The Earl's Revenge Read online

  THE EARL’S REVENGE

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2009 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the internet in February 2009

  The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval, without the prior permission in writing from the publisher.

  eBook conversion by M-Y Books

  THE EARL’S REVENGE

  ‘I have to save Rania! I have to save her,’ Charles urged himself over and over again.

  The river was growing ever wider and he knew that soon they would be off Tilbury, and then the galley would move into the open sea.

  They had only been sailing for a short while, but it seemed to him more like a thousand years.

  Lifting his binoculars once more he suddenly spied in the far distance what looked like a galley being rowed down the centre of the river.

  It was then that he went below.

  He had been wise enough to take on board guns and plenty of ammunition, a precaution against the danger of private boats being held up by pirates.

  Even when anchored it was wise to be armed against prowling thieves who would steal anything they could sell.

  Charles was not below for long before coming back up on deck, grim faced, with six shotguns and two pistols.

  He handed a pistol to the Captain, who took it from him without comment.

  He thrust the other one into his belt and put down the shotguns.

  “You know which of your men are good shots?”

  The Captain nodded.

  THE BARBARA CARTLAND PINK COLLECTION

  Barbara Cartland was the most prolific bestselling author in the history of the world. She was frequently in the Guinness Book of Records for writing more books in a year than any other living author. In fact her most amazing literary feat was when her publishers asked for more Barbara Cartland romances, she doubled her output from 10 books a year to over 20 books a year, when she was 77.

  She went on writing continuously at this rate for 20 years and wrote her last book at the age of 97, thus completing 400 books between the ages of 77 and 97.

  Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.

  Now the exciting news is that these 160 original unpublished Barbara Cartland books are ready for publication and they will be published by Barbaracartland.com exclusively on the internet, as the web is the best possible way to reach so many Barbara Cartland readers around the world.

  The 160 books will be published monthly and will be numbered in sequence.

  The series is called the Pink Collection as a tribute to Barbara Cartland whose favourite colour was pink and it became very much her trademark over the years.

  The Barbara Cartland Pink Collection is published only on the internet. Log on to www.barbaracartland.com to find out how you can purchase the books monthly as they are published, and take out a subscription that will ensure that all subsequent editions are delivered to you by mail order to your home.

  If you do not have access to a computer you can write for information about the Pink Collection to the following address :

  Barbara Cartland.com Ltd.

  240 High Road,

  Harrow Weald,

  Harrow

  HA3 7BB

  United Kingdom.

  Telephone & fax: +44 (0)20 8863 2520

  Titles in this series

  These titles are currently available for download. For more information please see the Where to buy page at the end of this book.

  1. The Cross Of Love

  2. Love In The Highlands

  3. Love Finds The Way

  4. The Castle Of Love

  5. Love Is Triumphant

  6. Stars In The Sky

  7. The Ship Of Love

  8. A Dangerous Disguise

  9. Love Became Theirs

  10. Love Drives In

  11. Sailing To Love

  12. The Star Of Love

  13. Music Is The Soul Of Love

  14. Love In The East

  15. Theirs To Eternity

  16. A Paradise On Earth

  17. Love Wins In Berlin

  18. In Search Of Love

  19. Love Rescues Rosanna

  20. A Heart In Heaven

  21. The House Of Happiness

  22. Royalty Defeated By Love

  23. The White Witch

  24. They Sought Love

  25. Love Is The Reason For Living

  26. They Found Their Way To Heaven

  27. Learning To Love

  28. Journey To Happiness

  29. A Kiss In The Desert

  30. The Heart Of Love

  31. The Richness Of Love

  32. For Ever And Ever

  33. An Unexpected Love

  34. Saved By An Angel

  35. Touching The Stars

  36. Seeking Love

  37. Journey To Love

  38. The Importance Of Love

  39. Love By The Lake

  40. A Dream Come True

  41. The King Without A Heart

  42. The Waters Of Love

  43. Danger To The Duke

  44. A Perfect Way To Heaven

  45. Follow Your Heart

  46. In Hiding

  47. Rivals For Love

  48. A Kiss From The Heart

  49. Lovers In London

  50. This Way To Heaven

  51. A Princess Prays

  52. Mine For Ever

  53. The Earl's Revenge

  THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND

  Barbara Cartland, who sadly died in May 2000 at the grand age of ninety eight, remains one of the world’s most famous romantic novelists. With worldwide sales of over one billion, her outstanding 723 books have been translated into thirty six different languages, to be enjoyed by readers of romance globally.

