In Hiding Read online

  In Hiding

  Copyright © 2008 by Cartland Promotions

  First published on the internet in July 2008 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

  In Hiding

  Tamina gasped.

  She had a terrible feeling that the world was falling away beneath her feet and that she was about to faint.

  She swayed and sat down abruptly at the desk in her father’s big carved chair.

  “Does Edmund – love you?” she whispered, wondering if perhaps there was still some reason to believe that this was all a dreadful mistake.

  Edmund was an honourable man. He would never become engaged to one girl whilst in a relationship with another!

  It was unthinkable.

  “Of course he loves me! We are engaged. But I saw you dancing with him tonight and although Edmund assures me that you and he are just friends and that he escorted you to the ball because your parents are out of the country, I still felt that you should be told.”

  And with a click the connection was broken.

  Tamina stared at the receiver in her hand, almost as if she did not know what she was holding.

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  Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.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

  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

  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.

  “Whenever life becomes unbearable and your heart is breaking, remember that love is just around the corner.”

  Barbara Cartland

  CHAPTER ONE

  -

  1911

  The beautiful mirrored ballroom at Lord and Lady Mercer’s vast mansion in Knightsbridge had seen many grand and exciting occasions, but none to rival the one in progress this warm summer evening.

  The daughter of the house, Mary-Rose, was now eighteen and in honour of her birthday, her parents were throwing an extravagant fancy dress ball.

  All the smartest and grandes
t members of London Society had flocked to the great house in a variety of marvellous colourful costumes.

  Against Lady Mercer’s better judgement, the band now playing up in the gallery that ran round the far end of the sumptuous oval room, had been imported especially from America.

  In a side room tables had been laid with a sumptuous buffet. Ice statues in the shape of flowers stood between huge crystal bowls full of white roses and lilies.

  Everything wonderful had been provided for the guests; even champagne flowing down a pyramid of sparkling glasses.

  Rumours abounded that there was to be a fire-eater and a juggler later in the evening and a giant cake with eighteen candles.

  Everyone was excited and happy and no one was more excited than Lady Tamina Braithwaite.

  Small, slender and dressed in a quite amazing concoction of colourful chiffon and feathers, Lady Tamina had come to the fancy dress party disguised as a bird of paradise.

  With a sapphire and emerald silk skullcap hiding her long blonde hair and a feathered mask covering her face, no one would ever have guessed who she was.

  But beneath the mask, Tamina was bubbling with happiness as she was whirled around the shining parquet dance floor.

  “Oh, Edmund, isn’t this the most marvellous party you have ever at ended?”

  Edmund Newson smiled down at his partner. He had flatly refused to wear a fancy dress costume this evening – he had a dreadful fear of looking stupid, but his fair good-looks with a dapper moustache accentuating the handsome curve of his mouth more than made up for his reluctance.

  “You are certainly the star of the evening, my dearest,” he whispered as the music changed to a slow waltz and couples sank into each other’s arms.

  Tamina laughed.

  “Oh, no, Edmund. Mary-Rose Mercer is the star and as it is her birthday, it is only right that she takes centre stage.”

  Edmund was concentrating on his steps and did not reply, but he knew that most eyes in the ballroom were following the quicksilver movements of the little green and blue bird of paradise and not the heavier tread of the young girl dressed in the great white wig and cumbersome outfit of the ill -fated French Queen, Marie Antoinette.

  Tamina closed her eyes for a few seconds, allowing the world to whirl round her.

  She was so happy! She was in love!

  Edmund was an up and coming politician. He had just won a seat in a by-election to the House of Commons.

  Tamina had met him a month earlier when she attended a race meeting at Ascot.

  Her father, Lord Braithwaite, held a top position in the Foreign Office and on the morning of Ladies’ Day at Ascot, he and Lady Braithwaite had quietly left the country on a diplomatic mission to Italy.

  Although Tamina considered herself to be a girl with very modern ideas and outlook on life, she had been reluctant to attend the races on her own. Luckily her elderly Godmother, Countess Lichley, who was very fond of her, had cheerfully agreed to be her chaperone.

  But it had been an extremely hot day and after the buffet luncheon, the Countess had soon found a chair in a quiet corner and sat under her lace parasol to rest.

  And the rest had turned into a long doze.

  So Tamina had wandered around alone, and in one of the enclosures during the racehorse parade a mutual friend had introduced Edmund Newson.

  “Do you remember the day we met?” she whispered now as they circled around the ballroom, their colourful reflections changing every second in the myriad of mirrors.

  Edmund nodded.

  “Indeed, I do, little one. It is engraved on my heart forever as the most marvellous day of my life so far.”

  “Did you fall in love with me immediately?”

  “Of course, sweetheart! Why do you think I asked you to marry me the following week?”

  Tamina sighed.

  It was all so wonderful. She felt like the heroine of a great romantic novel, swept off her feet by the good-looking and dashing hero.

  Yes, she was engaged, but she had promised Edmund to keep their betrothal a secret!

