Touching the Stars Read online

  TOUCHING THE STARS

  Copyright © 2007 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the internet in August 2007 by

  Barbaracartland.com

  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

  TOUCHING THE STARS

  After luncheon Sir Thomas persuaded Justina to take another turn around the deck with him.

  When she told him that no engagement could be announced until he had applied to her father for her hand in marriage, he was not pleased.

  “This is preposterous,” he exclaimed. “You are mine and I want the whole world and certainly this ship to know about it.”

  “My father would never countenance such a way of proceeding,” responded Justina firmly.

  If only she could stave off an official announcement of their engagement, there was the faint possibility that Sir Thomas might find someone else more to his liking.

  Sir Thomas’s face darkened suddenly.

  “Who has told you our engagement should not be immediately announced,” he snorted and caught hold of her arm in his strong grip.

  Justina gasped in pain.

  “You are hurting me,” she protested.

  A couple of passengers were approaching and he immediately released her.

  “I am sorry, but I need you to answer my question. Who told you to say our engagement should not be announced immediately? And don’t tell me it was Mrs. Arbuthnot.”

  “No, indeed, it was I who said it to her. Though why you should be so convinced it was her, I do not understand. After all, she is my chaperone. You cannot think,” she went on, becoming indignant, “that any well brought up girl would announce that she was engaged before her father had given his consent?”

  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

  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

  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.

  “Love is timeless from the moment of creation to beyond the end of infinity.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  -

  1894

  Justina Mansell arranged her small stool on the edge of the wood. Carefully, she unpacked her watercolours and painting implements.

  She sighed with pleasure as she sat down and gazed at the scene laid out before her.

  The
bluebells had never looked better. They spread from her feet out into the distance, their blue set off by the fresh green of the undergrowth and the trees.

  In fact, as she studied the bluebells, she thought that they reflected the sadness that lay below her appreciation of their beauty.

  Justina had wanted to accompany her mother to her favourite charity, the local hospital. Lady Mansell spent a good amount of time visiting and raising money for it.

  She had smiled and placed her hand on Justina’s cheek.

  “No, my darling, you go and enjoy yourself.”

  Justina knew it was hopeless to try and persuade her mother. Lady Mansell always did exactly what she wanted.

  The fact that what she wanted was usually to help others rather than to enjoy herself with her family did not make it any easier for her youngest daughter to accept.

  It made Justina feel useless and that there was no purpose to her life.

  Justina felt a failure.

  She had failed as a debutante.

  The previous year she had come out with a Season sponsored by her aunt, the Viscountess Elder of Bannockburn, her father’s sister. The whole purpose behind the Season, she knew, had been to find a husband.

  It had not been a success.

  Justina had been bored with the company of the other debutantes, none of whom seemed to have a thought in their heads beyond their appearance and the necessity of making a suitable marriage.

  And none of the young men had shown the slightest interest in her.

  It was useless to recall that she had not been interested in any of them either.

  A second failure was Justina’s inability to make a life for herself in Surrey.

  Croquet parties, picnics and supper parties with their neighbours she found boring. Nothing new ever happened and nobody seemed able to talk about anything interesting.

  And too often both Lady and Lord Mansell said something that betrayed they were waiting for Justina to find a husband.

  Were all young men as dull as those she had so far met? Why could not they be like her father?

  When Lord Mansell was home, he would regale her with stories of life at the Foreign Office and what was happening in the outside world. Talking to him was fascinating.

  Then there was Justina’s brother, Peter, a soldier and now serving with his Regiment in India. She used to enjoy talking to him.

  Her latest failure seemed to be as a companion to her mother, a role that Justina had assumed herself. But whenever Justina suggested she accompanied or helped her, Lady Mansell said she should go and enjoy herself with friends of her own age.

  There were only two activities that Justina felt she was successful at – playing the piano and painting.

  Both could carry her away into another world.

  She tried to concentrate on colours in the vegetation all around her.

  Painting was an occupation that never disappointed Justina. Trying to capture a flower in all its incredible beauty was something that could make her forget all the frustrations of everyday life.

  Her mother would laugh and say,

  “If an earthquake should happen while Justina is painting, she would not notice!”

  Justina certainly did not now hear her sister, Victoria, calling her name or see her running across the field that led to the wood, waving a letter.

  Only when Victoria arrived at her side and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to catch her breath, did Justina realise that she was there.

  Victoria looked at the painting.

  “That’s beautiful,” she said when she could speak. “I wish I could paint like you. But I wouldn’t wear such a paint-spattered smock. Really, you should throw it away.”

  Victoria plumped herself down on the ground next to the stool.

  “Look, a letter from Peter!” She waved it at her sister.

  Justina dropped her paint brush.

  “Really? What does he say?”

  She loved Peter’s letters. There were always descriptions of some aspect of his life that sounded so different from the mundane world of Surrey.

  “He wants me to go and visit him.”

  Victoria handed over the sheets of paper and Justina scanned them eagerly.

