Clive, the Earl of Bourne, nearly twenty-eight, tall, handsome and pursued by innumerable women is determined not to get married. He is sick and tired of his father, the Duke of Shelbourne and his relations begging him to produce an heir and he has decided that he will not marry until he is very much older. To his horror the Duke comes back from Windsor Castle to tell his son that Queen Victoria commands him to marry Princess Gilberta of Saxe-Coburg, who is arriving in England almost immediately. The Earl quarrels with his father who says that, unless he does as he is told, he will refuse to pay off his very large debts.In despair the Earl goes up to the nursery to see his old Nanny who has always loved him and to whom he has turned with all his troubles since his mother died. Nanny is appalled at the idea of him having to marry a German woman he has never seen and she therefore has a clever idea and suggests to the Earl that he runs away. In fact, to cover his tracks, Nanny suggests that he should elope with the person he loves more than anyone else, who is actually himself! The Earl does exactly as Nanny suggests As he thinks his father will send someone North to prevent him marrying at Gretna Green, he drives his horses South and eventually arrives at Land's End, where he rescues a very pretty girl from a highwayman, who his attempting to steal her favourite horse. The Earl then takes a job looking after horses for a distinguished General, who is the father of lovely girl.How, unexpectedly, he finds what he has always been seeking without really being aware of it, is told in this fascinating story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Lorena Conway has devoted most of her life to being a secretary to her father, a noted historian. Sir Arthur suddenly dies and leaves Lorena with too little money to maintain her childhood home. Wondering how she will survive, the beautiful Lorena overhears a friend of her neighbour plotting to kill the Earl of Bramfield, who has recently and unexpectedly inherited from his father and whose vast estates lie near her home. Realising that she has no option but to try and convince the Earl of the peril he is in, Lorena sets out to confront him. When his elder brother died, the new Earl had to give up an Army career and return home. Now having inherited the title and estates, he is finding it difficult to adjust to his new position. He sees Lorena and listens to her tale, but cannot accept that his life is in danger. However, he offers Lorena a temporary job helping him to sort out his disorganised office and she brings her newly invented typewriter with her. Soon the Earl realises that the danger is very real and Lorena finds herself having to use all her wits to keep safe the man she rapidly becomes attracted to in a way that she never expected. Then the Earl’s younger brother, the Honourable Andrew, arrives home and life at Bramfield becomes ever more complicated and perilous.

Two warring families. One forbidden love. Lady Cecily Balfour was always taught that the Hartley men are mad, bad and dangerous to know. When she meets Robert Hartley, Earl of Scarcliffe, she makes a few additions to that list: Stubborn. Infuriating. Handsome. Charming. Tempting. Society expects Cecily to make an advantageous match of her father’s choosing. What can she do now that her own choice is a man she is expressly forbidden to see? The Earl of Scarcliffe enjoys hunting, drinking, billiards, and bachelordom. Love does not feature on his list of requirements. Especially for a woman with a stubborn streak a mile wide and a penchant for riding off on his favourite stallion. And if that same woman is a Balfour? Not a chance! But Cecily just happens to have a pair of striking blue eyes, a taste for adventure and a rapier-sharp sense of humour… Robert’s heart is in as much danger as his head will be if they are caught together. When Robert and Cecily defy their powerful families for love, what will they have to sacrifice in return?

The Oxford Companion to English Literature has long been established as the leading reference resource for students, teachers, scholars, and general readers of English literature. It provides unrivalled coverage of all aspects of English literature - from writers, their works, and the historical and cultural context in which they wrote, to critics, literary theory, and allusions. For the seventh edition, the Companion has been thoroughly revised and updated to meet the needs and concerns of today's students and general readers. Over 1,000 new entries have been added, ranging from new writers - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Patrick Marber, David Mitchell, Arundhati Roy - to increased coverage of writers and literary movements from around the world. Coverage of American literature has been substantially increased, with new entries on writers such as Cormac McCarthy and Amy Tan and on movements and publications. Contextual and historical coverage has also been expanded, with new entries on European history and culture, post-colonial literature, as well as writers and literary movements from around the world that have influenced English literature. The Companion has always been a quick and dependable source of reference for students, and the new edition confirms its pre-eminent role as the go-to resource of first choice. All entries have been reviewed, and details of new works, biographies, and criticism have been brought right up to date. So also has coverage of the themes, approaches and concepts encountered by students today, from terms to articles on literary theory and theorists. There is increased coverage of writers from around the world, as well as from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and of contextual topics, including film and television, music, and art. Cross-referencing has been thoroughly updated, with stronger linking from writers to thematic and conceptual entries. Meanwhile coverage of popular genres such as children's literature, science fiction, biography, reportage, crime fiction, fantasy or travel literature has been increased substantially, with new entries on writers from Philip Pullman to Anne Frank and from Anais Nin to Douglas Adams. The seventh edition of this classic Companion - now under the editorship of Dinah Birch, assisted by a team of 28 distinguished associate editors, and over 150 contributors - ensures that it retains its status as the most authoritative, informative, and accessible guide to literature available.

Nine stories.

Sophie Wembley is about to discover two hard truths: When planning a rushed betrothal, one must not be picky; and when the perfect earl happens by, one must not be shy.… After receiving word that her sister has eloped, even ever-optimistic Sophie has trouble staying positive. She needs to secure her future before the scandal destroys her prospects, although she doesn’t relish the idea of a hasty marriage. But her longtime crush has just shown up for the summer festival in Bath. He may be the key to avoiding disgrace and getting a happily ever after…if she can bring herself to pursue him. John “Evan” Fairfax, Earl of Evansleigh, is one of the most popular bachelors in the ton. However, his easygoing ways hide a dark past he’s determined to keep secret. Evan has always kept acquaintances at arm’s length for self-preservation, but there’s something irresistible about Sophie…and her seductive charms may well sway the confirmed bachelor to seize a chance at love.

Theirs is a marriage of convenience She loves another... Lady Julie has dreamed of marrying her childhood sweetheart since she was four years old. Unfortunately, her father has other plans. He has his sights set on her marrying an earl. When she is forced into an unwanted betrothal, Julie needs to make a choice: wait for her true love and destroy her honor, or make a deal with the forbidding earl. He vowed to never love again... Robert, the Earl of Clydesdale, has sworn off love. A marriage of convenience is more to his liking. So he wasn't about to turn away a beautiful young lady's plea for help in exchange for her hand in marriage. But once he spends more time with his betrothed, his icy heart begins to melt. Only his betrothed is in love with another. Now Robert has a choice, either lock his heart away and live in misery, or take a risk and fight for the woman he loves. This work of fiction contains adult content, strong language, violence, off page death, bullying, nightmares, pregnancy and miscarriage. Reader discretion is advised.