Royalty Defeated by Love
ROYALTY DEFEATED BY LOVE
Bettina had been angry with Michael for kissing her, and yet in her heart she had known that there was something about his kiss that could not make her angry, but made her feel something very different from anger.
It had been so different from that other kiss on the first day. Then he had stolen his pleasure almost casually. She could have been anyone and she had felt insulted.
But the second kiss had been gentle and tender, with a passion and sweetness that she would remember all her life. For a moment she could have sworn that he was thinking of nothing but her.
It was she who had broken the spell by losing her temper, assuming that he was merely making use of her.
But suppose he had not been doing so? Suppose he had really meant it?
She chided herself for her foolishness.
Of course it could come to nothing. Between an Earl and an Army Major’s daughter there could never be any thought of marriage.
ROYALTY DEFEATED BY LOVE
Copyright © 2006 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in July 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.
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Titles in this series
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 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.
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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.
“Love, love, love, is all that matters in this world and the next.”
Barbara Cartland
CHAPTER ONE
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1878
As the hansom cab turned the corner into Belgrave Square, Lord Winton Shriver said,
“You are looking very down-in-the-mouth, old fellow. If I had your life I think I would be fairly cheerful.”
Michael, Earl of Danesbury, gave his friend a rueful grin.
“If you had my life, Win, you would run a mile. You know what is going to happen when we reach this party, don’t you?”
“Yes, we are going to celebrate the engagement of our old friend, Viscount Allerton, to the Honourable Laura Conway. Mind you, just the thought of it depresses me.”
Lord Winton’s handsome, willowy person, seemed to shrink into the corner of the cab at the mere idea of marriage.
Lord Danesbury, equally handsome but more robustly built, grinned at his friend. Winton, ‘Win’ to his friends, was a flirt – a hardened flirt some said, although it had always seemed to Michael Danesbury that it was his soft heartedness that got him into trouble.
Win simply could not see a pretty face without going weak at the knees. But he fled all suggestions of marriage like the plague.
Michael also avoided marriage but for different reasons. Since he had become Earl of Danesbury three years ago, he had been a target for matchmaking Mamas and their eager daughters.
He wanted none of them. But he knew that tonight, as always, he would have to dodge the webs that were being spun for him.
Now he repeated his question.
“You know what will happen when we arrive at Conway House, don’t you?”
“You will be surrounded by beautiful girls, all trying to catch your attention,” Win observed. “Don’t ask me to feel sorry for you!”
“Well you should. Beautiful they may be, but each one of them has
the light of matrimony in her eyes. They do not see me, they see my coronet. They see being Mistress of Danesbury House and Danesbury Castle.”
“So take your pick of them.”
“No, that is not good enough for me. I want a woman who loves me for myself alone, without caring about the title.”
“But how will you ever know?” Win pointed out practically.
“I shall know. When I meet the one and only, I shall know that her heart is true and honest. Otherwise, she is not the one for me.”
“Well, you be careful,” Win warned. “Some of the parents are getting very clever. Do you know how James Allerton came to propose to Laura?”
“I have heard some disquieting rumours.”
“The truth is that he never did propose to her. Her father asked to see the Queen and said he had damaged her reputation, just because they talked for too long in the garden.”
“So the rumours are true!” Michael exclaimed with a touch of alarm.
“Her Majesty sent for Allerton and told him she would not tolerate ‘such behaviour’. The Prince of Wales was there and he said he could not abide any scandal.”
“Him?” Michael echoed in disgust. “The man is a walking scandal himself! One mistress after another. Only recently he was threatened with blackmail on account of some letters he had written to one of them.”
“That is why he is being a bit careful at the moment. He told Allerton that he could only associate with ‘men of good character’, so he must either ‘do the decent thing’ or be dismissed from HRH’s circle.”
“Damned hypocrite!” Michael observed.
“I could not agree more, old boy. But that is how it’s done these days and you can be sure that the Randalls know it. You had better watch out.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Michael replied uncomfortably.
“Oh, yes, you do. Lady Alice has been trying to get her pretty little claws into you for some time.”
“Well, she hasn’t succeeded.”
“My point exactly. She is becoming frustrated. So are her parents. And frustration breeds ideas.”
“Dammit Win, I’ve a good mind to jump out of this cab and run for it.”
“Too late. You have formally accepted the invitation, and we’re nearly there.”
Michael groaned, but it was true. The hansom cab was drawing up in front of a house which was brilliantly lit in every window.
From inside came the sound of music and the large front door was open as a stream of gorgeously dressed guests entered, to be received by a punctilious butler.
Their hosts greeted them with delight. Michael responded with the right words, but he was already looking around apprehensively for the Randall family.
And as soon as he entered the ballroom he noticed Lady Alice Randall. She immediately ran towards him and put her hand on his arm.
“I am so glad you have come,” she gushed. “All the other men are so boring. I was just so hoping you would be here and we could dance together.”
“Of course we can,” Michael agreed politely.
He saw her eyes turned up to him.
He thought they were dangerous. They told him, without any words, what she wanted.
The next moment she had slipped her hand into his.
He knew the gesture would not go unnoticed by a great number of guests present who were the worst gossips in the whole of Mayfair.
“You are so late,” she sighed. “I thought you had forgotten about me.”
