A Dream Come True
BARBARA CARTLAND
Copyright © 2007 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in January 2008 by Barbaracartland.com
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 opened her eyes with a start to find Lord Winterton standing in front of her. His horse was drinking from the river and he looked very handsome in his rust coloured riding habit.
“Where are you going?” he asked, catching hold of her arm. “I â I must return to the Hall. Mama â ”
Lord Winterton stood there, still holding on to her arm. His blue eyes burned into her face and she noticed him lick his lips beneath his clipped moustache.
They remained staring into each other's eyes for a few seconds and then Lord Winterton suddenly pulled her towards him and his urgent mouth was on hers, kissing her in a manner she had never experienced.
She felt something inside of her soar before realising what she was doing. “No!” she cried, pulling away â her face red and her head reeling from the kiss. “Let me go!”
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Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.
Now the exciting news is that these 160 original unpublished Barbara Cartland books are ready for publication and they will be published by Barbaracartland.com exclusively on the internet, as the web is the best possible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 :
Â
Barbara Cartland.com Ltd.
240 High Road,
Harrow Weald,
Harrow
HA3 7BB
United Kingdom.
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Telephone & fax: +44 (0)20 8863 2520
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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
Barbara Cartland, who sadly died in May 2000 at the grand age of ninety eight, remains one of the worlds 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 Cartlands 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. Â 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 Cartlands overriding belief in the positive power of love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.
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“When lovers dream about love their dreams invariably come true.”
Barbara Cartland
-
1913
“Do you, Serena Mary take this man â ”
The bride was beautiful and everyone in the Church agreed that she looked a picture.
Although not in the first flush of youth, her eyes sparkled as brilliantly as the magnificent diamonds around her neck.
Her oyster-coloured silk dress was both fashionable and flattering for a woman of her age. The skirt was fitted to the hips and then hung straight down. The top was long-sleeved and covered in expensive lace.
âNo! No!' thought Lucia, as she watched the happy couple gazing into each other's eyes and exchanging vows.
She had not wanted to come to this wedding and if there had been anything she could have done to prevent it happening, she would have.
âMama, how could you?' she wanted to scream, trying not to cry. âPapa has only been dead for a year and that man â that man was responsible.'
There were a few in the Church that day who would have not agreed with the first sentiment, if not the last.
The people of Shilborough were conservative and were still strict in their observance of mourning rituals and Lady Serena Mountford had raised eyebrows when she had announced, barely eleven months after Lord Mountford's sad demise on the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic that she would marry for the second time.
“She is not even out of mourning,” the villagers had gossiped, as she was driven past them in the family's sparkling Rolls Royce, still wearing the black woollen coat that marked her out as a widow.
It had been Lord Mountford's pride and joy â a Silver Ghost â and one of the latest models.
Lord Mountford's Rolls Royce was one of the few motor cars to be found speeding around that part of Hertfordshire. Even more shocking, when alive, he had actually driven the vehicle himself, they muttered.
The Vicar continued the marriage ceremony and Lucia looked down at her bouquet of spring flowers that had been tied with a silk ribbon.
Had not they been quite content on their own without Sir Arthur McAllister?
She recalled the awful day when they had received the telegram from the family's Solicitor in London telling them of the sinking of the White Star ship en route to New York.
Lucia had been in the garden admiring the sea of daffodils that grew in undulating drifts across the rolling lawns of Bingham Hall.
How she loved the spring.
It was a beautiful afternoon. The birds were singing and Lucia was just contemplating changing into her riding habit, when a terrible howling noise, like an animal in pain, issued forth from the French windows that led to the drawing room, where her mother was doing her embroidery.
“Mama!” whispered Lucia alarmed. She ran back across the lawns as fast as her fashionably fitted skirt would allow her and threw open the glass doors.
Lady Mountford was on the sofa, rocking and sobbing, a discarded telegram lay at her feet while Moston, the butler, looked on horrified.
“Miss Lucia, thank Heaven,” he murmured, as Lucia appeared.
“Mama! Mama! What is it?” she cried, throwing her arms around her mother's neck.
Lady Mountford could scarcely speak for crying. She tried to cover her face and simply pointed to the telegram on the floor.
“Oh, no â ” muttered Lucia, as she picked it up.
“
Please contact me urgently â stop â the RMS Titanic has sunk â stop â Lord Mountford not on first list of
survivors â stop â Henry Urwin
, it read.
Lucia's blood had run cold when she read the words in the telegram. Mr. Urwin was a friend as well as their Solicitor.
Both Lucia and her mother had been reluctant to allow Lord Mountford to travel to New York. He had invested in some factories in New York State on the advice of Sir Arthur McAllister, a business acquaintance of his.
Little did Lucia know as she sat there with the telegram in her shaking hand, what further part Sir Arthur was to play in their lives.
“Mama,” she choked, trying to compose herself.
“Have you telephoned Mr. Urwin?”
“Oh, Lucia, I cannot! What if he has not survived?”
“Mama, Mr. Urwin says that his name is not on the first list of survivors â that is not to say he has perished.”
“Lucia, I had such misgivings about him going in the first place. It was as if I had a presentiment of disaster.”
Lucia swallowed hard.
She must screw up her courage and telephone Mr.Urwin. She had to.
“Moston, ask Bridget to bring Mama's sal volatile at once,” she ordered in a clear calm voice. “Very good, miss,” he answered, unable to disguise his own emotions.
Moston had served Lord Mountford for many years and considered him a good employer.
What would this turn of events mean for the servants of the Hall?
Lucia paced the drawing room floor and waited for Bridget to appear. Very soon she came into the room, carrying the small bottle of smelling salts that had been her mother's constant companion for many years.
Lady Mountford was of an extremely delicate constitution and it did not require much to induce a fit of the vapours. A sudden clap of thunder, a jolt of the carriage and even the servants had learned to make certain that she heard them entering a room, for fear of causing her to faint from shock.
