavery. Her deceit is not revealed until long after the wedding, when she and the Marquis reach Paris and her cousin and Patrick are safely and ecstatically wed. And soon, through her own magic and some dangerous escapades, Rocana herself feels a glimmer of hope that she too is about to find eternal happiness in a true love of her own.

The beautiful Alnina Lester is confronted with a formidable task when her brother, Lord Lester, dies after fighting a duel in Paris. She finds that he has accumulated an enormous number of debts, and to meet his creditors everything in their house, which has been in the Lester family for generations, has to be sold. Even though she has sold a great number of treasures, she is still short of money. Alnina goes round the house to see what else she can find to sell. In her mother’s bedroom she sees her extraordinary and unusual wedding dress, which her father had found in China. Exquisitely embroidered, it was decorated with diamante and many precious stones. She decides she would ask what seems to her a very large sum for it and advertises it in The Times. The advertisement is seen by the Duke of Burlingford, who is planning to visit Prince Vladimir Petrov in Georgia with his friend William Armstrong. They had been there several years earlier and found gold in one of the tall mountains of the Caucasus before the Duke through two unexpected deaths, succeeded to his title. William warns him that Prince Vladimir is determined to marry his daughter to an English Nobleman and it would therefore be dangerous for him to visit Tiflis in case he was forced by some means or other up the aisle with the Princess. How the Duke concocts a plan and answers the advertisement for the wedding dress. How he finds that Alnina can speak Russian fluently. And how he begs her to go out with him to Tiflis and then encounters a different danger but a very menacing one that leads them both eventually to their hearts’ desire is all told in this intriguing adventure by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When the Armistice between France and England came to an end in 1803, Napoleon interned ten thousand British tourists who were in France at that time. Most of these tourists had committed no crime and had simply been travelling when captured. Many, to save being arrested went into hiding, among them the widow and daughter of Sir Edward Waltham, who had died that winter. A year later, plunged into poverty and the seedier side of Paris life, beautiful Vernita Waltham is keeping her sick mother precariously alive on the money she obtains from making exquisitely embroidered lingerie for a famous shop that supplies Napoleon’s sister, Her Imperial Highness Princess Pauline Borghese. Vernita discovers the shop is cheating and desperate to raise money for food and medicine, decides to approach the Princess directly with a negligee she has just finished, disguised as a petite bourgeoisie. Extravagant and self-obsessed, Princess Pauline is enchanted with Vernita’s skills as a needlewoman and convinced that the silk and lace creations will only enhance her reputation as the most beautiful woman in Paris. She immediately determines that Vernita must move to the Palace and join the legion of servants that already pander to her vanity. From that moment on Vernita is thrust into complications with the Princess’s lover, handsome Count Axel de Storvik, and the all-powerful Emperor Napoleon himself. Unsure of whom to trust in a Palace filled with secret assignations and political intrigue, Vernita soon finds herself in a position that could ruin her reputation for ever. But how long can an English lady of quality remain hidden amongst the loyal family and servants of the enemy French Emperor? Terrified of discovery and fearful of the future, Vernita dreams of escape and a return to her home in England only to find an ally, waiting like a guiding star, in the most unlikely of places.

Lady Loretta's father, the well-respected Lord Lieutenant of the County, is doing his best to force her into marriage with the Marquis of Sauerdun, the son of a good friend. Whilst her father thinks he is making a good match for his beloved daughter, she is aghast at the thought of an arranged marriage and vows she will only marry for love. Searching her mind for a way to stay free to pursue the kind of love she has always dreamt of, she happens upon a good plan. What if she could prove to her straight-laced father that the man he means for her is not only an unsuitable husband, but a philandering rake too? With the Marquis’s reputation for love affairs with beautiful, seductive and preferably married women well known in Society, surely this would not prove too difficult? Seizing upon this last ditch attempt to stay unmarried, Lady Loretta devises a scheme to prove to her father that her intended is an unrepentant heartbreaker. Throwing herself upon the charity and good nature of her notorious cousin Ingrid, whose scandalous love affair has already rocked polite English Society, she heads for Paris alone. Delighted at how quickly she has escaped and enjoying the freedom of her adventure, Loretta determines to find out more about the Marquis and wastes no time in seeking him out. But Fate has its own plans for this spirited English beauty and before too long she is caught up in a web of deceit that threatens to change her life forever.

After her father’s heroic death through the treachery of a Russian femme fatale, young Solita found herself in the care of her ‘Aunt’ Mildred in Italy – the cousin of her father’s comrade in arms Hugo Leigh. On Aunt Mildred’s death, a destitute, angry and hurt Solita travels to England to confront her errant Guardian, now Duke of Calverleigh, who had vowed to care for her but apparently neglected his duty for ten long years. It is true, he had forgotten her – largely thanks to his all-consuming infatuation with a beautiful Russian Princess. The chastened Duke determines to take Solita under his protective wing – and, as his charm and kindness dissolve her resentment, Solita’s acute intuition and talent for language soon expose the wicked Princess’s plot to overthrow the British Raj in India. In this well woven tale of intrigue, Solita and her Guardian are both in mortal danger – and when she saves the Duke’s life, not once but twice, he sees this innocent young beauty in a Heavenly new light.

For years Celina Storton had been in love with Robin, the Earl of Torrington, but he spent his time in Paris, pursuing beautiful women and the more the merrier. Then his mother’s illness forced him to return to England, where she demanded that he marry quickly, as she had not long to live. She had chosen his bride for him – Celina. He was horrified by this threat to his liberty, but since Celina was an old friend and as he loved his mother, he agreed. Only when the wedding was over did his mother reveal that she was not as ill as she had seemed. Furious at the way he had been tricked into marriage, Robin turned on his wife, certain that she must have been party to the deception. But Celina was innocent and became angry at his accusations. She was ready to walk out on him, but then she discovered that his tenants had been ill-treated during his long absences in Paris. She set out to improve their lives, and became so determined to achieve this end that she almost forgot her husband. Robin was not used to women who stood up to him or ignored him. But his wife did both and he found himself intrigued. But neither of them had reckoned with a man who sought revenge on Robin for putting him in prison, and who had finally tracked him down. What happened when he broke into their home and tried to kill Celina, is all told in this exciting, romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Prince Serge of Tamrush, who himself had been sent a bride by Queen Victoria to save his Principality from invasion by the Russians, was now being asked by Prince Igor of Dubrik for the hand of his beautiful daughter Lavinia for the same reason. He decided not to tell Lavinia of Prince Igor’s request until after her birthday party. It was on that occasion she would meet Prince Igor for the first time and her father hoped that they would be attracted to each other. Lavinia was, in fact, charmed by Prince Igor, but it was still a great shock to her when she was told of the plans for her engagement to be announced and her subsequent marriage, all to save Dubrik from the rampaging Russians. She made her father promise that if she did not love Prince Igor and he did not love her, then she would be able to come home again. She was now beginning to hear unsavoury stories about Prince Igor’s wild parties and pretty women staying with him at his Palace and wondered if she could ever be happy with such a husband. It was when she arrived in Dubrik that an attempt was made on her life by a Russian. How she is saved, but Prince Igor is seriously wounded. How she finds dark secrets about Prince Igor’s childhood. And how they find the sublime love that they are both seeking is all told in this exciting and romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When Lord Templeton is sent for by Sir James Redwell, the British Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, he knows that there is trouble somewhere in the world and because he is so successful at dealing with international problems he realises that there is a new mission for him. The problem this time is in Siam and its adjoining country Khmer and he agrees to try to find out if it is true as the Siamese think that the French have their eyes on Khmer. Lord Templeton agrees to go, but Sir James tells him that there is a further problem in that both the King of Siam and the King of Khmer are anxious to marry an English woman so that they have a greater call on the British and can proudly fly the Union Jack. Sir James suggests to Lord Templeton that he would be absolutely safe if he takes his lovely niece, Amina, with him pretending to be his wife. Lord Templeton is not very keen on this as he is pressure from his family to preserve his title and estate and anyway he has sworn never to marry until he is much older. However Sir James presses him to take his niece for the simple reason that she has been brought up by her father as a boy and hates the idea of marrying anyone. Amina is dressed in beautiful clothes for the journey and reluctantly begins to feel a little more feminine. Finally they set off and are treated warmly in Siam but there is danger and death waiting for them in Khmer. How Amina visits the esoteric green Buddha in Bankok and is given an important message that will change her life. And how, after a devastating encounter in a cave in Khmer, she unexpectedly finds the love of her life is all told in this exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Michael, the Earl of Danesbury was being hounded to marry Lady Alice Randall, a woman he did not love. Even the Prince of Wales was determined to force him into marriage. Michael fled to his dilapidated ancestral castle for the first time since inheriting his title. There he heard a girl singing and fell in love. She was Bettina, daughter of an eccentric Major, a genius with gardens plants and herbs. Determined to put the castle gardens in good order, Michael hired the Major and found himself becoming more and more enchanted with Bettina. But Lady Alice came in hot pursuit, determined to use her powerful connections to snare him. His only hope was to enlist Bettinas help. Together they took an extraordinary gamble, one that could only succeed if it was protected by love. How love found the way to defeat Royalty and all its powers is told in this intriguing romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Money may not be able to buy you love but without it an Earldom is an empty title as black sheep of the family, Michael Belmont, could discover to his cost. Heir to a huge country estate, filled with antiques and the finest furniture, Michael’s gambling debts and dissolute lifestyle result in a desperate quarrel with his father, who threatens to disinherit him. When his father dies suddenly, Michael has sunk so low that he does not even have enough money for his fare home. With his allowance gambled and his fine clothes pawned Michael is a man in despair. But all that changes when he meets the beautiful Lady Verna, who is seeking a chauffeur to drive her car home to England. Not knowing that her willing volunteer is actually an Earl, they strike up an unlikely friendship and before the journey ends he has fallen under her spell. Captivated by her independent spirit and positive outlook Michael knows that their love will reform him, and suddenly there is brilliant new hope in his life. All he has to do is win the trust of her father, wealthy Lord Challoner, and convince him of his suitability as a husband – but the shadow of the late Earl’s threat looms large. With so much uncertainly the only thing they can be sure of is their love. As Michael tries to turn his life around and win the hand of the woman he adores can Lady Verna convince her father that love is enough to live on? Meanwhile Michael’s cunning younger brother, Anthony, has his eye on the estate. Their father’s favourite, he may not carry the title but he is determined to take everything else from his brother including the bride.

Handsome, wealthy and always hotly pursued by London’s Society beauties, the Duke of Wydeminster is a gentleman very much in demand – yet his affaires de coeur invariably leave him dissatisfied and feeling trapped, especially his current one with the beautiful Fenella Newbury, who is married to a much older husband. What he needs in his life is not more love affairs, but a new challenge and very much sooner than he could have expected one presents itself. First in the baffling form of a strange young woman called Aldora, who accosts him in unlikely circumstances and insists that her mother intends to force him to marry her, while also avowing her deep hatred of the Duke for reasons that he cannot fathom. Next comes the revelation that Aldora’s mother, the ambitious Marchioness of Berkhampton has suggested to Queen Victoria that the Duke should become the new Viceroy of India – a position hardly less than that of a King! But there is a catch. Aldora indeed spoke the truth! In order to be considered for the supreme position of Viceroy, he must marry this young woman who despises and detests him –

Wenda has struggled alone to keep the family’s crumbling ancestral home, Creswell Court, going. Her brother, Robbie, now Lord Creswell, is spending his time in London where he is a great success in Society and with the Prince of Wales and the beautiful ladies who surround him. The Prince has suffered from not being allowed by Queen Victoria to take any part in ruling the country and in compensation he goes from one attractive woman to another. He especially enjoys secret weekend house parties at his friends’ country houses – usually a party of ten and each gentleman brings with him a lady of his choice. To Robbie’s consternation the Prince of Wales suggests he should visit Creswell Court where he had heard the pictures are outstanding. Robbie is horrified, but he cannot refuse and so he rushes home to tell Wenda that the Prince is to be their guest for a Royal house party. Wenda asks the obvious question as to how they can afford it and to her alarm Robbie takes down two valuable pictures, which are entailed, telling her he has found an artist to copy them so cleverly that the Trustees will not realise the originals are missing. Wenda manages to clean up the house while Robbie unexpectedly meets a beautiful young woman who says she is married. Robbie offers to help her and is instantly attracted to her. How Wenda is rewarded for making the house habitable and comfortable for the Prince of Wales and how he finds the house party is even more amusing than he anticipated. And how the secret weekend provides love in a very special and delightful way for both Robbie and Wenda, is all told in this romantic tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

"Davina is the younger daughter of Lord Shelford and she has fallen for an actor who did not meet her fathers approval. He has banished her from London to his newly acquired country seat, Priory Park, where Davina felt lonely, but not for long.She soon meets the Delverton brothers who live nearby, and also their mysterious companion, Jed Barker. There are dark secrets surrounding Priory Park and the Delverton family, but Davina cannot help becoming attracted to the handsome Lord Delverton despite his indifference to her. Under pressure from her father, she announces her engagement to the younger brother, Howard, only to find him equally cold and detached. There have been a spate of robberies in the neighbourhood and suspicion falls on the local gypsies. Davina meets the beautiful and sensuous Esm, not realising what a strong influence she will have on her future happiness. Despite herself, Davina finds she is in a most precarious position and in great danger from the forces swirling around her. How Davina unravels the mysteries of Priory Park and the Delverton family and discovers that her real true love has loved her from the moment they first met is told in this exciting and fast moving romance by Barbara Cartland."

