The Triumph of Love Read online

  THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE

  BARBARA CARTLAND

  www.barbaracartland.com

  Copyright © 2009 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the Internet in December 2009

  ISBNs

  978-1-908411-19-8 Epub

  978-1-908411-20-4 Prc

  978-1-908411-12-1 Pdf

  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 TRIUMPH OF LOVE

  She was thoughtful as she took off her clothes and climbed into bed.

  Who would have believed that so many incredible things could have happened in such a short time? It was only three days since she had fled her stepfather’s house, yet it seemed like a lifetime.

  Selina had met the Marquis and already she could not imagine the world without him.

  He was amazingly unlike the dashing lover she had imagined might carry her off.

  For one thing, he was a bit older than the man in her romantic dreams, but his sweet temper, his quiet charm and perfect kindly courtesy had enchanted her, as the brash manners of younger men never did and he had now come to mean everything to her.

  What did she mean to him?

  Nothing probably.

  He regarded her as a child that he was humouring.

  How very quick he had been to assure her that his behaviour would be entirely proper! Of course, she would not wish it any other way, she assured herself.

  But it was sad that he seemed to find the promise so easy to keep.

  After all, would one little improper advance be so terrible?

  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

  These titles are currently available for download.

  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

  36. Seeking Love

  37. Journey To Love

  38. The Importance Of Love

  39. Love By The Lake

  40. A Dream Come True

  41. The King Without A Heart

  42. The Waters Of Love

  43. Danger To The Duke

  44. A Perfect Way To Heaven

  45. Follow Your Heart

  46. In Hiding

  47. Rivals For Love

  48. A Kiss From The Heart

  49. Lovers In London

  50. This Way To Heaven

  51. A Princess Prays

  52. Mine For Ever

  53. The Earl’s Revenge

  54. Love At The Tower

  55. Ruled By Love

  56. Love Came From Heaven

  57. Love And Apollo

  58. The Keys Of Love

  59. A Castle Of Dreams

  60. A Battle Of Brains

  61. A Change Of Hearts

  62. It Is Love

  63. The Triumph Of Love

  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.

  “As the world becomes more and more troubled, everyone should look to God for guidance and to love for happiness. There is no other way.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  1853

  “You will do just as I tell you. This man is a good match and you should thank Heaven on your knees for him.”

  “Well, I don’t! I will not marry a man I have never met. If he is anything like his father, he will be repulsive. I will not marry him and that’s final.”

  “Don’t you dare speak to me like that, my girl. I am your father and you owe me respect, so don’t forget it.”

  “You are not my father, you’re my stepfather. Papa was a good kind man, who would never have tried to force me into marriage with a man merely because he was rich.”

  In the drawing room of Gardner Manor a man and a young girl faced each other, both furiously angry.

  John Gardner was in his fifties – blunt, red-faced and brutal. His stepdaughter, Lady Selina Napier, was just nineteen, elegant, slender and fragile in build, but strong in spirit.

  She faced this menacing man with her head held high.

  She disliked him intensely. In fact she had always disliked him, ever since the day he had married her mother, the widowed Countess Napier. It seemed to her that he had brought an evil spirit into the house.

  In sharp contrast Selina’s parents had been blissfully happy.

  Her father, the Earl, would have so liked a son to inherit his name and title and they would both have loved a little more money.

  They had so little that they were forced to abandon his ancestral home and live in a modest house on the estate, but none of this could really spoil their happiness because they loved each other so deeply.

  Selina had been only fifteen when disaster struck.

  Her father had fallen whilst out hunting and his horse had rolled on him, crushing him.

  He sadly had lived only a week.

  The tragedy had shattered her mother. For a year she was miserable. Sometimes she would wander through the house, looking distracted, as if by a miracle she would find the man she loved.

  And then after a year, she suddenly announced that she intended to marry again.

  Her choice was John Gardner, a shipbuilder with a large amount of money. He gave her many expensive gifts and showered presents on Selina too, which the child received with a forced hostile politeness.

  She distrusted him from the first moment and continued to watch him with wary eyes.

  The marriage took place quickly and secretly, as if her mother was too ashamed for her friends and family to know about it.

  As well she might be, Selina thought.

  Before she married Lord Napier she had been Lady Edwina Franklin. Now she became Lady Edwina Gardner, something that nobody could overlook as her new husband always introduced her by that title and never referred to her as anything but ‘Lady Edwina’.

  And he always referred to his stepdaughter as ‘Lady Selina Napier’. Lacking a title himself, he allowed no one to forget that he had acquired two titled ladies by marriage.

  ‘He is such a snob,’ she told herself. ‘He married Mama just to advance himself socially. He has no breeding, only money. He throws it around, trying to impress the world and only makes people despise him.’

  He had taken them out of their little house and into the vast grandiose mansion he had purchased and renamed ‘Gardner Manor’, to the amusement, Selina was convinced, of all his well-born neighbours.

