Love Became Theirs

"Don't you believe in magic?" Harlequin asked. "You should, because you weave spells of your own. You hold me in thrall at this very moment, and while your magic surrounds me, I am safe from the worst that the world can do."

"But can't you tell me – ?"

Swiftly his hand was across her mouth.

"No," he said seriously. "I can tell you nothing, except that you must believe in me. Is that so hard?"

"Not when you are here with me. But you will go again, and then I may be afraid, and lose faith."

"No, you will not," he said at once. "Because you are brave, and you know that I will never really leave you. And one day – "

"One day ?" Rona whispered eagerly.

"One day, God willing, our time will come. In the mean time – "

He gathered her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers.

Barbaracartland.com Ltd Copyright © 2005 by Cartland Promotions

First published on the internet in 2005 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.

eBook conversion by
David Stockman

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Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.

Now the exciting news is that these 160 original unpublished Barbara Cartland books are ready for publication and they will be published by Barbaracartland.com exclusively on the internet, as the web is the best possible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 :

Barbara Cartland.com Ltd.

240 High Road Harrow Weald,

Harrow HA3 7BB United Kingdom.

Telephone & fax: +44 (0)20 8863 2520

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

Barbara Cartland who sadly died in May 2000 at the age of nearly 99 was the world's most famous romantic novelist who wrote 723 books in her lifetime with worldwide sales of over 1 billion copies and her books were translated into 36 different languages.

As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, theatrical plays, books of advice on life, love, vitamins and cookery. She also found time to be a political speaker and television and radio personality She wrote her first book at the age of 21 and this was called Jigsaw. It became an immediate bestseller and sold 100,000 copies in hardback and was translated into 6 different languages. She wrote continuously throughout her life, writing bestsellers for an astonishing 76 years. Her books have always been immensely popular in the United States, where in 1976 her current books were at numbers 1 & 2 in the B. Dalton bestsellers list, a feat never achieved before or since by any author.

Barbara Cartland became a legend in her own lifetime and will be best remembered for her wonderful romantic novels, so loved by her millions of readers throughout the world.

Her books will always be treasured for their moral message, her pure and innocent heroines, her good looking and dashing heroes and above all her belief that the power of love is more important than anything else in everyone's life.

"Love can change in time, but true love never changes."

Barbara Cartland

A masked ball! And in fancy dress.

What could be more wonderful?

Rona Trafford was humming to herself as she turned this way and that before the mirror, revelling in the beauty of her dress.

It was made of gleaming white satin brocade, in the eighteenth century style, with wide panniers at the sides, and a tight bodice. She knew it enhanced her beauty, showing her dainty figure and tiny waist to advantage. She would make a sensation and, at nineteen, she was young enough to enjoy that.

Her mother bustled in. She was dressed as Queen Elizabeth and looked very imperious, but her face lit up with a most unroyal glee when she saw her daughter.

"There'll be nobody to touch you, my darling!" she exclaimed. "What jewels are you going to wear?"

"I thought the pearls, Mama," said Rona, holding up a pearl necklace.

"Hmm! Very nice," said Mrs. Trafford doubtfully. "But I think diamonds would be better."

She opened the black box that she was carrying, revealing a heavy diamond necklace. It had three strands of completely perfect jewels, and had obviously cost a king's ransom. There were matching ear rings and bracelet. Rona gasped.

"Mama! How can I possibly wear those? They're yours."

"But I want to see them on you, my dear. You'll look so lovely in them."

"But Lady Harris says an unmarried girl should avoid diamonds or, if she must wear them, no more than a discreet pendant."

Lady Harris' word was usually considered law in the Trafford household. She was the wife of a Knight, and made much of her knowledge of society, which impressed Rona's parents, who had no title at all to boast of. But tonight Rona's mother rebelled.

"I don't think we should take Lady Harris' opinions too seriously, my love. I know for a fact that she has not been invited to the Duchess of Westminster's ball tonight. We, on the other hand, have been invited. Royalty will be present. It is an occasion for showing ourselves at our best."