In 1750 Scotland, just four years after Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Rising of the Clans, it’s hard to know who’s loyal to the English and who is faithful to the Stuarts. And it’s beautiful seventeen-year-old Iona’s perilous mission to ascertain whether the Duke of Arkrae, head of Scotland’s most powerful clan, is a traitor – or is he in cahoots with the English. The plan is for Iona to gain the trust of the Duke and his clan by claiming to be the sister he thought to have died as a child. As all around her doubt her claim and call her a ‘pretender’, Iona struggles to hold her nerve. Her native wit and steel nerves do not fail her – but almost instantly, on meeting the imperious Duke, it’s her heart that lets her down. She’s fallen deeply, hopelessly in love! Traitor or not, surely the Duke could never love the Little Pretender who was sent only to ensnare him?

The Earl of Langdale tells his beautiful daughter, Zela, that, having gone to London on a visit, he has become involved with the Comtesse de Courché, who is one of the famous beauties of the London Season. She is much admired by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and many aristocrats. Because the Earl is having an affaire-de-coeur with the Comtesse, he trusts her when she tells him that she has made a great deal of money very quickly through a Ruler in the East, who wishes to sell personally some of the products of his country including oil. The Earl is hard-up and is finding it difficult to make ends meet on his large estate, so he borrows fifty thousand pounds from his bank. He gives it to the Comtesse to invest, as he thinks, with the Eastern Ruler. Shortly after he has given her the money, the Comtesse tells him that the Ruler has died and the money is therefore completely lost. The Earl returns home miserably to tell Zela that he is stricken by what has happened and has no idea of how to cope with it. Because Zela is very intelligent she persuades her father to go to Paris to find the Frenchman who is the intermediary between the Ruler and the Comtesse. Zela then decides to go to London and under an assumed name becomes the secretary to the Comtesse de Courché to find out what has happened to her father’s money and if she can claim any of it back. The Marquis of Buckwood, who has recently come into his title after proving himself an outstanding hero in The Great Game in India, finds that one of his friends in White’s Club has been taken in with the same story. He has lost everything he possesses to the Comtesse and her get rich quick scheme. How the Marquis and Zela come together in the most unlikely way. How they find out exactly what is happening. How by what seems almost a miracle they manage to save Zela’s father and his friends is all told in this thrilling story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lord Waincliffe breaks his horse’s bridle out riding one day and calls at the nearest house for help so that he can ride home safely. It belongs to Terence Stourton, a Professor of Literature, and he meets his daughter, Rosetta, who repairs the bridle for him. Not only does he think that Rosetta is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, but he feels there is something unusual about her. Only when he returns home does he realise that she bears an extraordinary resemblance to his sister, Dolina. Lord Waincliffe and his brother, Henry, are finding it very difficult to afford their house and estate and they have the idea that the Marquis of Millbrook, who lives nearby and is very rich, could help them build a Racecourse on both their estates that would solve all their financial woes. So they invite the Marquis, who is known for his love of beautiful women, and they expect their lovely sister to help them persuade him, but Dolina insists on going to London for a ball instead. They enlist Rosetta to impersonate Dolina for the evening and the Marquis is so deeply impressed by her and her beauty that he agrees to fund the Racecourse. Then the problems for Rosetta really begin and when all seems impossible and her heart is forever broken, everything is resolved in this fascinating and intriguing tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Society beauty Galatea, ‘the outrageous Lady Roysdon’ is the talk of the town, especially of the Social whirl that surrounds the Prince Regent when his Court arrives in the spring in the fashionable spa town of Brighton. She is a magnet for countless suitors, not least the over-amorous D’Arcy, the Earl of Sheringham, whose advances she repels unceasingly – for Galatea is a married woman, unwillingly wed to an older man who has been in a coma for years. In a rash attempt to flee the attentions of the Earl by travelling alone in her carriage, she is held up and robbed by a dashing highwayman, who leaves her without her jewels, but with an unforgettable kiss. Then when her good friend, Lady Dorridge, comes to her with an appalling problem, Galatea has her most outrageous idea yet! She resolves to enlist the help of her handsome highwayman – a decision that sets her on a path to terrible danger, a thrilling swashbuckling adventure and the blossoming of a love more Heavenly than anything she has ever known before or could possibly imagine in her wildest dreams.

Justina Mansell, the youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Mansell is told that her sister has been invited to visit India, but cannot accept. So Justina jumps at the chance to go in her place. Her aunt arranges for her to be chaperoned on board ship by the stately Mrs. Arbuthnot, who is travelling with her two daughters and her little terrier, Muffin. Justina is quickly attracted to the good-looking Sir Thomas Watson who is most attentive and much admires her beauty when he joins the Arbuthnot table for dinner. When the Arbuthnot ladies succumb to seasickness Justina takes Muffin for walks along the deck. There she meets the solitary figure of Lord Castleton with his own dog. He knows her father and they strike up a friendship. Justina finds herself compromised in her cabin by Sir Thomas even though she has given him no encouragement and is forced to agree to become engaged to him to prevent a scandal. Lord Castleton is not at all pleased by this turn of events, especially as Justina seemed far from happy with her engagement. How Justina is swept from despair to happiness and love after a number of surprises and unexpected twists is told in this unusual and intriguing romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Horribly wounded after robbers murdered her dear father and left her for dead, the lovely young Atayla is alone and destitute in Morocco at the Tangiers Mission. So when her only friend, Father Ignatius, tells her of a French lady, the Comtesse de Soisson, who wishes to pay someone to escort her young daughter home to her estranged father, the Earl of Rothwell, she jumps at the opportunity. After a long and tiring journey, she arrives unannounced at Roth Castle with young Felicity and Atayla is dismayed by the violent unwelcoming reception she receives from the dashing but disdainful Earl, who assumes that she has some shady ulterior motive in coming to The Castle. Atayla is at the mercy of a man who hates her and soon it seems she is to be banished from The Castle and from the young girl she has come to care for. But then the Earl’s passions are inflamed in a terrible misunderstanding and his hate is suddenly transformed to an all-consuming love.

When the imperious Alston, Marquis of Falcon cynically announces that he is interested in marrying his daughter in order to gain a Royal appointment, the Earl of Warnborough is thoroughly pleased. There would be many benefits to being part of his far richer neighbour’s family and estates! But the beautiful Mirabel is already betrothed and so is Deirdre, albeit secretly, which leaves only Elmina, the youngest and the Cinderella of the Warne family. Nevertheless they are all shocked when she shyly says that she will be happy to marry the dashing Marquis. But not as stunned as her new husband when she repels his wedding night advances with an expert Karate move! Self-educated and schooled in the martial and equine arts, Elmina blossoms inwardly and outwardly with an unusual allure of her own. And she prays that her handsome new husband will come to love her for herself. But, when she is kidnapped by murderous horse thieves, it seems that she will die without knowing the love she yearns for –

Arriving home from school, Bertilla is sad to find her home unprepared for her and her widowed mother is far from pleased to see her. Even worse, Lady Alvinston, a celebrated Society beauty, makes it clear that she has no intention of allowing her pretty eighteen-year-old daughter anywhere near the glittering London social scene she enjoys so much herself. As her mother continues her scheming to snare a wealthy husband before her looks fade, the last thing she needs is Bertilla making it obvious that she is old enough to have a grown up daughter. So when handsome Lord Saire, the prize amongst all of the eligible bachelors, happens upon Bertilla at a railway station, Lady Alvinston determines that their paths shall never cross again. Hastily packed up and sent to live with her mean-spirited Aunt Agatha, a Missionary in Sarawak, Bertilla is reconciled to the fact that she will never see England again. Feeling rejected, unloved and facing the deprivations of a Second Class ticket on her long sea voyage to Malaya, she is astounded to meet Lord Saire once more. Cut off from everything she knows and thrown into the elegant world of the steamship Saloon, Bertilla clutches at the kindness offered by Lord Saire, the man the Society matron’s call, ‘the Love Pirate’. Dashing, independent and a well-known heartbreaker, Lord Saire is cast in the unusual role of rescuer as they travel towards the beauty and mystery of the Far East. Acting as guardian and protector to Bertilla is very different to the passionate but brief relationships with Society beauties he normally enjoys and demonstrates the caring side of his nature. But is this a role he relishes or are his eyes really on the sophisticated married women he usually spends time with? As a man who has shunned love and marriage is he really the ideal protector for Bertilla as she dreams of freedom, romance and true love?

The beautiful Elissa Valentine has no idea what lies in store for her after the death of her beloved Papa, who was a talented artist. She travels to Yorkshire to start a new life at Fellbrook Towers as a companion to her fearsome grandmother, Lady Hartwell. She soon discovers that the luxurious lifestyle at The Towers is under threat from the wild gambling of her handsome and impetuous cousin, Falcon. When Elissa saves the day by predicting the winning horse in a big race, Falcon showers her with gifts and proposes marriage. But she cannot accept his offer as the struggling artist Richard Stanfield has stolen her heart and she cannot forget him. Will Richard’s love for Elissa survive Lady Hartwell’s attempts to deter him and the violent threats of her cousin? And will Elissa stand firm in her love for Richard, even when she finds him in the arms of the glamorous Latin American beauty, Mercedes de Rosario? Find out all in this the dazzling and intriguing romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The dashing and raffish Justin, Marquis of Veryan awakes from a drunken sleep to the appalling realisation that in the throes of passion he has proposed marriage to renowned Society beauty Lady Rose Caterham. Worse, still, she accepted and will soon be spreading word of their ‘engagement’ like wildfire throughout the Beau Monde. Fleeing to his country house on the South coast with his close friend Sir Anthony Derville, he plans to enjoy some peace and quiet well away from the hullaballoo that is sure to ensue. But no sooner than he arrives, he is robbed in his own dining room by a masked highwayman! Immediately concerned for his neighbour, Ivana Wadebridge, despite his own father’s long-standing feud with her family, he visits her to ensure that she is safe and finds himself fascinated by her demure beauty. And then he stumbles upon a maze of danger, deceit and mystery in which his family treasures, and ultimately his heart, are stolen.

Left all but penniless by the death of her husband, Lady Maude Camberley is reduced to scraping a living through gambling and the generosity of Society gentlemen. So when the stupendously wealthy but conceited and cruel Prince Ahmadi of Kahriz offers her ten thousand pounds for the hand in marriage of her young beautiful daughter, Alyna, she accepts at once. Poor Alyna is utterly mortified and horrified as she finds the Prince utterly repulsive and could bear it if he touched her. Her mother will not listen to her pleas as she is frantic for the money the Prince has offered her. Alyna is so desperate that she is on the verge of suicide when a handsome Good Samaritan dissuades her on the bank of the River Thames. He is the handsome and debonair Lord Dorrington, who is instantly struck by Alyna’s plight and he then sets about protecting her from the evil Prince’s clutches. Alynda is adamant that she hates all men and will never marry, but gradually the noble good looks and gentle humour of Lord Dorrington helps to change her mind. And just as she realises that she is in love, the dastardly Prince reappears bent on revenge and she fears desperately for the life of her newfound love.

