136. A Heart in Chains

Since the death of her almost bankrupt father, the beautiful Andrea Clerefall has been reduced to the status of a drudge under the stern eye of her stepmother and her two unpleasant stepsisters. Her only friend is her late mother’s old Nanny, Hattie, who is teaching her the art of embroidery. When Andrea encounters by chance the new Viscount at nearby Mannerly Hall and falls for his considerable charms, she never dares dream that her fortunes will soon be closely entwined with his. Unexpectedly she and her stepfamily are invited to the Mannerly masked ball, but her stepmother spitefully ensures that Andrea is excluded from the glittering occasion. However Hattie comes to the rescue at the last minute and in the guise of ‘Griselda’, Andrea goes to the ball where she is a sensation and attracts the attentions of the Viscount, who by the end of the night declares that he will never let her escape him. But escape she must as she is not of his class. By the time he discovers who she is, his heart is in chains to the calculating Lady Bethel and Andrea herself faces a life of degradation as the employee of the nefarious Madam Fabrice in the heart of London. Only love can free her and only her love can break the chains that hold the Viscount imprisoned. Find out what happens to Andrea and how her prayers are eventually answered in this intriguing story by BARBARA CARTLAND.