“Of course I had not forgotten you,” he replied, knowing it was expected of him.
He was in fact wondering how he could prevent her from holding so tightly on to his arm and moving closer and closer to him.
She was very pretty but was not exactly a debutante as she had been out in Society for two years. But he recognised that she had set her cap at him and it was impossible for him to avoid her.
She turned up at every party he attended. She always had something to tell him which would mean her holding on to his arm and talking to him in a way which made it difficult for him to move away.
He had hoped that tonight she would not be so clinging, as the focus of attention should be on the engaged couple.
It was, however, quite obvious that Alice had no intention of leaving him.
“Do come and see James and Laura,” she urged. “They are so happy. Isn’t it the most delightful thing in the world to see a happy engaged couple?”
His mouth felt dry.
“Delightful,” he muttered.
As they walked down the room, Michael was aware that a great number of eyes would be watching them. The chaperones wanted to know if, after so many trials which had failed, his heart had been captured by Alice.
When they reached the ‘happy couple’ Michael recognised that his worst fears had been realised. Viscount Allerton looked like a turkey trussed for the slaughter. His bride, who normally looked belligerent and ill-natured, now looked belligerent and triumphant.
He paid the necessary compliments, assured Viscount Allerton that he was the luckiest man alive and received a ghastly smile in return.
Then there was a tug on Michael’s arm and he realised that Alice was still standing there.
He had almost forgotten her existence.
But now he felt annoyed that she was more or less forcing herself upon him, and behaving as if he belonged to her and owed her his entire attention.
He forced a smile to his face. He had an uncomfortable feeling that it must mirror Viscount Allerton’s.
The music was playing. Firmly Alice pulled him away.
“I want to dance with you,” she said. “I have been waiting for too long.”
“There are plenty of other men with whom you could dance,” Michael suggested hopefully.
“But I only want you,” Alice whispered. “You dance so divinely and are so different from anyone else. When I am in your arms I feel as if we are dancing up into the sky amongst the stars.”
There was a note in her voice which made Michael stiffen.
“How nice,” he said lamely, inwardly praying for something to save him.
Against all the odds, something did happen. There was a little commotion in the crowd. The musicians fell silent. The dancers moved aside to make a space as a voice from the door boomed,
“His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.”
The next moment a very large man appeared. He was in his late thirties, with a fleshy, self-indulgent face, only partly hidden by a beard. More self-indulgence showed in his girth and his hair was growing thin.
But he possessed an imposing dignity that nothing could take away. He was the heir to the throne of England.
He advanced slowly the length of the ballroom, receiving the curtsies of the ladies and bows from the gentlemen.
When he reached the engaged couple his smile was affable. Whatever arms he had had to twist to bring about their engagement, he was in a good mood now and determined to enjoy himself.
“Allerton, you lucky dog!” he boomed. “I wish you every happiness, I do indeed.”
“As Your Royal Highness pleases,” Viscount Allerton recited mechanically, with a little bow.
“Not as I please,” the Prince of Wales corrected him. “This betrothal is your pleasure and now I have met the lady, I understand why.
“Laura, my dear, if you knew how often he has sighed over you, thinking he had no hope, until at last I told him to take courage and risk a declaration. ‘Mark my words, Allerton,’ I said, ‘the lady will not be hard on you.’ And I was right, was I not?”
Laura gave a simpering giggle, guaranteed to set any man’s teeth on edge. Even her giggle managed to be belligerent, Michael noticed.
“So you see,” the Prince continued mercilessly, “I take the credit for this engagement. I brought about the whole betrothal.”
Everyone applauded. Under cover of the noise, Win muttered in Michael’s ear,
“That much is certainly true.”
In fact, he possessed all the social skills, except the ability to be faithful to his wife. On a recent trip to India he had fought off Princess Alexandra’s attempts to accompany him for reasons that were the talk of London. Needless to say, the Princess was not with him tonight.
And this was the man who had forced Viscount Allerton to become engaged to a girl he did not love, because he could only be associated with ‘men of good character’.
Michael looked around quickly before Alice could claim him again and found himself another partner. The blissful maiden sank into his arms, dreaming of a coronet.
He danced with her only once nor did she expect more. He was becoming too worried to risk a second dance with anyone. Everyone knew that Lord Danesbury was Alice’s – if she could catch him.
When the music stopped, Michael was saved from Alice by the Prince himself who demanded that he join him for a brandy in the smoking room with their host and some other gentlemen.
But even here there was no escape. The Prince was in teasing mood.
“One wedding begets another, eh, Danesbury?”
“We cannot all be as lucky as Allerton, Your Royal Highness. By the way, may I congratulate you on the success of your horses at Ascot?”
This was a clear breach of protocol, since only Royalty were allowed to change the subject. Luckily the Prince was always ready to discuss his horses and the dangerous moment passed.
Michael breathed a sigh of relief when the Prince departed, but almost at once he felt Alice’s hand on his arm again.
“Shall we have a little fresh air?” she suggested.
Resigning himself to his fate, he allowed her to lead him towards the French windows which led into the garden, where there were drinks and plenty of food for everyone to enjoy.
The trees had been decorated with fairy lights.
It would all have been charming, if he had not been so acutely alert for danger.
He was well aware that if they moved into the shadows of the trees, she would want him to kiss her.