The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth. Barbara Taylor Bradford

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two: Ravenscar

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

       Chapter Thirty-Five

       Chapter Thirty-Six

       Chapter Thirty-Seven: Ravenscar

       Chapter Thirty-Eight: London

       Chapter Thirty-Nine

       Chapter Forty: Ravenscar

       Chapter Forty-One: Ripon

       Chapter Forty-Two: London

       Chapter Forty-Three

       Chapter Forty-Four

      Part Three

       Chapter Forty-Five: London—1907

       Chapter Forty-Six

       Chapter Forty-Seven

       Chapter Forty-Eight:Yorkshire

       Chapter Forty-Nine

       Chapter Fifty

       Chapter Fifty-One

       Chapter Fifty-Two: London

       Chapter Fifty-Three

       Chapter Fifty-Four

       Chapter Fifty-Five: Paris—1908

       Chapter Fifty-Six

       Chapter Fifty-Seven: London—1912

       Chapter Fifty-Eight

       Chapter Fifty-Nine: Ravenscar—1914

       Chapter Sixty: London

      Author’s Note

      Bibliography

       PART ONE

      Powerful Allies

      Edward & Neville

      ‘Princely to behold, of body mighty, strong and clean made.’

       Sir Thomas More

      ‘Yet there was magnanimity in him, and if he is not quite a tragic protagonist, he is a memorable human being. He refused to admit that there were disadvantages he could not overcome and defeats from which he could not recover, and he had the courage, and vanity, to press his game to the end.’

       Paul Murray Kendall

      ‘Their relationship, like their division of authority, was amiable and undefined.’

       Paul Murray Kendall

       ONE

       Yorkshire—1904

      Edward Deravenel galloped ahead at great speed, leaving his brothers behind, rapidly gaining the advantage. He urged his white stallion forward, oblivious to the icy weather, the lash of the wind on his face.

      At one moment, half turning in the saddle, glancing behind him, Edward laughed out loud, his hilarity filling the air as he waved to his brothers: George, trying to catch up, his face grim in its determination…Richard, struggling even farther behind, yet laughing and waving back. But then he was the youngest, and much less competitive, the baby of the family and Edward’s particular favourite.

      For a split second Edward considered slowing down and allowing Richard to win this race, which had come about so spontaneously a short while before, then instantly changed his mind.

      George would inevitably contrive to finish first, by pushing Richard out of the way in his overriding desire to be the winner. Somehow he always managed to do this, whenever he had the opportunity, no matter what the circumstances. And this Edward could not permit. Not ever. He strived to make certain Richard was never humiliated, never diminished by George, who was older than Richard by three years.

      Edward continued at a gentler pace along the narrow path,