  Somewhere inside her head, a little voice whispered that her mother and father would be most upset to hear that she had been secretly meeting a young man and would soon be wearing his ring on her finger.

  But Tamina pushed these doubts aside. Edmund was wonderful, so clever, so handsome, such a marvellous dancer and he loved her so much.

  When her parents finally met him, she was sure they would love him too.

  Tamina gazed up at his square ruddy face. Edmund was frowning – it made him look so sweet and serious. It was incredible to know that she was the most important person in the whole world to him.

  Tamina knew her parents loved her, but as the youngest by far of three children she had never attracted their undivided attention and affection.

  Her two older brothers, Peter and Guy, had made the family a boisterous masculine place for a little girl to grow up in.

  She had learnt to ride, to climb trees, to fall over and scrape her knees without ‘blubbing’, as the boys called her tears.

  When they had finally departed for boarding school, she had missed them dreadfully.

  She had several governesses who tried to turn her into a feminine frilly child, but every time Peter and Guy came home, they dragged their little sister into all their madcap schemes.

  “I am so looking forward to introducing you, Edmund, to my brothers,” she murmured as the music ended.

  Arm in arm they walked out into the balmy moonlit garden and sat at one of the tiny tables scattered along the patio under flaring torches in bronze sconces.

  “Ah, yes. They are both in the Services I believe you told me? Away from home a great deal, I imagine?”

  “Yes.” Tamina felt tears prick her eyes for an instant. “Peter, who is the eldest, is in the Army and dear Guy, who always has to be different from his brother, joined the Navy.”

  “And do you expect them to be home on leave soon, my sweet?” enquired Edmund, kissing her wrist just above the edge of her gloved hand.

  “No. Sadly not for months and months. By then I hope we can announce our engagement to everyone!”

  Edmund’s pale grey eyes looked sad.

  “No one wishes for that more than me, Tamina. But as I told you, I am honour bound to tell my elderly grandmother first. She brought me up when my parents died and has the right to know our brilliant news before anyone else.”

  Tamina’s eyes grew larger and bluer behind her feathered mask.

  “And your poor grandmother is sadly very ill, you said?”

  Edmund sighed.

  “Yes. But her doctor informs me that her health is slowly improving all the time. As soon as she is strong enough, you and I will travel to Scotland together and tell her our news. Until then, I fear we must keep our love a secret.”

  “But what – what if your grandmother does not get better?” whispered Tamina hesitantly.

  Edmund patted her hand and stood up.

  “Then we will marry immediately. Now, I think some refreshment is in order. I believe ices are being served in the conservatory. Wait here, dearest, and I will fetch you one.”

  Tamina watched lovingly as he weaved his way through the dancing throng.

  Just then a striking couple standing close to her chair caught her attention.

  She recognised the half-masked lady in the dark red dress as Lady Eunice Kenton, but the man seemed to be a stranger and Tamina was intrigued to know who he was.

  He was attired in formal evening dress, but his face had been darkened and he wore a magnificent Arabian headdress with a fold that swept across his mouth so that only his eyes could be seen.

  Even as she watched, Lady Eunice tapped his arm playfully with her feathered fan and walked away towards the stairs, the red silk of her dress swirling around her beautiful figure.

  The man watched her go, then sank down onto a little gilt chair next to Tamina and sighed.

  Ivan, the Earl of Daven
try, felt exhausted, weary in every bone of his body.

  It was hard to remember that only three months ago he had been living a happy-go-lucky existence in Italy, free of all worries and commitments.

  As the younger son of the influential Daventry family, he had never needed to take on the family duties and responsibilities that fell to his older brother, Geoffrey, who had been groomed to his position in Society from birth.

  Ivan, five years younger, had wanted nothing more than to travel the world, learning about every country and the culture, history and geography and backgrounds of the people he met.

  His immediate plan was to write a book about all he had seen and learnt and then – if he had thought of the future at all, it had been vaguely that at some point he would probably go into the Diplomatic Service where his knowledge could be of use to his country.

  Even when Geoffrey had inherited the title, he had not worried about what lay ahead for the Daventry family in the years to come.

  His adored elder brother was happily married and his wife, Honesty, was carrying the new heir to the Daventry title. Everyone’s lives seemed so happy and fulfilled. The future was rosy.

  But all that had changed on a fateful snowy night in March when the carriage carrying Geoffrey, Honesty and their servants had overturned on a dark slippery road in the Lake District killing them all instantly.

  It was hard now to even remember the last three months, he thought, closing his eyes against the whirling brilliance of the dancers in front of him. The pain and loss were still so great.

  He was now the Earl of Daventry and his grief for his beloved brother and beautiful sister-in-law had to be kept under control, because there was so much to do and arrange.

  Hurrying back across Europe at breakneck speed, he had been unable to believe the telegram he had received was true.

  He had still half thought that it was someone’s idea of a bad sick joke, but knew in his heart of hearts that no one could be that evil.

  Then he had been forced to deal with the funerals, the grief of both families and the servants, as three of the family staff had died as well.