274. Good or Bad. Barbara Cartland
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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