A Golden Lie
BARBARA CARTLAND
www.barbaracartland.com
Copyright © 2014 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in February 2014 by Barbaracartland.com
ISBNs
978-1-78213-492-3 Epub
978-1-78213-493-0 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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A GOLDEN LIE
Devona woke up early and thought that perhaps she would go riding before breakfast.
She was supposed to ask the Earl every time that she wanted to ride one of his very few horses and now it would be a good excuse to say that, as he was ill, she did not want to worry him.
She was about to run down the stairs, as Hitchin came out of the Master suite, which was at the end of the corridor.
Seeing her, he called out her name.
“Miss Devona! Miss Devona!”
Devona stopped and then she turned back to walk slowly towards him.
“What is it?”
“Come and see his Lordship. Come quick!”
As he spoke, he turned and ran back into the Earl’s bedroom.
Puzzled at what could be wrong, Devona walked a little more rapidly along the passage, thinking that if the Earl’s headache was worse, it was his own fault.
As she entered the room, she could see that Hitchin was standing by the huge four-poster bed, looking down at the Earl.
Devona joined him.
As she did so, she knew that the Earl was dead!
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.
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
A Prayer For Love
Love Conquers War
A Rose in Jeopardy
A Call of Love
A Flight to Heaven
She Wanted Love
A Heart Finds Love
A Sacrifice for Love
Love's Dream in Peril
Soft, sweet & Gentle
An Archange
l Called Ivan
A Prisoner in Paris
Danger in the desert
Rescued by Love
A Road to Romance
A Golden Lie
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 very frequently use the evocative word ‘Eternal’ in my books to describe how long my heroes and heroines declare that their love will last.
No one can really understand anything that can last for ever.
But love does, take my word for it.”
Barbara Cartland
CHAPTER ONE
1821
The Earl of Narbrooke was dead.
Devona, who was standing silently by his bedside, could hardly believe it.
She felt that he must have had a stroke in the night because he was lying in rather a strange manner.
At the same time there was no mistaking that he was dead.
*
She was remembering when she had first arrived at Narbrooke Hall seven years ago that he had seemed to be rather a good-looking man for his age.
But, as the years passed had by, he had become, she thought in her own mind, uglier and uglier.
She blamed him for the death of her father and her mother.
But now he, himself, was dead and she was alive!
She wondered what she would do now and realised that it was all extremely difficult.
When her father, Colonel Euan Campbell, had been wounded in the War in France, he had taken nearly a year to recover in their comfortable little house in Essex.
When he was finally well enough, he knew that he would have to find some useful work to do, as his life in the Army was over and he had very little money.
He had married someone he loved deeply and they were extremely happy.
They were also exceedingly thrilled with their small daughter.
He had thought when he first married that, when he came out of the Army, because he had a gift for managing horses, that he would be able to make money by breeding, training them and selling them at Tattersalls sale rooms.
But the War had swept all possibility of that away.
Many of the available horses had gone to the Army and most that had been left behind were not for sale.
“We shall have to do something, my darling,” the Colonel had said to his wife.
“But I am sure it ought to be with horses,” she had replied. “You are so good with them. And we do want to be in the country.”
“Of course,” he had agreed.
It was, however, not at all easy.
The War was then at its height and a great number of people in England were suffering because of it.
Money was very scarce and the young men were all battling against Napoleon in France, where the casualties were horrifying.
The men like the Colonel who were sent back home wounded could only tell a doleful tale.
For the moment there appeared to be no chance of success in finding a job, until finally after many attempts, the Colonel heard that the Earl of Narbrooke, who lived in Norfolk, required someone to run his stables.
He set off to meet the Earl optimistically and his wife prayed that something would come of it.
She was worried about the education of their small daughter, Devona.
She knew that Devona had her father’s quick brain and she was now at the age when she needed good Tutors and Governesses.
‘How can we afford those?’ she had asked herself helplessly.
