A Golden Lie Read online

  A Golden Lie

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2014 by Cartland Promotions

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

  ISBNs

  978-1-78213-492-3 Epub

  978-1-78213-493-0 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 GOLDEN LIE

  Devona woke up early and thought that perhaps she would go riding before breakfast.

  She was supposed to ask the Earl every time that she wanted to ride one of his very few horses and now it would be a good excuse to say that, as he was ill, she did not want to worry him.

  She was about to run down the stairs, as Hitchin came out of the Master suite, which was at the end of the corridor.

  Seeing her, he called out her name.

  “Miss Devona! Miss Devona!”

  Devona stopped and then she turned back to walk slowly towards him.

  “What is it?”

  “Come and see his Lordship. Come quick!”

  As he spoke, he turned and ran back into the Earl’s bedroom.

  Puzzled at what could be wrong, Devona walked a little more rapidly along the passage, thinking that if the Earl’s headache was worse, it was his own fault.

  As she entered the room, she could see that Hitchin was standing by the huge four-poster bed, looking down at the Earl.

  Devona joined him.

  As she did so, she knew that the Earl was dead!

  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 Archange
l Called Ivan

  A Prisoner in Paris

  Danger in the desert

  Rescued by Love

  A Road to Romance

  A Golden Lie

  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 very frequently use the evocative word ‘Eternal’ in my books to describe how long my heroes and heroines declare that their love will last.

  No one can really understand anything that can last for ever.

  But love does, take my word for it.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1821

  The Earl of Narbrooke was dead.

  Devona, who was standing silently by his bedside, could hardly believe it.

  She felt that he must have had a stroke in the night because he was lying in rather a strange manner.

  At the same time there was no mistaking that he was dead.

  *

  She was remembering when she had first arrived at Narbrooke Hall seven years ago that he had seemed to be rather a good-looking man for his age.

  But, as the years passed had by, he had become, she thought in her own mind, uglier and uglier.

  She blamed him for the death of her father and her mother.

  But now he, himself, was dead and she was alive!

  She wondered what she would do now and realised that it was all extremely difficult.

  When her father, Colonel Euan Campbell, had been wounded in the War in France, he had taken nearly a year to recover in their comfortable little house in Essex.

  When he was finally well enough, he knew that he would have to find some useful work to do, as his life in the Army was over and he had very little money.

  He had married someone he loved deeply and they were extremely happy.

  They were also exceedingly thrilled with their small daughter.

  He had thought when he first married that, when he came out of the Army, because he had a gift for managing horses, that he would be able to make money by breeding, training them and selling them at Tattersalls sale rooms.

  Or he could sell them at the many Horse Fairs that took place in their neighbourhood.

  But the War had swept all possibility of that away.

  Many of the available horses had gone to the Army and most that had been left behind were not for sale.

  “We shall have to do something, my darling,” the Colonel had said to his wife.

  “But I am sure it ought to be with horses,” she had replied. “You are so good with them. And we do want to be in the country.”

  “Of course,” he had agreed.

  It was, however, not at all easy.

  The War was then at its height and a great number of people in England were suffering because of it.

  Money was very scarce and the young men were all battling against Napoleon in France, where the casualties were horrifying.

  The men like the Colonel who were sent back home wounded could only tell a doleful tale.

  For the moment there appeared to be no chance of success in finding a job, until finally after many attempts, the Colonel heard that the Earl of Narbrooke, who lived in Norfolk, required someone to run his stables.

  He set off to meet the Earl optimistically and his wife prayed that something would come of it.

  She was worried about the education of their small daughter, Devona.

  She knew that Devona had her father’s quick brain and she was now at the age when she needed good Tutors and Governesses.

  ‘How can we afford those?’ she had asked herself helplessly.

  The Colonel returned that evening and came into the house. Even before he had climbed out of their ancient travelling chariot, his wife realised that he had good news.

