The Duke is Deceived

Princess Zelda of Brienz in Switzerland is being harassed by herfather to marry a King or Prince of one of the small countries of Europe. Zelda is very beautiful and determined that when she doesmarry it will be for love and only love and she cannot possibly fallin love with any of her father? s suitors. She runs away from herhome to her cousin, Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who has alwaysbeen very fond of her. She tells him that she is determined to find out the truth about a scandal that has been repeated ever since shewas born. This was that her real father was the fourth Duke of Milverden from one of the foremost aristocratic families of England. She is also hoping to find the love of her life. To please her, the Prince sends her to stay in London with an old friend of his, Lady Craven, so that she can discover for herself if she is really one ofthe Milvers. Prince Johann also gives her an introduction to Queen Victoria who, he is well aware, knows more about Royalty in Europethan anyone else. How Zelda is advised to behave in a very strangeway both by Queen Victoria and by her Prime Minister, Mr. Disraeli. How she manages to meet the present Duke, who succeededher supposed father and finds that owing to a humiliating experiencewhen he was a young man he has become a recluse and hides away in hismagnificent house filed with treasures and will see no one. How inan assumed personality, but being intelligent and astute, she attracts and puzzles him. And how finally they both find happiness is alltold in this unusual romance by BARBARA CARTLAND.