The Healing Hand Read online

  THE HEALING HAND

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2011 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the internet in May 2011 by Barbaracartland.com

  ISBNs

  978-1-908411-85-3 Epub

  978-1-908411-86-0 Prc

  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 HEALING HAND

  Tania turned to Rupert feeling tearful.

  “You really cannot leave me like this. I must say goodbye to you.”

  Rupert did not reply and, as she climbed out of the carriage, the night footman opened the front door.

  Rupert turned to his coachman,

  “Wait for me, Wilkins, I will not be long.”

  The coachman raised his hand to his hat and Rupert walked into the house beside Tania.

  There were only a few lights left on in the hall and they made for the drawing room.

  For a second, Tania was afraid that her stepmother’s guests had not left and she would be still there.

  They went into the drawing room and then Rupert closed the door.

  They were in complete darkness with the exception of the moonlight coming in through one window, where the curtain must have been left undrawn by mistake.

  It was letting in a silver light that touched the floor. For a moment they stood close to each other.

  Then slowly, as if he had no wish to frighten her, or to spoil the magic that was enveloping them both, Rupert drew Tania close into his arms.

  “I love you, Tania,” he breathed. “Try to remember me and, as you said, pray for me every day. I will dream of you every single night I am away – ”

  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

  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 believed in the power of prayer and there is no doubt in my mind that Florence Nightingale’s phenomenal ability to heal the wounded came from her prayers and belief in God.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1854

  Tania gazed dreamily out of the window of the train as it flashed past and thought just how attractive the French fields looked.

  Even the hardworking men and women on their farms seemed to have a romantic atmosphere about them.

  It was something she did not see in England.

  She was thrilled to be travelling in one of the new fast trains running from the Gare du Nord to Boulogne.

  It was the first time she had been in one and it was even more exciting than she had expected.

  Tania had been at a school in Paris for the last two years.

  She knew she would never forgive her stepmother for not allowing her to come home so that she could have said goodbye to her beloved father before he died.

  Her stepmother, however, had been adamant, saying that she must stay at the school in Paris until her education was complete.

  She fully realised it was not because Lady Amesly was interested in what she learnt.

  In fact she had known from the moment her father had remarried after her mother’s death that the new Lady Amesly had found her a nuisance.

  And she certainly did not wish to chaperone Tania into the Social world.

  Tania recognised that life was going to be difficult. The first thing she must do when she arrived back was to pick up the threads with her friends and relatives.

  ‘I expect, as we are living in London, it will not be too difficult,’ she tried to reassure herself.

  At the same time she could just hear her stepmother saying in the voice she always used to her stepdaughter, but never to her husband,

  “You will stay away in France, Tania, until I decide when you can return.”

  It became even more complicated when she had turned eighteen last May.

  Her stepmother had written to the Mother Superior of the school, which was part of a French Convent, to say that Tania was to stay there as long as possible.

  She was indeed prepared to spend more money on her education, but it was money her stepmother obviously begrudged her.

  After Christmas the Mother Superior sent for Tania and spoke to her very kindly,

  “We love having you here at the school, Tania, and you have been an exemplary pupil, but you are older than the other girls and I think you should now go back to your home. I sincerely hope you will eventually find someone you love and be married.”

  Tania had not wished to leave.

  But she knew in her heart that the Mother Superior was right in thinking that she was too old to stay on at the Convent School.

  It was a most exclusive school that accepted only the daughters of Noblemen or Royalty, whether they were English, French or any other nationality.

  It was now the beginning of February and she was being sent home despite the protests of Lady Amesly.

  “I would have kept you another month, dear child,” the Mother Superior had said, “but it so happens that Sister Agnes is going to London for family reasons and this is a good opportunity for you to travel with her.”

  She was well aware that the Mother Superior was always annoyed when the nuns had to be taken away from teaching to escort some girl who had to return home during the term time for whatever reason.

  There had been one pupil last term that had to be escorted home as far as Egypt and the history lessons had suffered.

  Sister Agnes taught English and the school would have to find a temporary tutor until she was able to return.

  Sister Agnes was most upset at having to go back to England to be with a dying relative and she had come away from the school in a distraught state of mind.

  Tania spent several hours on leaving Paris trying to soothe Sister Agnes.

