The dangerous dandy

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Barbara Cartland

The Prince of Wales buys for Carlton House an exquisitely painted 15th century picture of "The Virgin of the Lilies" by Stefan Lochner. Both he and his close friend the Marquis of Fane are entranced by it. They are, however, stunned when the dealer brings them a picture by Van Dyke painted a hundred and fifty years later, and the Madonna in it has the same beautiful face as the Lochner. How the Marquis is determined to track down the forger. How he discovers Cyrilla and how their love for each other brings them both misery and frustration until eventually they find happiness. About a girl who forges art and gets caught. The Marquis put his arm around her, kissing her passionately, possessively, until she turned her face away. "I will not frighten you," he said, imploring, "but, my darling, you are not only divine and ethereal, but also human. Let me take you away -- find a house -- we will be alone!" He kissed her once again and departed. It was then she gave a cry that seemed to come from the very depths of her being, "I love him," she sobbed, "I love him. But... I am not a... I cannot do... what he asks!"

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(by) Barbara Cartland

The Duke of Oswestry was being blackmailed into marriage by his former mistress, who finds herself pregnant, but he knew that the child is by other man. He rescued the young inocent Udela, after his evil brother planned to send her to a London's brothel. He feigns a betrothal to save them both. After her father dies, Udela Hayward does not know what will become of her. Then Lord Julius Westry, on a visit to Udela's rural village, offers her employment in London. At first she is delighted, but then she realizes that the destination of the carriage sent to meet her is a fashionable bawdy house. She runs away and by chance she finds the Duke of Owestry, Lord Julius' brother, who until now had been unaware of how low Julius - the black sheep of the family - had sunk in pursuit of money. The Duke, a cynic in love, is the most eligible bachelor of London society, but he is being blackmailed into marriage by a scheming lady of fashion. With Udela's arrival, it occurs to him that he can solve both their dilemmas - *if* Udela will pretend to be engaged to him. The bargain is struck, but pretense has a way of being transformed by truth in this exciting story of the discovery of love.

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Barbara Cartland

Paris, 1870. Excessively handsome and exceedingly wealthy, Lord Thornton Kyleston, the Earl of Kyleston faced two mighty dangers. In England, the beautiful and determined Lady Irene Curtis impatiently awaited his return, while in Paris, the winds of war were inexorably rising. In the midst of his dilemma, the Earl acquired a startling protegee: an enchanting young Lady, Miranda Valmont, with a most unladylike proposal....

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Karen Robards

England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger's deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other -- and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love....