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The Elusive Earl
When a startlingly beautiful young girl with brilliant red-golden hair falls at speed from her horse before him, the dashingly handsome Osric, Earl of Helstone, is uncharacteristically caught off his guard.
Not only one of the richest men in England but also, in many women’s opinion, by far the best-looking, ‘The Elusive Earl’, as he is known, is accustomed to Society beauties falling at his feet – but not in so literal a fashion!
Rushing to her aid, he finds that the girl has not fallen – but made her horse throw her deliberately in a cunning ruse to talk to him without her groom being aware of it.
She introduces herself as Calista, the headstrong daughter of Lady Chevington and warns the Earl that he must decline her mother’s invitation to stay at her estate for the duration of the Epsom Races, claiming that her mother is bent on duping him into marrying Calista.
Laughing at the claim, the Earl accepts the invitation to Chevington Court – and in no time finds himself tricked into a compromising position, the only escape from which is marriage to Calista as she had warned him.
But just as he begins reluctantly to accept that he must marry the young beauty who, after all, shares his passion for horses, Calista disappears and, at the request of a surprisingly frantic Lady Chevington, the Earl goes in search of her.
Finally finding her and her beloved horse performing in a circus, he tries to bring her home, but falls foul of a vicious ‘Strong Man’ and is terribly injured.
And, as she patiently nurses her saviour back to health, Calista realises that she is in love.
If only the Earl felt the same way too.
Not only one of the richest men in England but also, in many women’s opinion, by far the best-looking, ‘The Elusive Earl’, as he is known, is accustomed to Society beauties falling at his feet – but not in so literal a fashion!
Rushing to her aid, he finds that the girl has not fallen – but made her horse throw her deliberately in a cunning ruse to talk to him without her groom being aware of it.
She introduces herself as Calista, the headstrong daughter of Lady Chevington and warns the Earl that he must decline her mother’s invitation to stay at her estate for the duration of the Epsom Races, claiming that her mother is bent on duping him into marrying Calista.
Laughing at the claim, the Earl accepts the invitation to Chevington Court – and in no time finds himself tricked into a compromising position, the only escape from which is marriage to Calista as she had warned him.
But just as he begins reluctantly to accept that he must marry the young beauty who, after all, shares his passion for horses, Calista disappears and, at the request of a surprisingly frantic Lady Chevington, the Earl goes in search of her.
Finally finding her and her beloved horse performing in a circus, he tries to bring her home, but falls foul of a vicious ‘Strong Man’ and is terribly injured.
And, as she patiently nurses her saviour back to health, Calista realises that she is in love.
If only the Earl felt the same way too.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2021
17 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,056 books837 followersBorn in 1901, Barbara Cartland started her writing career in journalism and completed her first book, Jigsaw, when she was just 24. An immediate success, it was the start of her journey to becoming the world’s most famous and most read romantic novelist of all time. Inspiring a whole generation of readers around the globe with her exciting tales of adventure, love and intrigue, she became synonymous with the Romance genre. And she still is to this day, having written over 644 romantic fiction books.
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 2, 2021
3/5⭐
Lo leí porque me salió en mis recuerdos de facebook haberlo compartido porque una autora española lo buscaba. Y me vino bien leerlo porque venía de un libro que me resultó muy fuerte.
Ésta novela que está ambientada en el contexto de una joven Victoria coronándose reina, me gustó mucho porque significó reencontrarme con esa literatura romántica clásica y blanca (sin sexo) pero que en ocho capitulos Bárbara Cartland (la reina del rosa porque vestía ése color) te los narra con tal ímpetu que NO es una novelista más. Me gustó mucho Carlota. Una mujer nada sumisa. Y él, un conde que es esquivo a casarse. Me impactó la (¿Maldad?) De Lady Chevington, mamá de Carlota y esa ambición ciega que tiene por casar a sus hijas a tal punto que las droga.
Recomiendo que lean a ésta autora que tiene más de setecientas novelas.
Un dato que no sabía: fue abuelastra de Lady Di.
"—Soy mucho mayor que tú —continuó diciendo el conde—, y he llevado lo que la gente llama una "vida intensa". No insultaría yo tu inteligencia negándote que he tenido muchas aventuras amorosas. Se detuvo antes de añadir: —Pero quiero que me creas cuando digo que no han sido nada serio por mi parte, sólo interludios de diversión y placer."
"—¡Te amo, te adoro, te idolatro! —dijo él, con fervor—. ¡Y me preguntas si quiero quedarme! ¡Oh, mi precioso corazón, mi pequeño amor! ¡No hay palabras con que pueda expresar la dolorosa desesperación con que te deseo!"
Lo leí porque me salió en mis recuerdos de facebook haberlo compartido porque una autora española lo buscaba. Y me vino bien leerlo porque venía de un libro que me resultó muy fuerte.