  It was far too large for the three of them and needed an army of staff for the sixty rooms and extensive gardens. But it lived up to what John Gardner felt was his dignity.

  “A fit setting for a Countess,” he had often carolled, ignoring the fact that his wife was no longer a Countess.

  He surrounded them with every material luxury, which Selina realised her mother really enjoyed.

  For a nice comfortable life she was well prepared to put up with her husband’s vulgar ways.

  She entertained his business friends, assuming the lofty manner that he liked to see.

  Whenever she could she persuaded, some of her aristocratic friends to visit, but this was rare. Many were reluctant because his behaviour embarrassed them.

  And then without any warning Lady Edwina caught influenza in the middle of winter and died.

  True to form John Gardner gave her a lavish funeral and built a big extravagant monument on which the words ‘Lady Edwina Gardner’ were carved in large letters.

  He paraded his grief to the world and if Selina could have believed it genuine, she might have warmed to him.

  But very soon it became apparent that as her mother was dead he planned to dragoon his stepdaughter into providing him with a ladder into Society.

  He refused to allow her to go and live with friends of her father. At most he would allow her to pay them odd visits and he would insist on accompanying her. Gradually the invitations dried up.

  As time passed Selina found that she was squirming when he rolled out her title whilst introducing her to strangers, as if he was sharing something very valuable with them.

  He embarrassed her by the way he boasted about his late wife and told strangers how heart-broken he had been by the death of ‘Lady Edwina’.

  But the strangers who came into the house now that her mother was no longer there were mostly men with whom her stepfather was doing a deal or those he believed could help him in his social climbing.

  “Why won’t you allow me to leave?” she asked him again and again.

  “I want you with me.”

  “Why do you want me? After all I can hardly help you build a ship.”

  Her stepfather had laughed and it was not a pleasant sound.

  “You can do so much more than that,” he said. “The people I bring here like to meet you. You’re an attraction to them. Surely it’s not too much to ask in return for all I have given you?”

  “I never asked you to give me all those expensive gifts,” she cried. “They were not really for me, anyway, or for my mother. You just wanted to deck us out to impress the world.

  “Neither Mama nor I cared for it. My father never had any money, but she was far happier with him than she ever was with you, because they truly loved each other!”

  “Nonsense! Everyone I know appreciates money – and that includes you, my girl. That wonderful father of yours didn’t leave you a single penny. You depend on me for every stitch you’re wearing, so don’t you forget it!”

  It was true.

  She was trapped.

  And then one fine day he returned from Portsmouth, where he had been to inspect one of his ships and there was something about him that troubled her more than ever.

  She was used to his unpleasant tempers, but his sudden good humours disturbed her more.

  “I have some excellent news,” he announced.

  Selina tried to look interested.

  “I know that it will please you as much as it pleases me,” he declared.

  She doubted it. It was more than likely to be his way of telling her that she had better be pleased or there would be trouble.

  She knew that her worst fears were realised when he added,

  “I have found you a husband.”

  Selina stared at him.

  “What are you saying?”

  “He’s the son of one of the richest men in the country. You haven’t met him, but you will. When his father approached me, I realised at once that this was the ideal
match for you.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. Why should I marry someone I have never met?”

  She spoke almost aggressively, but at the same time she felt rather unnerved. There was something in his voice and the way he was looking at her that was unusual.

  It was something she had not noticed in him before.

  “Now sit down and listen to what I have to say,” he ordered. “You are the right age, you are also extremely attractive and you’re the daughter of an Earl – you have a title.”

  “To be Lady Selina is hardly an important title.”

  “It will just have to do,” he said flatly. “With your connections and Peter Turner’s money the world is going to be made very aware of you, my dear child.”

  The last words were added awkwardly as though he was remembering lines in a script. He was playing the role of the loving father, but he had not quite got the hang of it.

  “Peter Turner?” she queried. “Can he be the son of Ralph Turner, that dreadful man who was here two months ago and breathed whisky fumes all over me?”

  “Whatever do you mean – dreadful?” he snapped. “Ralph Turner has fifty thousand pounds a year.”

  She was now beginning to grow angry as well as apprehensive.

  “If he had a million pounds a year, he would still be dreadful,” she asserted flatly.

  John Gardner gasped. For once in his life he was completely taken aback. He had never heard of such an idea before.

  How could you possibly be dreadful if you had so much money? It was practically blasphemy.

  “If he’s so very rich, why is he bothering with me?” Selina demanded. “Why not the daughter of a Duke or a Marquis, preferably one who’s alive and can introduce him into the right circles?”

  Her stepfather grew testy.

  “Never mind that.”

  “We do know the answer, don’t we?” she persisted. “Turner is such an appalling man that no money on earth could buy his son into those circles. So he’ll settle for me.”

  “And you should be glad of it,” he bawled. “Where else are you going to find a husband? You haven’t a penny of your own.”