  Writing her first book ‘Jigsaw’ at the age of 21, Barbara became an immediate bestseller. Building upon this initial success, she wrote continuously throughout her life, producing bestsellers for an astonishing 76 years. In addition to Barbara Cartland’s legion of fans in the UK and across Europe, her books have always been immensely popular in the USA. In 1976 she achieved the unprecedented feat of having books at numbers 1 & 2 in the prestigious B. Dalton Bookseller bestsellers list.

  Although she is often referred to as the ‘Queen of Romance’, Barbara Cartland also wrote several historical biographies, six autobiographies and numerous theatrical plays as well as books on life, love, health and cookery. Becoming one of Britain's most popular media personalities and dressed in her trademark pink, Barbara spoke on radio and television about social and political issues, as well as making many public appearances.

  In 1991 she became a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to literature and her work for humanitarian and charitable causes.

  Known for her glamour, style, and vitality Barbara Cartland became a legend in her own lifetime. Best remembered for her wonderful romantic novels and loved by millions of readers worldwide, her books remain treasured for their heroic heroes, plucky heroines and traditional values. But above all, it was Barbara Cartland’s overriding belief in the positive power of lo
ve to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.

  “True Love can never be changed or lost by the passage of time, old age or death.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1819

  Charles Lyndon was driving his Highflyer phaeton.

  He thought his team of four horses were the best he had ever handled.

  This build of phaeton was becoming most popular with the young bucks of St. James’s, and he had proudly owned his since his return from the Army of Occupation in France.

  It was an immensely high vehicle that was extremely difficult to drive, particularly with four horses.

  The rear wheels were an unbelievable five feet eight inches in diameter, and the floor of the body was five feet from the ground.

  He considered it the most sporting vehicle any gentleman could possess. Sleek and beautiful, it lent itself to racing and required skill and daring to drive. Alongside that there was always the chance of an accident, which might prove fatal.

  This element of additional danger added a certain thrill, which most young bloods found even more alluring.

  It was not just the gentlemen who admired the Highflyer. The vehicle’s great height made it possible for the fashionable ladies of Society to gaze insolently down on pedestrians.

  Charles Lyndon never felt the need to look down on anyone, but he was very conscious of his own importance and position.

  He was undoubtedly, since his return from the war, the most handsome, the most sought after and the smartest buck of all the bucks in White’s Club.

  He had, in fact, taken London by storm.

  Returning from France with two of the most prestigious medals for gallantry the Duke of Wellington could award, he was also the youngest ever Commander of a large body of troops in the British Army.

  The Duke had praised him so highly to the Prince Regent that he was a now constant visitor to Carlton House.

  In addition he was extremely rich, not only because his father had left him a large fortune, but also because his mother had been a great heiress.

  To crown it all he was heir presumptive to his uncle, the Earl of Lyndonmore, who had been ill for some years, but still managed to reach the age of sixty-five.

  In short Charles Lyndon was an eligible young man with good prospects.

  All of Charles’s friends admired and imitated him, but there were, of course, a few men who were envious and jealous.

  They were especially jealous of his success amongst the most fashionable beauties in Society, usually referred to as the ‘Beau Monde’, French for ‘beautiful world’.

  They called him the ‘never never Peer.’

  Charles managed to laugh at this, but at the same time the sobriquet annoyed him.

  He had enjoyed a year of endless gaiety and festivity in London after his return from France. It was not only the sophisticated married and widowed ladies who would fling themselves into his arms, but he was also pursued by every ambitious mother with a debutante daughter.

  The Cyprians, a group of courtesans named for Aphrodite and renowned for their beauty, were at the height of their fame. Not permitted to attend the balls given by Society, these mistresses to the wealthy organised their own glamorous events. So it was not surprising that Charles had successfully courted the most beautiful, the most talented and most sought after of them all.

  In fact his life had become almost too perfect and easy. At times he found himself secretly bored and longing for more excitement and the unexpected, as had occurred at war.

  It was this more than anything that made him decide as he was nearing twenty-eight that it was time he was married.

  He owned one of the finest houses in England.

  Lyndon Hall in the County of Berkshire had been in the family since the seventeenth century.

  The old house had been pulled down and while a new mansion was being built, the Earl of Lyndonmore had moved to Northumberland, where he found better fishing and grouse shooting than anywhere else in the country.

  He had therefore given over the family house to his brother, Charles’s father.

  Charles had been brought up at Lyndon Hall and he loved it more than any other place in the world.

  The rebuilding of the mansion had been carried out by the greatest architect of the time – Robert Adam.