Ésta novela que está ambientada en el contexto de una joven Victoria coronándose reina, me gustó mucho porque significó reencontrarme con esa literatura romántica clásica y blanca (sin sexo) pero que en ocho capitulos Bárbara Cartland (la reina del rosa porque vestía ése color) te los narra con tal ímpetu que NO es una novelista más. Me gustó mucho Carlota. Una mujer nada sumisa. Y él, un conde que es esquivo a casarse. Me impactó la (¿Maldad?) De Lady Chevington, mamá de Carlota y esa ambición ciega que tiene por casar a sus hijas a tal punto que las droga.
Recomiendo que lean a ésta autora que tiene más de setecientas novelas.
Un dato que no sabía: fue abuelastra de Lady Di.
"—Soy mucho mayor que tú —continuó diciendo el conde—, y he llevado lo que la gente llama una "vida intensa". No insultaría yo tu inteligencia negándote que he tenido muchas aventuras amorosas. Se detuvo antes de añadir: —Pero quiero que me creas cuando digo que no han sido nada serio por mi parte, sólo interludios de diversión y placer."
"—¡Te amo, te adoro, te idolatro! —dijo él, con fervor—. ¡Y me preguntas si quiero quedarme! ¡Oh, mi precioso corazón, mi pequeño amor! ¡No hay palabras con que pueda expresar la dolorosa desesperación con que te deseo!"
November 11, 2022
A fun read. I loved Calista’s independence. The Earl was very interesting. I thought he would be a little more cautious regarding being manipulated into marriage. I wonder if such things actually happened. One thing for sure, if I were the Earl I would never let my mother-in-law into any of my homes!
August 27, 2017
A story of an elusive Earl and his elusive bride....
June 14, 2024
Absolutely no bodice ripping going on, I wasn't expecting that. Still, a nice dacha read
April 4, 2023
When a startlingly beautiful young girl with brilliant red-golden hair falls at speed from her horse before him, the dashingly handsome Osric, Earl of Helstone, is uncharacteristically caught off his guard.
Not only one of the richest men in England but also, in many women’s opinion, by far the best-looking, ‘The Elusive Earl’, as he is known, is accustomed to Society beauties falling at his feet – but not in so literal a fashion!
Rushing to her aid, he finds that the girl has not fallen – but made her horse throw her deliberately in a cunning ruse to talk to him without her groom being aware of it.
She introduces herself as Calista, the headstrong daughter of Lady Chevington and warns the Earl that he must decline her mother’s invitation to stay at her estate for the duration of the Epsom Races, claiming that her mother is bent on duping him into marrying Calista.
Laughing at the claim, the Earl accepts the invitation to Chevington Court – and in no time finds himself tricked into a compromising position, the only escape from which is marriage to Calista as she had warned him.
But just as he begins reluctantly to accept that he must marry the young beauty who, after all, shares his passion for horses, Calista disappears and, at the request of a surprisingly frantic Lady Chevington, the Earl goes in search of her.
Finally finding her and her beloved horse performing in a circus, he tries to bring her home, but falls foul of a vicious ‘Strong Man’ and is terribly injured.
And, as she patiently nurses her saviour back to health, Calista realises that she is in love.
If only the Earl felt the same way too.
Not only one of the richest men in England but also, in many women’s opinion, by far the best-looking, ‘The Elusive Earl’, as he is known, is accustomed to Society beauties falling at his feet – but not in so literal a fashion!
Rushing to her aid, he finds that the girl has not fallen – but made her horse throw her deliberately in a cunning ruse to talk to him without her groom being aware of it.
She introduces herself as Calista, the headstrong daughter of Lady Chevington and warns the Earl that he must decline her mother’s invitation to stay at her estate for the duration of the Epsom Races, claiming that her mother is bent on duping him into marrying Calista.
Laughing at the claim, the Earl accepts the invitation to Chevington Court – and in no time finds himself tricked into a compromising position, the only escape from which is marriage to Calista as she had warned him.
But just as he begins reluctantly to accept that he must marry the young beauty who, after all, shares his passion for horses, Calista disappears and, at the request of a surprisingly frantic Lady Chevington, the Earl goes in search of her.
Finally finding her and her beloved horse performing in a circus, he tries to bring her home, but falls foul of a vicious ‘Strong Man’ and is terribly injured.
And, as she patiently nurses her saviour back to health, Calista realises that she is in love.
If only the Earl felt the same way too.
August 3, 2009
Barbara Cartland has written hundreds, if not thousands of historic romance novels, and I read a great majority of them in high school. The fact that I remember this cover and title years later, as a book I enjoyed, tells me something. Enough to give it a reread, for sure. I am glad I did. It was a quick and easy read, and as always, some of Cartland's writing is eye-roll worthy. But as always there are interesting bits of history fed to the reader throughout the book, and the main characters were fairly likable.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews