The Wonderful Dream
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2016
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1992
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
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, 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.
The Barbara Cartland Eternal Collection is the unique opportunity to collect as ebooks all five hundred of the timeless beautiful romantic novels written by the world’s most celebrated and enduring romantic author.
Named the Eternal Collection because Barbara’s inspiring stories of pure love, just the same as love itself, the books will be published on the internet at the rate of four titles per month until all five hundred are available.
The Eternal Collection, classic pure romance available worldwide for all time .
Seville has been called the ‘one City in Spain that no visitor should miss’.
There is something in the air of Seville that immediately communicates itself to every visitor.
It has been described as a sense of romance, of joie de vivre, a sense of colour and of life.
I found Seville fascinating and, as I was there just before Easter, I saw the famous procession start on Palm Sunday, which continues until Easter Day.
Every balcony near the famous Cathedral was hung with palm branches and there were strange figures in every street.
There were penitents, ranging from small children to tall men, each carrying a lighted candle in the procession.
The statues themselves are fantastic. The pasos, which are all the Stations of the Cross as well as the Madonna, were dressed in capes of satin or damask glittering with precious jewels.
Spanish ladies empty their jewel caskets and shower the Virgin with gifts and the pasos, mounted on platforms, are carried through the City by five or six dozen bearers.
They are so heavy that they have to stop every few yards to let their bearers have a rest.
Love is an all-important question in Seville, the City of Don Juan. He was actually called Miguel de Manara. He was rich, licentious and careless of his life and wealth.
He has, however, remained in people’s minds as a great lover.
But few people know that Miguel de Manara renounced his worldly goods and joined the Brotherhood of the Caridad.
Their unsavoury task it was to collect the bodies of executed men and bury them.
It is perhaps this that has made the Andalusians, with their love of life, have a morbid preoccupation with death.
Everywhere in Seville one has little glimpses of what the Moors left behind.
The sunken garden pools and painted ceramic tiles make one remember that a great deal of the City’s beauty comes not from the Spanish but from those who at one time were their conquerors.
The Torre de Oro (The Tower of Gold) was formerly linked to Alcazar by a subterranean passage because the Palaces of their Kings served as fortresses.
Catholic monks added their own embellishments to where Sultans received their tribute of young virgins.
King Charles V built a small Palace and a hall where splendid tapestries depicted his triumphant expedition to Tunisia.
The gardens with their high walls covered with bougainvillaea are adorned with an Eastern grotto, fountains and in every patio there are high naked windows through which the concubines peeped at their Masters.
Claudia came downstairs the next morning at exactly the time the Marquis had told her.
As she walked out of the front door, she stared in astonishment at the horses.
They were very fine and far superior to anything she had seen for a long time.
The chaise was also in the very latest fashion and with every comfort one could imagine.
As she sat down beside the Marquis, he picked up the reins and the groom jumped up on the seat behind.
The proprietor bowed very low as they drove away.
“How did you manage to find such wonderful horses?” Claudia asked as soon as they were on the high road.
“They are mine,” the Marquis explained. “I brought them with me to impress the Spanish!”
“You brought them – with you?” Claudia exclaimed.
She had never thought of anybody doing anything so extraordinary.
“It was not difficult,” the Marquis said, “because when I designed my new yacht, I specially included in it accommodation for my horses.”
It sounded so luxurious that Claudia could think of nothing more to say.
She was aware that the Marquis drove with an expertise that she had never seen before and she watched him fascinated.
When they had driven for some distance, he suggested,
“Now I think that we must go over our ‘script’ so that we make no mistakes. I shall tell the Prince when we arrive that your sick relative with whom I had thought I would have to leave you in England, made an unexpected recovery. So you were able, at the very last minute, to sail with me after all and, as we have only just been married, you did not like being away from me.”
He spoke in a slightly mocking tone and with a twinkle in his eyes that made Claudia laugh.
“That sounds very plausible,” she said.
“The only people with us who will know the truth will be my groom and my valet,” he continued. “The valet has gone ahead with our luggage.”
Claudia looked surprised and the Marquis said,
“You will learn that I always arrange things so that I have as little to do as possible. If there is one thing I dislike when I am travelling, it is having to fuss over the luggage.”
“I can understand that,” Claudia said. “And I cannot imagine any more exciting way to make a journey than to be first in your yacht and then in this wonderful chaise.”
“I am glad you appreciate it,” the Marquis said, “because I designed it myself.”
When they stopped for luncheon in a small town, the Marquis drove to what was obviously the best hotel.
Claudia was not really surprised to learn that his valet had already stopped there on his way to Seville.
Luncheon had been ordered and the wine was on ice when his Lordship arrived.
The meal was certainly excellent and they were served in a private room that had been reserved for them.
When they had finished eating and the waiters had withdrawn, the Marquis said,
“And now, before we set out on the last lap of our journey, here is the cheque I promised you. You must keep it safely until you arrive in England and then pay it into your Bank. I imagine that your father had one, if you don’t have an account of your own.”
