97. The Duke Is Deceived - The Pink Collection

Barbara Cartland

Description

Princess Zelda of Brienz in Switzerland is being harassed by her father to marry a King or Prince of one of the small countries of Europe.Zelda is very beautiful and determined that when she does marry it will be for love and only love and she cannot possibly fall in love with any of her father’s suitors.She runs away from her home to her cousin, Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who has always been very fond of her.She tells him that she is determined to find out the truth about a scandal that has been repeated ever since she was born. This was that her real father was the fourth Duke of Milverden from one of the foremost aristocratic families of England. She is also hoping to find the love of her life.To please her, the Prince sends her to stay in London with an old friend of his, Lady Craven, so that she can discover for herself if she is really one of the Milvers.Prince Johann also gives her an introduction to Queen Victoria who, he is well aware, knows more about Royalty in Europe than anyone else. How Zelda is advised to behave in a very strange way both by Queen Victoria and by her Prime Minister, Mr. Disraeli.How she manages to meet the present Duke, who succeeded her supposed father and finds that owing to a humiliating experience when he was a young man he has become a recluse and hides away in his magnificent house filed with treasures and will see no one.How in an assumed personality, but being intelligent and astute, she attracts and puzzles him.And how finally they both find happiness is all told in this unusual romance 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: 14 octobre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781782132301
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE DUKE IS DECEIVED
BARBARA CARTLAND

www.barbaracartland.com
Copyright © 2012 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in October 2012 by Barbaracartland.com
ISBNs 978-1-78213-230-1 Epub 978-1-78213-231-8 Kindle
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 DUKE IS DECEIVED
Suddenly the Duke noticed that the head he could now see under the canopy of the four-poster was the same colour as the sun climbing up the sky outside.
It flashed through his mind that perhaps Mrs. König had left The Abbey and her place in this room had been taken by one of the servants.
But he could never imagine in his wildest dreams anything like that happening at Minster Abbey.
Yet why was this person in bed not Mrs. König?
Instinctively and without even thinking about it, he drew nearer.
Now he saw lying in the bed the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his whole life.
Her glorious golden hair was falling over her bare shoulders.
Her eyelashes were dark against the pink and white translucence of her skin.
For a moment the Duke thought that he must be dreaming or seeing a vision.
Then he realised that the girl, who seemed so small in such a large bed, was definitely alive and breathing.
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 :

BarbaraCartland.com
Camfield Place
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL9 6JE
United Kingdom

Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Titles in this series
These titles are currently available for download. For more information please see the Where to buy page at the end of this book. The Cross Of Love Love In The Highlands Love Finds The Way The Castle Of Love Love Is Triumphant Stars In The Sky The Ship Of Love A Dangerous Disguise Love Became Theirs Love Drives In Sailing To Love The Star Of Love Music Is The Soul Of Love Love In The East Theirs To Eternity A Paradise On Earth Love Wins In Berlin In Search Of Love Love Rescues Rosanna A Heart In Heaven The House Of Happiness Royalty Defeated By Love The White Witch They Sought Love Love Is The Reason For Living They Found Their Way To Heaven Learning To Love Journey To Happiness A Kiss In The Desert The Heart Of Love The Richness Of Love For Ever And Ever An Unexpected Love Saved By An Angel Touching The Stars Seeking Love Journey To Love The Importance Of Love Love By The Lake A Dream Come True The King Without A Heart The Waters Of Love Danger To The Duke A Perfect Way To Heaven Follow Your Heart In Hiding Rivals For Love A Kiss From The Heart Lovers In London This Way To Heaven A Princess Prays Mine For Ever The Earl’s Revenge Love At The Tower Ruled By Love Love Came From Heaven Love And Apollo The Keys Of Love A Castle Of Dreams A Battle Of Brains A Change Of Hearts It Is Love The Triumph Of Love Wanted – A Royal Wife A Kiss Of Love To Heaven With Love Pray For Love The Marquis Is Trapped Hide And Seek For Love Hiding from Love A Teacher Of Love Money Or Love The Revelation Is Love The Tree Of Love The Magnificent Marquis The Castle The Gates of Paradise A Lucky Star A Heaven on Earth The Healing Hand A Virgin Bride The Trail to Love A Royal Love Match A Steeplechase for Love Love at Last Search for a Wife Secret Love A Miracle of Love Love and the Clans A Shooting Star The Winning Post is Love They Touched Heaven The Mountain of Love The Queen Wins Love and the Gods Joined by Love The Duke is Deceived
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.
“When you are in love, the world becomes a different place. The sky is bluer, the moon is brighter, the mountains are more beautiful, the air is clearer and you want to love everybody – and funnily enough everybody wants to love you.”
Barbara Cartland
CHAPTER ONE 1875
Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein was busy in his sitting room in the Schloss Vaduz.
The pile of papers in front of him was gradually decreasing and yet, as he gazed forlornly at them with a sigh, he realised that there were still very many of them. He was still tidying up the mess that had been left, he ruminated, by the German Confederation.
The Monarchy of Liechtenstein was hereditary in the male line only and Johann had succeeded his father as Prince four years earlier.
The Liechtensteiners were intensely proud of their Ruler when so many other countries, like Switzerland, had become Republics.
The Schloss Vaduz looked like a cross between a Medieval fortress and a granary, so the wits joked, but the interior was very different.
The Prince’s collection of paintings, to which he was always adding, was priceless and the object of great envy in other Monarchies.
The Schloss Vaduz was enormous and, although his family was small, there were a good number of rooms in use.
And the Schloss was certainly the most luxurious building of the century and the Prince was very proud of it.
He signed his name with a flourish on a particularly bureaucratic letter from the German Chancellor’s office.
Then, as he pushed to one side the rest of the papers in the pile, one of his equerries appeared.
Prince Johann looked up, feeling irritated because he disliked being interrupted.
“I apologise for disturbing Your Royal Highness,” the equerry said, “but Princess Zelda of Brienz has called to see you.”
The Prince looked astonished as the Princess lived in Switzerland with her family, who did not often come to Liechtenstein.
“Show Her Highness in,” he ordered and rose from his writing desk.
The equerry bowed and hurried away.
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