  “I know he will die before I can get home,” she was wailing.

  There was nothing Tania could possibly say, except that she was sure – which she was not – that Sister Agnes would arrive home in time.

  She had often wondered why religious people made such a fuss about death – if they believed that someone was swept up into a perfect Heaven, why should they weep so much for those who had passed on?

  She suspected that it was they themselves who were frightened of death.

  Her mother had taught her to pray when she was a child and she had always believed in some Power overhead directing her life and taking care of her.

  But she had no wish to return home now after her dear father’s death.

  Her stepmother disliked her, and she knew that she would not be a welcome member of the household, despite it being her childhood home.

  She prayed that God would support and help her and that somehow things would work out for the best.

  The train was moving at what she considered was a tremendous pace and she continued to gaze out at the view sweeping past the window.

  Sister Agnes appeared to be sleeping – at any rate she was silent in the seat at the far end of the carriage.

  They fortunately had the carriage to themselves as the Station Master himself had locked them in before they left Paris, promising them that they would be much safer and more comfortable alone.

  They were due to reach Boulogne early tomorrow morning where there would be a ferry waiting to take them to London Bridge.

  The Mother Superior had informed Lady Amesly of the time of her stepdaughter’s arrival.

  Tania was hoping that a carriage would be waiting for her and that would mean she could give Sister Agnes a lift to wherever she had to go.

  Suddenly she heard the brakes screech and the train rapidly slowing down.

  Then there was a violent thump.

  It was so violent that Tania was instantly thrown roughly onto the floor.

  As Sister Agnes screamed out hysterically, the train came to a standstill with a great many bumps and lurches.

  It took Tania a moment or so to realise that there had been a crash.

  She picked herself up from the floor and sat back on the seat she had just been thrown off.

  Sister Agnes was lying stiffly where she had fallen and was now whimpering rather than crying.

  “I am afraid there has been an accident,” Tania called out somewhat unnecessarily.

  There was no answer from Sister Agnes, but there was a thunderous noise of voices shouting outside.

  The door of the carriage was unlocked and a man in uniform put his head in to ask in French,

  “Is anyone injured?”

  “I don’t think so,” Tania replied in French.

  “Everyone has to get out so we can clear the line.”

  “What on earth has happened? What have we hit?” demanded Tania.

  But already the man had moved away to the next carriage.

&nbs
p; Slowly, because she felt somewhat unsteady, Tania rose to her feet and pulled Sister Agnes up onto the seat.

  “You are not hurt,” she insisted, seeing no blood, “and we have to climb out now.”

  “I am far too ill. The shock has killed me,” sobbed Sister Agnes weakly.

  Tania thought it would be useless to argue with her, so she went to the carriage door to see if there was anyone who could help.

  There were several women rushing around outside screaming or in floods of tears, whilst the men were trying to pull their possessions out of the carriages.

  Looking up the line Tania could see that their train had crashed into another one travelling slowly in the same direction, but fortunately it was a goods train.

  Tania thought that a lot of the women were making an unnecessary fuss – they were being overly hysterical, not because they had been hurt, but simply because there had been an accident.

  She could see no one at the moment she could possibly ask to help Sister Agnes.

  And she could hardly jump out of the carriage and leave her alone.

  Suddenly she could see walking down the line towards her a tall good-looking young man whom she felt instinctively must be English.

  As he reached Tania’s carriage, he started to say in French,

  “Are you all right? Is there anything I can do?”

  “Oh, please help me,” Tania implored him. “There is a woman here, a nun, who thinks she is injured, although I suspect she is just upset at being thrown onto the floor.”

  The Englishman – she had been right in thinking he was English – smiled at her.

  “You don’t seem to have been damaged.”

  “It certainly was a shock,” Tania answered, “and I can see now that we have run into the back of another train in front of us!”

  “Sheer carelessness on the part of those running the line,” he responded. “But mercifully our driver saw it far enough ahead to be able to apply his brakes in time to avert a disaster. They say that once the line is clear there will be another train to take us on to Boulogne.”

  “Well, that’s a blessing anyway, but what shall I do about Sister Agnes?”

  “I imagine she is your chaperone and should be looking after you,” the Englishman commented, but he was smiling as he spoke.