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  IN SEARCH OF LOVE

  Robert was there, holding out his arms and she moved into them gladly.

  They had danced together before but this was different. Now they sensed something they had not known nor even suspected.

  “You are beautiful, Vanda,” he sighed. “More beautiful than any woman here.”

  She smiled.

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “Why should you think so?”

  “Because you have never paid me compliments before.”

  "Times change," he said seriously. “People change.”

  She could think of nothing but how it felt to be close to him. She wanted him to draw her even closer, to take her into his arms and kiss her.

  Looking up, she met his eyes and was swept by an overwhelming conviction that he felt the same.

  Suddenly his arms tightened about her and she felt herself being danced out of the tall windows into the garden.

  IN SEARCH OF LOVE

  Copyright © March 2006 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the internet in 2006 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

  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  Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.

  Now the exciting news is that these 160 original unpublished Barbara Cartland books are ready for publication and they will be published by Barbaracartland.com exclusively on the internet, as the web is the best possible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

  THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND

  Barbara Cartland who sadly died in May 2000 at the age of nearly 99 was the world’s most famous romantic novelist who wrote 723 books in her lifetime with worldwide sales of over 1 billion copies and her books were translated into 36 different languages.

  As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, theatrical plays, books of advice on life, love, vitamins and cookery. She also found time to be a political speaker and television and radio personality.

  She wrote her first book at the age of 21 and this was called Jigsaw. It became an immediate bestseller and sold 100,000 copies in hardback and was translated into 6 different languages. She wrote continuously throughout her life, writing bestsellers for an astonishing 76 years. Her books have always been immensely popular in the United States, where in 1976 her current books were at numbers 1 & 2 in the B. Dalton bestsellers list, a feat never achieved before or since by any author.

  Barbara Cartland became a legend in her own lifetime and will be best remembered for her wonderful romantic novels, so loved by her millions of readers throughout the world.

  Her books will always be treasured for their moral message, her pure and innocent heroines, her good looking and dashing heroes and above all her belief that the power of love is more important than anything else in everyone’s life.

  "When you fall in love, you want to sing with the birds, dance with the fairies, jump over the moon. It is truly the most glorious feeling in the whole wide world."

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1889

  The Earl of Cunningham was on the last stage of his morning ride, the one that brought him in sight of Cunningham Hall, the great house that had been in his family for years.

  It had been built in the early 17th. century, receiving several additions over the next two hundred years. Now it stood, glowing, in the morning sun, beautiful, imposing and magnificent.

  Robert, the sixth Earl, had possessed his title for eight years and filled his position so well that he was extremely popular with all his neighbours in this corner of Kent.

  He was a man in the prime of life. In his early thirties, he boasted a strong, handsome face and deep blue eyes. His mouth was stern, but he could burst into sudden laughter that transformed him.

  As he galloped towards his stables this morning, he at once noticed a carriage that he recognised as belonging to Sir Quentin Sudbury, the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Kent.

  The Earl groaned.

  If there was one thing he disliked, it was people who called on him before breakfast. And if there was one person he found tiresome, it was the Lord Lieutenant.

  'I wonder what can be wrong today?' he asked himself, as he walked into the house.

  If it was just a question of money, he supposed he would have to pay up. He was rich, even after finding dowries for his sisters.

  Two of them were older than him and had married during his father's lifetime. Two were twins of almost his own age and the fifth, much younger, had only married a year ago.

  His father had found the possession of five daughters a financial strain. But that was because he was wildly extravagant, always buying costly pictures and furniture.

  But after his death Robert had found that many of the pictures were not what they pretended to be. His father had not been skilled at discerning fakes and many of his 'best' b
uys were worthless.

  He had also found that there was a great deal for him to organise on the estate itself. Farms had been somewhat neglected. Even the garden needed more attention and more imagination to make it as outstanding as it should be.

  The same applied to the forest and the river which ran through the estate.

