PRAY FOR LOVE
BARBARA CARTLAND
www.barbaracartland.com
Copyright © 2010 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the Internet in April 2010
ISBNs
978-1-908411-31-0 Epub
978-1-908411-32-7 Prc
978-1-908411-33-4 Pdf
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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PRAY FOR LOVE
As if she had not spoken, Lord Bramton continued,
“In the back of my mind I have always realised it would be quite wrong to marry without love – the real love I have certainly never felt for any of the women who have tried to flirt with me.”
“But how can you be sure that what you feel for me is not just a passing fad? Like something that comes to you after a good dinner.”
“Give me your hand, Galina – ”
Because it seemed to be a command, rather than a request, she put out her left hand and he took it in both of his.
His fingers closed over it.
She then felt – although she thought that she must have been imagining it – another even stranger vibration running through her entire body.
It was a sensation that seemed to become a thrill.
It touched her heart and then her lips.
Lord Bramton did not speak, but just looked at her.
Then unexpectedly he took his hands away.
“Now you understand!”
“I do not!” Galina protested. “How can you do that to me?”
Lord Bramton smiled.
THE BARBARA CARTLAND PINK COLLECTION
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
Titles in this series
These titles are currently available for download. For more information please see the Where to buy page at the end of this book.
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
41. The King Without A Heart
42. The Waters Of Love
43. Danger To The Duke
44. A Perfect Way To Heaven
45. Follow Your Heart
46. In Hiding
47. Rivals For Love
48. A Kiss From The Heart
49. Lovers In London
50. This Way To Heaven
51. A Princess Prays
52. Mine For Ever
53. The Earl’s Revenge
54. Love At The Tower
55. Ruled By Love
56. Love Came From Heaven
57. Love And Apollo
58. The Keys Of Love
59. A Castle Of Dreams
60. A Battle Of Brains
61. A Change Of Hearts
62. It Is Love
63. The Triumph Of Love
64. Wanted – A Royal Wife
65. A Kiss Of Love
66. To Heaven With Love
67. Pray For Love
THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND
Barbara Cartland, who sadly died in May 2000 at the grand age of ninety eight, remains one of the world’s 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 Cartland’s 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. Becoming one of Britain's most popular media personalities and dressed in her trademark pink, Bar
bara 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 Cartland’s overriding belief in the positive power of love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.
“God always answers prayers. I have prayed for love all through my life and God has always answered me.”
Barbara Cartland
CHAPTER ONE 1875
Lady Galina More walked out into the garden.
It was May and the daffodils were golden under the trees and the shrubs were just coming into blossom.
She breathed in the fresh air thinking how lovely it was and how much she enjoyed being in the country.
She had been in London for the whole of last week being presented at Court and enjoying the balls that took place every night.
But she could not help feeling it was much nicer to be in the country with her horses.
She was hoping that her brother would be joining her soon as it was lonely without him.
Returning home last night she had been disappointed not to spend the evening with him as he had already accepted an invitation to a dinner party.
“I promise I will be with you before luncheon,” he had said confidently. “But I dare not skip this dinner. The host is an old friend of Papa’s, who would be very hurt if I do not show up.”
“Then, of course, Georgie, you must go, and I shall see you in the morning. But I am warning you, please don’t throw me over at the last moment or I shall have to go back to London.”
“I think that what we both need is a breather in the country,” the Earl of Ranmore replied. “London is all right for a little while, but I am beginning to feel stifled.”
Galina felt just the same.
She had been brought up in the country and more than anything else she enjoyed riding her brother’s superb horses.
It had also been fun that everyone had told her she was ‘the success of the Season’.
‘I shall have to go back to London very soon,’ she thought. ‘Otherwise some people will be offended if I have to refuse their invitations.’
There was one she really wanted to accept.
She definitely could not refuse the ball to be given by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at Marlborough House.
She had always been totally fascinated by hearing, as everyone else had, about the love affairs of the Prince and she longed to meet the beautiful Princess Alexandra, who had captivated the hearts of the English public.
Walking across the lawn, she was wondering which of her lovely gowns she should wear on that occasion.
She thought actually it would be a good idea to ask Georgie as he always knew what suited her best.
Her brother was also undoubtedly a social success in his own way.
Not only because he was handsome and had come into his father’s title three years ago, but also because he was a superb sportsman.
It was pleasing to know that he had some excellent horses in his stable and had every chance of winning the Gold Cup at Ascot this year.
There was, however, one matter that worried her more than a little.
Having opened up Ranmore House in London and bought expensive gowns to make her the most fashionable of all the debutantes, they had spent a great deal of money.
Georgie had no wife and only four years in age separated the siblings.
Thus they ran the family estate together and seldom did anything without asking the other if it was the sensible thing to do.
