274. Good or Bad. Barbara Cartland

River of Love

      143 A Gentleman in Love

      144 The Island of Love

      145 Miracle for a Madonna

      146 The Storms of Love

      147 The Prince and the Pekingese

      148 The Golden Cage

      149 Theresa and a Tiger

      150 The Goddess of Love

      151 Alone in Paris

      152 The Earl Rings a Belle

      153 The Runaway Heart

      154 From Hell to Heaven

      155 Love in the Ruins

      156 Crowned with Love

      157 Love is a Maze

      158 Hidden by Love

      159 Love is the Key

      160 A Miracle in Music

      161 The Race for Love

      162 Call of the Heart

      163 The Curse of the Clan

      164 Saved by Love

      165 The Tears of Love

      166 Winged Magic

      167 Born of Love

      168 Love Holds the Cards

      169 A Chieftain Finds Love

      170 The Horizons of Love

      171 The Marquis Wins

      172 A Duke in Danger

      173 Warned by a Ghost

      174 Forced to Marry

      175 Sweet Adventure

      176 Love is a Gamble

      177 Love on the Wind

      178 Looking for Love

      179 Love is the Enemy

      180 The Passion and the Flower

      181 The Reluctant Bride

      182 Safe in Paradise

      183 The Temple of Love

      184 Love at First Sight

      185 The Scots Never Forget

      186 The Golden Gondola

      187 No Time for Love

      188 Love in the Moon

      189 A Hazard of Hearts

      190 Just Fate

      191 The Kiss of Paris

      192 Little Tongues of Fire

      193 Love Under Fire

      194 The Magnificent Marriage

      195 Moon over Eden

      196 The Dream and the Glory

      197 A Victory for Love

      198 A Princess in Distress

      199 A Gamble with Hearts

      200 Love Strikes a Devil

      201 In the Arms of Love

      202 Love in the Dark

      203 Love Wins

      204 The Marquis who Hated Women

      205 Love is Invincible

      206 Love Climbs in

      207 The Queen Saves the King

      208 The Duke Comes Home

      209 Love Joins the Clans

      210 The Power and the Prince

      211 Winged Victory

      212 Light of the Gods

      213 The Golden Illusion

      214 Never Lose Love

      215 The Sleeping Princess

      AUTHOR’S NOTE

      In the reign of King George IV, the London Season started in April and ended at the beginning of June.

      As the years went by, it lasted until the middle of July.

      It was the dream of every debutante to be presented at a ‘Drawing Room’ in Buckingham Palace and to attend the numerous balls that were given in the large houses in Mayfair, Islington and Belgravia.

      The Drawing Room was a Ceremonial Reception that was, at the beginning, always held in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace at three o’clock precisely and there were several every year.

      Later, they became an evening reception with a buffet of food and drink.

      Ladies wishing to be presented could only obtain the honour through a relation or a friend who had previously been presented and with the strict approval of the Lord Chamberlain.

      Débutantes, where possible, were presented by their mothers.

      The lady who would make the presentation had to appear with whom she presented and in addition both of them must have unblemished characters and their conduct must be above reproach.

      There was no question at all of anyone who had been through a Divorce Court being accepted.

      At the first Drawing Room of the Season, the whole of the Corps Diplomatique were in full attendance with their elaborate gold uniforms adding to the great glamour of the ladies, who had three Prince of Wales’s white feathers on their heads and a train to their gowns.

      Her Majesty would then go first to the Council Room, where she would greet the Royal Family.

      When the members who were expected had arrived, the Queen would be warned.

      CHAPTER ONE ~ 1875

      Amalita opened the letter that had come from France.

      She noticed that the envelope was not addressed in her father’s usual strong upright hand.

      She thought just for a moment that it must have come from her stepmother.

      Then she remembered that Yvette’s handwriting was very different and very French.

      ‘Who can it be from?’ she wondered.

      Then she told herself that she had only to look inside to find the answer.

      When she had read the letter through once, she went back to the beginning.

      She stared at what was written in a such a way that would have told anyone watching that she had suffered a shock.

      Finally Amalita went to sit on the window seat and gazed out into the garden.

      It was nearly an hour later when the door opened and her sister Carolyn came in.

      She was looking exceedingly lovely with her fair hair curled round her forehead and her face a little flushed.

      Her blue eyes were the colour of the sky outside and she was so beautiful that she might have come from the sky itself.

      “I have had a really marvellous ride, Amalita,” she said. “I went right up to the Beacon and there was not a soul in sight.”

      Then, as her sister did not respond to her, she walked towards her, asking,

      “What is the matter? What has happened?”

      “I have just had – a letter from – France,” Amalita replied nervously. “Sit down, Carolyn.”

      “From Papa?” Carolyn enquired. “So why should that upset you?”

      She sat down because her sister had told her to and she chose a chair by the window and the sunshine turned her hair to quivering gold.

      “This is a letter,” Amalita said very slowly, “from the Police in Nice.”

      “The Police?” her sister exclaimed. “What can Papa have