A Road to Romance Read online

  A ROAD TO ROMANCE

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2014 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the internet in January 2014 by Barbaracartland.com

  ISBNs

  Print 978-1-78213-452-7

  Epub 978-1-78213-484-8

  Kindle 978-1-78213-485-5

  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 Road to Romance

  Then on a straight stretch, where he could see for nearly half a mile, he became aware that there was a horse behind him.

  The Marquis was not riding at a particularly fast pace at that stage and a moment or so later the horse drew level with him.

  He turned his head to see a young girl riding what he recognised at once was a well bred horse.

  She was close beside him and he looked at her in some surprise, thinking that there was plenty of room on the empty road for both of them.

  Then she spoke in a hesitating and shy voice,

  “Would you mind – very much, sir, if I rode beside – you?”

  The Marquis looked at her again.

  “Is there any reason why you should ask that?” he enquired.

  She looked over her shoulder in an anxious way.

  “It seems as if you are running away,” the Marquis then remarked.

  “That is exactly – what I am doing,” she replied, “and it will help me considerably – if I can ride with you up this long straight road.”

  The Marquis was curious and then he said,

  “I do not wish to seem impertinent, but I would like to know why.”

  “I will tell you if we can – go a little faster,” the girl answered him nervously.

  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.

  “A road to anywhere new and exciting can often seem like a challenge too far. In my life I have always believed that one should try out new ideas, new places and new destinations. Something positive will always follow and who knows romance may not be very far behind.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1820

  The Marquis of Whisinford turned into St. James’s Street and walked into White’s Club.

  Having nodded to the porter, he then went into the coffee room.

  As expected, he saw his friend, who he was having luncheon with, waiting for him.

  Lord Alfred Middleton and the Marquis had been at Eton and Oxford together.

  They were now enjoying the London Season and met almost every night at some party or other.

  Last night the Marquis had been dancing with an extremely pretty girl who Lord Alfred had not seen before.

  So he greeted his friend when he joined him saying,

  “Did she or did she not?”

  “She did not purely because I did not ask her,” the Marquis replied and they both laughed.

  The Marquis ordered some coffee and Lord Alfred raised his eyebrows.

  “Since when,” he asked “have you been drinking coffee before luncheon?”

  “As a matter of fact I did not think the champagne last night was particularly good,” the Marquis replied, “and the port they provided, I am certain was corked.”

  “I never touch port,” Lord Alfred said, “so I don’t know.”

  “I don’t often either, but I was really rather bored.”

  Lord Alfred sighed.

  “I can understand that. We have been to at least ten parties that were exactly the same as the one last night with more or less the same people, but I thought that the woman you were dancing with was superior to the others.”

  “She is married to a diplomat and therefore has a French chic about her because they are habitually in Paris,” the Marquis answered. “At the same time she made it very clear to me that she was never unfaithful to her husband!”

  Lord Alfred laughed.

  “So a wasted evening.”

  “It was not just a waste from that point of view, but altogether the Season is becoming duller and duller. Or perhaps it’s because we are getting older and older.”

  “I think that is the real reason,” Lord Alfred agreed. “We are nearing twenty-six and as you know most of the young gentlemen enjoying themselves last night had only just left Oxford and had not reached their twenty-second or twenty-third birthday.”

  He paused and the Marquis interrupted,

  “In another few years they too will be like us, bored with doing the same thing over and over again.”

  As he was speaking with undisguised vehemence, Lord Alfred stared at him.

  “Is it really as bad as all that?” he asked.

  “Well, ask yourself, Alfred, I must say I have found not only the Beau Monde a bore, but also the pretty ‘soiled doves’ are not as amusing as I used to think they were.”

  Lord Alfred sighed.

  He knew the Marquis was referring to the ‘Houses of Pleasure’ which were situated around St. James’s Street. It was where they often went when they were bored with the Social world and they usually found a number of their friends doing the same thing.