  He kissed her affectionately and then, as the men who helped him with his horses took the conveyance away, he put his arm round his wife and drew her into the house.

  “I think I have found what we wanted,” he said.

  “Oh, Euan, I do hope so. Tell me all about it.”

  The Colonel then not only told his wife about the extremely large period house the Earl possessed but also described a small cottage near the stables which would suit them perfectly.

  “It all sounds too good to be true,” Mrs. Campbell enthused. “And what is the Earl like?”

  “A rather strange man,” he replied, “but I think we shall get on quite well together.”

  He spoke a little hesitantly which worried his wife, but she thought it wise not to ask too many questions.

  At the time they fortunately had someone anxious to buy their house, including the furniture in it.

  Mrs. Campbell hated the idea of parting with the furniture they had owned since they were first married and which meant a great deal to her.

  At the same time she recognised that her husband was right when he said that they could not go on as they were and so she was prepared to make the best of it.

  She kept back some small pieces she particularly loved that had always belonged to her family. These were pictures and miniatures her mother had collected and there were also one or two rugs that had been wedding presents.

  They set off for Narbrooke Hall with everything they wanted to keep following them in a hired cart.

  Devona was thirteen and to her it was an adventure.

  She had ridden ever since she could walk and she looked forward to finding the stables belonging to the Earl filled with fine horses, although her father had been a little vague about them when she had asked him questions.

  It was a long way to Narbrooke Hall and Devona’s mother thought that the flat land they were passing through without a single house in sight was rather depressing.

  As they drove up the drive to their first glimpse of Narbrooke Hall, it was certainly impressive.

  It was an even larger house than Mrs. Campbell had expected and, with the sun shining on the windows and on the lake in front of it, it was almost majestic.

  The cottage too, although small, had a pretty garden around it and appeared to be in good repair.

  They moved in their belongings and the Colonel went to see the Earl.

  When he returned, Devona was just getting ready to go to bed.

  “Was the Earl pleased to see you, darling?” her mother ask
ed him.

  “I don’t know if pleased was the right word,” the Colonel replied. “He gave me a long lecture as to how economical I had to be as times are so hard.”

  Mrs. Campbell laughed,

  “You knew that without being told!”

  The Colonel nodded.

  “Only too well, but equally I hope that we are not going to be short of horses!”

  “What do you mean by that, Papa?” Devona asked.

  “Well, I understood when I was first engaged that I would have a number of horses in the stables to manage and his Lordship intended to buy a good deal more.”

  “So what does he say now?” Mrs. Campbell asked.

  “He appears to want to cut down on what he has already, but until I have looked at them carefully, I cannot tell him if it is a wise move or not.”

  Devona knew that her mother thought it was rather strange that the Earl did not ask to see her.

  And they were a week at Narbrooke Hall before she saw the inside of the house.

  Then she was walking down to the lake when she saw the Earl driving away in a very ancient phaeton that needed painting and she thought that the two horses pulling it were not particularly well bred.

  Devona had not yet been to the stables because her father had said that it was a mistake to do so until he had everything arranged and also the Earl might not like her intruding.

  “But Papa, I have to ride,” Devona had protested.

  “I have to get permission first from his Lordship,” her father said. “We are very lucky to have obtained such a nice cottage and to be here. But he is a strange man and I don’t want to upset him unnecessarily.”

  Devona was far too fond of her father to make a fuss, but she did think it rather odd.

  Now, when she saw the Earl disappearing down the drive, she walked towards the front door.

  There she saw a man she thought must be the butler standing looking out towards the lake.

  “Good morning,” she began a little nervously.

  He was an elderly man, but he was not, she thought, as smart-looking as the butlers she had seen in houses in Essex when she had been visiting friends with her mother.

  “Good morning,” he replied. “I guess you’re the little girl who’s moved into Stable Cottage.”

  “That is right,” Devona said to him. “We are very comfortable, but I am longing to see inside this big house.”