Claudia did not reply.
She only somewhat reluctantly took the envelope that he was giving her and then he put some more money down on the table.
“There is fifty pounds in Spanish money,” he said, “and fifty in English.”
“I-I don’t need – that,” Claudia replied quickly. “You have – given me quite – enough already.”
“As my wife,” the Marquis said coolly, “it would be expected that you would carry enough money to tip the maids who look after you and to buy anything you require.”
Claudia had not thought of that and she knew what he said was sensible.
Slowly, because she was embarrassed, she picked up the money.
She put it into her handbag together with the envelope containing the cheque.
“Incidentally,” the Marquis said, “there is one thing you must remember. You came abroad without a lady’s maid because your maid is inclined to be seasick and when we were on the yacht my valet looked after you.”
Claudia smiled.
“I hope I shall not be seasick!”
“We will find that out only when I take you back to England,” the Marquis said. “But my yacht is very seaworthy and I shall be surprised if even in the Bay of Biscay you are ill.”
“I was all right on the Liner on the way out,” Claudia told him, “and it was very rough!”
After that they talked very little until they had almost reached Seville.
Then when there were only a few more miles to go the Marquis said unexpectedly,
“I think you will find that Seville is one of the few Cities in the world that really lives up to its own image.”
Claudia looked at him questioningly and he went on,
“There is a sense of romance there, of colour and of joie de vivre that is peculiarly its own. You will see Sevillians smoking their cigars and drinking their glasses of sherry as they watch the people in the streets pass by them.”
He paused before he added,
“I remember somebody telling me that they live up to the Arab maxim that goes, ‘Life is much shorter than death’. So they are determined to relish every bit of life before death overtakes them.”
It was something that Claudia had not expected him to say.
It showed that he had a perceptiveness that she had not thought to find in an Englishman.
As they drew nearer to the City, she was impressed by the width of the streets, which were bordered by rows of trees.
She had glimpses of buildings that she knew had belonged to the Moors before St. Ferdinand had delivered Seville from them.
The Marquis told her that the Palaces of the Arab Rulers had also served as fortresses.
“Outside,” he said, “they have huge blank walls that defended them against their enemies. But inside you will find exquisitely decorated interiors and in many of them the Moslem motifs still remain.”
“This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me!” Claudia said.
The Marquis smiled at her enthusiasm.
The Prince’s Palace, which was in the centre of the City surrounded by a large park, was extremely impressive.
A number of servants were waiting on the steps to welcome them.
The moment they entered one of the huge lofty rooms, Claudia was aware of the fine stucco work and the blue azulejos or glazed tiles.
They walked through several rooms before they reached an enormous salon where Prince Carlos de Alcalá was waiting for them.
Claudia had a quick impression of chandeliers, carved gold tables, enormous gold-framed mirrors and a painted ceiling of Gods, Goddesses and cupids.
Then she looked at the tall dark-haired man who was waiting for them.
She was well aware that this was a crucial moment for the Marquis.
He had to explain not only that he had brought an unexpected guest but also that he was married without anyone being aware of it.
As they entered the room, the Prince walked towards them holding out his hand.
“My dear Marquis!” he exclaimed. “I am delighted to see you! I do hope you have not had too strenuous a journey.”
The Marquis put his heels together and made the correct bow to Royalty.
Then he answered,
“I am more than delighted, Your Royal Highness, to be here. At the same time I hope you will not be annoyed with me for bringing someone very important to me as an uninvited guest.”
The Prince raised his eyebrows.
As Claudia curtseyed low, the Marquis said,
“May I, sir, present my wife?”
Claudia thought that, considering the shock, the Prince controlled himself admirably.
Just for a moment he stiffened.
Then he said in a slow quiet voice,
“This is a surprise, Datchford! I had always understood that you were a confirmed bachelor.”
“That was true, until I met Claudia,” the Marquis replied. “We were married very quietly shortly before I left England because one of her near relatives was extremely ill and we were afraid that she might be plunged into mourning for a year.”
“I understand,” the Prince said.
“I thought I would have to leave my wife behind to be with her. But fortunately the relative made an unexpected recovery and my wife was able at the very last minute to sail with me after all.”
“I am very happy,” the Prince smiled, “to welcome your wife and to congratulate you on your marriage.”
It was very nicely said.
But Claudia was aware there was an unmistakable look of disappointment in the Prince’s eyes.
A few minutes later they were joined by his daughter, Princess Louisa.
Claudia could understand the Marquis’s fear of finding himself married to the young Spanish Princess.
She was not at all pretty, but had a presence owing to her rank that was undeniable.
She had obviously been told that the Marquis was a prospective bridegroom and it was impossible for her to hide the disappointment in her eyes when Claudia was presented to her as his wife.
Or to disguise the cool manner in which she greeted Claudia.
Because she felt sorry for her, Claudia tried to be as friendly as possible. She talked animatedly about the beauty of the Palace.
Finally Princess Louisa relaxed.