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    Love's Dream in Peril
    Love's Dream in Peril
    Love's Dream in Peril
    Ebook183 pages2 hours

    Love's Dream in Peril

    By Barbara Cartland

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    About this ebook

    The beautiful Adella May is filled with joy as she sees Digby Dryden, the man she loves, walking towards her.
    But why does he turn away, refusing to look at her? Humiliated and hurt and her golden dream of love in ruins, what can Adella do now and where can she turn?
    Will she be forced to give up her hopes of seeing Digby again and obey her tyrannical Uncle Edgar and accept the proposal of the rich and suitable aristocrat, Lord Ranulph Fowles, a man she cannot love?
    Adella's dear school friend, Jane Hartley, holds an exquisite bouquet to her heart. The card attached to it bears the signature of the man she adores, but it is intended for another woman.
    Jane must endure the torment of knowing that she will never be loved by him, for she is just a humble Governess, while he, the most eligible bachelor in London, is from the highest echelons of Society.
    Trapped in a cruel web of deceit and obsession, the two girls fight to hold onto their dreams, but can they ever be happy in a world that does not recognise their right to love?
    Find out all in this enthralling and unusual romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBarbara Cartland Ebooks ltd
    Release dateSep 14, 2013
    ISBN9781782134190
    Love's Dream in Peril

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      Book preview

      Love's Dream in Peril - Barbara Cartland

      Cartland

      CHAPTER ONE

      1880

      I cannot believe it’s the end of term. Tomorrow we will both be leaving here forever! seventeen-year-old Adella May said to her dearest friend Jane Hartley, as they both prepared to go into the Chapel for early Morning Prayers, a ritual at Mottram’s School for Young Ladies.

      Jane sighed,

      All good things must come to an end.

      Adella leapt up from her dressing table, where she had been sitting to comb out her glorious mane of golden curly hair.

      Don’t be miserable, Jane. Please! Endings lead to beginnings, all sorts of good things might happen to us!

      The two girls, both orphans, had grown up together at the school and had always been inseparable.

      As they stood in the bright June sunlight streaming in through the window of Adella’s bedroom, they could not have looked more different.

      Adella was a slight girl, small in stature with bright gold hair and brown eyes the colour of rich honey.

      Her complexion was fresh and clear and she was almost always seen with a smile on her face, for everything about her glowed with light and warmth and the joy of life.

      Jane Hartley was tall and slender with smooth black hair, dark eyes and a pale ivory complexion. Jane rarely smiled, as she was a thoughtful girl, but, when she did, the true sweetness of her character shone out of her face.

      No doubt they will, Adella. Shall we go down? Janer suggested.

      Adella put a comb through her hair one last time.

      There’s just one little knot I can’t untangle, but if I use this, I’m sure old Mottram will not notice!

      And she twisted a pink ribbon around her curls and tied it in a graceful bow.

      The girls at the school were not allowed to wear pink, but Adella was a favourite of the Headmistress, Mrs. Mottram, and sometimes she would get away with it.

      I cannot wait to have my own lady’s maid, when I move to London, she said. I hope that she is young and cheerful, not like Pargetter.

      Pargetter was the stout Oxfordshire countrywoman who acted as maid to the older pupils at the school. Being ordered about by so many young ladies sometimes made her very irritable indeed.

      Well, you shall soon find out! Jane replied. And how will you get on with your Uncle Edgar?

      Uncle Edgar was Adella’s Guardian, her father’s older brother, and he lived in a big house in London.

      I hardly know him, Adella answered. He has always been very generous in paying for everything while I have been at school. But he is always away, working in India. I have only met him a few times.

      Each time he came to the school, he asked Adella if she still enjoyed her lessons and told her that he hoped she would be very good and do as she was told. He never once asked her what she had bought with the money that he sent to her from India.

      Come on, Jane interrupted her thoughts. We’ll be late for Prayers.

      The two girls left Adella’s bright sunny bedroom and went to the Chapel at the back of the house in Oxford where Mrs. Mottram kept her School for Young Ladies.

      Mr. Mottram had been a Captain in the Navy and had been lost at sea many years before.

      His widow, a large woman with a severe expression and a mass of thick grey hair rolled on her forehead, ran her school with the same tight discipline that her husband had employed on his ship.

      She cast a stern eye towards Jane and Adella as they hurried into the Chapel as they were the last to arrive.

      When Prayers were over and a moment of peaceful silence had descended upon the rows of schoolgirls, all in the school uniform of grey dresses with white collars, the Headmistress rose to her feet to address them,

      It has come to that time of year when we must bid farewell to those pupils who have completed their studies at the school, she began.

      Adella stared down at her white-gloved hands and hoped that Mrs. Mottram would not say anything about her pink ribbon. Surely she would not single her out for any criticism when she was about to leave the school forever?

      But the Headmistress did not seem to notice it.

      It is my dearest wish, she carried on, that those who leave us will take with them not just the fluent French, the elegant dancing, the skilful drawing, without which no young woman may call herself a Lady, but will also take with them the true values of refinement and character.

      Adella stifled a yawn. Old Mottram did go on a bit.

      It was difficult to keep concentrating on the long rambling speech when she was longing for her breakfast. So I shall say no more at this time. At last the Headmistress was drawing to a conclusion. But I should like to ask each of those pupils who are leaving us to come to my study for a private interview after breakfast.

      She then dismissed the assembly of girls and there was a rumbling of feet and a flutter of hymn books as the long line of pupils hurried off to breakfast.

      What do you suppose she will say to us? Adella asked, as she helped herself to bread and jam.

      Something about how we must always be ladylike and set a good example. Isn’t that what she always says? Jane replied.

