Love At Last Read online

  LOVE AT LAST

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2011 by Cartland Promotions

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

  ISBNs

  978-1-78213-094-9 Epub

  978-1-78213-095-6 Mobi

  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

  * * *

  LOVE AT LAST

  Then Cecilia murmured,

  “Perhaps you can tell me the reason for your visit to London, Prince? You have, I do know, recently agreed a Treaty with Voskia. Does your presence here suggest you are discussing an alliance with England?”

  She looked at him, her head held slightly on one side.

  Ivan thought rapidly – this was a member of the English aristocracy, who moved in the highest of circles.

  She was only a few years older than the sort of girl he hoped to meet.

  He then breathed deeply and took one of the biggest gambles of his life.

  “Perhaps, Lady Cecilia. Only it is not the sort of alliance you mean. May I confide in you? I am in need of a wife. I wish to meet a suitable young lady who could become Her Royal Highness the Princess of Rusitania.”

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  Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.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

  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 popul
ar 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 always comes to those who are patient and are prepared to wait for the great moment to come.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1873

  Huge crowds shouted as Prince Ivan rode back to his Palace after his morning gallop.

  The first snow of winter lay on the ground, but the sun was shining and celebration hung in the air.

  It was an important day.

  The streets were hung with flags and in the Royal Palace grounds twenty cannon stood ready for a salute and a military band practised rousing tunes in the forecourt.

  The Prince’s Army had successfully fought off the invasion of Rusitania by its neighbour, Voskia.

  Now peace had been declared.

  Prince Ivan had fought bravely alongside his men and he was a hero to his people of Rusitania.

  Whenever he appeared in the streets, flowers were thrown, hats flung in the air and everyone cheered him.

  Prince Ivan enjoyed the adulation.

  As he rode in State back to his Palace, he caught a rose thrown at him by a pretty girl. He directed a kiss and a smile in her direction and threaded the flower through the buttonhole of his military jacket.

  “Where’s the Countess, then?” yelled a burly man. “Didn’t she wait for you to return from the war?”

  Prince Ivan’s smile disappeared, but he still waved his hand vaguely in the direction of his questioner.

  The beautiful and voluptuous Countess Natasha Balinskova had been his constant companion for at least six months up until the invasion of Rusitania.

  Prince Ivan had gone off to war after a lingering farewell and the memory of her sparkling eyes and silvery laugh had helped him forget all the privations and dangers.

  The dangers had been very real.

  Many times he had feared for his life, but always he had been in the thick of the fighting, rallying his men with patriotic cries.

  After a particularly violent engagement a letter had arrived from Natasha.

  Eagerly Prince Ivan had opened it, but the contents threw him into one of his rare depressions.

  Natasha’s husband was dead.

  Elderly and infirm, the Count had encouraged his young wife to enjoy herself. Now, she wrote, she was free and longing for Ivan to return so that they could be wed.

  Ivan had thrown himself down on his camp bed and considered the situation.

  It had only taken him a few moments to realise that Natasha was completely unsuited to become his Princess of Rusitania.

  He found her physically attractive, but there was much in her character that he disliked and she resented his duties calling him away so often.

  She was exceedingly beautiful but cunning and he allowed her to manipulate him into giving her expensive jewels he could ill afford, because he was a generous man and enjoyed making her feel happy. He did not, however, admire her greed.

  Ivan then wrote a letter to Natasha.

  He said he loved her, but regretted that his position would not allow him to marry her, but he hoped that they could continue with their relationship that brought him so much happiness.

  He toyed with promising her a string of perfectly matched pearls she had so admired in a jeweller. Finally he had decided to leave any gift until his return.

  Once the war with Voskia was finished Ivan found that Natasha had disappeared and no one, it seemed, knew where she was.

  *

  On his return Ivan rode through the Palace gates, dismounted, threw the reins of his mount to a groom and strode up the main entrance steps.

  His mother had once said to him that she wished the Palace was not in the centre of the Capital and it was a shame the grounds were not larger. The Royal family had no privacy, she complained.

  “Never forget, my boy, that we owe our position to the people,” Ivan’s father had intoned. “They are the rock on which we rest. We need to be near them, to show that their interests and concerns are ours too. To hide ourselves away would be disastrous.”

  Ivan never forgot those words.

  His father had died the previous year and it had been the saddest day of his life.

  His sorrow had deepened when his mother had died a year later and the doctors said it was of a broken heart.

