Wanted a Royal Wife
WANTED – A ROYAL WIFE
BARBARA CARTLAND
www.barbaracartland.com
Copyright © 2009 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in January 2010
ISBNs
978-1-908411-22-8 Epub
978-1-908411-23-5 mobi
978-1-908411-24-2 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.
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WANTED –
A ROYAL WIFE
As Prince Kraus was speaking his eyes suddenly closed and his head fell back against the cushion behind him.
“You are in pain!” cried Latasha without thinking.
“It’s this ghastly migraine,” he murmured.
Now there was a deep frown on his forehead and he squeezed his eyes as if the pain was almost unbearable.
Latasha rose to her feet. Going behind Prince Kraus’s chair, she placed her hands very gently on his forehead.
“Try to relax,” she urged. “I am going to massage your forehead gently and I hope it will take away the pain.”
She spoke very quietly.
At the same time she started to move her fingers as her mother had shown her over his forehead and down by his temples.
She had seen her mother doing it so often to people who had come to her from the village.
Prince Kraus did not say anything and as Latasha continued to massage his head very very gently, she felt him begin to relax.
He was no longer tense with pain.
She remembered exactly the movements her mother had made on a sufferer’s head.
As she used her fingers, she prayed as her mother had always done.
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
64. Wanted – A Royal Wife
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 issu
es, 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 can appear in so many different and unexpected ways and always when one least expects it, so don’t be surprised on a boat, a train or even a bus!”
Barbara Cartland
CHAPTER ONE
1887
Lady Latasha Ling rode into the stable yard.
The Head Groom came hurrying out to her horse’s head.
“He is an excellent jumper, Abbey,” Lady Latasha said, “and I think when he has had a little more training, he will beat His Grace’s favourite, who he continually says is unbeatable.”
Abbey laughed.
“That be so very true, my Lady,” he replied. “I’ve great ’opes of this ’ere ’orse, ’e certainly shapes better than any of them other ’orses.”
“I agree with you, Abbey, but we will not upset His Grace until we race him and win!”
Latasha walked on to the house, thinking as she did so that it would be such fun to beat her brother’s champion horse as Solomon had already won quite a number of races.
The sun was shining and the garden was filled with flowers.
She thought that nothing could be lovelier than Norlington Park in the spring.
She walked into the house through one of the many French windows.
She had lived in the great house, which dated back for four hundred years, ever since she was a child.
As she often told herself, she loved every inch of it and she had certainly missed her home when she had gone to a boarding school.
She had returned back home a year ago having won several prizes and with a report that her brother said should be hung in every schoolroom to challenge other pupils to try to equal it.
Walking along the passage towards the hall, Latasha wondered if her brother had returned.
He had left early that morning to visit a farm where there had been a fire and she hoped he would not bring back bad news and that there had not been any great damage.
She reached the hall and was handing her gloves and whip to a footman when the butler announced,
“His Grace has now returned, my Lady, and wishes you to join him in the study at your convenience.”
“I hoped he would be, Barnet, and I hope too that he has brought us good news about Estowe Farm.”
“I hope the same, my Lady. We’ve never had any trouble there before.”
Barnet had been at Norlington Park for nearly forty years.
He had come first as a scullery-boy, moved up to help in the pantry and then, after a number of years as footman, he had risen to the position of butler.
Like all the elderly servants he thought of the Park as his home. He always spoke as if he was one of the family – which indeed he virtually was.
Latasha walked to the study thinking that if the fire at Estowe Farm had been a very bad one, everyone would be feeling concerned for the farmer and his family.
She opened the study door.
Her brother, as she had expected, was sitting at his writing desk.
He had been the Duke for only two years and took his duties extremely seriously, spending most of his time at home in the country looking after the vast estate.
He did however hold a hereditary position at Court.
Queen Victoria liked having young and handsome gentlemen around her.
He had therefore to turn up at Windsor Castle more often than he really wished to do.
As his sister came into the room, he looked up and smiled.
He was a good-looking young man, just as Latasha was a beauty.
She had been acclaimed last year when she was a debutante and all the Society newspapers always wrote in glowingly complimentary terms about her.
“You are now back, Latasha!” the Duke exclaimed unnecessarily, as she walked towards him. “How did the new horse behave?”
“He is magnificent, Harry. In fact I think that he is going to be better than all the rest put together.”
“High praise indeed. I only hope you are right. He cost a lot of money and I am glad to hear you think he is worth it.”
