23. The White Witch - The Pink Collection

Barbara Cartland

Description

The Marquis of Wynstanton had become involved with one of the beauties of London Society – Locadi, Lady Marshall and when her husband died unexpectedly, the Marquis set out on a long journey to India and Nepal, as he wished to avoid any gossip arising about their liaison. After his return, he resumed the affair, staying on in London for some time when he should have gone straight to Wyn Castle and his country estate. Then he began to suspect that Locadi was using black magic to entice him to her and to induce him to propose marriage. Almost in a panic the Marquis returned to his estate, which he had neglected for so long only to find to his horror that he had been cheated by the manager he had left in charge. At Wyn Castle he meets Flora Romilly, the daughter of a distinguished author. She is known locally as the White Witch, because she can heal ailments with plants and leaves from her herb garden and has worked wonders with his grandmother’s rheumatism. How Flora despises the Marquis as she is so disgusted at the way his people have been treated in his absence. How she is persuaded to help him make amends and put matters to rights on the estate. And how in fleeing from London the Marquis has not escaped from Locadi and her evil magic is all told in this unusual and exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND. "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: 08 août 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781906950989
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE WHITE WITCH

Copyright © 2006 by Cartland Promotions

First published on the internet in August 2006 byBarbaracartland.com Ltd

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 byM-Y Books

THE WHITE WITCH

“What can I do? What the Devil can I do?” The Marquis spoke the words aloud. As he said them, he knew that Locadi was thinking o f him and willing him towards her. It was then that he was struck with a sudden idea. If Locadi was using black magic which was evil, the only antidote would be something good. For a moment he thought of riding over to see Flora and asking for her help, but then he told himself that was impossible. She must certainly not become involved in anything like his present situation. She is pure, good and, he suspected, very innocent. How could she understand women like Locadi who arou sed passions in a man that were purely physical? And yet had nothing to do with the spiritual side of love. ‘Good and bad! Bad and good!’ The words seemed to repeat themselves in his brain.

THEBARBARA 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 2 0 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 aga in 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 tribu te 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 o nly on the internet. Log on to www.barbaracartland.comfind out how you can purchase the books monthly as they are to published, and take out a subscription that will en sure 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: [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

THELATE 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.

“Eternal love – I have always believed that real true love lasts beyond this life and into the next.”

Barbara Cartland

CHAPTER ONE - 1866

“Excuse me, my Lord, but I found this in your evening-coat.” The Marquis of Wynstanton looked down at the object his valet was holding in his hand. It was a strange-looking round stone with carvings on it and there were recesses cut in its surface which seemed somewhat like eyes. For a moment the Marquis was inclined to say that it was only rubbish and should be thrown away. But he took it from his valet asking, “You say this was in my evening-coat?” “Yes, my Lord, in one of the tails.” The Marquis looked surprised. He was aware, but did not say so, that it must have been pressed in through a gap in the stitching at the top or the side of a tail, as there was no obvious opening such as a pocket. Then because his valet was looking at him expectantly he said, “Put it down please and I will look at it later.” H e finished dressing, taking trouble over his tie and making certain that everything about his attire was neat and correct. He was conscious of the fact that he was considered not only one of the most handsome men in London but one of the best dressed. It was indeed a compliment that he appreciated. When he was finally ready, he picked up the stone his valet had found and carrying it in his hand, he walked downstairs to his study. It was an attractively furnished room, as were all the rooms in his house in Grosvenor Square. The pictures on the walls were exceptionally fine and exquisitely painted. The Marquis was frowning as he sat down at his Regency desk with its flat top and polished brass feet. He placed the small stone on his blotting-pad and stared at it. He recognized instantly exactly what it was. On one of his travels and he had travelled a great deal around the world, he had visited Haiti. He was quite certain that what his valet had found in his coat tail was a charm or talisman from that particular country. When he thought it over he realized who had secreted it there and for what purpose. He had been pursued by Lady Marshall for a long time before he finally succumbed to her insistent entreaties and had become her lover. Her husband, Lord Marshall, was obsessed by the spo rt of fishing. He spent much of his time going from river to river in England and Scotland to catch salmon, trout or any other fish that was available. His very beautiful wife, being left alone in London , not surprisingly granted her favours to the many men who pursued her. She was certainly outstanding amongst the ‘professi onal’ beauties – as they were called – who were to be found at Marlborough House. The Prince of Wales had set the current fashion for gentlemen to pursue beautiful ladies of their own class, after he had met Lily Langtry. Until then, it was considered correct for gentlemen like the Marquis to keep a

mistress, not of his own class, in a discreet little house in Regents Park or Chelsea. There was no question of the mistresses parading su chaffaires de coeurin the social world. Of course there were secret liaisons in Society, bu t they were in fact kept very secret. Even the gossips who pried into everything found it difficult to be certain of the scandals they were whispering about. Was it not true that the lovely Duchess of Manchester was having a love affair with Lord Harrington? Were two other acclaimed beauties actually being unfaithful to their husbands? The Marquis was certainly not the first lover Lady Marshall had taken since her marriage. As he was exceptionally fastidious, he did not wish to follow a certain Duke whom he thought had preceded him. Lady Marshall was however used to getting her own w ay. She had no intention whatever of being refused by any man on whom she had turned her strange green eyes. They were combined with brilliant dark hair with touches of blue. Her white skin was the envy of every other London beauty. Her slender, sinuous and exquisite figure made it difficult to believe that any man could refuse her. The Marquis however had remained aloof in his own particular way. He consistently ignored the very obvious invitations in her eyes. She had invited him on numerous occasions to dinner, all of which he had refused. He had however spent much time in her company at other parties. He was not absolutely sure when he found himself invariably sitting next to her at dinner, whether it was due to her contrivance or merely to chance. Lady Marshall had been forced to wait for nearly tw o months. Finally the Marquis had succumbed and accepted an invitation to what he was told was a dinner party. When he arrived he was not really surprised to be told that the other guests had either been taken ill or called to the country. He and his hostess were alone. The end to the evening was inevitable. He was forced to admit to himself when he returned home as dawn was breaking that he had not in his previous affairs encountered anyo ne so fiery, so insatiable or so extremely alluring. It was two days later that he learned that Lord Marshall had been smitten with a heart attack. He had been fishing in Scotland and, owing to the l ength of time it took before he could be seen by a doctor, had died. It was obvious when the funeral was over that Lady Marshall expected the Marquis to console her. He found her looking exceedingly beautiful. Undoubtedly the conventional black she was forced to wear accentuated the fineness of her skin and the elegance of her figure. She wept a little on the Marquis’s shoulder. There was only one obvious way to