Captive mistress. English-language novels

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France, XVII century. Young Arabella, not knowing that such wealth and luxury, gets an invitation toВ the ball. Drugged toВ flatter the monarch, an innocent girl not notice that he is inВ the Royal bed. But the fee for the title mistress ofВ the king is too high. The girl will have toВ visit the intoxicating harem ofВ the East, the flight toВ sit down on the bed ofВ aВ hated Sultan, toВ appear before himself with the Sacred court. And this is only the beginning ofВ aВ difficult road leading toВ true love.

Captive mistress

English-language novels

Elaine Neksli

© Elaine Neksli, 2016

© Alina Nikitina, translation, 2016

© Elaine Neksli, cover design, 2016

Created with intellectual publishing system Ridero

Prologue

The Duke Edward de Frase languished near the bedroom, which gave birth toВ his wife. All this time, he heard the cries and groans ofВ the beloved. And Edward could only pray that Juliet gave birth toВ aВ healthy child and herself alive, because the man knew that his wife could not become pregnant. Soon came the midwife. Her face was terribly sad, and inВ the eyes ofВ fear had settled. She bowed, weak voice said:

– Mr. Duke…

– My wife gave birth to?

The old wife nodded.

– Yes sir, gave birth to a healthy baby girl, – alas, her voice was not of celebration and joy. But Edward’s eyes lit up with happiness.

And… Juliet? As my beloved wife? asked the Duke.

The old woman looked down and said: "Sir…Madam Juliet failed to save. The birth was very difficult. The poor woman could not survive and went away…to another world. My condolences.

Edward recoiled. It seemed to him that the fire of hell penetrated to the heart: – No,…no,…what are you saying? the Duke darted to the room, beloved. But Juliet was lying with closed eyelids forever. The man was unable to keep back the tears. He staggered, went to his late wife and took her cold hand.

– Juliet! Favorite! Don’t leave me! Please! «moaned Edward. But suddenly he heard quiet weeping of a newborn baby. It was a small little woman with pink cheeks and still closed eyes.

– Monsieur, "came a voice entered midwives: – before the death of Madame has asked that the girl called Arabella, in honor of her late mother.

The Duke took her hand and walked with her inВ the main gallery ofВ the Palace. There stood the little governess, Antonia, lit byВ the rays ofВ the setting sun. The girl sat down inВ aВ deep curtsy.

– Antonia, I need to talk to you.

– Mr. Duke, I sympathize with Your grief, You have died the wife… But she gave life to Your daughter, sacrificed her for the sake of the child, impulsively sighed the maid, with downcast eyes.

– That the fate of the girl I care about. My wife died, I go on a long military campaign and not know if alive. I don’t want to leave baby Arabella to the care of older nurses, because in case of my death give to the shelter. So, Antonia, please, take the girl yourself. The Lord God gave you your children, let this little angel will become the Apple of your life. Adopt Arabella. But I want to know who fathered her and who is she really daughter asked Edward de Frase.

Antonia looked shocked at his master:

– But I… How can?..

– Do not mind, please. The child needs loving and gentle mother, imploringly said the man.

«I…I don’t know… Oh… Well, the woman took his new daughter in his arms and slowly went to the nursery.

Edward sadly watched the passing ofВ Antonia, and it seemed toВ him that he sees his daughter one last time.

PartВ I

“Green rose”

ChapterВ 1

    After sixteen years… France, Bern.

Young Arabella walked inВ the garden, collecting herbs. She was smart and obedient, and the beauty represented has not opened yet, the delicate rosebud ofВ aВ precious flower. The girl grew up with the poor girl, Antonia, but she knew that she was born inВ the family ofВ the glorious and rich Duke.

The sense of foreboding wouldn’t leave h