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  JOINED BY LOVE

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2012 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the Internet in September 2012 by Barbaracartland.com

  ISBNs

  978-1-78213-227-1 Epub

  978-1-78213-228-8 Kindle

  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

  JOINED BY LOVE

  Lucilla looked desperately towards Ethel, wishing that she might say something to make Harkness Jackson leave her alone.

  But Ethel just smiled and then nodded her elegant blonde head, as if she had been planning this meeting all along.

  “Come along, Mortimer dear,” she cooed. “I don’t think we are very welcome here just at the moment.”

  “Aha!” he exclaimed, gazing at his friend Harkness, still on his knees in front of Lucilla. “Sure, honey, let’s go.”

  And the two of them left Lucilla alone in the salon, her hand caught in the big American’s grasp.

  “Please, will you let me go?” Lucilla begged him, struggling to keep her voice steady.

  “Lady Lucilla,” Harkness began, clutching her hand even tighter. “Princess! I was all set to call on you this afternoon – but you have come to me instead!”

  “I – didn’t know that you would be here,” Lucilla managed to say, “I came to visit Ethel – ”

  Harkness was not listening.

  “From the first moment I set eyes on you,” he was saying, “I knew you were the girl for me. I’ve waited a long time to find a wife and now I’ve found her. I’ain’t gonna to beat about the bush. What do you say, Lucilla? Will you be mine? ”

  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

  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 sa
les 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.

  “Grey is a dull, lifeless and mediocre colour and it can hide unattractive and demeaning emotions. For me the glorious colour pink means the joy of life, the deep spiritual love between a man and a woman, the gentleness and intensity of a first kiss. Above all pink is the colour of love since time began and it will always be the same.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1911

  Lady Lucilla Welton stood by the French window of the magnificent ballroom at Lord Armstrong’s mansion in Belgravia and hoped that no one would notice her.

  The ballroom itself was packed with the rich and famous from London Society and the long mirrors on the walls reflected the brightly coloured gowns of the ladies and the elegant evening dress of the gentlemen.

  It was the engagement party given for Ethel, Lord Armstrong’s eldest daughter and Lucilla realised that there were some important guests amongst the gentlemen and many were Members of Parliament and influential figures from the worlds of industry and finance.

  Her pale-blue satin gown, bought especially for the occasion, was in the very latest French style and it clung to her slim body in graceful folds, while a tight belt of velvet ribbon accentuated her slender waist.

  This gown was the loveliest she had ever worn and Lucilla could tell from the glimpses she caught of herself in the mirrors that the colour showed off her shining brown hair and her huge blue eyes to perfection.

  But Lucilla did not know anyone at the party and she felt shy under the curious glances of the dark-suited men who were milling around the edges of the ballroom.

  Some of these men, she knew, were from America, and were friends and associates of Ethel’s fiancé, who was a wealthy financier from New York.

  ‘I should feel flattered that these gentlemen are looking at me,’ Lucilla thought, ‘but I don’t know any of them. I am just a country girl at heart and so I really don’t feel comfortable here at all.’

  She watched the elegant Society ladies laughing and chatting away with the gentlemen and then standing up to dance with them, and she thought that they did not seem embarrassed in the slightest.

  Lucilla sighed and wished that she could escape to her home in the beautiful Dorset countryside, but this was impossible.

  For the last year she had been living with her Aunt Maud, since both her parents had been killed in a dreadful and tragic accident while they were on holiday in the Swiss Alps.

  Aunt Maud had taken her orphaned niece into her London home and was making every effort to transform her into a London Society girl – even buying the heavenly pale-blue gown for her – and Lucilla knew that she should be grateful.

  It was just very hard to be happy, when she missed her Mama and Papa so very much, and simply longed to be back home again at their lovely country house, Wellsprings Place, which – she could hardly bear to think of it – was now up for sale.

  “Oh, I so wish I was back in Dorset,” she groaned. “By the sea, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the birds singing – ”

  She blushed, as she realised she had been speaking out loud and that a stout gentleman with a head so totally bald that it shone under the light of the glittering crystal chandelier, had seen her talking to herself and was smiling at her.

  “Lucilla, darling!” A tall girl in a white and silver dress was coming towards her, clicking across the floor in her pointed silver shoes.

  It was Ethel, the bride-to-be.

  Lucilla admired the shimmering dress, the skirt of which was so fashionably tight and narrow that Ethel could only take very small steps as she walked towards her. She was very attractive, Lucilla thought, with her white-blonde hair and her pale green eyes, but at the same time, there was something cool, almost icy, about her.