      Adella laughed.

      Do you think Mrs. Mottram lies awake at night, worrying in case one of her ex-pupils misbehaves and casts a bad light on the school?

      I am sure she does, Jane replied and her heart sank as she saw the figure of the Headmistress beckoning to her. It looks as if I am the first for a lecture!

      Good luck! Adella wished her, as Jane hurried away from the table.

      Jane Hartley, I have little to say but good about your work, Mrs. Mottram began, sitting upright in her red velvet armchair. You apply yourself to your studies with energy and intelligence.

      Thank you, ma’am, Jane said.

      It was a rare event to receive such praise from the Headmistress and she ought to feel proud and happy, but something about the way Mrs. Mottram was looking at her made her feel uneasy.

      "It is always a great responsibility to stand in loco parentis and I am sure that I don’t need to translate, Jane, for I know that you have a good knowledge of Latin."

      Jane nodded as Mrs. Mottram was referring to the fact that Jane’s mother had died some years before and her father even longer ago.

      Especially when the young person, as in your case, has no family at all and is without means of support.

      Jane was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. It was true that she had no fortune, as her dear Mama had died penniless, all her money gambled away by her stepfather. But what was Mrs. Mottram getting at?

      I have incurred considerable expense and devoted a great deal of time and attention to your education, Jane. So I am pleased that you have worked so hard and been so diligent a pupil.

      Jane thanked her again for her kind words.

      I understand that you would wish to take a post as a Governess. And I should be happy to offer you board and lodgings at the school for your services as a teacher.

      Jane was taken by surprise.

      She had a small amount of money saved up and had hoped to rent a room somewhere until she could find work as a Governess.

      What do you say? Mrs. Mottram frowned. I should think that you might be grateful to have the means of returning the kindness I have done to you in keeping you at the school for so long without any fees being paid.

      Yes – I –

      Deep down inside, Jane did not want to accept the offer, but she could not think how to refuse.

      Good. The frown melted from the Headmistress’s face. I am glad you are showing such good sense, Jane. I must say, I have been quite worried that you might intend to continue your friendship with Adella May –

      We will always be friends! Jane said quickly.

      Mrs. Mottram shook her grey head.

      It is one thing, Jane, to befriend Adella while you are schoolgirls. I had wondered in the past if it was wise to allow you to become so close.

      She is my dearest friend!

      "Indeed. But pause and consider. Adella will come into a considerable fortune left to her when her father and mother so sadly passed away in India. She will be one of the richest young women in England. And you will be a penniless Governess. How may you continue to be friends in such different circumstances?"

      What do you mean?

      Jane felt as if all the breath had been knocked out of her body by the Headmistress’s words.

      Your friend will wish to lavish all kinds of gifts on you. Perhaps she might even invite you to stay with her when she begins her new life as one of the foremost young girls in Society. You are a woman of good character, Jane. I am sure that you would not want people to say that you are taking advantage of your friend’s generosity.

      Jane’s face felt hot with embarrassment.

      I have no intention – and I am certain that Adella would not – she has not made any such suggestions –

      The Headmistress was not listening.

      It is so hard for a young woman to make her own way in the world honestly and with integrity. It will be impossible for you, Jane, once you have been exposed to the temptations of a life of ease and riches.

      Mrs. Mottram now looked down her nose with an expression of disdain and continued,

      Who would care to employ you, once you have tasted the fruits of idleness and luxury?

      Jane’s legs were trembling.

      The picture that Mrs. Mottram was painting was really horrid. She could not bear to think of prospective employers turning her away because she was a friend of a rich young heiress.

      I will offer you a post as a teacher, but you must cease your friendship with Adella May.

      Somehow Jane managed to nod her head.

      Very good. Mrs. Mottram rose to her feet. Let’s shake hands, Jane. Your employment here will commence at once. I will entrust the care of the young ones who will be staying with us over the summer holiday to you.

      Jane winced noticeably as her fingers were crushed in the Headmistress’s strong grip.

      So she would not be leaving Mottram’s School after all. She would not be going out into the world to find a place for herself.

      Her summer would be spent here, just has it had been for many years and she would be responsible for all the little girls whose parents lived abroad and who had no family in England to go to.

      And there would be no Adella to cheer her up and always be thinking of ways to make her laugh.

      Mrs. Mottram watched Jane leave the study with a cold little smile on her face, as if she was very pleased indeed with the result of the interview.

      *

      Adella waited for Jane to come back to the dining room and, when she did not appear, she left the table and went up to her room to get ready for her departure.

      There was just so much to pack! If only Pargetter was a more cheerful and lively person, Adella would have asked her to come and help.

      How did you fold a dress and lay it in a trunk so that it would come out at the other end without looking like an accordion, all full of pleats and creases?

      She laid it on the bed to wait until she had filled up her trunk with other heavier items and then turned as she heard a discreet tap on her bedroom door.

      Jane! You know you don’t need to knock! she called out.

      The door opened and Adella heard a polite cough. It was Mrs. Mottram.

      Adella was surprised to see her. The Headmistress almost never spoke to the girls except in her study.

      Why Adella. You should not trouble yourself with all this, the Headmistress said, looking around at the piles of shoes, books and clothes. Pargetter will do it.

      I don’t mind at all, Mrs. Mottram. It’s rather fun. And I expect Jane will help me shortly.

      Mrs. Mottram shook her head.

      Perhaps she is busy elsewhere. But I am not here to discuss Jane. Come, let’s sit here by the window and we can have our little talk.

      She then walked across the room and sat down.

      Adella was feeling rather confused by this sudden visitation. If she had known that the Headmistress was about to descend upon her, she would not

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