103. She Wanted Love

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Authors: Barbara Cartland

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SHE WANTED LOVE

BARBARA CARTLAND

www.barbaracartland.com

Copyright © 2013 by Cartland Promotions

First published on the internet in April 2013 by Barbaracartland.com

ISBNs

978-1-78213-370-4 Epub

978-1-78213-371-1 Mobi

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.

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SHE WANTED LOVE

“Do you really think that I would want to marry a man who is old enough to be my grandfather?  The answer is quite simply ‘
no
’.”

Cyril Warner sat back in his chair.

“Are you really so stupid, Eleta, as to think that is your final word?”

“Of course it’s my final word.  Have him on your Board, which I am sure is a very wise move, but I have no intention of marrying an old man and certainly not one who is marrying me for my money!”

There was silence for a moment and then he said,

“You have forgotten one thing.”

“What can that be?” Eleta asked suspiciously

“That I am your Guardian by Law,” her stepfather replied, “and you have to obey me until you are twenty-one.  That, as I ascertained this morning, does not happen for nine months and by then you will be on my instructions married to the Duke of Hazelware.”

Eleta stared at him.

“Do you really intend to force me up the aisle with someone I have no wish to marry, an old man who is marrying me for what I possess and not for myself?”

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:  +44 1707 642629

Fax:  +44 1707 663041

 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.

  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
  25. Love Is The Reason For Living
  26. They Found Their Way To Heaven
  27. Learning To Love
  28. Journey To Happiness
  29. A Kiss In The Desert
  30. The Heart Of Love
  31. The Richness Of Love
  32. For Ever And Ever
  33. An Unexpected Love
  34. Saved By An Angel
  35. Touching The Stars
  36. Seeking Love
  37. Journey To Love
  38. The Importance Of Love
  39. Love By The Lake
  40. A Dream Come True
  41. The King Without A Heart
  42. The Waters Of Love
  43. Danger To The Duke
  44. A Perfect Way To Heaven
  45. Follow Your Heart
  46. In Hiding
  47. Rivals For Love
  48. A Kiss From The Heart
  49. Lovers In London
  50. This Way To Heaven
  51. A Princess Prays
  52. Mine For Ever
  53. The Earl’s Revenge
  54. Love At The Tower
  55. Ruled By Love
  56. Love Came From Heaven
  57. Love And Apollo
  58. The Keys Of Love
  59. A Castle Of Dreams
  60. A Battle Of Brains
  61. A Change Of Hearts
  62. It Is Love
  63. The Triumph Of Love
  64. Wanted – A Royal Wife
  65. A Kiss Of Love
  66. To Heaven With Love
  67. Pray For Love
  68. The Marquis Is Trapped
  69. Hide And Seek For Love
  70. Hiding from Love
  71. A Teacher Of Love
  72. Money Or Love
  73. The Revelation Is Love
  74. The Tree Of Love
  75. The Magnificent Marquis
  76. The Castle
  77. The Gates of Paradise
  78. A Lucky Star
  79. A Heaven on Earth
  80. The Healing Hand
  81. A Virgin Bride
  82. The Trail to Love
  83. A Royal Love Match
  84. A Steeplechase for Love
  85. Love at Last
  86. Search for a Wife
  87. Secret Love
  88. A Miracle of Love
  89. Love and the Clans
  90. A Shooting Star
  91. The Winning Post is Love
  92. They Touched Heaven
  93. The Mountain of Love
  94. The Queen Wins
  95. Love and the Gods
  96. Joined by Love
  97. The Duke is Deceived
  98. A Prayer For Love
  99. Love Conquers War
  100. A Rose in Jeopardy
  101. A Call of Love
  102. A Flight to Heaven
  103. She Wanted 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.

 

“I have always advised that you should never try too hard to find love or you will be disappointed.  Love can come to you in a most unexpected way and at a most unlikely time.  But do remember that out there somewhere is your great love and you
will
find each other.

 

Barbara Cartland

CHAPTER ONE
1866

As the train neared London, Lady Eleta Renton felt herself becoming more and more apprehensive.

She had never got on with her stepfather.

Therefore he would be extremely annoyed that she had been so long returning to England after leaving school.

She was already twenty and should have left when she was eighteen.

Eleta had, however, enormously enjoyed living in France and meeting so many girls from different countries.

She had stayed with a great number of her school-friends at their homes and, as she was so popular, they had hated her to leave them.

Her mother had died when she was seventeen and this was her third year as a pupil at the Convent of St. Mary Magdalene, which was just outside Paris.

It was in fact the most fashionable and certainly the most distinguished Finishing School in Europe and girls from fifteen onwards were taught by the nuns and every top professor in France.

It was very expensive, but even so many aristocrats in Europe felt their daughters should finish their education there and it would give them something special they could not obtain at any other school.

Eleta loved every single moment of her time at the Convent, especially learning foreign languages from other pupils.

She forced herself to talk in their language when she was alone with them and she soon became so fluent that she invariably won the Prize of the Year.

When her mother died, she happened to be staying in Africa with some French friends and it was impossible for her to return home in time for the funeral.

The Countess of Stanrenton had never been very strong after her daughter was born and spent a great deal of time with her doctors and it was not surprising to anyone when she died peacefully in her sleep.

When Eleta received the news from her stepfather, she was broken-hearted.

She adored her mother and could not bear to think that she had not been with her for the last days of her life.

There was, however, really no point in her hurrying back to England.

She had therefore sent a letter to her stepfather telling him that she was in Africa and that she would have another term at the Convent before coming home.

Actually it was over a year before she returned and, when she did, she found him even less attractive than he had been when her mother was alive.

So she had gone back to the Convent again and had stayed there enjoying every minute of it until now.

She would not have left even now if the Mother Superior had not said that she should go.

“You are now twenty, my dear,” she said, “and the oldest girl here. I am sorry, but you really must leave us because there is nothing more we can teach you.”

“Oh, don’t say that, Reverend Mother,” Eleta cried. “I feel I learn more and more every day I am here and I am very happy.”

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