A Prisioner in Paris Read online

  A PRISONER IN PARIS

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2007 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the Internet in January 2008 by Barbaracartland.com

  ISBNs

  978-1-78213-450-3 Epub

  978-1-78213-451-0 Mobi

  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

  A PRISONER IN PARIS

  “And, of course, I have to bring poor Charles back in one piece.”

  “I shall pray that you will do so,” the Vicar replied.

  “I am delighted to have your prayers, Vicar,” Lord Lanwood said. “At the same time I need something more practical. Amongst the many people you have taught, there must be one who will be able to translate what I want to say so that these Frenchmen understand me and in turn will explain to me what they are saying.”

  There was silence for a moment and when the Vicar did not speak, Lord Lanwood urged him,

  “Oh, for Heaven’s sake, Vicar, you must find me someone, otherwise you know as well as I do that I will never be able to communicate with these swine! And then what will happen to Charles?”

  Again there was silence.

  Then the Vicar said very slowly,

  “The only person I can think to send with you is my daughter, Isa.”

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  Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.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

  BarbaraCartland.com

  Camfield Place

  Hatfield

  Hertfordshire

  AL9 6JE

  United Kingdom

  Telephone: +44 1707 642629

  Fax: +44 1707 663041

  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.

  The Cross Of Love

  Love In The Highlands

  Love Finds The Way

  The Castle Of Love

  Love Is Triumphant

  Stars In The Sky

  The Ship Of Love

  A Dangerous Disguise

  Love Became Theirs

  Love Drives In

  Sailing To Love

  The Star Of Love

  Music Is The Soul Of Love

  Love In The East

  Theirs To Eternity

  A Paradise On Earth

  Love Wins In Berlin

  In Search Of Love

  Love Rescues Rosanna

  A Heart In Heaven

  The House Of Happiness

  Royalty Defeated By Love

  The White Witch

  They Sought Love

  Love Is The Reason For Living

  They Found Their Way To Heaven

  Learning To Love

  Journey To Happiness

  A Kiss In The Desert

  The Heart Of Love

  The Richness Of Love

  For Ever And Ever

  An Unexpected Love

  Saved By An Angel

  Touching The Stars

  Seeking Love

  Journey To Love

  The Importance Of Love

  Love By The Lake

  A Dream Come True

  The King Without A Heart

  The Waters Of Love

  Danger To The Duke

  A Perfect Way To Heaven

  Follow Your Heart

  In Hiding

  Rivals For Love

  A Kiss From The Heart

  Lovers In London

  This Way To Heaven

  A Princess Prays

  Mine For Ever

  The Earl’s Revenge

  Love At The Tower

  Ruled By Love

  Love Came From Heaven

  Love And Apollo

  The Keys Of Love

  A Castle Of Dreams

  A Battle Of Brains

  A Change Of Hearts

  It Is Love

  The Triumph Of Love

  Wanted – A Royal Wife

  A Kiss Of Love

  To Heaven With Love

  Pray For Love

  The Marquis Is Trapped

  Hide And Seek For Love

  Hiding from Love

  A Teacher Of Love

  Money Or Love

  The Revelation Is Love

  The Tree Of Love

  The Magnificent Marquis

  The Castle

  The Gates of Paradise

  A Lucky Star

  A Heaven on Earth

  The Healing Hand

  A Virgin Bride

  The Trail to Love

  A Royal Love Match

  A Steeplechase for Love

  Love at Last

  Search for a Wife

  Secret Love

  A Miracle of Love

  Love and the Clans

  A Shooting Star

  The Winning Post is Love

  They Touched Heaven

  The Mountain of Love

  The Queen Wins

  Love and the Gods

  Joined by Love

  The Duke is Deceived

  A Prayer For Love

  Love Conquers War

  A Rose in Jeopardy

  A Call of Love

  A Flight to Heaven

  She Wanted Love

  A Heart Finds Love

  A Sacrifice for Love

  Love's Dream in Peril

  Soft, sweet & Gentle

  An Archangel Called Ivan

  A Prisoner in Paris

  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 love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.

  “I have always loved Paris. It is such a beautiful and romantic City. I go to Paris with my husband every year on our wedding anniversary and I renew my vows with the man I love and he with me.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1875

  Lord Lanwood yawned and, turning a little in the bed, thought that it was time to go home.

  It was then that something moved close to him and a voice purred,

  “Lionel, darling, you are the most wonderful lover anyone could possibly have.”

  Lord Lanwood had heard it all before and it had always made him feel rather pleased with himself.

  Then he said,

  “Now I must leave you, because I have so much to do tomorrow.”

  “Oh no, Lionel, no!” the Countess exclaimed.

  It was a repetition of what often happened on so many other occasions.

  His Lordship responded firmly,

  “I am sorry, my dearest Yvette, but I really must leave you now otherwise I will have very little sleep and be disagreeable the whole of tomorrow.”

  The Countess gave a little laugh.

  “But you are never disagreeable. That is the most marvellous thing about you, Lionel. You always say such nice things and are sweet and kind to everyone.”

  It was the sort of compliment his Lordship liked to hear, especially from someone as beautiful as the Countess of Helston.

  She was undoubtedly the most ravishing, the most admired and the most sought after hostess in the whole of London.

  She had been married when she was very young – in fact eighteen – to the Earl of Helston.

  She had grown, everyone said, lovelier and lovelier until now, when she was approaching thirty, she was of such high standing in the Social world that it was really surprising that there was not already a statue erected to her.