Valda lives a life of luxury with her mother and stepfather in a beautiful château in France. Educated in Paris and enjoying all that French society can offer, Valda’s English roots seem a very distant memory. That is until the day her stepfather declares that in true French style he is planning an arranged marriage for her. Horrified at the thought of marrying a complete stranger, Valda knows that it is impossible for her to go along with her stepfather’s wishes, no matter how angry he will be by her disobedience. Much as she loves him, she has inherited her late father’s lively intelligent mind and spirit of adventure, as well as his wealth. She also possesses a soul that cries out for true love. Declaring that she intends to marry only for love and will choose her own husband, Valda struggles against a tradition that challenges all of her hopes and dreams. Determined to prove to her stepfather that she can make wise, independent choices for herself, she bravely decides to embark on the journey of a lifetime to become a photographer. Stealing away at daybreak with her friends, the Gypsies, she knows that a Romani caravan is the very last place that anyone will look for an English heiress, leaving her safe to pursue her plan. Reaching the Camargue in the South of France, Valda is captivated by its wild beauty and the stunning birds, bulls and horses. But before very long a handsome stranger catches her attention in an unexpected way. Still in disguise, she begins to realise that the romance she is seeking might be within her grasp – if only she can make him see that love is worth much more than money.

Bored with the Social world of London and the constant demands of the lovelorn Prince of Wales, the Marquis of Aldridge takes refuge at his remote country estate, Ridge Castle, deep in the ‘Witch Country’ of Essex. Riding through a village close to The Castle he comes upon a mob of villagers dragging the unconscious body of a young woman to the duck pond. Convinced she is a witch, they are bent on putting her to the ultimate test. If she drowns she is innocent. If she floats she is evil and must die! Rescuing the young waif and installing her at his castle, the Marquis is convinced that this raven-haired, blue-eyed beauty, whose name is Idylla, is far too lovely – too innocent – to be a witch. Nevertheless, he falls helplessly under her spell – and as he uncovers the murderous plot that brought her to him, he also discovers a love beyond anything he imagined possible.

The beautiful Ariana Dancer is orphaned and has led a cheerless life in London with her disagreeable Guardian, Uncle Konstantin Bardici. He has shown little interest in his niece and she has been left very much to her own devices. One day Uncle Konstantin suggests that Ariana marry an Albanian Prince – one who is seeking an English wife and who claims to have fallen in love with her portrait – and it does not take much to persuade her to agree. Even before she sets out for Albania, she begins to dream of romance and her lonely heart ensures that she quickly fancies herself in love with a man she has never seen. She is sure in her heart that she will find everlasting happiness with Prince Stefan of Dukka in the depths of Albania.! But the journey she must take to fulfil her dreams is longer and more treacherous than she could ever have imagined. When she and her hapless maid are kidnapped en route to Castle Dukka by brigands, the rosy future she dreamed of becomes bitterly compromised. Soon life in the wild mountains begins to exert an unexpected pull, while the King of the Brigands turns out to possess an irresistible charm. Ariana discovers that love can have a double meaning and that image is not all that it seems. Forced to choose between honour and passion and faced with the responsibility of deciding life or death for the man she loves, she bravely makes the ultimate sacrifice. Even then Ariana’s torment is not over – Find out how Ariana unexpectedly finds all that she has been seeking, and more, in this exciting and unusual romantic tale by BARBARA CARTLAND

The Earl of Hillingwood calls his great friend, Lord Waverstone, to an urgent meeting with him at White’s Club in St. James’s for a serious discussion. The Earl is determined that his only son, Royden, is married to his friend’s daughter, Malva, as he feels that it is time Royden produced an heir to Hillingwood Towers and all its fabulous treasures and carry on as well his ancient and illustrious lineage. The beautiful fair-haired Malva and Royden do not wish to marry and anyway they are definitely not in love with each other. They are both seeking an ideal love that will sweep them off their feet and they will be gloriously happy for ever. To circumvent their fathers’ ambitions for them they devise an ingenious plan to pretend to their fathers that they are indeed married, but they want it kept secret until they return from their honeymoon because Queen Victoria would not approve of anyone marrying while they are still in mourning as Malva is for her mother. When they do return from their honeymoon, they will then say that they have found that they are totally unsuited to each other and will divorce immediately. Because both fathers would be horrified at the Social shame and scandal of the mere idea of a divorce, they will be delighted and relieved to be informed that no wedding has actually taken place. And then they will take the pressure off them and leave them alone. Malva and Royden set off for their pretend honeymoon in his new yacht for West Africa telling the Captain that they are brother and sister. It is when they anchor in a quiet bay off the African coast and decide to visit the Palace of the local Vizier that their adventure really begins. How Malva, because of her beautiful golden hair is kidnapped by the Sultan for his harem and how she is daringly rescued by Royden. And how love comes to them both in a most unexpected way is all told in this exciting tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Already abandoned by her father, who long ago had left her and her mother for the gaieties and beautiful courtesans of the Second Empire in Paris, the lovely Lady Theresa Holme is lost when her beloved mother dies. She has inherited a fortune – but she finds that blessing is also a curse when her uncle and now Guardian, the new Earl of Denholme, insists that she must marry his son so that he can get his greedy fingers on her money. Her hatred of all men, inspired by her father’s treachery and deceit towards her mother, is now confirmed and she flees to France accompanied only by her faithful companion, Gennie. As her mother has taught her the subtle art of French cuisine, she sets out to find work in France as a cook. By a lucky chance on the train to Paris she encounters a glamorous lady, who suggests that she tries the secretary of the Marquis de Sare. She is engaged and she and Gennie travel to the Marquis’s enchanted but isolated château in the Pyrenees. Theresa instantly becomes enamoured by the chateau and even more so by a noble tiger in its private menagerie and she begins to feel content and happy. Her employer, the Marquis, is at first suspicious of her and stubbornly she hates him as all other men. But somehow, without her realising it, she finds that she has fallen in love. First with the tiger named Le Roi. And then, profoundly, with his Master, the equally noble and handsome Marquis de Sare.

At the tender age of twenty-one, demure beauty Karina Burke looks considerably younger. Having lost her parents at an even younger age, she is beholden to her imperious Aunt Margaret and Uncle Simon, who have taken her in at their sombre mansion, Letchfield Park. Now they are insisting that Karena should marry her cousin, Cyril, and, as if the fact that she does not love him is not enough, he is also mentally deficient and repellent. With the invaluable assistance of her charming Cousin Felix, she runs away from her uncle and aunt and finds herself in the middle of the sophisticated Social world that revolves around her new employer, the immensely handsome, famous but unfriendly City magnate, Garland Holt. And, although Garland’s incorrigible cousin, Jim, declares his love for her, as does the increasingly suspect Cousin Felix, Karina is aghast to discover that it is only the aloof and unreachable Garland Holt that her runaway heart desires.

Sir Hereward Grantley is angry, as usual. A bad tempered man with little to commend him, he is determined that his niece, the orphaned Diona, will understand the great favour he has done by offering her a home. Never missing an opportunity to mention Diona’s penniless status and dependency, her uncle is an arrogant bully. Diona, aghast at being thrust into a world of unkindness and bullish behaviour after the love in her parent’s home, mourns their loss and clings to the last thing that her popular, horse-loving papa gave her − beloved Dalmatian, Sirius. But no misdemeanor is safe from the mean attentions of Sir Grantley, especially when his sly son Simon is there to pour fuel onto the fire. So when Sirius accidently breaks an ornament, Simon sees his opportunity to avenge Diona for rejecting his fumbled attempts to grab a kiss, by telling his father that the dog is a menace and should be shot. Traumatised at the thought of losing her dog, Diona decides that she can no longer take the misery of Grantley Hall and flees. Scared, but certain that fate is guiding her to safety she seeks refuge with the handsome Marquis of Irchester. A confirmed bachelor and friend of the Prince of Wales, the Marquis has become used to a life of pleasure amongst the Beau Monde following the privations of the war in which he distinguished himself. A prized catch amongst Society debutantes and wealthy widows alike, he has so far managed to evade being trapped, whilst enjoying the companionship of some of the most beautiful women in London. But when touchingly innocent, educated and ethereal Diona begs him for a job, she provokes protective feelings in the Marquis that he didn’t realise he had. Accepting her wish to remain anonymous, he admires her determination to save her beloved dog, and swears to prevent anyone harming her or Sirius. But can Diona remain anonymous once her uncle starts looking for her? And just how far will the Marquis go to protect a girl he doesn’t know? As fate throws Diona an unexpected wild card the pressure is on and faith, loyalty and true love will all be tested to the ultimate limits.

The Marquis of Wynstanton had become involved with one of the beauties of London Society – Locadi, Lady Marshall and when her husband died unexpectedly, the Marquis set out on a long journey to India and Nepal, as he wished to avoid any gossip arising about their liaison. After his return, he resumed the affair, staying on in London for some time when he should have gone straight to Wyn Castle and his country estate. Then he began to suspect that Locadi was using black magic to entice him to her and to induce him to propose marriage. Almost in a panic the Marquis returned to his estate, which he had neglected for so long only to find to his horror that he had been cheated by the manager he had left in charge. At Wyn Castle he meets Flora Romilly, the daughter of a distinguished author. She is known locally as the White Witch, because she can heal ailments with plants and leaves from her herb garden and has worked wonders with his grandmother’s rheumatism. How Flora despises the Marquis as she is so disgusted at the way his people have been treated in his absence. How she is persuaded to help him make amends and put matters to rights on the estate. And how in fleeing from London the Marquis has not escaped from Locadi and her evil magic is all told in this unusual and exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

“No, Papa! I cannot believe that you no longer want me here.” When Marina Fullerton’s beloved mother dies in a tragic riding accident, she is horrified when her father sends her away from the family home in Harley Street, saying he is unable to bear her near him. She finds herself packed off to stay with family friends in Paris, chaperoned by her faithful maid, Ellen. Soon Marina finds herself captivated by her French host’s good-looking son – but is he what he seems? And when her father’s urgent telegram summons Marina back to London, fate conspires to intervene in the shape of the very handsome and charming Sir Peter Bailey. Love awaits Marina after she returns to France – but is it with whom she expects? Find out what happens in this intriguing romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND

Beautiful Lady Lucilla Welton is all alone in the world, having lost both her parents in a tragic accident. She has nowhere to go and so she stays with her cruel and distant Aunt Maud, who wants to marry her off as soon as possible. An ardent suitor is at hand – the rich Texan, Harkness Jackson – but his proposal is not one Lucilla could ever contemplate. She has already met the only man who will ever find the key to her heart – but the handsome Marquis of Castlebury is enthralled by another and for him, Lucilla seems to be no more than a casual friend. She accepts the Marquis’s invitation to visit Paris with him and her old Nanny comes as chaperone. She is enchanted to be with him, but dark clouds are gathering. And, once Harkness Jackson has found out where she is, the odds against Lucilla ever finding happiness grow longer and longer. She flees the persistent American and the Marquis believes that she has run away with him. She is taken in by her maid from her hotel and her artist brother, who paints her and the portrait catches the eye of the Parisian art world – and the Marquis. Will Lucilla ever find true love with the man she adores? Will the Marquis finally come to his senses and follow his heart? All is revealed in this exciting, heart-stopping romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Having watched her dissolute father squander the family’s fortune on his disreputable and extravagant lifestyle, young flame-haired beauty Aria Milborne despises the empty glamour of Society. So she is dismayed when she is forced take a job with an American millionaire in order to save the beloved family home, Queen’s Folly, where her brother, Charles, works night and day to make ends meet. Appalled by Dart Huron’s arrogance and the behaviour of his spoilt film star floozy Lulu Carlo, who is desperately trying to marry him, Aria finds herself at loggerheads with her new employer while being pursued relentlessly by his amorous aristocratic friend, Lord BAuckleigh. When Dart offers Aria a fortune to agree to a pretend engagement designed to free him from the grasping Lulu, she finds herself emblazoned across the Press throughout the land to her shame and humiliation. Her heart fills with hate for the dashing Dart Huron until the news that he has been shot almost stops her own heart and she understands that this is not hate at all – This is love.

