04. Castle of Love - The Pink Collection

Barbara Cartland

Description

Hugo, Earl of Ruven, is sailing home after ten years in India, where he served with his regiment. His grandfather, the old Earl, has died and Hugo has inherited the title and estate of Castle Ruven. He has also inherited his late brother's fiancee, Felice de Lisle. No one who sees the handsome man standing at the rail with his face turned toward the approaching coast suspects the truth. During one of the first battles of the Indian Mutiny, Hugo was severely injured. The new Earl of Ruven is returning home blind. Meanwhile, Jacina and her father, Doctor Carlton, wait to welcome Hugo to Castle Ruven. Hugo was Jacina's childhood hero and she was devastated to hear of his injury. From the moment she sees Hugo again her heart is in turmoil. She knows he has a fiancee but considers herself happy just to be in his presence. Although Hugo refuses to be optimistic about the possibility of ever regaining his sight, in Jacina's company his spirits gradually lift. Then comes the arrival of Felice de Lisle. From this moment on, the lives of Jacina and Hugo are plunged into a world of deception and intrigue. From the misty woods of Ruven to the snowy slopes of Switzerland, their story is played out in an atmosphere of darkness and ever increasing danger. "Barbara Cartland was the world’s most prolific novelist who wrote an amazing 723 books in her lifetime, of which no less than 644 were romantic novels 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 and books of advice on life, love, vitamins and cookery.She wrote her first book at the age of 21 and it was called Jigsaw. It became an immediate bestseller and sold 100,000 copies in hardback in England and all over Europe in translation.Between the ages of 77 and 97 she increased her output and wrote an incredible 400 romances as the demand for her romances was so strong all over the world.She wrote her last book at the age of 97 and it was entitled perhaps prophetically The Way to Heaven. 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, who have always collected her books to read again and again, especially when they feel miserable or depressed.Her books will always be treasured for their moral message, her pure and innocent heroines, her handsome and dashing heroes, her blissful happy endings and above all for her belief that the power of love is more important than anything else in everyone’s life."

Sujets

• Downton Abbey
• Mills & Boon
• Thomas Hardy
• Jane Austen
• Harlequin

Informations

• Publié par: M-Y Books
• Date de parution: 14 août 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781906950385
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE CASTLE OF LOVE BARBARA CARTLAND
Barbaracartland.com Ltd
Copyright © 2004 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in November 2004 by
Barbaracartland.com
First reprint September 2006
ISBN 978-1-906950-38-5
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 CASTLE OF LOVE
The Earl was silent for a moment.
“Who knows what will transpire,” he murmured at last. He turned his head away and Jacina realised it was in an attempt to hide a grimace of pain.
Without thinking, she placed her hand consolingly over his where it lay on the counterpane.
The Earl started at her touch. Then, slowly, his fingers closed over hers. He turned back to her, his features relaxing. She tried to draw her hand away, but he held it fast. Her heart began to pound as he raised her hand to his lips.
Jacina felt she would faint with the sensation that swept through her body. If only her hand could remain in his forever! His grasp was so strong! She felt herself drawn closer and closer.
“Forgive this display of weakness before a trusted friend,” murmured the Earl.
A trusted friend! That was all she was to the Earl, all she would ever be. Jacina closed her eyes. She reproached herself for imagining even for one second that she could be anything more.
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.
Camfield Place,
Hatfield,
Hertfordshire AL9 6JE United Kingdom.
Telephone : [phone] Fax : [phone]

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
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.


"Nothing in the world can ever equal love."
Barbara Cartland
CHAPTER ONE 1857
The Star of India was sailing towards the coast of England.
Hugo, Earl of Ruven stood alone on deck. He was enjoying the sound of the sails flapping in the breeze and the fresh, salty air. His cabin was comfortable but very small. In sultry weather such as they had been having for the last few days, it became unbearably stuffy.
The sea breeze ruffled his thick, black hair.
Other passengers strolling along the deck, especially the ladies, turned to look at him as they passed.
He was a very handsome man. Tall and lean, his strong features were dark from his ten years in India. He had been an officer there with the Ninth regiment of foot.
Now he was sailing home to England.
The ladies longed to chat with him, but they had learned that the Earl liked to keep himself to himself. He had spoken to hardly anyone during the entire voyage, taking his meals in his cabin and only venturing on deck when there were few other passengers about. Only his valet had been allowed to attend him.
“They say, Georgina, that we shall see the coast of England at any moment,” said one of the ladies, ruefully eyeing the Earl’s handsome figure as she sauntered by.
“That may be, Laetitia,” replied her friend, “but let us hope the weather holds. I do not like the look of those dark clouds.”
Laetitia lingered a moment and then turned back to the Earl. She was feeling a little more intrepid than usual today.
“Do you think, sir, there will be a storm before we reach England?” she asked.
The Earl did not even turn. He disliked the artificial tone of her voice. He had known so many ladies like her in India, officers’ wives whose chief source of entertainment was gossip.
“I am not an oracle, madam,” he said stiffly. “But the swell is certainly getting stronger.”
“Well!” said Laetitia. She flounced off back to her companion. “Let us go to the other deck and find some congenial company!”
The Earl’s lips tightened wryly but he kept his face turned towards the sea. The ship was beginning to pitch more steeply. Waves smacked loudly against the bows. He wondered if there would indeed be a storm before they reached England.
He leaned over the handrail and sighed.
His arrival in England would be a lonely one. His parents had died when he was a boy. They had been on a grand tour of Europe and had reached Naples when a typhoid epidemic broke out. They had succumbed to the disease within days of each other. Even as a boy Hugo had known that neither would have wanted to go on living without the other.
Hugo and his elder brother Crispian were at that time staying with their widowed grandfather, the old Earl, at Castle Ruven.
Crispian was now heir to the title.
The two boys, once they had recovered from the loss of their parents, enjoyed a happy childhood. Their grandfather was gruff but kind and indulgent. The boys slept in the nursery with their Nanny Sarah. She would scold them mercilessly but they knew how to twist her round their little fingers.
The brothers had no other playmates but each other and consequently they were very close. They played hide and seek all over the castle and roamed the surrounding woods in the summer. Although he was the younger, Hugo was always the leader. Crispian was timid