A Change of Hearts Read online

  A CHANGE OF HEARTS

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2009 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the Internet in October 2009

  ISBNs

  978-1-908411-13-6 Epub

  978-1-908411-14-3 Mobi

  978-1-908411-15-0 Pdf

  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 CHANGE OF HEARTS

  When they entered the Church she saw the Marquis standing at the lectern turning over the pages of the large Bible.

  Neisa felt an uncontrollable and unusual excitement rising within her, quickening her pulse and flushing her cheeks.

  The Marquis looked so handsome and, from his proud demeanour, she realised that reading the lesson was important to him. Standing there, concentrating on the Holy Book, she felt sure that few other young gentlemen of distinction would feel the same.

  ‘He is a very remarkable man,’ she told herself.

  She and Lady Sarah entered the family pew.

  As they knelt to pray, Neisa finally admitted that despite herself she loved the Marquis.

  She had given him both her heart and soul.

  She had not intended to.

  She knew only too well, even before the Viscountess pointed it out, that it was hopeless for her to fall in love with someone from a different world to her own.

  In addition, she could well understand that the Marquis would not want to be married until he was a great deal older.

  He wanted to enjoy himself, as most young men did, before settling down.

  Beautiful ladies, including the Viscountess, fawned on him and some were only too willing to fall into his arms.

  As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Neisa felt a sharp pain, as if she had stabbed herself with a knife, making a hole in her heart.

  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

  54. Love At The Tower

  55. Ruled By Love

  56. Love Came From Heaven

  57. Love And Apollo

  58. The Keys Of Love

  59. A Castle Of Dreams

  60. A Battle Of Brains

  61. A Change Of Hearts

  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 said that you may change whatever you wish in life, but true love remains the same – pure, innocent and incredibly beautiful.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1891

  Neisa rang the bell of the impressive door of the house in Park Lane.

  While she was waiting patiently, she looked down at the plant she held in her hand – it was just coming into bloom and was of a particularly rare species.

  As it was a gift, she had put some coloured paper round it and tied it with a pink ribbon.

  Suddenly a footman opened the door and behind him she could just see a butler.

  “Is Miss Waverton at home?” she enquired politely.

  “She is, madam,” the butler replied. “May I have your name?”

  “I am Miss Neisa Moore.”

  The butler ushered her, with some pomposity, into an imposing sitting room near the front door.

  It seemed to be filled with everything that money could buy and Neisa looked around with interest.

  She wondered what it would feel like to be so rich that you could buy everything you wanted. It was so different to her own life where she and her father had to count every penny.

  Her father, the Reverend Patrick Moore, had always lived in a state of penury. Yet despite his poverty, surprisingly, he invariably got what he wanted out of life.

  He had fallen head over heels in love with a ravishing girl he met through friends when he first left Oxford University.

  The object of his devotion was Lady Elizabeth Stoner, the only daughter of a distinguished Earl, who was finding it difficult to keep his ancestral home in existence.

  Deeply in debt and desperate to keep his estate, the Earl was relying on Elizabeth’s charm and great beauty to bring him a rich son-in-law.

  Up until that time Elizabeth had been agreeable to whatever her father wanted. Being of a sweet and gentle nature, she preferred to do as she was told rather than think for herself.

  Yet, from the moment she saw Patrick Moore things changed and she lost her head as well as her heart.

  He was undoubtedly not only the most handsome young man she had ever met, but also the most amusing and interesting.

  Patrick had no idea who she was, just that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

  Although his father had dutifully sent him to London to meet influential people, he had been so caught up in the social whirl that he had not read a newspaper.

  So he had never heard of Lady Elizabeth, let alone seen her engagement announcement, when he met her at the home of a friend.

  Captivated by Elizabeth’s grace and elegance, Patrick was mortified to learn that she was getting married. Even worse, he discovered that the wedding was the following day to an immensely rich German Baron, who, although getting on in life, had fallen for her beauty just as Patrick had.

  Distraught and determined, Patrick took immediate action.

  A naturally impulsive man, he borrowed his friend’s horses and carriage and drove at tremendous speed to where the wedding was taking place.

  The wedding had been arranged in a hurry as the German Baron wished to return to his own country, and the Earl was keen to seal the deal.

  When Patrick walked in through the West door, the Parson was already intoning,

  “If any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together in holy matrimony, let him now speak or hereafter forever hold his peace – ”

  “I forbid this marriage!” Patrick shouted.

  Everyone in the Church turned round and there was a hushed silence as he walked up the aisle.