  As he entered the Palace’s magnificent State Hall, his Chief Adviser, Baron Rasumov, came hurrying up.

  “Your Royal Highness, thank Heaven you are back. It is almost time.”

  “Would I miss signing the Treaty with Voskia that brings a final end to this dreadful war?’

  Ivan threw his gloves and crop to a waiting servant.

  “It is one of our country’s most important days. Is the Voskian delegation here, Baron?”

  “They are expected to be here at any moment, Your Royal Highness.”

  Ivan looked down at his riding breeches and boots.

  “No time for me to change then. Still, this outfit is appropriate, don’t you think?”

  He grinned at the Baron, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief, the sculptured lines of his handsome face set off by luxuriant dark hair.

  The military jacket, heavily ornamented with gold braid, showed off his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

  The Baron nodded approvingly and he and Ivan walked through to the Audience Chamber.

  Ivan strode to the ceremonial throne set on a high dais at the far end of the long reception room and the many crystal chandeliers seemed to emulate the weather outside and the long mirrors reflected the assembled Ministers and Officers.

  Formal black frock coats were well balanced by the splendour of the military uniforms and there was an air of expectation as Ivan took his seat.

  Gradually silence fell in the room.

  The minutes lengthened. As one or two Officers whispered together, Ivan sat as still as a statue.

  Then the doors at the end of the Salon opened and a Major Domo announced in a stentorian voice,

  “His Royal Highness Prince Peter of Voskia.”

  A tall good-looking man in full military uniform with striking blond hair walked aggressively up to the foot of the throne followed by his entourage.

  Prince Peter’s pale blue eyes gazed malevolently at Ivan and his hands fidgeted at the red stripe running down the side of his trousers.

  Ivan watched his progress.

  He felt a deep unease.

  This Treaty should mean peace at last between the two countries.

  However, Prince Peter’s demeanour did not suggest co-operation. He had hoped to catch Rusitania unprepared for military combat and achieve a swift victory. Instead, he was now compelled to sign conditions that meant giving away many Voskian rights to the country he had invaded.

  Ivan rose.

  “Welcome, Cousin Peter,’ he said heartily. “I hope our countries can now live happily alongside each other.”

  Peter’s lips curled into a snarl.

  “For the moment I am bound by the conditions of this Treaty. It will not always be like this – ”

  Ivan remembered the days of their childhood.

  Peter had always been a poor loser and he was a master of sneaky tricks aimed at retrieving his position. It was always necessary to watch your back with his cousin.

  One of the advisers fro
m Voskia stepped forward anxiously and whispered something into Peter’s ear and was impatiently waved back.

  “Bring forward the document,” Peter commanded.

  Ivan was not going to allow his defeated cousin to control the proceedings.

  “First I propose we should drink to friendship – to putting the past behind us,” he said and clicked his fingers.

  Servants handed round trays of champagne.

  Peter looked at the glasses with contempt. Then he waved to a figure at the rear of the delegation.

  Ivan stiffened as a woman came forward.

  She was incredibly beautiful.

  Her flame-coloured hair was arranged in soft waves around a diamond tiara, her oval face was creamy-skinned perfection.

  Her dress of white satin was a dream of innocence, an innocence belied by the knowing contempt of her green eyes. Her cupid’s bow lips gave Ivan a sweet smile as she dropped the smallest of curtseys etiquette could demand.

  “Your Royal Highness,” she murmured as she rose again and looked him straight in the eye.

  Ivan felt a deep pang. So many months of loving companionship destroyed in a single moment.

  “Countess Balinskova herself,” he acknowledged unemotionally. Then could not help adding, “Natasha!”

  “Countess Natasha is with me now.”

  Peter’s voice rang out triumphantly as he placed a hand possessively under her elbow.

  They were indeed a striking pair, both physically attractive, both tall, both arrogant.

  Ivan felt a momentary pity for Natasha.

  The arrival of his letter setting out the realities of their relationship must have coincided with the news of a battle that had not gone Rusitania’s way. For a time it could have seemed that Voskia would triumph.

  So she had defected to Peter.

  He wondered if she expected his cousin to marry her. If so, she was doomed to disappointment.

  In this, at least, they thought alike. Neither would consider the fickle Natasha a fitting candidate for marriage.

  Ivan clicked his fingers again.

  “The Treaty!”

  A parchment document was laid out on a table.

  Ivan picked up a pen.

  “To peace,” he declared and signed with a flourish.