The death of her beloved father, has left artistic and idealistic Tempera and her stunning, scatterbrained stepmother Lady Rothley bereft not only of love but also of money. So when Lady Rothley?s womanly wiles attract an invitation from none other than the Duke of Chevingham to join him in the South of France, it?s a Godsend. At last ? the prospect of a handsome, aristocratic suitor for Tempera?s Belle-m?re who would keep them both in the style to which they would dearly love to be re-acquainted! To arrive without a lady?s maid is inconceivable ? to afford one impossible. So Tempera escorts her Belle-m?re in the guise of a servant and attempts to coach her in fine art, the Duke?s consuming passion. While her stepmother flirts with C?te D?Azur society Tempera contents herself with capturing the local flora?s beauty on canvas. And when the flair she inherited from her father captivates and mystifies the magnificent Duke, something stirs in Tempera that she has never felt before. Is it love? Or is it betrayal?

Called home from his Regiment in Calcutta after having inherited the title of the Third Duke of Invercaron on the death of his uncle, Talbot McCaron is dismayed to find not only that his highland estate is all but bankrupt but also that his family seems determined to marry him off to Lady Jane Dalbeth from the neighbouring Macbeth Clan. He soon understands the reason why, when he is informed that Lady Jane has inherited a vast fortune from her American Godmother. Strolling in the grounds of his new domain, he comes across a thin half-starved yet bewitchingly beautiful young waif who appears intent on drowning herself in a torrential cascade he cannot understand. With some difficulty in persuading her not to commit suicide, the Duke takes Giovanna, for that is her name, secretly under his wing and patiently waits to hear the reason for her desperation and terror. What he eventually discovers is a Devilish Deception – an extraordinarily wicked plot – that almost defies belief and in the process of saving Giovanna he comes to realise that he has irrevocably and for ever lost his heart.

On a hot summer’s day in 1880 the beautiful Lady Rosella is cutting a basket of blooms in her beloved Rose Garden at her aunt’s house in Hampshire. It is her seventeenth birthday and no one remembers it except for Thomas, the gardener’s boy. Later she is driven to Winchester and has an unpleasant encounter with two raucous gentlemen in the local tavern before going on to fit her first ball gown that her aunt has given her the money for just before she died. But who is the lovely masked woman she glimpses in the mirror at the dress-makers, a glorious vision clad in rose-pink silk? And who is the dark figure approaching through the shadows of a dim and ghostly ballroom? Before she will discover the answers to these questions and to escape marriage to a most unpleasant companion of her uncle’s, Rosella must travel many miles to the glorious City of Venice accompanied by Pickle an extremely talkative and colourful parrot. She has left behind everything dear to her and when a mysterious stranger appears in Venice, Rosella believes that he may be the love she has so often dreamed about. This love will bring her pain and passion beyond anything she could ever have imagined. But her hopes are in ruins when she discovers the mysterious stranger to be the son of her arch enemy and once again she must flee. Will Rosella and her true love ever be reconciled – or will the Fates conspire to keep them apart forever? Find out in this thrilling new romance by Barbara Cartland, the one hundredth title in the Barbara Cartland Pink Collection.

Sir Robert Westbury has two young daughters – Heloise, the beautiful “English Rose” and her demure older sister Lydia, who lives with the fact that her father is disappointed that she was not a son! Since their mother died when they were children, self-effacing Lydia has grown accustomed to taking care of Heloise pandering to her every whim. When it is announced that her sister is to marry the dashingly handsome Earl of Royston – and that he is whisking Heloise away to be married in the exotic paradise of Hawaii – Lydia is expected to accompany her as a “lady’s maid”. Unlike her sullen sister, she is thrilled by the prospect – and, transfixed by the Earl’s charisma and charm, she begins to fall in love with the man she can never have. But Fate takes a hand in the shape of a storm on the voyage that casts Lydia and the Earl overboard and washes them up alone on a desert island: the Island of Love, which will change Lydia’s life forever.

The Earl of Wentworth has a fiery and unpredictable temper and is about to fight a duel in Hyde Park with a Frenchman who has insulted him, when he is restrained by his friend, Sir Thomas Babbington, and a helpful Policeman. At the same time the beautiful Temia Brandon is returning home from her Finishing School in France and is longing to see her horse, Lightning, again. Temia discovers that her father has been hiding a dark secret for many years and is now being blackmailed by the odious Lord Alphonse who threatens to reveal the secret and ruin the family’s reputation. Lord Alphonse next proposes to Temia with her father’s approval and she has no alternative but to run away from her home in Northamptonshire to the bright lights of London. Through a strange set of coincidences Temia’s and the Earl of Wentworth’s paths cross and then Sir Thomas Babbington unexpectedly falls in love with her. Temia’s strong character and resolve are tested to the extreme and she is buffeted from pillar to post. How Temia helps defeat Lord Alphonse and despite endless dramas eventually find happiness with the one man she really loves and who loves her is told in this intriguing and fast-moving tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When Rena's father dies she is alone in the world, forced out of the vicarage that has been her home, with nowhere to go and no money. She seeks help at the large wooden cross standing in the nearby grounds of The Grange. And there in the earth she finds three golden coins, which she hands over to the new young Earl of Lansdale. They form a friendship, the sweetest one of her life. But her new happiness is threatened by Mr. Wyngate, a wealthy man determined to force the Earl to marry his daughter. There is something sinister about Mr. Wyngate, also another man who looks mysteriously like him, and seems to come and go without warning. In the end, one man lies dead and another's heart is broken before Rena's faith and courage triumph. How it all happens is told in this exciting and romantic novel.

The Viscount Frome is in love, and intends to marry Claribel Stamford, belle of the Social Set, as quickly as possible. She is young, beautiful, charming and rich ? in fact he considers her the perfect match. The only drawback is that he needs the permission of his uncle, the Duke of Alverstrode before he can propose. The Duke, a more cautious man experienced in the wiles of aspirational young women, suggests a visit to Claribel?s home to meet her doting father Sir Jarvis, the well known race-horse owner. That way, the Duke can get to know Claribel and her father and set his mind at rest before welcoming her into his illustrious family. Impressed by Stamford Towers, but eager to escape the heady charm offensive of Claribel and her father, the Duke cannot shake the instinct that something is not right and remains on his guard. Even so, he is shocked to discover a sad young woman, Giona, alone watching the sunset over the magnificent gardens. He is astonished to discover that she is the niece of Sir Jarvis, but lives hidden away like a ?skeleton in the closet?. Horrified by her story of mistreatment, and intrigued by the mystery that surrounds her, the Duke offers Giona his protection and vows to uncover the family secret and restore her fortunes. But Sir Jarvis is just as committed to keeping his family secrets buried forever and will stop at nothing to keep his reputation intact. Two determined men, both used to getting their own way, but this time only one of them can win.

Sylvia, daughter of the Duke of Belham, is bored with the various young men she meets at Lady Lambourne's masked ball. At last she escapes their attentions and makes her way into the cool, moonlit garden, where she encounters a masked stranger. The following morning, Sylvia's father reveals that he has amassed such debts from his gambling that the family can no longer maintain their high profile London life. They must return to Castle Belham and Sylvia realises that she will never see her mystery stranger again. At Castle Belham, Count Von Brauer enters their lives. In time, the Duke loses a vast sum of money to him at a gathering. The Count offers to overlook the debt in return for Sylvia's hand in marriage. At first, Sylvia refuses, but when the Duke suffers a nervous collapse, her resistence crumbles. Only a stranger from the past can rescue her from her nightmare... only the stars in the sky can point the way.

Returning home from France Robina Melville finds surprises awaiting her – not all of them pleasant. Almost immediately it becomes clear that the familiar surroundings of Trentham House are not the sanctuary that she hoped for, and she soon feels unwanted and alone. Still in mourning for her beloved mama and shocked by the changes in her father, Robina struggles to come to terms with all that she has lost. Alongside this her stepmother, the new Lady Melville, seems intent on marrying off her to the wealthiest suitor, regardless of Robina’s wishes. A chance encounter with a childhood friend, the handsome new Earl of Hampton, provides Robina with employment as his secretary and a temporary escape from her stepmother’s clutches.But when Robina is forced to flee in order to avoid the unwanted attentions of Lord Drury, she finds herself at the mercy of the Earl’s dissolute brother, Ellis. With a stepmother who will stop at nothing to marry her off, can Robina discover her true heart’s desire as well as regain the love of her father? Or will she be married off to the highest bidder and lose her freedom as well as her home?

The Duke of Rockcliffe returns home to England from the British Army of Occupation which after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 is located at Cambrai. He had left England seven years ago when he was merely a young Lieutenant who intended to spend his life in the Army. Owing to the death of several Heir Presumptives to the Dukedom, he finds himself unexpectedly and to his great surprise the new Duke. He also discovers that he has a Ward called Nelita, the daughter of General Sir Edward Sheldon who had been his Commander. Sir Edward was killed by a stray cannon ball at the Battle of Waterloo. General Sheldon made the Duke Nelita's Guardian because she has inherited her mother's enormous fortune and he was afraid of fortune-hunters. The Duke first heard about the stunningly beautiful and lively Nelita when he read in The Morning Post a description of how, in answer to a challenge, she walked along the parapet of a house in Belgrave Square and was watched by a large crowd who were encouraging her. He is determined that this sort of behaviour should not continue and he then finds that she has been staying with a fast member of Society called Lady Marshbanks, who is not considered to be a suitable chaperone for Nelita. Her next escapade is to show him that she is not a dull and conventional debutante. She dresses up, painted and disguised, as a Society beauty and is clever enough to deceive two of the Duke's friends who are dining with him. He takes her to the Ascot races where they have luncheon with the Prince Regent and the Duke guesses that she has another prank in her mind that he is resolved to stop before it goes too far. Nelita, however, finds that a particularly unpleasant fortune-hunter, Sir James Jensen, is trying to blackmail her best friend in London. She manages to outwit Sir James, but he plans a terrible revenge for Nelita. She is terrified at his dastardly plot and has no idea how she can escape from him. How eventually she is saved by the Duke and how she finds serene happiness is told in this exciting and unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Queen Victoria sends for the Duke of Sherbourne and asks him to undertake a very secret mission on her behalf. It is so secret that only his loyal valet, Jenkins, is told. The Duke agrees and it takes him to Greece where he had not been for some years. He visits King George who is the same age as he is and whom he has known in the past. He has been a great success as King, although he was only eighteen when he took over the throne and he is married to Princess Olga of Russia and they are extremely happy. The Duke envies them and, although he has been pursued by a great number of beautiful women in London, he has never yet fallen in love. He consistently refuses to marry although his family beg him to produce an heir to his ancient title. Before the Duke leaves Athens, he says that he must visit the Parthenon because he wants to see again the view from the top as it is the most inspiring in the world. When he reaches the top, the only other person there is a young and beautiful girl who he senses is about to commit suicide. How the Duke persuades Princess Thalia not to throw her life away in such a stupid fashion. How he learns that she is being forced by her uncle to marry a Russian Prince she detests. How he goes to Delos, the island where the God Apollo was born. How, when he is there, he experiences a strange and mystical feeling that cannot be expressed in words. Eventually the Duke finds all that he is seeking. All his and Thalia’s problems and difficulties are solved not only by the brains of human beings but with the help and guidance of the Gods themselves. This is all told in this intriguing and surprising story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When Shona became secretary to the Marquis of Chi worth, all she was told was that they were going abroad so that he could write a book. She never suspected the dark secret in his heart or the terrible thing he meant to do. As they travelled on, she learned more about the tragedy that drove him, and she faced the fact that she was falling love with a man whose heart was in the grave. Haunted by memories of his dead wife, the Marquis tried to shut out the possibility of a new love. But love would not be denied. First in Greece and then on the magical island of Cyprus, they finally confronted their feelings. But was it too late? Could the Marquis free himself from the past and allow Shona to take him towards the future.