  “I must find a partner for you,” Ethel was saying, and she took Lucilla’s hand in her cool slim one and tried to lead her away from the window.

  “No, really, I am quite happy just here,” Lucilla replied and she tried to explain that she did not really know anyone at the party and was feeling rather shy and a bit tired.

  But there was no resisting Ethel. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, tucking Lucilla’s hand under her arm. “If you don’t know anyone, that’s all the more reason to get up and dance. You’ll never meet anybody if you behave like a wallflower.”

  “Oh, all right,” Lucilla agreed, following Ethel, as she could see that the bald-headed man was looking at her again and she did not want to have to speak to him.

  On the other side of the ballroom, a tall young man with dark hair was sitting on a sofa reading a book and Ethel led Lucilla over to him. “Dermot, I have just found you the most delicious partner,” she called out to him, pushing Lucilla forward. “Isn’t she just the prettiest thing? And totally unspoilt – just perfect for you!”

  Lucilla was surprised to hear a note of bitterness in Ethel’s voice and she winced as she grasped her wrist, holding it so tightly that her nails dug in.

  The dark-haired young man looked up from his book and stared at Ethel, his brown eyes devouring her face hungrily.

  “What are you trying to do, Ethel?” he countered in a low voice. “If you don’t want me, then why cannot you just leave me alone?”

  Ethel’s pale eyes turned bright, as if she was trying not to cry. “Don’t be silly, Dermot. I just want to make you feel better, that’s all.”

  “Well, you can’t!” he asserted and, turning away from them, began reading his book again.

  Ethel then shrugged angrily and hurried off, leaving Lucilla standing awkwardly by the sofa.

  She watched Ethel wipe the back of her slim hand across her eyes and then turn with a bright smile, as her fiancé, a tall distinguished man with grey hair, came up to her.

  “It’s Mortimer van Millingen,” Lucilla whispered, watching the man’s grey head stooping to kiss Ethel’s hand. “He’s a stockbroker, isn’t he? From New York?”

  “I neither know nor care,” the young man retorted sharply. “And, if you are looking for a dancing partner, I suggest that you try elsewhere, as I have no intention of prancing around with anyone this evening.”

  Lucilla jumped, startled by his rudeness. “I am so sorry,” she mumbled. “I interrupted your reading. I didn’t mean – ”

  The young man looked up at her with a frown and then away again quickly and Lucilla felt a pang in her heart as she could see a look of pain in his brown
eyes. Perhaps he was being so rude and abrupt because he was upset about something, she thought to herself. “Excuse me, sir,” she said, “I will not trouble you any further.”

  And she slipped away from his side and made her way over the crowded ballroom towards a white-and-gold painted door, which she hoped might lead somewhere more private.

  As she dodged the dancing couples, she noticed the bald-headed man again talking to Mortimer van Millingen and peering around as if he was looking for someone.

  ‘I do hope he isn’t looking for me!’ she thought and then sighed with relief as she opened the door and slipped through, finding herself in a small salon, furnished with several gilt chairs and a shining grand piano.

  She closed the door behind her and the hubbub of music and chatter from the ballroom sank to a whisper.

  Lucilla went over to the piano and sat down on the velvet stool. She lifted the polished gleaming lid and touched the ivory keys.

  Since she was a child, Lucilla had loved music and her Mama, who was a brilliant pianist, had taught her to play extremely well.

  One of the factors that made Lucilla saddest about coming to live with her aunt was that there was no piano in her tall redbrick house in Maida Vale.

  ‘I’ll just play one piece,’ she decided and found her fingers picking out the tender notes of a Chopin étude – one of her Papa’s favourites.

  In an instant, she was lost in the magical world of the music and it was almost as if she was back in the music room at Wellsprings Place, with the wind rustling in the trees outside and her dear Papa sitting by the fire, his foot softly tapping in time to her notes.

  The door to the salon opened and Lucilla looked up with a start to see that the bald-headed man had come in and was leaning against the door so that no one else could enter.

  He smiled at her and waved his hand, indicating for her to keep on playing. “Please don’t stop on my behalf,” he called out in a strong American accent. “That tune – it’s real cute.”

  Lucilla’s fingers slipped on the keys and hit two wrong notes at once. “I’m sorry,” she sighed, getting up from the piano stool, “but I really should go back to the ball.”