Tilda, as she dressed her hair, chatted quietly. “You know, you look like Princess Alexandra with this hairdo, Miss Alexis.”
“She’s blond and she’s a Dane,” Alexis answered, not seeing the resemblance at all.
“I know she is, but she’s beautiful and everyone has copied her hairstyle and they copy her clothes.” Struck by a moment of true inspiration, Tilda added, “I’ve seen her in a gown just like this, long and slender with long sleeves. If it’s good enough for the Princess of Wales, it’s good enough for you, Miss Alexis.”
Before Alexis could stand up, Tilda insisted on putting a little pink rouge on her lips. She smoothed her thick auburn eyebrows with a small brush. “There, all done,” the maid said. “Now, you must put on the dress.”
Reluctant though she was, Alexis stepped into the silk gown, waited for Tilda to button it up the back, and then went over to the mirror.
She was shocked at how she looked, turned to Tilda, and said, “It suits me and it doesn’t look cheap at all.”
“It’s perfect on you. It highlights your slim figure, you must wear it. It makes you look younger.”
“But what shoes do I have? And I need a purse,” Alexis said.
“The gray shoes and bag will work with the lavender.” The maid ran to the closet and took out these items.
Alexis hesitated at the bedroom door, as Tilda sprayed a floral scent on her. “Are you sure I look all right?” she asked nervously.
“Beautiful, Miss Alexis. More beautiful than I’ve seen you for … a very long time.”
It was just five minutes to seven when Alexis walked into the lobby of the hotel.
James was standing there waiting for her. He was struck dumb when he first set eyes on her. He had never seen Alexis looking like this, in a lavender gown and with a hint of cosmetics on her face. She was so gorgeous even other people were glancing at her in admiration. He managed to say good evening in a low voice.
She looked up at him, smiled, and slipped her arm through his. “I think we should go in for supper,” she murmured, walking with him to the restaurant.
Once they were seated, she said, “Earlier, I ordered a bottle of Dom Pérignon.” As she glanced around looking for a waiter, she saw one coming toward their table, carrying the champagne in a silver bucket.
Once their flutes had been filled, they clinked glasses, and Alexis said, “To your success, Mr. Falconer.”
Finding his voice at last, he corrected her. “No, to our success.”
A silence fell between them as they sipped the champagne. They just sat staring at each other without saying a word, each lost in their own thoughts.
Alexis, gazing at him more intently than ever before, realized for the first time how very blue his eyes were, almost unnaturally blue. He was a handsome man. How could his looks have escaped her? Preoccupation, she answered herself. Preoccupation with work and my troubles.
Finally he spoke. “Why are you staring at me, Miss Malvern? Is there something wrong?”
“I was thinking how very blue your eyes are,” she murmured.
“They’ve always been blue,” he replied, and then laughed. “Perhaps you never noticed.”
“I think sometimes I have my head pushed down into the work on my desk, and I miss things. I have to change that.”
His eyes were riveted on her face. He took in the vividness of her beauty, the flaming auburn hair, the emerald green eyes, and the sublime ivory complexion. He wasn’t going to walk away from her. That was not his nature. He was going to win her. She was going to be his, no matter what.
At this precise moment, Alexis recognized the expression in James Falconer’s eyes. Her heart tightened. He wanted her.
“Now you’re staring at me,” she said softly. Their eyes locked and she was unable to look away.
She thought suddenly: Perhaps there is a life for me after all.
Acknowledgments
I happened to open last year’s novel, Secrets of Cavendon, the other day, looking for a bit of research. What momentarily startled me was the list of books I have written. Thirty-two major novels. I couldn’t help asking myself when I had written them. Over thirty-nine years, to be exact.
Next year, in 2019, I will be celebrating forty years as a novelist, and the publication of my first novel, A Woman of Substance.