When Lord Rupert Brooke and his wife are killed in an accident, their only child, Titania, was forced to live with her uncle, the Duke of Starbrooke, who had never approved of her father’s marriage and did not consider her grand enough to be a member of the Starbrooke family. Titania is forced to serve her cousin Sophie as no more than a lady’s maid. Sophie is to marry Prince Frederick of Velidos, a small country in the Balkans and Titania is taken with her to pander to her every whim. Titania is brokenhearted leaving behind her horse which she adores and her Nanny who is the only person who really loves her. When she reaches Velidos, the King, who is the half-brother of Prince Frederick, finds her in tears and does his best to comfort her. Secretly Titania rides with the King early in the morning before her cousin is awake and discovers that he prides himself on having no heart. How she gains the King’s confidence, how she manages to save the King from being murdered and how she eventually finds her own happiness, is all told in this unusual and exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

When beautiful Atalanta Lynton has a chance meeting with a dashing French artist on her way home to her father’s modest Vicarage from Combe Castle where her aunt and cousins reside, she is smitten by his handsome Gallic charm and his talent as an Impressionist artist. But no sooner than Paul Beaulieu, for that is his name, declares that he has fallen in love with her at first sight, she finds to her chagrin that her father has promised her hand in marriage to her cousin William, who is to become the British Ambassador to the newly independent country of Vallon and he has to be married to a suitable wife to take up such a prestigious post. Although appalled at the prospect of a loveless marriage to her cold pompous cousin, Atalanta sees no alternative but to yield to her parents’ will and the union will definitely ensure that she can provide for her impoverished parents and her brother and twin sisters. In Paris with her hated husband-to-be, the flame of her love is stoked once more by Paul’s unfailing ardour and, finding that her cousin already has a mistress who is with child, Atalanta now resolves that she must refuse to marry him. But an enraged William will stop at nothing to prevent her marrying Paul and it seems that their love is doomed before it can really blossom.

With all the trappings of wealth, but none of the money to maintain the large historic houses they inherit, society beauty Lady Galina More and her charismatic brother, Georgie, the Earl of Ranmore, are in despair. It seems that the only way to secure their family estate for future generations is to throw away any hopes of romance and marry well. But can a wealthy suitor for both brother and sister be found amongst Victorian London’s glittering parties and dazzling soirees? When Georgie meets American oil millionaire Craig Farlow, and his lovely daughter, Ellie-May, it seems that fate has finally intervened in a fortuitous way. Accepting the Earl’s offer to stay in his Park Lane home, father and daughter quickly settle into London life. Ellie-May and Galina strike up a close friendship, whilst Farlow inspires Georgie to make one last attempt to change his fortunes, this time amongst the oil fields of America. With the Earl away, the two girls are quickly inundated with worthy suitors, but both are determined to marry for love, or not at all. So when Galina gives her heart to handsome, but penniless, Lord Bramton she knows that their love is doomed if she is to save her family. Meanwhile Ellie-May faces her own romantic dilemmas; how can she know if the man of her dreams truly loves her, or is attracted only to her father’s money? Torn between love and duty, both girls pray for a way to get their hearts desire and find the lasting happiness they deserve.

Beautiful, young, impoverished Parson’s daughter, Hermia Brooke, is happy with her simple country life, despite being shunned by her wealthy uncle the Earl of Millbrooke and her cousin, the spoilt and selfish Marilyn. In a chance encounter with a raffishly handsome gentleman, whom she decides resembles the Devil himself, she nevertheless helps him with a stone stuck in his horse’s hoof. Rewarded with a golden guinea and a shocking kiss, Hermia finds her world turned topsy turvy when she meets the mysterious stranger once more at the behest of Marilyn, who is determined to trap this ‘Devil’ – namely the Marquis of Deverille – into marriage. Just as Hermia’s innocent heart warms to the gentler side of this hard-bitten aristocrat and he falls under her guileless spell, the Marquis is embroiled in a murderous plot and Hermia must fight for his life, even as all hope of the love she dreams about for herself seems lost.

The beautiful Lady Sheila Rosswood’s father had lost nearly all his money on ‘get rich quick’ schemes which did not materialise although they seemed so good at first. He tried and tried to become a millionaire, but he was never lucky as none of his investments were ever successful. When he died, Sheila found that she had no money, Rosswood Hall was in a state of disrepair and neglect and her father had sold everything that was saleable in the house including her mother’s most precious jewellery. She was the only child and so her father’s Earldom and Rosswood Hall passed to a cousin, whom she had never liked and her parents had consistently refused to invite him to the house or be pleasant to him. When he arrived to claim his inheritance, he new Earl not surprisingly made it very clear that he did not want her in the house and she was forced to pack up her belongings and leave her beloved home for ever. In a state of despair Sheila turned to the ever faithful old family butler, Wilkins, and his wife, who was the cook, to help her. He devised a plan to find her a job as a secretary, as she had so diligently and efficiently handled all her father’s affairs for several years. Wilkins takes her to an employment agency in London and she becomes the secretary to the eldest son of the Duke of Craigstone, Viscount Stone, who is tall, charming and good-looking. How Sheila helps the Viscount, when he appeals to her, to save his brother from Chinese kidnappers, who are intent of extorting a large sum of money for his release. And how together they expose the man who cheated her father out of much of his money and how they eventually find the love they are both seeking is all told in this romantic tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Arriving exhausted in Ampula, the Capital of the tiny nation of Kozan on the Black Sea, and carrying top secret information from India for the Viceroy, adventurer and British Secret Service agent Drogo Forde is in need of fresh air and decides to go for a walk in the City. To his amazement he encounters a beautiful young woman hanging perilously down a high wall from a rope. She calls to him for help and, Master of disguise though he is, Drogo can barely cover the fact that he is instantly smitten with her. With revolution in the air, the violent streets are no place for a young woman, so chivalrous Drogo escorts Thekla, for that is her name, to his rather sparse lodgings. To his amazement she reveals that she is none other than the daughter of the King. And since the revolutionaries have now stormed the Royal Palace and killed the King, he has no choice but to save her and take her with him on his dangerous mission. As love blossoms between them, despair fills Drogo’s heart. Having spent what little money he had on care and nursing for his dying mother, he cannot possibly marry his lovely young Princes and, with great anguish, he resolves to let her go.

Major Michael Moore has been playing a very dangerous part in the Great Game in India where he foils a plot to kill the Viceroy who tells Michael he is now a marked man and that he must return to England immediately. To his astonishment on his way home he reads in a newspaper that following the death of his grandfather he has become the Duke of Grangemoore. When he reaches England he decides he will not announce his arrival to the family Solicitors as he wishes to visit Grangemoore Hall under another name to see for himself what the situation is before he takes up his new position as Duke. While he is driving there he is stopped in the countryside by a beautiful young girl who begs him frantically to save her. Adela is running away from her stepmother and she is so persistent that Michael agrees to take her with him. When Adela and Michael arrive in disguise he discovers an appalling situation because a distant cousin has taken over the house and filled it with his friends who are nothing but drunken criminals. How Michael is saved by Adela from a horrible death and how they both escape and find happiness is told in this exciting romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

King Maximilian of Valdastien, handsome, clever but with a well deserved reputation as a ladies man, is under pressure from his Prime Minister to leave behind his bachelor ways, get married and produce an heir as soon as possible. Despite the fact that he vowed never to marry, with political unrest in Europe and encroaching danger from the Prussians, the King reluctantly decides to visit the surrounding countries to seek a suitable Queen. Meanwhile, beautiful but tempestuous Princess Zita flies across the alpine countryside of neighbouring Aldross on her dazzling horse Pegasus. Full of a fire that matches the stunning flame red of her hair and sparkling with intelligence, Zita could not be more different to her elder sister, the placid and homely Princess Sophie. So when a visit by King Maximilian is heralded, their shrewd mother wastes no time in ordering Princess Zita to stay out of sight so that she cannot catch the King’s eye and ruin any matrimonial chances for her sister. Angry at being left out and curious to see a real King, especially one with such an intriguing reputation, Zita cooks up a cunning plan to disguise herself as a simple country girl. Enlisting the help of her secret friend Gretel, Zita is sure that the rest of her family will be far too busy preparing for the King’s visit to guess what she is scheming. But Fate has other things in store for Zita and, although her plans to catch a glimpse of their esteemed guest go to plan, she ends up getting much more than she bargained for. Dazzled by the charm and wit of the King and, sensing that she has found a kindred spirit, she is desperate that he should not find out her secret and discover who she really is. But if she is honest with herself, having met him once, she wishes that she could see him a good deal more. Torn between her feelings for the King and her sense of family duty it seems that the only course she can take is to make sure that their paths never cross again.

Bereft and penniless after the death of their father, the local Vicar and Private Chaplain to the Earl of Chadwood, the beautiful Olivia Lambrick, her younger brother Tony and her five-year-old sister Wendy are desperate for the new Earl to arrive at Chad Hall. Having inherited the title after his two cousins drowned in a sailing accident, it has taken the Earl a year to travel home from India. And meanwhile, with no one to pay the estate’s workers and pensioners, the entire village is almost starving. Olivia hopes that the Earl will honour the allowance her mother received as the late Earl’s cousin, but to her chagrin, he is a handsome but hard and unsympathetic man. Refusing Olivia’s pleas and those of his half-brother, Gerald, who faces the debtors’ prison because of his high living in London, the Earl has a very unpleasant solution – he will pay Gerald’s debts only if he marries Olivia! But Fate intervenes unexpectedly when the Earl is attacked by a vicious mob of youths from the village and, almost fatally injured by a knife thrust, is then carried to Olivia’s home. While Gerald uses a Power of Attorney to save the village, pay off his debts and look after the pensioners, Olivia saves the life of the man she hates and prays with all her heart that somehow love will save the day.

"The Marquis and Marquise de Castillon together with their young son, Jean Pierre, were forced to flee France for England when the French Revolution broke out in 1789. Jean Pierre was educated at Eton and only returned to Paris when Napoleon came to power. It was not long before he joined Napoleons Army, survived the Retreat from Moscow and was badly wounded at the Battle of Waterloo. Whilst in hospital he became friends with Colonel Hubert Dawlish who was in the next bed. Before they both underwent life threatening operations, they made joint wills leaving everything to the other. Jean Pierre, now the Marquis, survived the operation and returned to his ancestral Chateau to find it looted and in a terrible state of repair. Another blow awaited him when the late Colonel Dawlishs three children arrived as he was now their Guardian. He felt too ill and depressed even to want to see them. The eldest, the beautiful Marietta, was gifted with the powers of healing and herbs and she enthusiastically set about not only bringing the Marquis back to health, but to restoring the Chateau to its former glory. She persuaded some soldiers to help her with the Chateau and through her prayers made a stunning discovery that changed the Marquiss fortunes. How she found love where she least expected it and showed the Marquis that love and prayer can heal any wounds and overcome all obstacles is told in this exciting and unusual book by BARBARA CARTLAND."

The demure but beautiful Alecia Stambrook sorely misses her late mother, Lady Sophie. And now that her uncle, the Earl of Langhaven, has also died, there will be no more of the generous stipend that Alecia’s father had relied on to survive as the books that he writes bring in very little money.. When her much-loved cousin Charis arrives unexpectedly at her home, Alecia is heartened although taken aback by her strange request. Charis asks her to pretend to be her, as they look very much alike, and visit the Guardian she has never met at the English Garrison in Cambrai in France, while she marries the love of her life secretly in London.. The Guardian, General Lord Kiniston, sound old and ill-tempered, but, when Charis offers her five hundred pounds, which is enough to keep her and her father for some years, Alecia nervously agrees to go ahead with the pretence. Arriving in Cambrai, Alecia is amazed to find not only that the imperious and frightening Lord Kiniston is not old at all, but the youngest General in the Army and extremely good-looking! And then she is horrified that he expects her, as Charis, to marry him against her will! But then, when she foils a murderous bomb plot, saving the lives of the Duke of Wellington, Lord Kiniston and many more, everything changes and love casts out fear forever.