“He is certainly worth at least double or treble what you gave for him. Now tell me about Estowe farm. Was the fire very bad?”
“Fortunately the fire did not touch the farmhouse itself. There are two barns which will need a great deal of repair or rebuilding. Otherwise we escaped lightly.”
“I am so glad. Is that what you wanted to tell me?”
“That and something else, which you will doubtless think is more important –”
She raised her eyebrows and sank down into a chair next to his writing desk.
“Tell me what it is.”
“It’s a letter from Kraus.”
He thought his sister looked vague.
“You know just who I mean – His Royal Highness Prince Kraus of Oldessa.”
“Oh, of course, Harry, now I do know who you are talking about. For a moment I could not place the name.”
The Duke picked up a letter from his writing desk.
He stared at it without speaking and after a moment Latasha enquired,
“What’s in the letter? What does he say and what is upsetting you?”
“It is not exactly upsetting me, Latasha. But it is a surprise I had not expected”.
Latasha did not say anything.
She knew of old that her brother was inclined to be hesitant in coming to the point when there was anything of importance to say.
“I think,” he said eventually, “that I had better read you the whole letter.”
“Yes, do,” murmured Latasha.
The Duke began,
“My dear Harry,
I often think of you and the fun we had when we were at Oxford together.
I have always been hoping that you would make an effort to come out and stay with me now that I have become the Ruler of Oldessa.
But things have been somewhat upsetting last year as of course you are well aware.
I was very fond of Alexander and it is so appalling what happened to him. As you can well understand all the small Principalities like my own are afraid that the same misfortune may happen to them.
The only way we can save ourselves is to have the support and protection of Great Britain.”
The Duke paused for breath and Latasha knew just what he was talking about.
Everyone in Europe had been horrified the previous year when the Russians, under their Czar, Alexander III, had contrived in a most disgraceful way to take over Bulgaria which was ruled by Prince Alexander of Battenburg.
Many Balkan Princes had been too weak to stand up to persistent Russian infiltration and they had become nothing more than Russian puppets.
Prince Alexander however refused to submit to the Russian’s demands, but the Czar was determined to have his own way.
Russian agents stirred up a mutiny in the Bulgarian Army, kidnapped Prince Alexander and then forced him to abdicate at pistol point.
He was taken by ship and deposited in the Russian port of Reni.
Latasha could remember the outcry in England and in every other European country.
Queen Victoria raged that the Russians’ behaviour was appalling and ‘without parallel in modern history.’ In fact she was so angry that Czar Alexander was forced very soon to return the Prince to Bulgaria.
Prince Alexander was, however, as all his friends knew, deeply disillusioned by the treach
ery of his Army, so he surrendered his throne and retired to a quiet private life.
Latasha secretly believed at the time that it would have been braver of Prince Alexander to continue to reign, especially as the Czar had been compelled to give way on his account.
However, she was not all that interested, but merely distrusted the Russians even more than previously.
Her brother was now continuing to read the letter,
“My Prime Minister and my Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs persist in begging me to approach Queen Victoria and ask Her Majesty, as so many Balkan Princes have already done, to provide me with an English bride.
I appreciate only too well what this would mean to Oldessa. But, as I am not at all well, I have no intention of marrying at the moment and may never do so in the future.
However, what I do believe is desirable is that my brother Stefan – who is the heir presumptive as I have no children – should have the enormous advantage of being protected by the British. And that is why, Harry, as an old friend, I am asking you for your help.”
The Duke paused again.
He looked a little apprehensively at his sister.
As she did not speak, he resumed reading,
“I know your sister, Lady Latasha, is now grown up and I remember how pretty you told me she was as a child.
If she would consider marrying Stefan and in a few years, perhaps sooner, rule Oldessa with him, it would be a tremendous benefit from our point of view.
As your sister’s Guardian you will understand what pleasure and happiness it would give to me.”
As he finished the sentence, the Duke looked up.
His sister was staring at him with an expression of sheer astonishment.
“Is he,” she asked, “actually asking me to go and marry his brother whom I have never met or even heard of until now?”
“I met him, Latasha, some years ago. He is a very good-looking and charming young man and from what I have heard is a great success with the ladies.”
“Hardly a recommendation as a husband,” Latasha retorted sharply.
“Well, you certainly would not want a man who was so unattractive that no one would look at him! Seriously, Latasha, I do think you should consider this suggestion.”