Part of Series
After the death of her beloved mother, the beautiful young Salrina Milborne and her father, Lord Milborne, have found themselves in straitened circumstances. And now that her father has hurt his leg in a riding accident he is unable to complete the training of the horses they depend on for their income. Reluctantly Lord Milborne has agreed to sell one of his most precious thoroughbreds and, against his better judgement, he allows Salrina to ride unaccompanied to complete the sale some distance from their Manor House. When a vicious storm strikes, Salrina takes shelter in the stables of a Posting inn and there she overhears a conversation that will change her life. An English aristocrat is scheming with a sinister Frenchman to assassinate the Prince Regent at one of his extravagant parties at Carlton House in London! In the middle of the War against Napoleon this would have a devastating effect on British morale and would hand a considerable advantage to the French Emperor. Terrified, Salrina takes the news to the haughtily handsome Alaric, the Earl of Fleetwood, who at first believes that her story is a ploy to gain entry to his exclusive parties. She dislikes the arrogant Earl intensely, but is impressed by his magnificent houses in London and the country. But gradually, as she discerns his heroic hidden qualities, her hate turns to an all-encompassing love.
Author
Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland was a English writer, during her long career, she wrote over 700 books, making her one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century. She sold over 1,000 million copies throughout the world, earning her a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The world's most famous romantic novelist, she also wrote autobiographies, biographies, health and cookery books, and stage plays and recorded an album of love songs. She was often billed as the Queen of Romance, and became one of the United Kingdom's most popular media personalities, appearing often at public events and on television, dressed in her trademark pink and discoursing on love, health and social issues. She started her writing career as a gossip columnist for the Daily Express. She published her first novel, Jigsaw, a society thriller, in 1923. It was a bestseller. She went on to write myriad novels and earn legions of fans, she also wrote under her married name Barbara McCorquodale. Some of her books were made into films. Ever the romantic, during WWII, she served as the Chief Lady Welfare Officer in Bedfordshire. She gathered as many wedding dresses as she could so that service brides would have a white gown to wear on their wedding day. She also campaigns for the rights of Gypsies, midwives and nurses. Barbara Cartland McCorquodale passed away on 21 May 2000, with 160 still unpublished manuscripts, that are being published posthumously.