Now as Galina walked into the shrubbery, she was thinking that she must talk to Georgie about money.
They might have to undertake large economies after they had spent the summer in London.
Opening the house had been very expensive, though necessary. The main expense had been hiring a much larger staff than they employed in the country, because they were entertaining so often.
Actually she enjoyed being hostess to her brother, despite one of their relations staying in the house as chaperone.
Galina smiled, as luckily the chaperone was getting old and usually preferred going to bed before dinner, or immediately after it, leaving the young hosts to their own devices.
It certainly made things easier for them to entertain friends of their own age and there were very many guests to invite who had already offered them hospitality.
It was not surprising that they had so many friends.
Their dear father, the seventh Earl, had held many important posts at Court and that meant he had to spend a great deal of his time at Windsor Castle.
“I am only thankful,” Georgie had said, “that Queen Victoria thinks me too young to offer me any of the positions Papa held. I would be bored stiff spending my time kow-towing at the Castle. I do believe Her Majesty is very demanding.”
“So I have heard,” remarked Galina. “So do enjoy yourself because sooner or later you are bound to be made Master of the Horse or, as Papa ended up, Master of the Household.”
“I would not mind the first one, but God deliver me from the second!” exclaimed Georgie.
“You are not likely to be either until you marry. I believe the Queen insists on the main posts in her Court being held by married men.”
“That is because she thinks they will not get into so much trouble as the single ones! But I can assure you that when it comes to affaires-de-coeur, the married men are usually worse than the bachelors!”
Galina had laughed, but she thought it was a good thing that her brother was still too young to be shut up in Windsor Castle.
She had only been in London a short time and yet she was well aware that there was usually a sigh on the lips of older gentlemen when they remarked,
“I am so sorry I cannot come to luncheon tomorrow because I am on duty at Windsor.”
‘Thank goodness,’ Galina said to herself, ‘Georgie and I are too young to be of any interest to Her Majesty.’
However, she realised that there were a number of important balls she must attend, especially in Ascot Week.
She hoped that her social success would be repeated and was looking forward to Ascot in anticipation.
They were planning to host a special party for the houseguests staying with them at Ranmore House in Park Lane.
Georgie had already booked a box at the Royal Ascot races and Galina was sure she would have time to watch the races and have fun as well as performing her hostess duties.
All of which would cost a great deal of money.
In fact it was something that they could not really afford to do.
It was Georgie who had insisted on doing things in exactly the same style as his father before him and he had told his sister,
“You are only a debutante once in your life, Galina! You either make a big splash and everyone is aware of you or you are a failure and no one cares if you are never seen again after the Season is finished.”
There was actually no chance of her being anything but a success.
Her mother had been beautiful and Galina was very beautiful too.
She was small with a tiny waist and exceptionally fine legs, although these were usually hidden under her skirts. Her hair was the colour of daffodils shot through with streaks of pure sunlight and her eyes the blue of the sky on a summer’s day.
Yet, surprisingly, she did not look so obviously an English beauty as she might have done.
There was something very different about her heart- shaped face and her exquisite Grecian features.
Every man who looked at her looked again.
&n
bsp; It was not surprising after being such a success in London that she had received no less than five proposals of marriage.
She thought this was funny and laughed about it to Georgie.
“As though I would accept any man after meeting him only once! I think these men must be crazy to even imagine that I might.”
Her brother had smiled.
“You must not forgot, Galina, that you come from a very old and revered family and in addition, my dear sister, they think you are rich.”
“Rich!” Galina had exclaimed. “How can they?”
“Quite easily, because Ranmore House is one of the largest homes in London, and Ranmore Park is one of the most admired ancestral houses in the whole country.”
“But they are not mine, they are yours.”
“They make an impressive background for a pretty young lady. And let me say, I admire my sister very much and am very proud of her.”
Galina kissed him.
“I would rather have your compliments than anyone else’s and, proposals or no proposals, I am looking forward to going to the country as I would much rather talk to our horses than those stupid young men!”
Georgie had agreed with her.
She knew he was looking forward to coming down today and they had planned a long ride tomorrow round the whole estate.
She walked back to the house and, as she glanced at the old clock standing in the hallway, she realised that it was luncheon time.
She walked into the enormous dining room that was really more of a banqueting hall.
There was a minstrel gallery at one end of the room and Galina could well remember when she was a child the musicians playing there on important occasions.
There was a large ballroom at the other end of the house, but the children’s parties had been held in the dining room because it was smaller.
Now, as she sat alone at the top of the table, which was decorated with flowers and fine George II silver, she hoped that Georgie would not be delayed.
‘There are very many issues,’ she thought, ‘I must talk to him about. I know we must think seriously of how much we are currently spending.’
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