Lord Milton should have been a happy man, with an ancient title and a magnificent estate. But he was deep in debt and haunted by memories of the Crimea, where he had once been a soldier and taken part of the Charge of the Light Brigade. To take his mind off the past, he eagerly accepted the suggestion of a friend to become the manager of a hotel in Brighton, called the Paradise Hotel. He was seeking new discoveries, but he could not have guessed how startling his discoveries were going to be. First he decided to abandon his title and pass simply as John Milton. Then there was the mysterious young lady, who arrived suddenly and begged him to hide her from a man who was hunting her. Finally there was the aggressive Sir Stewart Paxton who was seeking her, full of fury and threats. To Cecilia the Paradise Hotel was a paradise indeed once she had met John Milton. She had no idea where the rocky road was taking her. She only knew that she must escape her evil guardian, Sir Stewart, who was ruthlessly intent on marrying her for her fortune. And John was the only man who could help her. Lord Milton came to understand how wonderfully attractive she was, how gentle and sympathetic to the nightmares that still troubled him. He would give his life to protect her and make her his own. But then he made a terrible discovery about her, and it seemed as if a life together was impossible. What happened when Sir Stewart pursued them, and how Cecilia found a man who loved her for herself instead of for her money, is all told in this romantic and unusual story by Barbara Cartland.

The Duke of Rockcliffe returns home to England from the British Army of Occupation which after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 is located at Cambrai. He had left England seven years ago when he was merely a young Lieutenant who intended to spend his life in the Army. Owing to the death of several Heir Presumptives to the Dukedom, he finds himself unexpectedly and to his great surprise the new Duke. He also discovers that he has a Ward called Nelita, the daughter of General Sir Edward Sheldon who had been his Commander. Sir Edward was killed by a stray cannon ball at the Battle of Waterloo. General Sheldon made the Duke Nelita's Guardian because she has inherited her mother's enormous fortune and he was afraid of fortune-hunters. The Duke first heard about the stunningly beautiful and lively Nelita when he read in The Morning Post a description of how, in answer to a challenge, she walked along the parapet of a house in Belgrave Square and was watched by a large crowd who were encouraging her. He is determined that this sort of behaviour should not continue and he then finds that she has been staying with a fast member of Society called Lady Marshbanks, who is not considered to be a suitable chaperone for Nelita. Her next escapade is to show him that she is not a dull and conventional debutante. She dresses up, painted and disguised, as a Society beauty and is clever enough to deceive two of the Duke's friends who are dining with him. He takes her to the Ascot races where they have luncheon with the Prince Regent and the Duke guesses that she has another prank in her mind that he is resolved to stop before it goes too far. Nelita, however, finds that a particularly unpleasant fortune-hunter, Sir James Jensen, is trying to blackmail her best friend in London. She manages to outwit Sir James, but he plans a terrible revenge for Nelita. She is terrified at his dastardly plot and has no idea how she can escape from him. How eventually she is saved by the Duke and how she finds serene happiness is told in this exciting and unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Arriving at an employment agency in the West End of London in search for some way to support herself and her beloved old Nanny after her father’s gambling debts have left her in penury, the beautiful young Carina is offered a very unusual post in which she must take charge young of a young boy, the son of one, Lady Lynche. On visiting her at her lodgings Carina is dismayed to find that Lady Lynche, an Oriental lady, is at death’s door and so is reluctantly persuaded to take her child, Dipa, to his father in the English countryside. Arriving at the vast and imposing Lynche Castle in the depths of Gloucestershire, however, she finds that the child is far from welcome and that Lord Lynche, although more handsome than any other man she has ever seen, is living a dissolute bachelor’s life with his disreputable friends, who only want to gamble day and night at cards. As well as the ghosts that apparently linger behind The Castle’s imperious walls, the place is haunted by a sense of shame and misery, for what Carina knows not, but she is determined to find out. Slowly the veils of secrecy and mystery are peeled away and the darkness is lit up with the fire of love.

Since the loss of her parents, the beautiful young Filipa Seymour runs the family’s ancient Manor House alone with very little money and only her beloved dogs and horses and ageing housekeeper, Mrs. Smeaton, for company. So she looks forward with excitement to every visit from her brother, Sir Mark Seymour, except that invariably he is looking for yet another heirloom in the house to sell in order to finance his extravagent Society lifestyle in London. So when Mark suggests a crazy plan for Filipa secretly to take the place of the glamorous ‘Pretty Horse-Breaker’ with whom he is due to ride at the Marquis of Kilne’s prestigious horse race meeting, she reluctantly agrees. Introduced to the Marquis and the other house guests as ‘Fifi’, Filipa is intimidated yet strangely enthralled by his dismissive attitude. But, even as she realises that she is falling in love with him, the Marquis seems oblivious to her and convinced that she is just another gold digger – until she foils a dastardly plot to poison his beloved stallion, saving its life and probably that of its rider as well and in the process opening the Marquis’s eyes to love.

When the Marquis of Sherwood declines her invitation to a Society occasion with the scathing comment that he has no wish to spend his time with d?butantes, whom he believes are ?half-witted, gauche, stupid and not well-educated?, Lady Katherine Wick is incensed. Even more so when she discovers that he apparently prefers the company of the Gaiety Girls, the femmes fatales of the theatrical set. So she resolves to teach him a lesson by enlisting dear friend Lavina Vernon and her most beautiful, talented and witty friends to pose as Gaiety Girls at an unchaperoned party at the Marquis? country mansion ? there to prove that Society girls are intelligent as well as glamorous. Kind, demure country parson?s daughter Lavina is uncomfortable with this deceit ? all the more so as she comes to realise that her heart belongs utterly to the Marquis. The question, once the pretence has been exposed, is whether he will treasure it... Or break it.

Dalma Wickham, having been in Athens to learn Greek, arrives at a British Steamer to return to London to find that they will not allow her dog, Twi-Twi, on board. Because she is turned away from the British ship, she walks round the quay and sees a most magnificent yacht. While she is admiring it, a bomb goes off at the end of the quay and the seamen leave the yacht to see what has happened. On an impulse, because she realises it is her last chance of getting Twi-Twi to England, she slips aboard the yacht and hides in one of the empty cabins. The yacht goes to sea and she is just beginning to feel hungry when Twi-Twi starts barking. Dalma has made up her mind that the owner of the yacht must be very rich and old and, when the door opens, she sees a young man who is very handsome and he is the Earl of Ravenscraig. Because her father, Lord Wickham, is a trusted advisor to the Prime Minister and Queen Victoria, she recognises that there would be a great scandal if she travels alone with such a handsome man. Because she is herself so beautiful and interesting, the Earl says he will not turn her off his yacht, but he has a problem to resolve in Fez before he returns to London. It turns out that he is trying to rescue a young woman, the daughter of his secretary, who has been captured by evil white slave traders. How Dalma helps the Earl in freeing the girl when she is about to be sold. How they reach England in safety, but Dalma knows that she is already in love with the Earl. How she discovers that he is married to a Greek Princess and is faced with an appalling problem for which there is apparently no answer. And how they both wish on a star that one day they will be together for ever is told in this exciting romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Beautiful Aurora Hartnell is returning home to Hadleigh Hall for Christmas. Looking forward to seeing her elderly father Lord Hartnell again, she ruefully acknowledges that life in the country is likely to seem rather dull after the elegance of her Finishing School in fashionable Paris. Resigned to a quieter pace of life, she is therefore filled with anticipation when she hears that an eligible bachelor, Lord Moreton, has moved into nearby Elton Hall. Dreaming of an attractive stranger who will sweep her off her feet, Aurora is delighted when her father invites the mysterious Lord for dinner on Christmas Eve Swept up in a frenzy of excitement, and determined to look her absolute best, Aurora is so caught up in romantic dreams she hardly notices that her intimidating stepmother, Lady Harntell, is behaving oddly. Hypercritical and quickly irritated, it seems that the only time Lady Hartnell smiles is when planning the impending dinner, which she insists must be perfect for his Lordship. But Aurora’s dreams are crushed like a daisy underfoot when she finally meets the man she has pinned all her hopes upon. A favourite of her father and stepmother’s, Aurora knows instantly that Lord Moreton is not a man she can respect or give her heart to. Then the dashing Earl of Linford gallops into Aurora’s life. Tall, handsome and with a twinkle in his dark eyes, she immediately knows that she must put a stop to any notions of a match between herself and Lord Moreton if she is ever to find happiness. But how can she extricate herself from Lord Moreton’s increasingly cloying attentions, without disappointing her beloved father? And just why is her stepmother so keen that they marry immediately? As the pressure to accept this unwanted proposal increases, Aurora is caught in an unhappy trap that she struggles to see a way out of.

Imperious, handsome and gallant in battle, the Duke of Kingswood has stolen the hearts of many society Belles – but he is ‘a block of ice which nobody can melt’, determined never to marry. To continue the family line, he is counting on his cousin and heir presumptive Richard to marry well and produce a son. To the Duke’s horror, Richard’s heart is bewitched by society siren and acclaimed beauty Lady Delyth Maulden – and disaster turns to tragedy when Richard finds his beloved in the arms of another, shoots him and turns his gun on himself. With Richard at death’s door, the Duke is determined that he shall find a more suitable young beauty to mend his broken heart; to marry him and thwart Lady Delyth’s scheming ways. Like manna from heaven, a beautiful young grey-eyed waif calls to him for help for her ailing father as he rides through his estate. Could this modest, unassuming beauty be the ideal bride he seeks for Richard?

The handsome and aristocratic, thirty-five year old diplomat Lord Athelstan knows that he is heading for trouble on his mission to the Caucasus to investigate how long the legendary Shamyl, the Imam of Daghestan, can hold out against the invading Russians. But little does he expect to be faced with another kind of conflict – with a beautiful young hostage imprisoned in the Imam’s stronghold. The lovely Natasha is only nineteen and she was seized along with a Royal party by the Imam’s followers and held to ransom against the release of the Imam’s only son by the Russians. Orphaned, she has no hope of raising a ransom and instead has reluctantly agreed to be given to the Sultan of Turkey as a ‘wife’ for his vast harem in return for the release of her nine-year-old brother. The Imam implores Lord Athelstan to escort Natasha safely to Constantinople – a favour he cannot grant lest it anger the Russians and compromise Great Britain. But then he meets her – undoubtedly the most glorious woman he has ever seen, with fire in her eyes, when he informs her that he cannot agree to Shamyl’s request. Ultimately Natasha gives him no choice and, when she appears among his party in disguise, Lord Athelstan is furious. Soon their mutual hatred turns to all-consuming love – a love surely doomed by Natasha’s pledge to sacrifice herself to the Sultan’s harem for the sake of her brother –

After her quiet life in the Highlands of Scotland, the Laird's daughter Ola Mcnewton is looking forward to going to London to take part in Queen Victoria's Jubilee. At first it seemed a good joke to pretend to be a Balkan Princess, and be entertained by the handsome Duke of Cranborne. During one enchanted evening with him, they fell in love. But did the Duke fall in love with her, or the mysterious Balkan Princess... Then the Security Services, fearful of a plot on the Queen's life, became suspicious of Ola, and it seemed that only the Duke could save her. How they overcame the obstacles and realised their true love for each other is revealed in this exciting and romantic novel by Barbara Cartland.