  “I forbid this marriage,” he boomed again, “because the bride is not in love with the man she is marrying, but with me.”

  Thinking he was some kind of lunatic, the Parson suggested calmly,

  “I think we had now better retire to the vestry and discuss this matter quietly.”

  “There is nothing to discuss,” cried Patrick, as he put out his right hand and took hold of Elizabeth’s.

  “I love you, Elizabeth, and I know you love me!”

  She looked at him adoringly, knowing that what he said was true.

  She had wept every night since her father had instructed her to marry the Baron.

  One look into her eyes was enough for Patrick.

  He did not wait, but holding onto Elizabeth’s hand tightly, he ran down the aisle pulling her after him.

  She did not resist.

  Before anyone in the Church could do anything to stop them, Patrick had lifted the bride into his carriage and driven off at great speed.

  The Earl, seeing the baron’s huge fortune slipping away, was furious and attempted to follow the runaways.

  But he was too late.

  They slipped over the Scottish border quietly and were married at once ‘by consent’ at Gretna Green.

  They then swiftly registered their marriage with the local Sheriff and there was nothing the Earl could do about it.

  In revenge he cut his daughter out of his life, refusing to speak to her ever again and stopped the small allowance she had received from him in the past.

  Patrick, although wildly happy, was faced with the problem of what he should do next.

  They were young, madly in love – but penniless. Just how could he earn enough to keep his wife and perhaps later a family?

  He had, when he was at Oxford University, vaguely thought of becoming a doctor but had not really followed it through.

  He had learnt first aid and a smattering about the human body and surgery, but not nearly enough to practice general medicine.

  Now, because both he and Elizabeth were desperate to get away from England and start a new life, Patrick became a Medical Missionary. He knew that volunteers, both medical and those who could teach, were being recruited to spread Christianity to the far-flung corners of the world and it seemed the ideal escape.

  The Mission Patrick approached had been founded by a devoted Catholic priest to provide care to the poor and needy overseas. One of the first to be authorised by the Roman Catholic Church, it had a good reputation and Patrick foresaw a great opportunity for a young man determined to work hard.

  Patrick’s most valuable assets had always been his boundless charm and good looks and the priest who interviewed him at the Mission’s London headquarters felt sure that both of these would be useful in engaging the natives in the ways of Christianity.

  With his air of confidence, along with his Oxford education, the Mission was only too happy to overlook his lack of qualifications and ready to send him off to expound the Gospel as soon as possible.

  They had found from long experience that a missionary who could heal the sick was far more likely to win converts than one who could merely offer the natives words and prayers.

  And Patrick, accompanied by his beautiful wife, soon proved the old priest’s faith in him to be correct by becoming an outstanding success.

  They travelled to many distant countries in the East and spent time in Africa with tribes so remote that they were not even known to the civilised world.

  Patrick was able to convert a great many natives or so he believed.

  Elizabe
th wrote several reports that were so interesting, and in some parts amusing, that the Missionary Society back in England had them printed.

  When their little daughter was born, they decided to call her Neisa, which means ‘purity’ in ancient Greek.

  Delighted and enchanted by their baby girl, the proud young parents thought she was as beautiful as the love they had for each other.

  The fact that Neisa was now an essential part of the Moore family made no difference to their life at all – they merely took her along with them wherever they went.

  She learned to sleep comfortably in a cave, on the deck of a ship or in a tiny tent to protect all three of them from insects and unpleasant creatures of the night.

  It was only when Elizabeth died of a virulent fever for which even Patrick, who had become proficient in medicine, could find no cure that he decided his wandering days were over and he must settle down.

  He recognised that the story of his many adventures abroad would make an excellent series of books, not only because the Missionary Society had told him so, but so had Elizabeth.

  Grieving the loss of his beloved wife, he knew he was going to have to write everything without any help, yet he knew that was what she would want him to do.

  In the meantime Patrick’s father had managed to procure for him the position of Vicar of the parish where the family house was situated.

  The Old Manor had been in the possession of the Moore’s for over two hundred years and they were proud of it simply because it was theirs.

  The family estate owned very little land and was in an isolated part of the country, but the villagers welcomed Patrick because they had known him since he was a boy.

  As there were very few parishioners, he had plenty of time to write as he wished and he began by writing for the Missionary Society.

  In fact, his only real problem was that he was again desperately short of money.

  For a moment it seemed his luck had changed for the better as a well-known publisher accepted one of his books on travel. But his hopes were dashed when it did not make him the fortune he hoped for.