  A great number of men had attempted to entice her into being unfaithful to her husband.

  But she had refused them all until she saw Lord Lanwood and she had known then that he was the man she had been looking for all her life.

  When she saw the rapt expression in his eyes, she knew that he was feeling the same about her.

  Yet now after a night of inexpressible bliss he was about to leave her.

  She reached out one of her arms to put it round his neck.

  But she was too late.

  He had already raised himself from the bed and was walking across the room to where he had left his clothes near the fireplace.

  “When shall I see you again?” she asked in a small seductive voice.

  “Just as soon as you are free and I can come here, as I did tonight, unobserved. Or at least I hope so.”

  “You are quite safe,” the Countess replied. “Rory is on his way to Scotland and he will not be back for at least a week.”

  “Then I will dine with you tomorrow night at the same time and will be counting the hours until I see you again.”

  “That is what I was hoping you would say, Lionel,” the Countess answered, “and I too will be counting the hours.”

  There was an oil lamp on the table by the fireplace and she could see that he was now buttoning his shirt and reaching out for his tie.

  ‘There was never a more handsome man,’ she told herself.

  She knew, because they were both so outstandingly attractive, that they must have been meant for each other since the beginning of time.

  ‘If only I had met him before I married,’ she mused to herself, ‘how amazingly wonderful it would have been and everyone we met would have admired us together as they now do separately.’

  Lord Lanwood tied his tie, looking as he did so at his reflection in the gold-framed mirror that hung over the fireplace.

  As he shrugged himself into his evening coat, he turned towards the bed.

  And, as he walked towards the Countess, he said,

  “You are so glorious, Yvette, that I am sure you are not real and this is just a dream.”

  “Then we will dream together tomorrow evening,” she replied. “Oh, Lionel, I am just so happy to have found you.”

  “That is exactly what I was saying to myself,” Lord Lanwood told her. “Goodnight, my dearest darling, and I am counting the hours until tomorrow night.”

  “And I will be counting them too – ”

  She reached out her arms, but he knew that, if he let her put them around his neck, she would pull him down onto the bed and he would begin kissing her all over again.

  “I have to go,” he sighed. “So goodnight and take care of yourself until tomorrow.”

  He was gone before she could reply or protest.

  She threw herself back against the pillows thinking that she had never enjoyed an evening more.

  He was so different from the men she had had short affairs with in the past and she had somehow always been disappointed.

  ‘He is different, so different,’ she told herself, ‘that I must take great care I don’t lose him.’

  She reflected, as she cuddled her head against the soft pillows, that this was very unlikely.

  Because she was so beautiful and so acclaimed by everyone in the Social world, she was obviously aware that his Lordship would not find anyone else as lovely as her.

  Nor so responsive to everything he required.

  ‘He is mine, mine completely,’ she thought with an air of triumph.

  Lord Lanwood was walking back to his own house which, being in Park Lane, was not far from the Countess’s mansion.

  He was, however, not thinking so much about the woman he had just left, but of what he would do tomorrow.

  He had meant to ride out on his best thoroughbred in Rotton Row before breakfast as he always did.

  Then he had half promised that he would go with a friend to Tattersalls as there might be a new horse which he could add to his extensive stables in the country.

  It never struck him for a single moment that he might have called on the Countess earlier and spent part of the day with her.

  He had never in the past mixed up his immensely enjoyable nights of pleasure with the more serious interests that filled his days.

  And he certainly did not contemplate changing his lifestyle now.

  He reached the front door of his house as the stars were beginning to fade overhead and there was
just the faintest touch of colour in the sky.

  He let himself in with his own key and was amused to see that his usual night-footman was fast asleep in the padded chair just inside the door.

  It always made him smile to find the night-footman asleep as he knew it prevented the gossip that occurred in the servants hall as to the time his Lordship returned home.

  It was usually the housekeeper and the housemaids who speculated as to which one of the Society beauties had kept him so late.

  He thought as he went very quietly up the stairs that it would be a great mistake for them to realise where he had been.

  Because the Countess was so beautiful, her picture appeared in the ladies magazines and the fact that he found her so alluring and enchanting, as so many other men had done, would naturally be the gossip not just of the Social tongues but of those in his own house.

  If there was one thing Lord Lanwood disliked it was being gossipped about by the chattering tongues who always made the worst of every situation and seldom the best.

  Therefore, knowing a great deal of gossip travelled from the servants’ hall into the drawing room and, unlike many other gentlemen of substance, he told his valet not to wait up for him.

  This would mean that, if the night-footman did not see him, no one would be aware of what time he returned or how late some entrancing beauty was keeping him.

  When he climbed into bed, he told himself again that it would be a great mistake for him to be talked about with the Countess.

  There was more gossip about her affairs than any other beauty at the present moment.

  Even those pursued by the Prince of Wales did not attract the same amount of chatter as she did.

  ‘A pleasant and delightful evening,’ Lord Lanwood murmured to himself before he fell asleep.

  *

  He slept peacefully without dreaming and woke to see that a bright sun was peeping in through the sides of his bedroom curtains.

  A glance at the clock beside his bed told him that he was an hour later than usual.

  But nothing would prevent him from riding before breakfast as he always did.

  He rang the bell beside his bed.

  His valet, who had been waiting for him for over an hour, hurried into the room.

  “Good morning, Yates,” Lord Lanwood began. “I am somewhat later than usual, but fortunately it is of little consequence as I have nothing special to do this morning.”