THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE ***
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THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE
BY
CHARLES J. ARCHARD
GREENING'S NEW NOVELS
"The name =GREENING= on a book is a guarantee of excellence."
* * * * *
RICHARD THE BRAZEN BY CYRUS BRADY AND EDWARD PEPLE
THE TANGLED SKEIN BY THE BARONESS ORCZY. _18th Thousand. 6s._
THE MASCOTTE OF PARK LANE BY LUCAS CLEEVE. _Third Edition. 6s_.
THE DUPE BY GERALD BISS. _Second Edition. 6s._
THE WOMAN FRIEND AND THE WIFE BY ETHEL HILL. _6s._
THE PALM OIL RUFFIAN BY ANTHONY HAMILTON. _6s._
AND THE MOOR GAVE UP ITS DEAD BY ERIC HARRISON. _6s._
WHEN TERROR RULED BY MAY WYNNE. _3s. 6d._
THE BISHOP'S EMERALDS BY HOUGHTON TOWNLEY. _6s._
THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE
BY
CHARLES J. ARCHARD
LONDON: GREENING & CO., LTD. 1907
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE FIRST BENTINCK A HERO 7
II. HOW THE BENTINCKS BECAME POSSESSED OF WELBECK.--A FEMININE INTRIGUE 22
III. THE FARMER DUKE--WEDS THE RICH MISS SCOTT--HIS HIGH-SPIRITED SONS AND DAUGHTERS 33
IV. THE FARMER DUKE'S DAUGHTER AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS' SPEAKER.--BECOMES A BENEVOLENT VISCOUNTESS 38
V. EARLY LIFE OF LORD JOHN BENTINCK, AFTERWARDS FIFTH DUKE OF PORTLAND.--THE ADELAIDE KEMBLE ROMANCE 45
VI. LORD GEORGE BENTINCK'S RACING CAREER.--QUARREL WITH HIS COUSIN.--DUEL WITH SQUIRE OSBALDESTON.--"SURPLICE" WINS THE DERBY AND ST. LEGER.--ATTEMPTS TO POISON THE HORSE.--FRIENDSHIP WITH DISRAELI.--TRAGIC DEATH 49
VII. THE ECCENTRIC DUKE AND HIS UNDERGROUND TUNNELS 77
VIII. THE PRESENT DUKE AND DUCHESS.--A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT 95
IX. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS AT HOME.--THE DUCHESS AS PRINCESS BOUNTIFUL.--THE DUCHESS AT COURT 114
X. CLAIMS TO THE PORTLAND PEERAGE BY MRS. DRUCE AND MR. G.H. DRUCE 121
THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE
CHAPTER I
THE FIRST BENTINCK A HERO
What a delightful story is that of the Portland peerage, in which fidelity, heroism, chivalry and romance are blended and interwoven in the annals of the noble families of England. Who that has been to Welbeck Abbey, that magnificent palace in the heart of Sherwood Forest, with its legends of Robin Hood and his merrie men, with its stately oaks and undulating woodlands, stretching away to fertile pastures, dotted over with prosperous farmsteads, as far as the eye can reach, does not feel interested in the fortunes of the noble owner; and who that has seen the Duke and Duchess on some festive occasion at Welbeck, moving to and fro among their thousand guests, a perfectly happy couple, in which the course of true love runs smooth, and whose supreme delight appears to be to spread happiness around them, is so churlish as not to wish them long life, as types of the English nobility it is a delight to honour?