This year I am publishing my thirty-third novel, the first in a series of four books set in the Victorian period. The House of Falconer is the overall title of the series, and the first book is Master of His Fate, which begins in 1884 and ends in 1889. I am excited about this new series and the fascinating characters I have created to tell the stories of their lives.
My editor at St. Martin’s Press, executive vice president and publisher Jennifer Enderlin, is also excited about the series, because there have not been too many novels written about Victorian England, other than in the crime category. I want to thank Jen for her continuing enthusiasm for my novels, and her excitement about this series and Master of His Fate. Jen is always full of ideas, loves to brainstorm, and come up with side plots and lots of drama. We have fun doing this. I appreciate her involvement with my work on every level. I also must thank Jen’s publishing team and her assistant, Rachel Diebel.
It is important to me that I turn in a perfect manuscript and it is Linda Sullivan of WORDsmart who does exactly that. She is a wonder, a miracle worker producing those perfect manuscripts without errors and at great speed. My thanks to Linda for her dedication and also her willingness to work all hours so that I can make my deadline.
I wish to thank Ann-Marie Nieves of Get Red PR for all the work she has done for me and Bob over the years, publicizing my books and his movies of the books. Always inventive and imaginative, Ann-Marie is a good friend who has never heard of the word “no.”
My husband, Bob, always involved in my work, has been a real trooper whilst I have been writing this new book. No complaints about my long hours and late meals, and there have been smiles for me every day and loving words of encouragement. My thanks to him for being a good sport.
Finally, I wish to thank four of my girlfriends in New York, often called my posse, sometimes my women warriors. I think they are all those things and much more. Vicki, Avanti, Wendy, and Susan, you have my gratitude and love for always being there for me.
BOOKS BY BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD
Series
THE CAVENDON CHRONICLES
Cavendon Hall
The Cavendon Women
The Cavendon Luck
Secrets of Cavendon
THE EMMA HARTE SAGA
A Woman of Substance
Hold the Dream
To Be the Best
Emma’s Secret
Unexpected Blessings
Just Rewards
Breaking the Rules
THE RAVENSCAR TRILOGY
The Ravenscar Dynasty
The Heir of Ravenscar
Being Elizabeth
OTHERS
Voice of the Heart
Act of Will
The Women in His Life
Remember
Angel
Everything to Gain
Dangerous to Know
Love in Another Town
Her Own Rules
A Secret Affair
Power of a Woman
A Sudden Change of Heart
Where You Belong
The Triumph of Katie Byrne
Three Weeks in Paris
Playing the Game
Letter from a Stranger
Secrets from the Past
About the Author
BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD was born and brought up in England and started her writing career as a journalist. She has written more than thirty international bestsellers. Master of His Fate is her thirty-third novel. In 2007 Queen Elizabeth awarded her the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her literary achievements. She lives in New York with her husband, TV and film producer Robert Bradford. Visit www.barbarataylorb
radford.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
DEDICATION
CHARACTERS
PART ONE: THE BARROW BOY
LONDON
1884
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
PART TWO: NEW HORIZONS
LONDON–KENT
1887
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
PART THREE: UNIQUE RELATIONSHIPS
KINGSTON UPON HULL–LONDON
1888
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
PART FOUR: THE ROAD TO DESTINY
HULL–LONDON
1888
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
PART FIVE: THE WAY IT IS
LONDON–PARIS
1888–1889
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
Chapter Forty-eight
Chapter Forty-nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-one
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BOOKS BY BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
MASTER OF HIS FATE. Copyright © 2018 by Barbara Taylor Bradford. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Danielle Christopher
Cover photographs: house © Claire Morgan / Trevillion Images; couple © Eva Van Oosten / Trevillion Images
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Bradford, Barbara Taylor, author.
Title: Master of his fate / Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Description: First edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2018.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018036264 | ISBN 9781250187390 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250187413 (ebook)
Classification: LCC PS3552.R2147 M37 2018 | DDC 813/.54—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018036264
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First Edition: November 2018