  There was silence for a moment,

  Then the Marquis quizzed his friend,

  “What can we do, Alfred, which is new and original and where can we find someone attractive to do it with us?”

  Lord Alfred laughed.

  “You can hardly take a ‘soiled dove’ with you to a private ball or for that matter anywhere except where they officially belong.”

  “I know! I know!” the Marquis groaned. “But you do see that we are caught in a cage that we cannot possibly escape from.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Lord Alfred asked.

  “Well, the first thing is we are matrimonial catches and are watched by every ambitious Mama as well as the debutantes of the year themselves.”

  “I am well aware of that, Neil, but I can assure you that I avoid that sort of debutante. I was so nearly caught the first year after I left Oxford.”

  The Marquis nodded.

  “As you can imagine I was walking with caution even then. I was very nearly trapped not once but several times.”

  “I remember that,” Lord Alfred said. “You almost had to marry the Heathcote girl. There were even bets here at White’s that you would be married before the year was out.”

  ”We have both been very clever. We have avoided the more obvious traps. At the same time I am beginning to become extremely bored!”

  “Do you really mean that?” Lord Alfred asked.

  There was a pause before the Marquis said,

  “I suppose that we could go round the world, but it would be much the same when we came back. I have now become extremely suspicious of every invitation I receive, even when it is for riding or shooting.”

  “Now you are exaggerating, Neil. Equally I know of certain houses where I am invited every year.”

  “Me too,” the Marquis said.

  “Although the shooting is good and I much enjoy being there,” Lord Alfred continued, “I am always terrified in case I should come back with a chain round my legs and a wedding ring looming over my head!”

  The Marquis chuckled.

  “You are becoming quite lyrical about it. What we really ought to do is to write a book revealing how difficult it is to escape all the ambitious mothers and the girls who cling to us like scorpions.”

  “Do you really think it could be a guide for every young gentleman who follows us?” Lord Alfred asked.

  “I think they would agree that every word we have written is the truth,” the Marquis replied. “At the same time we would be barred from the Social world and have nothing to do except for joining the little blossoms who are waiting for us eagerly
at the ‘Temples of Joy’.”

  Lord Alfred laughed.

  “That is a new name for them.”

  “Oh, they have often used it before. In fact they have used every word to entice us in and I am sick to death of being enticed!”

  “Rubbish,” Lord Alfred replied. “You enjoy it, you know you do! You are handsome, you are rich and have a good title and some outstanding racehorses.”

  “They, at least are my consolation and I am never bored with them any more than you become bored with yours. By the way, Alfred, are you entering the Doncaster races this year?”

  “I hope so,” he replied. “My trainer would be livid if I did not enter for at least two races.”

  “I am thinking of doing the same. Perhaps in the North we will find it more amusing than it is here.”

  “I don’t know what’s the matter with you, Neil. I have never known you so depressed and against the Social world, as they call it, as you are now.”

  There was a moment of silence and then he asked,

  “Is it possible you have been crossed in love?”

  The Marquis laughed again.

  “Trust you to think of that, Alfred! No I have not been crossed! In fact I am over-encouraged if that is the right word for it. I am not quite certain how to break off my present affaire-de-coeur without creating a scene.”

  Lord Alfred groaned.

  “Oh, those scenes, how ghastly they are! ‘Why do you not love me now? Why are you suddenly different? Who can be standing between us?’ I have heard them all a thousand times.”

  “So have I, even if you do exaggerate the numbers slightly, Alfred. I do think that you were rather foolish to leave the last beauty. After all her husband is permanently fishing or shooting somewhere and so you don’t have to be nervous every time a door creaks.”

  Lord Alfred smiled.

  “I think that has happened to all of us at one time. But perhaps we have grown not only older and wiser but older and more careful.”

  “I am not worrying myself about being careful,” the Marquis replied. “But how to leave the stage, so to speak, with dignity and without a scene, tears, protestations and occasionally unbridled anger.”

  “I know it only too well. Now you are free and I am in the same position, what shall we do about it?” Lord Alfred questioned.