"At our wealthiest, you mean," replied Rona impishly.

"My dear, I beg of you not to say things like that. It is thoroughly vulgar."

"But that's what Lady Harris says, that an heiress who puffs off her wealth is vulgar."

"I don't want to hear another word about Lady Harris," said Mrs. Trafford firmly. "She will not be at Westminster House tonight."

"But would we be going to Westminster House if it wasn't known that Papa was terribly rich?" asked Rona.

Her mother gave a little scream.

"A young girl shouldn't concern herself with such matters," she said. "Now, not another word. You will wear the diamonds, and you will outshine any other woman there."

"Yes, Mama," Rona said, with apparent meekness.

"Well, you always do outshine the others," said Mrs. Trafford cheerfully. "You've been the belle of the season. Just think. Westminster House!"

"I'm really looking forward to seeing it. They say it has the most magnificent pictures."

"You'll be too busy dancing to notice the pictures. And who knows what may happen tonight?"

"Why should anything special happen tonight?"

Mrs. Trafford put her finger over her lips.

"Let's just say that a certain young man is very interested in you."

That made Rona frown a little. Casting her mind back over the young men she had met in her glittering season, she could not recall a single one who had greatly interested her. She thought that the pictures she had read about would certainly be more interesting than the average young man.

Older men seemed more intelligent, and certainly had a wider range of knowledge.

"Aren't you going to ask me who is it?" her Mama quizzed her archly. "Well, I'm sure you can guess. He's been so particular in his attentions, and I've noticed how much you enjoyed them."

Since Rona could not think of any man who had been particular in his attentions, still less one who had inspired her to enjoyment, she was left wondering.

When the diamonds were draped about her neck it was time for the wig to be fitted on. It was shining silver white, dressed high on her head, with two ringlets falling down onto her left shoulder, and it revealed her beautiful, long, slender neck, which one admirer had likened to that of a swan.

Finally, the mask. It was white satin, fringed with lace, decorated with silver spangles.

"You look mysterious and enchanting," Mama assured her.

Rona picked up an elegant fan which matched the mask, and gave her mother a deep curtsy, smiling with pleasurable anticipation of the evening ahead. Laughing, Mama returned the curtsy, and they left the room together to go down the great stairway to find Papa.

But there was no sign of him in the hall and the butler explained that Mr. Trafford had been delayed and would be down in a moment.

"Yes, and I know what has delayed him," Mama murmured to her daughter. "Primping in front of the mirror. I vow, men are worse than we are. Wait in the library, darling. I must speak to cook to make sure she knows what refreshments your Papa wants left out tonight. The last time, she left sandwiches instead of cake and he was so cross."

She bustled away. Rona went into the library and sat down on a wide leather sofa, careful not to crease her lovely dress. This morning's copy of
The Times
lay on a low table, and to pass the time she began to browse through it.

There was a report of a debate in the House of Lords which she tried to find interesting, and failed. They all seemed to say the same thing, at great length.

Idly turning the pages, she came to an advertisement from an agency, and perused it, almost without realising she was doing so.

After an advertisement for a secretary, a cook and several demands for coachmen who were well-trained, she read,

'Wanted for a girl of sixteen, English governess who is prepared to travel abroad. Must be able to teach French, German and most European languages.'

'I expect they'll have difficulty finding an English governess who is good at languages,' she thought. 'Mama always thought my governesses were hopeless at teaching me French.'

She remembered how finally her father and mother had taken her to Paris where they stayed with friends. She had managed, by the time they left, to speak French almost fluently. And she had enjoyed Paris.

'So lovely,' she mused happily now. 'And all those gorgeous clothes.'

The following year when her father had taken her to stay with one of his friends who lived in Germany, she was able, by the time they left, to speak and understand ordinary German. Her father's friends had said they had never known an English girl who had mastered their language so quickly.

In fact they had praised her intelligence so much that Mama had hushed them, somewhat embarrassed. Girls weren't supposed to be brainy, and a reputation for cleverness might harm Rona's marriage prospects.