  The Earl had sold some of his good pictures, provided for his remaining sisters, and invested the rest in reviving the estate, which his father had not cared for at all well.

  At last his efforts had borne fruit. His revenues rose until once more he was as wealthy as the Earl of Cunningham expected to be.

  He could remember his pride when his Uncle James had said to him,

  “If you can do all this now, what will it be like in twenty years? What a legacy you will leave to your son!”

  The Earl laughed and replied,

  “I will have to produce him first.”

  “Well, hurry up and choose a lady. What bride would not want to come to such home?”

  “I have to be certain,” the Earl said, “that she loves me and not just the house.”

  Uncle James had laughed.

  “That is true,” he agreed. “You need to be very sensible. Women like a title.”

  The Earl had already discovered this truth. Parents said openly that they wanted their daughter to become the Countess and to live grandly at the Hall. So far he had succeeded in keeping his distance.

  But there was no chance of keeping his distance from the Lord Lieutenant, so the Earl walked sharply down the corridor which led to his sitting room.

  It was a charming room with windows overlooking the garden. In one corner there was a beautiful 18th. century desk. On it stood a gold ink-pot and gold-topped pens with which his grandfather, his father and now he signed their special letters.

  He had added several very valuable pictures which were his favourites. He was fond of this room, just as his father had been fond of it and his grandfather before him.

  But today he was not at all pleased by the sight of Sir Quentin Sudbury waiting for him. After the Earl, he owned the largest amount of land in the county, and, as Lord Lieutenant, was continually bothering him with one request after another.

  The Earl had always remained on cordial terms with Sir Quentin. He had given more or less what was expected of him, or had managed to refuse requests in such a charming way that the Lord Lieutenant had departed quite content.

  Now, with difficulty, he managed to smile as he held out his hand and said,

  “You are very early or perhaps I am later than usual. It has been such a delightful morning that I have maybe ridden for longer than I usually do.”

  “You are right, Robert,” the Lord Lieutenant replied, “it is a lovely morning! I was certain you would be out riding. But I waited because I have something very particular to say to you.”

  “What is it you want from me?”

  There was silence. The Lord Lieutenant seemed to have trouble knowing how to begin, but eventually he said,

  “Ever since you have inherited this house and the grounds, you have been of great value to the county and taken your father's place in the most admirable fashion.”

  The Earl thanked him politely, but he was wondering what all this was leading up to. He thought that Sir Quentin was looking tired and in some ways, much older than he had looked the last time he had seen him.

  Now he turned directly towards the Earl, extending his hand as if he was begging for something.

  “I have come to speak about an unusual matter,” he said. “In short it concerns my daughter, Vanda.”

  “Your daughter!” the Earl exclaimed. “What is wrong? Is she ill?”

  “I am glad to say that she is not. She is extremely healthy and rides a horse as fast as you do yourself.”

  “That is certainly true,” the Earl agreed with a smile. “I have always admired her on horseback and, what is more, I have told her she is free to ride my horses any time, even the very best. And I would not say that to any other lady. And precious few men.”

  “Horses are something you have in common,” the Lord Lieutenant said. “That is good.”

  He fell silent again and seemed to have trouble knowing what to say next. But at last he began again,

  “I am getting old and I want Vanda to marry someone who will take my place in her life. Someone who will look after her as I have succeeded in doing.”

  The Earl was surprised.

  “You know that if she is ever in any trouble you can rely on me to be her friend and protector.”

  “That is what I hoped you would say,” the Lord Lieutenant replied. “All I can hope for is to see her married to someone who will look after her and one day will make her happy.”

  “Surely you need have no worries about that,” the Earl said. “She is very much admired and has many suitors.”

  “Hmm!” said his guest in a voice that showed all too well what he thought of these gentlemen. “Whipper snappers, all of them. That is why I have come to you for help.”

  “My dear sir, are you asking me to become Vanda's guardian? Or her trustee perhaps to shield her from fortune hunters?”

  “Guardian?” barked the Lord Lieutenant. “Trustee? Good heavens, no, sir! I want you to become her husband.”

