Diona and a Dalmatian — Barbara Cartland

England, 1819. When Diona Grantley becames an orphan at her father's death, she is compelled to live with her uncle, Sir Hereward Grantley and his dim-witted son Simon. Her father died in debt, Her only comfort is her beloved dog, a Dalmatian called Sirius. In a rage and suffering from gout Sir Hereward orders Sirius to be shot. Frantic to save him Diona runs away and tries to get employment as a kennel-maid with the Marquis of Irchester. She becomes involved with a wager made at White's Club which frightens her. But when her uncle discovers Diona is an heiress, he is resolved to find her and force her to becoma a bride for his son. Only the Marquis and her faithful dog can guard her from a determined adversary...

Diona opened the windows and it let in the fragrance of the roses which her father had trained to climb up the wall outside. The atmosphere of love, which she had missed so despairingly when she went to the Hall, enveloped her again. It took away a little of the unhappiness she felt at leaving the Marquis.

At the same time, now that she was no longer driving in the Post-Chaise, she felt as if her whole being cried out because she had lost his love and him.

"Lenox is to be married!" she tried to tell herself, but somehow she could only long for his arms round her as they had been last night.

She could feel his lips on hers and hear him saying in that deep voice which made her heart turn over in her breast: "God, how I love you!"

"And I love him!" she said aloud. " I love him until he fills my whole world... the sky and the sea, and I shall never... never love... anybody else!"