A Battle of Brains

BARBARA CARTLAND

www.barbaracartland.com

Copyright © 2009 by Cartland Promotions

First published on the internet in September 2009

The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.

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.

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.

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Suddenly the door behind her was flung open.

Yolanda turned round, terrified.

Mr. Watson was standing there with the light from his bedroom behind him.

He was wearing only a silk nightshirt.

For a moment he stared at her and then he asked in a thick voice,

“What do you want?  What are you doing here?”

Yolanda moved forward so that he should not see the open case behind her.

“I just – came in,” she stammered in a frightened voice, “to see that you have – everything you – want.”

“Everything I want?  I thought that was what I had,” he slurred in a drunken tone.  “Now I see you, I know
you
are what I want!”

As he spoke, he lurched forward towards her.

Realising what he had implied, Yolanda turned to run away.

But she was too late.

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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.

“
To find true love you need your brains and your body, but most important of all is your soul.”

Barbara Cartland

Yolanda laid the flowers on her mother's grave and said a prayer as she did so.

She found it hard to believe that she would never again see her mother she adored.

She had already cried herself to sleep every night since she learnt of her death.

It seemed that she had no more tears to shed.

It had happened so suddenly, so unexpectedly that even now it was difficult to believe.

She still expected her mother to be waiting for her.

She would be holding out her arms as she always did when they had been away from each other.

Yolanda had been a pupil at a Convent school just outside Paris.

Four days ago the Mother Superior had sent for her and she had gone slowly to her office wondering what she had done wrong.

She never dreamt it could be a message from home.

The Mother Superior had broken the dreadful news to her gently, but at the same time it was such a shock that for a moment the news was impossible to believe.

Yolanda felt as if the ground had been pulled from under her.

They had been through so much together since her father died and she had believed for a long time that the only safe and secure rock in her life was her mother.

Now she was dead too and Yolanda knew that she was alone.

It was only after a very long silence that the Mother Superior said,

“Your stepfather, Yolanda, has asked you to return home at once, which I feel certain you will wish to do.  You will unfortunately be too late to attend your mother's funeral, but he wants you to be with him.”

Yolanda had given a little shiver.

She never wished to be with her stepfather and she could not understand why he wanted her now.

Equally if he ordered her to return, there was really nothing she could do about it.

She had had plenty of time to ponder her situation on the long journey home, accompanied by an ancient nun who had been instructed to chaperone her.

For hours Yolanda was silent, looking back into the past and seeing everything in a very different way.

Her dearest father, the Earl of Longwood, had been the most handsome, charming and delightful man anyone could possibly meet.

Wherever they were and whatever was happening, they always seemed to be laughing.

Yolanda believed no one could have been happier than she had been with two such wonderful parents.

It was only as she grew up that she understood.

The many difficulties, frustrations and moments of despair in her parent's lives became clearer.

Her father, after inheriting the Earldom, was given a dreadful shock – except for the title that had been in the family for several centuries, he received nothing else from his father.

The Fifth Earl had spent considerably more than his income and he had sold everything that was saleable.

The London house had gone first and then all the land in the country that had not been entailed, such as the house and its contents.

It was heartbreaking for the new Earl.

His father had left a considerable number of debts too, which more or less equalled his own and, as far as he could see, there was no chance of meeting them.

He was therefore forced to let out the family house and estate, which brought him in a little money.

He, his wife and daughter had then moved into the Dower House.

Yolanda did not know exactly when her father took up gambling, but she could understand, now she was older, that it was a desperate effort to win back something after all he had lost.

She suspected that some of the possessions in the house that he had dared not sell went to the pawnbroker.

They were usually small items that would not be noticed by the Trustees, who visited the house and estate every six months to check that everything was intact.

At first the Earl was very lucky at his gambling – he won at racing, cards and, when they travelled abroad, in the casinos as well.

As she grew up, Yolanda was fascinated when her father came back smiling.

He would throw up his arms in delight.

“
I have won
!  I have won!” he would call out to her mother.  “Now we can enjoy ourselves and, my darling, you must have the most beautiful jewels I can find.”