This Way to Heaven
THIS WAY TO HEAVEN
Jasmina laughed loudly as she struggled to control Lightning as he skittered across the path, tossing his head and chomping on his bit.
Lightning was certainly a marvellous ride, fast and strong.
Then the stupid stallion had spooked when a small rabbit ran across his path.
Just as she had been about to get Lightning under control, a great black and silver car came roaring round the bend and it took all her skill as a rider to stop her mount from bolting.
She was still struggling to quieten him when a man jumped out of the car, shouting at her, his face dark with anger and grabbed hold of the bridle.
“
You little fool!
Who on earth put you up on such a powerful animal? Get down at once!”
Jasmina gathered the reins tightly in her hands and tugged the bridle away from the dark-haired stranger who was glaring up at her in a passion of fury.
“Please stop shouting at me! You are only making the horse more anxious.”
“Why, you're an American!”
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THIS WAY TO HEAVEN
BARBARA CARTLAND
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Barbaracartland.com Ltd
© 2008 by Cartland Promotions First published on the internet in November 2008 by Barbaracartland.com
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The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.
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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.
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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.
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 already being published and by Barbaracartland.com exclusively on the internet, as the international web is the best possible way of reaching so many Barbara Cartland readers around the world.
The 160 books are 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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Building upon this initial success, she wrote continuously throughout her life, producing bestsellers for an astonishing 76 years. Â 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.
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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. 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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“We all seek Heaven and some of us are lucky enough to find it, but the only way to reach Heaven is through Love, which is the closest man can ever get to God.”
Barbara Cartland
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CHAPTER ONE
1908
“Oh dear, Jasmina, I do feel so dreadful leaving you in such a fashion!”
Margaret, the Duchess of Harley, stood at the top of the long flight of stone steps that led from the great door of Harley Court down to the wide gravel driveway that circled a vast ornate fountain.
A brisk November wind was tearing the remaining yellow and bronze leaves from the avenue of fine oaks that bordered the drive all the way towards the great ornamental gates at the far end.
Beyond the gates was the road that led through the woods and up into the hills towards the pass through to the town of Debbingford in the next valley.
In the other direction the hills rose up one after the other until they reached the wild heather covered Yorkshire moors.
The Duchess was a short plump lady wrapped in layers of heavy winter clothes and wearing a huge hat tied under her chin with a silk scarf.
To an onlooker she appeared almost a comical little figure, looking almost as wide as she was tall.
Now as she gazed up at the tall slender American girl standing next to her there was a worried expression on her kind face.
“Are you sure you would not be better coming with me to London?”
Jasmina Winfield smiled down at her distant cousin with real affection.
“Now, Aunt Margaret, we have discussed this many times. You are greatly needed in London and as I have already seen something of that wonderful City, I am to go to my mother's cousins at the Parsonage in Debbingford for a few weeks and experience a real English Christmas.”
The Duchess clutched at her long floating scarf that was in danger of being blown away. She wrapped it firmly round her neck and wished not for the first time that day that Albert, her husband the Duke, was not so far away on business in Scotland.
Their only daughter, Hope, was married to the Earl of Leyton and news had arrived the night before to Harley Grange that the infant heir to the Earldom had been born into this world three weeks early.
The Duchess was desperate to travel to London to be at her daughter's bedside.
But to add to her worries she had a houseguest â an American relation, Jasmina Winfield, and she was concerned about what was to become of her.
They had only been at home in Yorkshire for three days after a few weeks at their London house before the baby made his unexpected entrance and now her attentions were needed elsewhere.
As a good hostess she felt dreadful, Jasmina knew no one in the area and there had been no time for introductions.
She sighed.
The Duchess had been hesitating on the steps for a good ten minutes now and she could see that the chauffeur was growing restless.
The luggage had been loaded into the Rolls Royce and her cousin's maid was standing shivering by the side of the car.
“Aunt Margaret,” declared Jasmina firmly, placing a gentle hand under her arm and escorting her slowly down the stone steps. “It is much too cold a day for you to stand outside. If you catch a chill, you will not be able to help Hope with her darling little boy.”
“Oh dear, oh dear, yes, well, if you are quite sure. Now, do be very careful on your journey when you leave, Jasmina. The roads are so treacherous at this time of year.”
Jasmina smiled.
She was from a part of America â Missouri, where the winters were always terribly hard. She was very used to low temperatures and thick snowfalls.
By comparison Northern England in the month of November had seemed very tame.
“I shall be most careful, do not fear. Now, off you go, Aunt Margaret. Give my love to Hope and write to me at my cousin's address with all the news.”
The Duchess hesitated a few seconds longer. She was still feeling uneasy.
This young American cousin was so different from the English girls of her age.
Jasmina was extremely independent and held some determined views. She had shocked some of the Duchess's elderly friends with her outspoken comments about politics and how to cure poverty in the most destitute areas of big Cities.
The Duchess sighed loudly as she took her seat in the Rolls. She was more than certain that America was a fine place, but it did seem to breed a very headstrong type of young woman!