The Colonel returned that evening and came into the house. Even before he had climbed out of their ancient travelling chariot, his wife realised that he had good news.
He kissed her affectionately and then, as the men who helped him with his horses took the conveyance away, he put his arm round his wife and drew her into the house.
“I think I have found what we wanted,” he said.
“Oh, Euan, I do hope so. Tell me all about it.”
The Colonel then not only told his wife about the extremely large period house the Earl possessed but also described a small cottage near the stables which would suit them perfectly.
“It all sounds too good to be true,” Mrs. Campbell enthused. “And what is the Earl like?”
“A rather strange man,” he replied, “but I think we shall get on quite well together.”
He spoke a little hesitantly which worried his wife, but she thought it wise not to ask too many questions.
At the time they fortunately had someone anxious to buy their house, including the furniture in it.
Mrs. Campbell hated the idea of parting with the furniture they had owned since they were first married and which meant a great deal to her.
At the same time she recognised that her husband was right when he said that they could not go on as they were and so she was prepared to make the best of it.
She kept back some small pieces she particularly loved that had always belonged to her family. These were pictures and miniatures her mother had collected and there were also one or two rugs that had been wedding presents.
They set off for Narbrooke Hall with everything they wanted to keep following them in a hired cart.
Devona was thirteen and to her it was an adventure.
She had ridden ever since she could walk and she looked forward to finding the stables belonging to the Earl filled with fine horses, although her father had been a little vague about them when she had asked him questions.
It was a long way to Narbrooke Hall and Devona’s mother thought that the flat land they were passing through without a single house in sight was rather depressing.
As they drove up the drive to their first glimpse of Narbrooke Hall, it was certainly impressive.
It was an even larger house than Mrs. Campbell had expected and, with the sun shining on the windows and on the lake in front of it, it was almost majestic.
The cottage too, although small, had a pretty garden around it and appeared to be in good repair.
They moved in their belongings and the Colonel went to see the Earl.
When he returned, Devona was just getting ready to go to bed.
“Was the Earl pleased to see you, darling?” her mother ask
ed him.
“I don’t know if pleased was the right word,” the Colonel replied. “He gave me a long lecture as to how economical I had to be as times are so hard.”
Mrs. Campbell laughed,
“You knew that without being told!”
The Colonel nodded.
“Only too well, but equally I hope that we are not going to be short of horses!”
“What do you mean by that, Papa?” Devona asked.
“Well, I understood when I was first engaged that I would have a number of horses in the stables to manage and his Lordship intended to buy a good deal more.”
“So what does he say now?” Mrs. Campbell asked.
“He appears to want to cut down on what he has already, but until I have looked at them carefully, I cannot tell him if it is a wise move or not.”
Devona knew that her mother thought it was rather strange that the Earl did not ask to see her.
And they were a week at Narbrooke Hall before she saw the inside of the house.
Then she was walking down to the lake when she saw the Earl driving away in a very ancient phaeton that needed painting and she thought that the two horses pulling it were not particularly well bred.
Devona had not yet been to the stables because her father had said that it was a mistake to do so until he had everything arranged and also the Earl might not like her intruding.
“But Papa, I have to ride,” Devona had protested.
“I have to get permission first from his Lordship,” her father said. “We are very lucky to have obtained such a nice cottage and to be here. But he is a strange man and I don’t want to upset him unnecessarily.”
Devona was far too fond of her father to make a fuss, but she did think it rather odd.
Now, when she saw the Earl disappearing down the drive, she walked towards the front door.
There she saw a man she thought must be the butler standing looking out towards the lake.
“Good morning,” she began a little nervously.
He was an elderly man, but he was not, she thought, as smart-looking as the butlers she had seen in houses in Essex when she had been visiting friends with her mother.
“Good morning,” he replied. “I guess you’re the little girl who’s moved into Stable Cottage.”
“That is right,” Devona said to him. “We are very comfortable, but I am longing to see inside this big house.”