Love and Apollo

The great statue of Apollo, which had fallen to the ground, was gradually broken up and pieces were carried away to England and France.

Much of the statue, Valona knew, remained in Delos, but it lay too far for her to go and see it.

Yet she was aware that it was still there and was, according to what she had read, filled with a tremendous power.

One visitor to the statue had written,

“It was splendid in its loneliness, its perfect beauty and its terrible power.”

Valona was miles away, but as she stood looking towards the East, she could feel the magic of the young God, once thirty feet high.

In her mind she could see his parted lips, his uplifted hands and his eyes gazing out to sea.

More than two thousand years had passed since Apollo's statue had been erected on the island, yet she knew in her heart that time had in no way weakened him.

It was then that she began praying to Apollo with all her heart and soul.

She asked him to bring her the true love she longed for.

As the God of Light and Love, Apollo represented the fulfilment of dreams to all who worshipped him.

‘Help me, please help me!' she begged.  ‘The love I seek is the same love you give to the world and it is even more powerful than anything else mankind could possess.'

BARBARA CARTLAND

www.barbaracartland.com

Copyright © 2007 by Cartland Promotions

First published on the internet in January 2008 by Barbaracartland.com

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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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.

“If love comes from God, as I fervently believe it does, then it should not matter which God you are talking about. God is love and love is the nearest we will ever get to God, so I always advise my friends who are looking for love – every day close your eyes, pray as hard as you can to God and you will be rewarded by finding the love you seek.”

Barbara Cartland

The Duke of Inchcombe walked straight into his sister's boudoir to find her sitting at the writing table by the window.

She looked up and exclaimed,

“Oh, I see you are back, Arthur.  What was the funeral like?”

“Gloomy, as you might imagine,” he replied, “and there were not as many people as I had expected.”

Lady Rose got up from the writing table and moved across the room to the sofa.

“What am I going to do, Arthur,” she asked, “about a Lady-in-Waiting?”

“I have been thinking about that while coming back to London.  She will have to be someone discreet.”

Lady Rose nodded her head and then she looked at him, a pleading expression on her face.

“
Must
I really do this?  The whole idea horrifies me, and you know how much I want to stay in England.”

“I know, Rose, but if you do stay, you cannot go on as you are.  People are sure to find out about it sooner or later.”

“And what if they do?” she demanded defiantly.

“Then you will most certainly lose your reputation and if the older members of the family are told all about it, you can imagine what they will say.”

Lady Rose made a helpless gesture with her hands and walked to the window.

Her brother sat down in a chair and looked at her.

She was very attractive with her hair glinting in the sunshine and her exquisite features silhouetted against the windowpane.

He was sorry, desperately sorry, at what she was being forced to do, but he could not think of any plausible alternative.

Lady Rose was nearly twenty years old and when she had ‘come out' as a
debutante
, she had been an instant success.

And at the end of last year she had fallen in love.

Wildly, head-over-heels in love with the Marquis of Dorsham.

As he was only twenty-seven, extremely handsome and exceedingly rich, it would, the Duke knew, have been a perfect marriage in every way.

Unfortunately the Marquis at the age of twenty-two had been pressured into marriage.

At the time it had seemed such an excellent union and likely to prove happy.

The young girl the Marquis had married was one of the greatest beauties of the Season.  Her parents were both in-waiting to Queen Victoria and they had been delighted at the marriage.

They had, however, omitted to tell the bridegroom that their daughter was at times given to strange seizures, which in some way had affected her brain.

It was not until after they had been married for two months that the Marquis discovered his wife's problem.

Later when he eventually realised the seriousness of her condition, the doctors were called in.

But it was too late – there was nothing they could do for the Marchioness.

Her seizures became more and more severe, until she was now permanently in the hands of her doctors and nurses.  She did not even recognise her husband when he came to see her.

When he fell in love with Lady Rose, the Marquis realised exactly what he was missing.

They then despairingly faced a future in which it was impossible for them to be together.

It was only by a miracle, the Duke reflected, that their love for each other had not been uncovered already.

There were those in Society who were always ready to find fault with anyone who was popular and if they had found out, the gossips would have all run straight to Queen Victoria.

Then, as the Duke had expressed it to his sister, ‘the balloon would have gone up'.