  “Fancy his Commanding Officer’s wife inviting you to stay with them,” Justina exclaimed. “Did you note his comment that you will get on very well with Mary, their daughter? Hasn’t he written about her before? Do you think he wishes to make an offer for her?”

  Victoria shrugged.

  “How can one tell?”

  She arranged the folds of her muslin skirt neatly around her legs.

  “When are you going?”

  “Oh, Justina, I don’t want to go.”

  “Not want to visit India?” Justina could hardly believe her ears. “But think of everything we have heard about from Peter – the elephants, the strange flowers and trees, the mountains and rivers, the incredible palaces, the glorious landscape. And the spices!”

  “Think of the insects, the snakes, the heat!”

  Justina looked down at the letter she held.

  “Peter says it will be very exciting, lots of parties and junketings.”

  She smiled at her sister.

  “I cannot possibly leave England now,” Victoria said with a catch in her breath.

  She glanced demurely up at her sister through her eyelashes.

  “You do understand?”

  “No,” Justina replied bluntly.

  She had a very deep voice. Her father loved it and said it was very soothing to listen to, but one or two of the young men she had been met had seemed a little taken aback when they first heard her.

  “Teddy!” exclaimed Victoria.

  “You mean, he’s going to propose?” Justina asked, her voice rising in excitement.

  Edward Bathurst was a dashing young officer Victoria had met during her Season. Nearly two years older than Justina, she had come out a year before her.

  Victoria was very pretty and she had a number of young men paying her attention, but Edward was the most persistent.

  Victoria flushed, looked down at her skirt and made a few pleats in the material.

  “He, – well – he said he was going to approach Papa.”

  Justina gazed at her sister, her expression doubtful.

  “Vicky, are you certain Teddy is what you want?”

  Edward was very pleasant, but Justina did not find him at all exciting.

  “What do you mean?” Victoria bridled. “He is – he is the most fantastic man.”

  “That’s what Elizabeth thought about Philip.”

  “Justina! How can you compare Teddy with Philip?”

  Justina picked up her sketch book and looked at the half-finished painting.

  “Vicky, is love really as wonderful as they say?”

  “Oh,” Victoria sighed and lay back amongst the bluebells. “I cannot tell you how thrilling it is.”

  Justina looked at the blonde curls that tangled with the blue of the flowers. People said to her that she must envy her sister’s hair. Her own was copper-coloured and curled far too strongly to be wound into ringlets.

  “Tell me all about love,” Justina demanded. “Did your heart beat faster the moment you met Edward?”

  “Not at first. I thought he was very good-looking, but so were lots of the other men I met. But gradually he seemed to – well, I realised that it was him I wanted to call on me, him I wanted to talk to, him who, yes, made my heart beat faster.”

  Victoria turned over onto her stomach, picked a bluebell and started removing the little bells.

  “You cannot describe love,” she murmured dreamily. “You just know when it comes along.”

  “How do you know?”

  “You can only think of the one person and when your eyes meet you get this funny, wonderful feeling in the bottom of your stomach.” She blushed. “It is so exciting and also a little frightening.”

  “Frightening?”

  “It
is almost as if something in you is going to erupt.”

  “Like a volcano?”

  Justina was astonished, it all sounded very strange to her.

  “Something like that. And when you are with the one you love, everything seems perfect. It’s as though the sun is always shining.”

  “And that’s what it is like when you are with Teddy?”

  “Yes, yes, yes!” Victoria cried.

  She drew up her knees and hugged them, a dreamy expression on her face.

  “And you think that your love is going to last for ever?” Justina’s deep voice sounded very doubtful.

  “Of course!”

  “And do you think Elizabeth felt like that when she married Philip?”

  “That is what she said.”

  “In that case, I don’t think you can trust such feelings.”

  “It’s not Elizabeth’s fault, it’s that Philip is such a swine.”

  “Vicky! Elizabeth surely didn’t ‘t say that!”

  “Of course not, it is something I overheard Papa say to Mama.”

  Elizabeth, the eldest Mansell daughter, had been married for five years. A most striking girl, she had been the debutante of her Season. Sir Philip Masson was tall, dark and very handsome.

  Lord and Lady Mansell were delighted when Philip had proposed to Elizabeth. Their daughter was deeply in love with him and the elaborate wedding that took place seemed to promise a fairy-tale life for the happy couple.

  Alas, by the end of the first year, Justina could see that her sister was far from happy.

  The family saw nothing of her husband. He appeared to live most of the time in London and Justina realised that her sister was deeply miserable, but the situation was not one that was ever discussed.

  “You are sure Teddy couldn’t change the way Philip has?” Justina asked anxiously. “

  He couldn’t possibly,” retorted Victoria indignantly.

  “I don’t see how you can be so confident. I don’t think you can trust men and I am definitely not going to get married.”

  “When you fall in love, you will feel different.”

  “I cannot imagine falling in love. I shall be an old maid,” Justina asserted cheerfully. “I’ll come and look after your children and help Mama with her hospital and write letters for Papa.”