The Gates of Paradise
Read The Gates of Paradise Online
Authors: Barbara Cartland
OF PARADISE
BARBARA CARTLAND
Copyright © 2011 by Cartland Promotions
First published on the internet in February 2011
ISBNs
978-1-908411-74-7 Epub
978-1-908411-75-4 Prc
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OF PARADISE
Narina went to her room and stood at the window looking out towards the sea.
She was thinking how bizarre it all was.
In a twinkling of an eye she had been transmitted from her quiet home in Hertfordshire to this strange land, where the local people were striving against being overrun by their greedy and aggressive neighbour.
âThey are a small Principality,' she mused, âand very vulnerable.
Is it really possible that the Union Jack in the shape of the wife of the ruling Prince can possibly save them?'
Then it was as if the answer to her question came to her straight from Heaven.
She realised that whatever the cost, Louise, and all those who were so proud of being British would stand and fight â they would defy the enemy and never give in.
Looking up at the sky as the sunshine was turning the garden into a fairyland of intense beauty, Narina prayed that she would play her part, however small, perfectly and without fault â
That God would give her the strength and resilience that Alexanderburg so desperately needed.
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Her publishers finally could not keep up with this phenomenal output, so at her death she left 160 unpublished manuscripts, something again that no other author has ever achieved.
Now the exciting news is that these 160 original unpublished Barbara Cartland books are ready for publication and they will be published by Barbaracartland.com exclusively on the internet, as the web is the best possible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
BarbaraCartland.com
Camfield Place
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL9 6JE
United Kingdom
Â
Telephone: Â +44 1707 642629
Fax: Â +44 1707 663041
These titles are currently available for download. For more information please see the
Where to buy page
at the end of this book.
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- The Cross Of Love
- Love In The Highlands
- Love Finds The Way
- The Castle Of Love
- Love Is Triumphant
- Stars In The Sky
- The Ship Of Love
- A Dangerous Disguise
- Love Became Theirs
- Love Drives In
- Sailing To Love
- The Star Of Love
- Music Is The Soul Of Love
- Love In The East
- Theirs To Eternity
- A Paradise On Earth
- Love Wins In Berlin
- In Search Of Love
- Love Rescues Rosanna
- A Heart In Heaven
- The House Of Happiness
- Royalty Defeated By Love
- The White Witch
- They Sought Love
- Love Is The Reason For Living
- They Found Their Way To Heaven
- Learning To Love
- Journey To Happiness
- A Kiss In The Desert
- The Heart Of Love
- The Richness Of Love
- For Ever And Ever
- An Unexpected Love
- Saved By An Angel
- Touching The Stars
- Seeking Love
- Journey To Love
- The Importance Of Love
- Love By The Lake
- A Dream Come True
- The King Without A Heart
- The Waters Of Love
- Danger To The Duke
- A Perfect Way To Heaven
- Follow Your Heart
- In Hiding
- Rivals For Love
- A Kiss From The Heart
- Lovers In London
- This Way To Heaven
- A Princess Prays
- Mine For Ever
- The Earl's Revenge
- Love At The Tower
- Ruled By Love
- Love Came From Heaven
- Love And Apollo
- The Keys Of Love
- A Castle Of Dreams
- A Battle Of Brains
- A Change Of Hearts
- It Is Love
- The Triumph Of Love
- Wanted â A Royal Wife
- A Kiss Of Love
- To Heaven With Love
- Pray For Love
- The Marquis Is Trapped
- Hide And Seek For Love
- Hiding from Love
- A Teacher Of Love
- Money Or Love
- The Revelation Is Love
- The Tree Of Love
- The Magnificent Marquis
- The Castle
- The Gates of Paradise
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 âJigsaw' 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 âQueen 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 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.
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“Paradise is a place we would all love to find, but perfection can easily masquerade as an illusion.
Paradise for me has always been to be adored and cherished by a wonderful man who has conquered my heart and my soul absolutely.”
Barbara Cartland
1880
Narina tore open the letter with a strange stamp that had just been delivered and gave a cry of excitement.
She read it through twice carefully in order to be quite certain she had not made a mistake.
Then she ran down the passage towards her father's study.
The Very Right Reverend John Kenwin, Bishop of St. Albans, was busy composing his sermon for the next day, which was Palm Sunday.
He was a good-looking man with a deep voice that captivated every member of his congregation.
The third son of a distinguished Statesman, he had gone into the Church, as was the tradition in his family.
He had an outstanding intellect and together with his irresistible charm, he rose rapidly to become a Bishop just after he was fifty, and it was already taken for granted by many that he would be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
His father, Lord Kenwin, had behaved traditionally with all his three sons.
The eldest son had gone into the Life Guards, as had a great number of the men of his family before him. Â He had been stationed at Windsor Castle.
There he not only guarded Queen Victoria, but had swiftly become a trusted confidant whose advice she often sought.
He married one of Her Majesty's ladies-in-waiting and now that he was approaching the age of retirement he was a highly respected member of her Household.
The second son of Lord Kenwin had gone into the Navy, where he enjoyed the chance it gave him of seeing the world and had recently been promoted to Admiral.
With such an impressive family background it was not surprising that Narina was exceedingly intelligent.
She had left her school with a prize for practically every subject she had been interested in.
In addition to her brain she was also outstandingly beautiful.
It was not only the beauty of her features that were almost classical in their perfection.
The expression in her eyes was enchanting and her charming manner she had inherited from her father.
When she reached the study door, she opened it very carefully.
She peeped in to see if her father was alone and, as he was, she went in.
Moving quietly up to him, she put her hands on his shoulders and bent over to kiss his cheek.
“Oh, it is you, Narina!” he exclaimed.
“Who else did you think was kissing you, Papa?”
He smiled at her.
“You know I am busy with my sermon.”
“Yes, Papa, but I really had to interrupt you to tell you about this exciting letter I have just received.”
Her father sat back in his chair, realising it must be important or his daughter would not have bothered him.
“It has come by Special Messenger from London â and who do you think it's from?”
“I am not going to guess,” he replied, “because, as you can see, I am very busy.”
“Then I will tell you. Â It is from Louise â Princess Louise, now reigning in Alexanderburg.”
“I remember her well, a very pretty girl who I know was your greatest friend at school.”
“I love her dearly, we were always together! Â Because we are so remarkably alike the teachers used to call us â
the twins
'.”
“And you have just heard from her, Narina?”
He gently prompted her, knowing that if she started reminiscing about her friend Louise, he would not be able to finish his sermon.
“I have not heard from Louise for quite some time and now she has written to me saying it is very urgent and if I love her, I must join her
at once
in Alexanderburg.”