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Love Locked In
LOVE LOCKED IN
The Duc turned his back on Syrilla and stood looking out of the turret window with unseeing eyes.
"I am certainly not the Knight you believed me to be. I have committed every indecent crime imaginable. I have even ruined innocent women's lives simply because it amused me."
He drew in his breath.
"I am a debauched man, Syrilla. A man who has dragged a noble title into the gutter and, smeared it with mud!"
He spoke with such self-hate that she felt tears come into her eyes.
"But you are different, Syrilla . . . so innocent, pure and beautiful. You are perfection ..."
The Duc paused; then he spoke fiercely:
"Take me as I am, and I swear I'll do whatever you want. But if you can't, you must disappear from my life now ... and forever."
The Duc turned his back on Syrilla and stood looking out of the turret window with unseeing eyes.
"I am certainly not the Knight you believed me to be. I have committed every indecent crime imaginable. I have even ruined innocent women's lives simply because it amused me."
He drew in his breath.
"I am a debauched man, Syrilla. A man who has dragged a noble title into the gutter and, smeared it with mud!"
He spoke with such self-hate that she felt tears come into her eyes.
"But you are different, Syrilla . . . so innocent, pure and beautiful. You are perfection ..."
The Duc paused; then he spoke fiercely:
"Take me as I am, and I swear I'll do whatever you want. But if you can't, you must disappear from my life now ... and forever."
152 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 1978
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,067 books859 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 23, 2025
A very light easy comfort read.
The actual story posits that a man's character and therefore lifestyle can be reformed through the love of a good woman, which from my experience is a fantasy that many women in my day, including me, hoped for, but whose hopes were inevitably dashed.
Interesting to read that Barbara Cartland, who lived to a ripe old age, and wrote over 200 books, including 4 biographies. She was the mother of the stepmother of Princess Diana. She was a President of the Royal College of Midwives and championed for better conditions and salaries for midwives, championed the cause for old people (presumably more as she aged), and founded the first Romany Gypsy Camp in the world.
The actual story posits that a man's character and therefore lifestyle can be reformed through the love of a good woman, which from my experience is a fantasy that many women in my day, including me, hoped for, but whose hopes were inevitably dashed.
Interesting to read that Barbara Cartland, who lived to a ripe old age, and wrote over 200 books, including 4 biographies. She was the mother of the stepmother of Princess Diana. She was a President of the Royal College of Midwives and championed for better conditions and salaries for midwives, championed the cause for old people (presumably more as she aged), and founded the first Romany Gypsy Camp in the world.
May 6, 2013
I read the French version of this book. Maybe it is not so fascinating but I like novels that tackle nobility. However, I find that such kind of love is a little bit unrealistic.
August 28, 2017
My reaction while reading chapter one is; "Another manwhore hero!" (He is seriously a manwhore)... he host orgies... he would bed more than one woman and he can dispose them as well like throwing trash ... in short he is awful....
But slowly.... and unintentionally he changed that is when he met the lovely heroine.... awwwwwww this is so nice a good read indeed!
But slowly.... and unintentionally he changed that is when he met the lovely heroine.... awwwwwww this is so nice a good read indeed!
November 27, 2022
At least, one different!
This novel is worth to belong to my B. Cartland Specials!
Beautiful plot. Beautiful story. A thriller of punishment and salvation.
Monica Beltrami. Montevideo, Uruguay.
This novel is worth to belong to my B. Cartland Specials!
Beautiful plot. Beautiful story. A thriller of punishment and salvation.
Monica Beltrami. Montevideo, Uruguay.
July 7, 2023
Anche questo romanzo, parte bene poi è come se l'autrice si fosse ricordata che doveva concludere il libro e scoppia l'amore tra i due protagonisti senza un perché. Li ascolto perché sono brevi ma si nota che sono parecchio datati nello stile e nelle situazioni.
November 22, 2018
an amazing story by Barbara Catland , where a duchess marries the knight of her dream . Story of love care patience
July 25, 2023
The classic trope that the love of a good woman can save even the most degenerate debauched man.
February 26, 2025
The Duc turned his back on Syrilla and stood looking out of the turret window with unseeing eyes.
"I am certainly not the Knight you believed me to be. I have committed every indecent crime imaginable. I have even ruined innocent women's lives simply because it amused me."
He drew in his breath.
"I am a debauched man, Syrilla. A man who has dragged a noble title into the gutter and, smeared it with mud!"
He spoke with such self-hate that she felt tears come into her eyes.
"But you are different, Syrilla . . . so innocent, pure and beautiful. You are perfection ..."
The Duc paused; then he spoke fiercely:
"Take me as I am, and I swear I'll do whatever you want. But if you can't, you must disappear from my life now ... and forever."
"I am certainly not the Knight you believed me to be. I have committed every indecent crime imaginable. I have even ruined innocent women's lives simply because it amused me."
He drew in his breath.
"I am a debauched man, Syrilla. A man who has dragged a noble title into the gutter and, smeared it with mud!"
He spoke with such self-hate that she felt tears come into her eyes.
"But you are different, Syrilla . . . so innocent, pure and beautiful. You are perfection ..."
The Duc paused; then he spoke fiercely:
"Take me as I am, and I swear I'll do whatever you want. But if you can't, you must disappear from my life now ... and forever."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews