Carroll - Royal romances: titillating tales of passion and power in the palaces of Europe

L ESLIE C ARROLL

NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY

N EW A MERICAN L IBRARY

Published by New American Library, a division of

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First published by New American Library,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, November 2012

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Copyright Leslie Carroll, 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

REGISTERED TRADEMARKMARCA REGISTRADA

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

Carroll, Leslie, 1959

Royal romances: titillating tales of passion and power in the palaces of Europe/Leslie Carroll.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN: 978-1-101-60712-1

1. EuropeKings and rulersParamours. 2. QueensEuropeParamours.

3. Favorites, RoyalEurope. I. Title.

D107.C294 2012

940.099dc23 2012007790

Set in Sabon

Designed by Patrice Sheridan

Printed in the United States of America

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While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

F or my late grandparents

Carroll and Norma Carroll,

whose unflagging love and support inspired me to take their name professionally, and who introduced me to the glamour and magic of Europes royal courts;
and to Lazarus and (the wisest woman in the world) Sylvia Goldsmith, whose English roots continue to inspire me to rediscover my own, even as I wonder whether I may be distantly related to the Duchess of Cambridge.
I grew up with the best of role models: my grandparents lengthy and happy marriages taught me to believe in romance and the concept of an enduring love.

my heart is loath to remain even one hour without love.

Catherine II of Russia (Catherine the Great),

February 21, 1774

ROYAL ROMANCES

romance \r-man(t)s; r r\

n.

a. A love affair.

b. Ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people; love.

c. A strong, sometimes short-lived attachment, fascination, or enthusiasm for something.

A mysterious or fascinating quality or appeal, as of something adventurous, heroic, or strangely beautiful.