When Lady Verena’s widowed father suddenly remarries, she finds that her stepmother is anxious to make a match of convenience for her new stepdaughter and produces a suitor who repels her. Verena has always sworn that when she marries, it will be for love and for no other reason. Feeling that she has no choice but to run away, Verena makes a daring midnight escape from her home. With the help of the family groom she reaches the nearest port intending to flee to France, only to find that the tide is against her. A change of identity and a stroke of luck soon see Verena sailing away to a new life, where her culinary skills learnt at school come in surprisingly useful. But meeting the Marquis of Hilchester brings a new dilemma – as her feelings for him grow, how can she win the heart of the man she loves when she is not who she claims to be? And when a friend of her stepmother’s enters the picture, events take a sinister turn. Can Verena find love and true happiness or will she be unmasked and sent back to England and a marriage she dreads or even be thrown into a French prison? All is unraveled in this exciting and romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

The Honourable Richard Brooke, the younger son of the Earl of Grandbrooke becomes a close friend of Prince Ivan of Karlova. The Prince however does not use his title as he is incognito. He is therefore known as Ivan Sazon. As is usual in Aristocratic families, Richard, as the second son is ordained and is then appointed to a Parish in Oxford. Prince Ivan is often at his house and it was not long before he falls in love with Richard’s sister Elizabeth, who is very beautiful. They marry and are very happy for six years and have one child, whom they christen Tarena. Unexpectedly Ivan is called back to Karlova because his father, the King, has died and he has to take his place. He also learns that he is expected to save Karlova and its adjacent country Dubnik from the Russians, who are determined to annex both countries. To do so he has to marry Princess Catrina of Dubnik. Shortly afterwards Elizabeth dies and Tarena goes to live with her Uncle Richard. Tarena is very happy with her uncle and takes her mother’s place in tending the garden and helping in the Parish. Then King Ivan dies and it is a tremendous shock to Tarena to learn that she must go to Karlova, become Queen and marry Prince Igor of Dubnik. This will save Karlova from the Russians and she goes with Queen Victoria’s blessing. Frightened but convinced that she must follow in her father’s footsteps, Tarena travels to Karlova aboard a British Battleship accompanied by her uncle. How Tarena is taught the language of Karlova by the dashing Count Vladimir in charge of the Escort of Karlovan soldiers on board. And how she succeeds in astounding and defying the Russians, at the same time falling in love, is all told in this fast moving tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

In the loveless household of General Sir Frederick and Lady Emily Osmund and their empty-headed twin daughters, begrudgingly adopted niece Azalea is little more than a wallflower. And all because her kind, heroic and beloved father died in a manner they wrongly consider scandalous – and because her mother was Russian! ‘You must pay the price of your father’s sins and what happened in India you will take to your grave with sealed lips’, her uncle says, as if to seal her fate. When the General is posted to Hong Kong, Azalea is thrilled but there, as always, she is cast aside and abused. Only the handsome, dashing but imperious Lord Sheldon shows any interest in her – until to her aunt and uncle’s disgust she’s befriended by a kind Chinese family. But her joy at learning of their culture and customs is short-lived. Kidnapped by pirates, she faces death and worse. Is there any hope now that she’ll find true love and a life of her own ?

The British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, asks Lord Kenington to travel to India to find out if growing reports about the Russian menace are really true. The Liberal Opposition in Parliament are sceptical and are certain that Disraeli is manufacturing a scare about nothing in asserting that the prime objective of the Russians in invading Asia is to wrest India from the British. On the P & O Liner to India, to Lord Kenington’s surprise, a very beautiful young girl comes up to him and asks if she can be seen speaking to him. Aisha explains that, owing to various mishaps, she is travelling alone and un-chaperoned and is being pursued by a tiresome man, Arthur Watkins, and she is frightened at the way he is behaving. Learning that she is the daughter of one of the most successful Officers in the Army in India, Lord Kenington is only too pleased to help her. He understands that Aisha’s father, Major Warde, is one of the key men in The Great Game, a British Secret Service dedicated to defending India from the Russians. Because they find each other so interesting, Lord Kenington is as worried as Aisha is when they reach Calcutta to find that her father is not waiting for her. Lord Kenington fears that if he is missing there may be an alarming reason for it and they then travel together to Simla to stay with the Viceroy, Lord Lytton. How when they are there Major Warde turns up unexpectedly, having saved a Fort on the North-West Frontier. How Aisha is kidnapped from Viceregal Lodge and how eventually she finds happiness after her terrifying ordeal is all told in this intriguing romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

How could you, Mama? Papa has not even been dead a year!’ When the beautiful Lucia Mountford’s mother remarries less than a year after her father’s death on the Titanic, she is shocked when the family’s fortunes suddenly go into rapid decline and her mother becomes ill. Deeply in debt her stepfather borrows a considerable sum of money from the handsome but roguish Lord Winterton. Horrified, Lucia discovers that not only has she been pressed into working for him as his secretary to repay the debt, but that she has been promised to Lord Winterton in marriage. To add further misery to her burden, her mother’s condition worsens and her life hangs in the balance. In the meantime, Lucia is being secretly wooed by the staid but good-looking Edward de Redcliffe who is intent on making her his own. As Lucia struggles with herself over her growing attraction for her employer, events take a strange turn when the wilful and beautiful Lady Shelley sets her sights on becoming Lady Winterton. How Lucia finds true love and what happens when Lord Winterton mysteriously disappears is all told in this intriguing novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

There is nothing for it we will have marry for money! The Strathcarrons have lived in splendour in Lednock Castle in Scotland for many generations, but the family fall on hard times when their fortunes become depleted. An American guest, Larry Harwood, comes to stay and persuades the Earl of Strathcarron to travel to New York with him to make his fortune, leaving his wife, his son, Ewen and daughter, Moira, to the mercies of fate. Six months later the Earl returns a broken man, having lost the entire estate to the Americans creditors. Ewen and Moira hatch a desperate plan to save the castle and their very inheritance from the clutches of the American bank. They realise that their only recourse is to make good marriages into wealthy families with the hope that they can bail out their father. They head for London, and its glittering social scene with the express purpose of not returning to Scotland until they have both found suitable spouses. But things do not go to plan when Moira meets handsome Stuart Weston again and in spite of her promise to her brother, she finds herself falling in love with him. Torn between her loyalty to her family and her hearts desire, will Moira ever find true happiness or will she be forced into a loveless marriage of convenience? All is revealed in this exciting and romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND

When a dashing young gentleman runs into Wentmore Hall bleeding from his shoulder and crying, “Save me! Save me! If you cannot hide me, they will kill me!” the quick-witted beautiful young Novella Wentworth hides him in the secret passage that was used centuries ago by Catholic Priests escaping from the wrath of Queen Elizabeth and later the Royalists and the Cromwellians. The young man, Vale Chester, has been shot by Novella’s neighbour, Lord Grimstone, who demands to search the house for his quarry. Novella’s father, a General fighting in the Duke of Wellington’s Army in Spain, never liked Lord Grimstone, so she is naturally suspicious of him and his motives. And sure enough she finds that Vale Chester is a Government agent who suspects Lord Grimstone to be the leader of a smuggling gang landing French luxury goods illegally in England and therefore a traitor, as the English are at war with Napoleon Bonaparte. Taking Vale’s top secret coded message to the Secretary of State for War, Novella finds herself a part of the plan to capture Lord Grimstone and his gang of smugglers and a terrifying adventure begins. Now her own life, as well as Vale’s, is at stake and, as love blossoms in her heart, she finds that it is for his safety that she cares most.

The beautiful Colena Dalton has inherited a great fortune following the untimely death of her enormously rich father, Sir Arthur Dalton, in Paris after a long illness. After overhearing the Comtesse de Lyons telling her charmless son, Pierre, that he must propose to Colena as they need the money, she decides that she wants to marry a man who really loves her for herself and not for her money It is then that she and her cousin, Elizabeth, who has been living with Colena and her father in France, decide to change places. The two girls return to London where they join the Social world and are at once invited to endless parties as Sir Arthur’s death has been widely reported in all the newspapers. And immediately the fortune-hunters start circling. One of them called Oliver Stone becomes particularly persistent and bombards Elizabeth, thinking that she is Colena, with attention and invitations, while ignoring Colena. As expected he proposes marriage and will not be shaken off whatever the girls try and in order to escape him they drive of Colena’s father’s house in the country. There they find they find that two famous paintings have been stolen and hearing that there is to be a sale of pictures and other treasures nearby, the girls go there to try to replace the pictures. It is then that they meet up again unexpectedly with the unpleasant Oliver Stone who tries to abduct Elizabeth and force into marrying him. Then an unfortunate accident occurs that changes everything. How Colena and Elizabeth meet the men of their dreams, who love them for themselves and not for their money, is told in this intriguing story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Can money buy you happiness? Impoverished Lady Viola and her twin brother David Northcombe find that their fortunes change dramatically when their entrepreneurial father dies unexpectedly, leaving them a vast fortune that will change their lives forever.Returning home to England, still reeling from their dramatic change in circumstances, fate seems to have smiled on them when the handsome, but impoverished, Duke of Glentorran dramatically rescues them from the perils of the sea off the coast of Scotland. Loyal to his family and friends, the Duke has little left but his pride and his determination to live up to his responsibilities to the people of Glentorran.In moments Viola and the Duke realise that they have met before, and the spark previously lit between them is still alive. Eager to be loved for herself and keen to test rumours that the Duke is nothing more than a fortune hunter, Viola begs her brother to keep their inheritance secret, leading the Duke to believe that their finances are similarly dire. Having spun a web of deceit that becomes hard to unravel, Viola soon finds herself plunged into a state of despair desperate to keep the Duke’s friendship and respect, but wishing to tell the truth, which could mean losing him. And amongst the faded glories of the Glentorran Castle estate it seems that love is in the air as David finds himself falling for Meg, the Duke’s shy and pretty sister. As they grow closer his loyalties become increasingly divided. Should he keep his newly found wealth a secret from the woman he loves, to please his sister? Or should he risk damaging Viola’s budding relationship with the Duke by telling the truth? Love, friendship and trust are tested to the limits as the young lovers battle with their consciences, sense of duty and the promise of eternal happiness.

Witty, sardonic and with an eye for beautiful ladies, the handsome Marquis of Rakecliffe has earned himself the nickname, ‘Rake’ amongst his friends and family. As he cuts a swathe through the glittering balls and elegant soirees of London society he is pursued by debutantes and married hostesses alike. Admired by men, including the Prince of Wales, for his intelligence, bravery and ability to take on any challenge to defend his country it seems the Marquis lives a charmed life. Beautiful Lanthia Grenville is a stranger to the city and the new fashions set by the Prince of Wales and his wild, fun loving ‘Marlborough House set’. Leaving her sheltered life in the country for a shopping trip chaperoned by the kindly Mrs Blossom, Lanthia looks forward to an exciting stay at the celebrated hotel, The Langham. But it seems that the Marquis’ luck has finally run out after a liaison with a beautiful Spanish Contessa inflames the jealousy of her fiery husband. Eager to avoid a duel, he flings himself upon the mercy of Lanthia persuading her to enter into a secret pact to avoid social ruin. Protected by her doting parents and dreaming of true love, travel and adventure, Lanthia is suddenly plunged into more excitement than she could ever have imagined as their ruse threatens to be uncovered. As friendships are tested to the limits and danger threatens will Lanthia be the one to halt the Rakes progress and teach him the meaning of true love, loyalty and fidelity? Or will the fanatical Conté ultimately wreak his revenge and shatter the lives of everyone?

After visiting the lovely Countess of Helston as her husband is away, Lord Lanwood did not arrive home until the early hours of the morning. And after sleeping later than usual the following morning, he is ready to go riding when his valet tells him that a strange man was waiting downstairs to see him urgently. Pierre, a rough-looking, rough-speaking Frenchman gave him a letter from his nephew Charles. It said that he was being kept a prisoner until he told his captors and their patron, the scheming Comte de Roulé, how to break into Lord Lanwood’s castle as they planned to steal his fabulous collection of treasures as well as his valuable paintings, including three exceptional Fragonards. The letter also said that Pierre would take Lord Lanwood to France if he pays him well to rescue Charles. Lord Lanwood has trouble understanding the Frenchman’s low slang so he engages the help of the Vicar’s daughter, the beautiful Isa, who is adept at languages. When they reach France, Pierre takes Isa to where Charles is imprisoned and, disguised as a nurse, she dresses his wounded shoulder each day. Between her and Lord Lanwood they devise a clever plan to rescue Charles from the French Comte and the ruffians who have imprisoned him. They ask the Comte to dine with them at their hotel and, while he is doing so, they spirit Charles away from his captors. How when they eventually return to England the story ends in great happiness both for Isa and Lord Lanwood, is told in this exciting tale by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Bereaved of her beloved father at sixteen, and now her mother, Belinda Wyncombe?s only comfort is that she still has the family?s home. Until she finds her irresponsible stepfather, Captain D?Arcy Rowland, has squandered their money and fraudulently mortgaged the house. This means he faces jail while Belinda faces penury, unless she complies with her stepfather?s shameful scheme to gain and ruthlessly exploit the trust of the famed adventurer ?Lucky? Logan, who has made a fortune with his legendary ability to find diamonds, gold and other precious metals wherever he travels. Every fibre of Belinda?s being recoils from such deceit ? more so when she finds that Marcus ?Lucky? Logan is not the greedy fortune hunter of her imagining but a generous, handsome and heroic man. When murderous thugs come for Marcus in the dead of night, it is Belinda who raises the alarm and saves his life. And when he kisses her,Belinda is suddenly, utterly, in love ? but surely her love is doomed by her deceit?