  His genius belonged to the school of architectural thought that sprang from the Italian Renaissance. With its virtues of formality and dignity, this had produced a great number of British historic houses and buildings over the preceding years.

  However, Robert Adam was a modern architect, freer and bolder than this very traditional approach. His motto was not correctness – but movement.

  At Lyndon Hall he achieved this brilliantly, designing the fluid curves of a magnificent staircase, a unique marble hall of unrivalled beauty and a dome more impressive than on any other house.

  When it was finished the house was larger, more beautiful and more imposing than any Palace.

  Once he had set his mind to something, Charles always worked quickly.

  If, after his father’s death he was to live at Lyndon Hall, he rationalised, he required a wife who would naturally in time give him a son or preferably sons. Then he would have an heir to inherit his vast fortune and possessions on his death.

  He looked round Society ballrooms at the eager faces whose eyes lit up whenever he appeared, choosing to dance with the most beautiful of all the beauties the Beau Monde could produce.

  Amongst this bevy of beauties was Silver Bancroft, the daughter of a distinguished Statesman.

  She was undoubtedly the most admired and the most beautiful of her contemporaries.

  Charles had been struck from the first moment he saw her, though not exactly with love.

  He mused about her potential as his wife, seeing her projected against the background of Lyndon Hall, aware that her beauty equalled the sculptured Goddesses who decorated the Marble Hall.

  He also knew instinctively, without asking, what her reply would be if he offered her marriage.

  Silver was a much sought after young lady. She had received every compliment it was possible to receive and it was said that the number of her more serious suitors was already in double figures.

  Charles however was not worried.

  He would be the victor, as he always had been in everything else. He saw no reason why this should not apply to matrimony.

  He had seen Silver last night and whilst dancing he had whispered to her,

  “I have a question to ask you and I am wondering where we can be alone.”

  Silver had laughed.

  She had often been told that her laughter was like the sound of silver bells.

  It was one of the reasons she had changed her name from Sylvia, as she had been christened, to Silver.

  It was inevitable from then on that every man when he heard her name would say,

  “That is not right for you. You should be Gold or Diamond, nothing less!”

  She had smiled at them all bewitchingly at the same time thinking what a pleasant change it would be if any man said something different to the last.

  She knew without Charles saying any more what he intended, so she had replied,

  “We will be travelling to the country tomorrow, as Papa likes to be there for the weekends. If you call on Saturday afternoon, I shall be delighted to greet you.”

  Charles did not say that it would delight him too, so he merely replied,

  “I will be with you at two o’clock.”

  Then to her great surprise he did not ask her for another dance and left the ball a little later without even saying goodnight.

  Nevertheless as she returned to her father’s house in Belgrave Square she was telling herself she had beaten all her friends.

  They had been trying to attract Charles Lyndon’s attention ever since he had appeared on the Social scene.

  Charles drove his horses with an
expertise which was exceptional like everything else he undertook.

  He was thinking that they should hold the wedding in the country and after a short honeymoon they would go to Lyndon Hall.

  There were a great number of improvements that he wished to undertake at the Hall, including a large amount of restoration.

  Despite its great architecture the house had been neglected in the war whilst he had been away, although the older servants, who had been there ever since he was a boy, had looked after it as well as they could.

  Yet a certain amount of money needed to be spent on redecoration of the main rooms and most of the outside brickwork needed repointing.

  He decided he would build a private Racecourse too.

  ‘I have a great deal to do,’ Charles told himself, ‘so there is no question of being bored. Silver can do all the entertaining that is socially necessary.’

  He realised only too well that would be inevitable as once he took up residence again the neighbours would fall over themselves to call on him, and many of them had been close friends of the family when he was a boy.

  Social life had come to a standstill during the long war with Napoleon, but now that England was the glorious victor everything would return to normal and no one would have a moment to spare.

  He certainly found London overwhelming.

  He had noticed before he left his house in Berkeley Square that there was a huge pile of letters unopened on his writing desk.

  They were mostly invitations he felt sure, and in a short time there would undoubtedly be an enormous pile of wedding presents too.

  He was most thankful for his extremely intelligent and bright secretary.

  The man who had served his father had retired and he had therefore asked Major Monsell, who had been under his command in the war, to take his place.

  Charles was sure he would soon put all his affairs into order and save him a great deal of tedious work.

  The horses he was driving were beautifully trained – he had purchased them at Tattersall’s the previous week.

  They were now gathering speed and he thought he had never driven a better team and although they had been expensive, they were worth every penny he had paid.