  The Earl was astounded.

  For a moment he could only stare at the Lord Lieutenant as if he could not believe what he had said.

  Then in a voice which did not sound like his own, he said,

  “You are asking me – to marry Vanda?”

  “Exactly! I have always been fond of you, Robert, ever since you were a small boy. I can imagine no other family I would like to see united with mine than yours. You two have been friends for years and what better than that the two of you should marry? I am convinced that you would be extremely happy.”

  For a moment the Earl was breathless.

  He was used to ambitious parents, but nobody had been as forthright as this.

  After a moment he managed to say,

  “Why are you in such a hurry? She is young and has plenty of time.”

  “She is twenty-four and far too headstrong. I am afraid she will be tempted into marriage by someone of whom I would disapprove.”

  “But it is she who must approve,” the Earl reminded him gently. “And I must be honest and tell you I am in no hurry to get married.

  “I have seen so many of my friends making mistakes. Some have told me that they were desperately unhappy but there was nothing that they could do about it.”

  “I am absolutely certain you would not be unhappy with my daughter,” the Lord Lieutenant replied as if that settled the matter.

  There was silence. The Earl realised that he was dealing with a man of awesome stubbornness. But he could be stubborn too.

  “I think that is a decision only she and I can make for ourselves. No one, not even you, can make it for us.”

  “But I have already told you that you are certain to be happy,” the Lord Lieutenant retorted impatiently.

  “I am afraid it needs more than your assurance,” the Earl said curtly.

  “Then tell me what else it needs. A dowry? Vanda is a wealthy young woman in her own right and she will be even more wealthy when I die.”

  “Thank you, but I do not need to marry for money,” the Earl replied coldly.

  He thought this was the most uncomfortable situation he could possibly imagine. How could he talk about the feelings of his heart to a man who could only take things literally?

  He was delighted when the door opened and the butler said,

  “Your Lordship's breakfast will soon be inedible and cook wants me to ask your Lordship if she should make it again for you?”

  “No, of course not,” the Earl replied. “I will come and have my breakfast at once.”

  The butler bowed and left the room leaving the door open.

  The Earl turned towards the Lord Lieutenant and said,

  “I will certai
nly think over what you have said and give you my answer. But it is something I could not possibly decide in a few minutes. In fact it will probably take me several weeks.”

  “If you could only understand –”

  “In the meantime I must not detain you,” the Earl declared desperately. “I know you have many things to attend to. In fact I believe you have a meeting in the town in half an hour. You will not wish to be late.”

  “I was planning on taking you with me,” Sir Quentin said.

  Robert suppressed his anger at this effrontery, merely saying,

  “And I am planning on remaining here. Good day to you, sir.”

  He shook the Lord Lieutenant's hand and left the room before there was any chance of his speaking again. When he reached the dining room he closed the door firmly behind him.

  He sat down at the table and the butler quickly placed his breakfast dish in front of him. The Earl's face alarmed him and he wondered what could have happened to put his Lordship in a temper.

  When he was alone, the Earl gave a deep sigh as his anger evaporated into exasperation.

  How could he have guessed, how could he have imagined for one moment that the Lord Lieutenant, of all people, would almost demand that he should marry his daughter?

  'I have no wish at the moment, to marry anyone,' he said to himself. 'I have known Vanda ever since she was born, but never for one moment have I thought of her as my wife.'

  Vanda had been at school when he first inherited the title. Since then they had been good neighbours. They had seen each other out hunting and he had often danced with her at the balls which were given in the county, especially around Christmas time. But he had never fallen in love with her.

  In fact, despite their sturdy friendship they bickered constantly.

  'Like brother and sister,' he thought. 'And if I do marry, I want to be wildly and passionately in love, which I am sure I could never be with her.'

  As he ate his breakfast, he thought of the women he had been enamoured with. To be honest, the majority of them had been married already, so there was no question of him escorting any of them up the aisle.