Lady Elvin, the daughter of the Earl Winwood was rich, beautiful and in love. Any day now Captain Andrew Broadmoor would propose to her. But then she overheard him saying that he did not love her and would only marry her for her money.Elvina fled, travelling to Cumberland, where she had heard that the Duke of Castleforde was looking for a governess for his unruly sister, Violet. Concealing her true identity, she presented herself as plain Mrs. Winters and in Violet, Elvin found a troubled, rebellious young girl who needed her help. She began to grow close to the Duke, but as their love flowered she realised that his duty to his great house came first. And that duty forbade him to marry a mere governess. It would have been simple to tell him the truth that she was the daughter of an Earl, but pride prevented her. If he would not marry her for herself alone, then she would have none of him. How they resolved their problems and found their way to Heaven is all told in this compelling romantic novel by BARBARA CARTLAND.

To afford the food and medicine her ailing mother needs, the beautiful Honourable Olinda Selwyn, daughter of the late Lord Selwyn, former Lord Chief Justice of England, is obliged to conceal her background to take employment with the Dowager Countess of Kelvedon as an expert embroiderer at the family stately home in Derbyshire. Taken aback to find that the ageing but still beautiful Countess is having a love affair with a dissolute young rake, Olinda sympathises with her estranged son, the Earl, who despises his mother for her loose morals. Drawn reluctantly into the Kelvedon family’s tangle of bitterness and resentment, Olinda finds herself gently advising the Earl – or as he puts it, inspiring him. But just as the love she has only ever dreamt of seems almost within her grasp, Kelvedon is rocked by a sudden and suspicious death – and, incredibly, the man she loves with all her heart stands accused.

When two dashing gentlemen ride up to Rensham Hall, the ancestral Norfolk home of the beautiful Lady Chiara Fairfax, her world is turned upside down, as she and her mother are just recovering from the unexpected death of her father, Lord Fairfax. One of them, the handsome Mervyn Hunter, is soon in ardent pursuit of the lovely Chiara. But can she trust his declarations of love or does the mysterious, dark-haired stranger she encounters by chance on the seashore hold the key to her future happiness? Mervyn Hunter proposes marriage to Chiara and she turns him down, as she does not love him and she senses that he is cold and calculating and has an ulterior motive in asking her to be his wife. As she watches spellbound, a group of wild swans fly North over the sea towards Russia, Chiara feels a magical world of passion and beauty calling to her. Soon she too will be travelling North to the enchanting City of St. Petersburg, although in the company of Mervyn Hunter’s pushy sister and her two tiresome daughters. But will she ever break free from the clutches of Mervyn Hunter and his family and be reunited with her true soulmate, the elusive and mysterious Count Dimitrov? Find out, in this scintillating and thrilling romance by Barbara Cartland.

After the death of the kindly old Earl of Yardecombe, Oscar the brash and pleasure-seeking new Earl seems to care little for the people of the Parish – let alone for the plight of young Dorina Stanfield, her widowed father and their impoverished family at the rundown Vicarage. Dorina’s opinion of this raffish gentleman is lower still when she hears of lewd goings-on with his flamboyant friends at the ‘Big House’. Confronting his Lordship, Dorina is stunned to find him chastened by her accusations. Nevertheless, she is unconvinced. Everything changes, though, when Dorina overhears the Earl’s wicked heir presumptive’s Satanic incantations, summoning the Devil to murder his Lordship. Suddenly what she thought was hatred for Oscar turns into a Divine and eternal love that swiftly conquers the perpetrator of this devilry – but will the elusive Earl ever feel the same about her?

Lord Springdale is becoming increasingly irritated and tired of being told by his grandmother that he must marry and produce an heir to his illustrious title and estates. She keeps on telling him that, as he is the last of his line and at the age of twenty-seven, he must find a suitable wife and settle down. After a number of affaires de coeur with attractive married ladies, he is not in the least attracted to debutantes and so avoids their pushy mothers like the plague As he was leaving a hospital after visiting his grandmother, a young girl, thinking that his carriage was for hire, jumps in and orders him to drive away quickly. Lord Springdale is obviously surprised and, when he looks at her, he realises that she is very beautiful. After agreeing to take her to where she wants to go, he learns that Mellina is being forced into marriage by her immensely rich father to a man he has chosen for her and who she utterly dislikes and despises. Because they both hate being pushed into marriage to someone who only wants him for his title and her for her father’s vast fortune, they agree to run away on his superb yacht disguised as brother and sister. They set out confidently in the hope that they will each find their ideal partner on this voyage and counter the pressures that they are suffering from at home. They call at Gibraltar, Marseilles and then sail across the Mediterranean to Tunisia. It is during their visit to the ancient Colosseum of El Djem in Tunisia that something terrifying happens to Mellina and she is rescued by Lord Springdale, which is to completely change both their lives. How this all comes about is told in this exciting and intriguing story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

How far would you go to protect the things you care about the most? Lady Dorianna Dale is packing her trousseau for her illustrious Society wedding to a wealthy man she does not love, in the hope that she can save her family estate from the hands of the bailiffs. Following the death of her husband, the charismatic Lord Dale, Dorianna’s mother marries Mr Shawcroft, who seduces her with his kindness and promises of a secure life. However, his genial mask quickly slips to reveal a hard-hearted gambler whose wealth is reliant on the turn of a card. When their beautiful home, Ashburton Hall, becomes the next casualty of her Step-papa’s gambling habit, Dorianna reluctantly agrees to make an advantageous match in a bid to ward off his creditors. But Dorianna does not love her bumptious husband-to-be, Lord Buxton. In fact she hates everything about the man, especially the sound of his loud foolish voice. However, unless the wedding goes ahead, she and her Mama will lose everything that they hold dear. Trying her hardest not to show her repulsion and putting away thoughts of true love, Dorianna pastes on a smile and prepares to reluctantly do her duty. That is until she meets the handsome and enigmatic Earl of Claremont at a London soirée. Within minutes of talking to him her heart is racing and she longs for them to meet again. Can she really give up her dreams of true love? Especially now that she has had a glimpse of what romance could be with a man she respects? Deep in the woodland garden at Ashburton Hall, where she used to spend happier times with her beloved father, a Greek statue holds the key to Dorianna’s future happiness. Will the gods hear her prayers? Or will she have to make the ultimate sacrifice to pay for the mistakes of those around her?

After the death of her parents, young Andrina Maldon has selflessly borne the responsibility not only for the running a household impoverished by her father’s profligacy but also for the future happiness of her two sisters. Strikingly beautiful as they are, there is no hope of their finding a suitable suitor without someone to introduce them to the Social world. So she travels unchaperoned to London to seek the assistance of the Duke of Broxbourne, her father’s friend and the Godfather she has never met. On the stagecoach journey Andrina has a frightening encounter with a gentleman at a Posting inn – and on arrival at Broxbourne House she is appalled to find that this man is none other than the Duke of Broxbourne himself. At first unwilling to help her, the Duke grudgingly agrees to her requests and although grateful, Andrina despises this arrogant and insensitive man – until, little by little, his true nature is revealed and a very different emotion begins to stir in her heart.

Neisa More and Carol Waverton are cousins. Both girls are beautiful, intelligent and hoping to find true love, but there is one major difference between them – money, or in Neisa’s case a distinct lack of it. The daughter of runaway lovers, Neisa’s father is an impoverished Vicar whose passion is writing stories about his travels in the Far East. Back in England after accompanying her parents on their many adventures, Neisa lives a quiet and secluded life in the country. Her cousin, Carol lives a very different life in America with her immensely rich father, the entrepreneur Clive Waverton. With all the luxuries that money can buy Carol has come to London for the Season, and to catch up with her childhood friend, Neisa. Disenchanted by the fortune hunters of London who are only interested in her money, Carol becomes convinced that the only man she will marry is one who can love her for herself, and not what her riches can buy. When an invite arrives to spend the weekend at a house party hosted by the wealthy Marquis of Denholme Carol sees her opportunity to experience life as an ordinary young woman, rather than an heiress. Encouraging her cousin to enter into her plan, the girls play out a charade where they swap places and assume each other’s identity. Arriving at Denholme Park, with Neisa disguised as the rich heiress and Carol as the Vicar’s daughter, their adventures begin. Neisa has the stylish clothes, precious jewels and lifestyle she has only dreamt of; and Carol experiences for the first time being overlooked by the wealthy and aspiring guests. But who could have know that love was waiting for them amongst those gathered at the Marquis’s estate for his famous steeplechase? And alongside love is danger as a deadly plot is uncovered that, if successful, will change Denholme forever. As Neisa and Carol become embroiled in the intrigues of the weekend both girls courage and faith is tested to the limits as they discover that money and wealth can cause as many problems as it solves.

Lady Lolita Vernon, daughter of the late Earl of Walcott and Vernon, has run away. Her stepfather, Ralph Piran is forcing her to accept the attentions and perhaps an offer of marriage from his business partner, Murdock Tanner, who is very rich but old and repulsive. While she is trying to cover her tracks in London she bumps into a small boy, Simon, who is weeping because he has been beaten cruelly by his stepmother. Because it seems a strange coincidence and because Lolita is desperately sorry for the small boy, she listens to his story and agrees to take him to his uncle, Lord Seabrook, who lives in a castle by Lake Ullswater. When they arrive at the castle, Lord Seabrook accepts Lolita’s suggestion that she is employed as Simon’s governess, calling herself Mrs. Bell. Lord Seabrook is being pursued by Lady Cressington, one of the great beauties of London, and she has stolen a valuable necklace from the fiancé she has jilted. How Lolita unwittingly starts a chain of events which alerts her stepfather to her whereabouts, how she attempts to run away again this time from Lord Seabrook, and eventually finds the happiness she is seeking is all told in this enchanting romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Princess Caterina of Theiss receives a letter from her close friend Princess Henriet of Istria asking her to stay with her immediately. The two Provinces were close to each other and part of Austria. On arrival at the Palace in Istria, Princess Caterina is horrified to hear that, owing to the Russians’ threatening behaviour in the Balkans, the Emperor of Austria has written to Queen Victoria asking her to send an English husband for Princess Henriet so that the Union Jack can fly over Istria and deter any greedy predators. The Russians at the time are a great menace to all Europe and are especially anxious to acquire access to the Mediterranean, which Istria could easily provide. The Duke of Dunlerton, whose mother was Princess Alice of Saxe-Coburg and therefore Royal has been sent by the Queen to marry Princess Henriet. But Henriet tells Caterina that she is already madly in love with Fritz Hofer, a tall handsome Officer in her father’s best Regiment. Rather than marry anyone else, she insists to Caterina that she will kill herself! To save her friend from suicide, Caterina agrees that Henriet will escape with the man she loves and she will take her place and marry the Duke without him or anyone else realising what is happening. How Caterina does so successfully. How she is terrified of what will happen when the Duke discovers that he has been made a fool of and is now married to the wrong Princess. How they are all afraid of Queen Victoria and what she will say when she learns about Caterina’s deception. And how, despite her sacrifice for her friend, she unexpectedly finds the love she has been hoping for and praying for all her life is all told in this exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Golden haired, intelligent and beautiful, Della the much-loved niece of Lord Lainden leads a seemingly golden life in the English countryside. In tune with nature and a skilled horsewoman Della is happy and looking forward to her future. But an arranged marriage proposal to a man she neither trusts nor loves quickly shatters her rural idyll, seemingly forever. Frightened, confused and caught between her belief in true love and family duty, Della seeks refuge amongst her friends, the Romanies who camp on her Uncle’s land. But Della holds a secret that gives her more in common with the gypsies than could possibly be imagined. She too has the gift of second sight and is in tune with the thoughts and hearts of those around her. Will this be a help or a curse as she struggles to find a way to follow her heart, and secure the future happiness of those she loves?