Chapter I: Preface

My object in writing this book has been to present as many phases as possible of the strangely romantic story of the British Peerage, so that those who have not the time or facilities for exploring the library of books over which these stories are scattered, may be able, within the compass of a single volume, to review the panorama of our aristocracy, with its tragedy and comedy, its romance and pathos, its foibles and its follies, in a few hours of what I sincerely hope will prove agreeable reading. If my book gives to any reader a fraction of the pleasure I have derived from its writing, I shall be more than rewarded for a labour which has been to me a delight.

THORNTON HALL.

_As love plays a prominent part in at least twenty of these stones, and is only really absent from one or two of them, I venture to hope that my good friends, the reviewers, who have been so kind to my previous books, will not find fault with my title, which, more accurately than any other I can think of, describes the nature and scope of my book_.

T.H.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I. A PRINCESS OF PRUDES 1
II. THE NIGHTINGALE OF BATH 21
III. THE ROMANCE OF THE VILLIERS 36
IV. THE STAIN ON THE SHIRLEY 'SCUTCHEON 51
V. A GHOSTLY VISITANT 62
VI. A MESSALINA OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 74
VII. A PROFLIGATE PRINCE 87
VIII. THE GORGEOUS COUNTESS 96
IX. A QUEEN OF COQUETTES 110
X. THE ADVENTURES OF A VISCOUNT'S DAUGHTER 127
XI. A SIXTEENTH CENTURY ELOPEMENT 136
XII. TRAGEDIES OF THE TURF 148
XIII. THE WICKED BARON 165
XIV. A FAIR _INTRIGANTE_ 177
XV. THE MERRY DUCHESS 195
XVI. THE KING AND THE PRETTY HAYMAKER 207
XVII. THE COUNTESS WHO MARRIED HER GROOM 222
XVIII. A NOBLE VAGABOND 231
XIX. FOOTLIGHTS AND CORONETS 243
XX. A PEASANT COUNTESS 256
XXI. THE FAVOURITE OF A QUEEN 266
XXII. TWO IRISH BEAUTIES 282
XXIII. THE MYSTERIOUS TWINS 298
XXIV. THE MAYPOLE DUCHESS 316
XXV. THE ROMANCE OF FAMILY TREES 326

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF HAMILTON _Frontispiece_
FRANCES, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND _to face page_ 18
MARGUERITE, COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON 98
SARAH, DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH 110
LOUISE, DUCHESS OF PORTSMOUTH 184
HARRIET, DUCHESS OF ST ALBANS 252
ROBERT DUDLEY, EARL OF LEICESTER 266
MARIA, COUNTESS OF COVENTRY 288

LOVE ROMANCES OF THE ARISTOCRACY.