LOVE ROMANCES OF THE ARISTOCRACY

By

THORNTON HALL, F.S.A.

BARRISTER-AT-LAW

AUTHOR OF "LOVE INTRIGUES OF ROYAL COURTS," ETC. ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

LONDON

T. WERNER LAURIE

CLIFFORD'S INN

TO

MRS TOM HESKETH

L'amitié est l'amour sans ailes

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
  
  1. A PRINCESS OF PRUDES 1
  2. THE NIGHTINGALE OF BATH 21
  3. THE ROMANCE OF THE VILLIERS 36
  4. THE STAIN ON THE SHIRLEY 'SCUTCHEON 51
  5. A GHOSTLY VISITANT 62
  6. A MESSALINA OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 74
  7. A PROFLIGATE PRINCE 87
  8. THE GORGEOUS COUNTESS 96
  9. A QUEEN OF COQUETTES 110
  10. THE ADVENTURES OF A VISCOUNT'S DAUGHTER127
  11. A SIXTEENTH CENTURY ELOPEMENT 136
  12. TRAGEDIES OF THE TURF 148
  13. THE WICKED BARON 165
  14. A FAIR INTRIGANTE 177
  15. THE MERRY DUCHESS 195
  16. THE KING AND THE PRETTY HAYMAKER 207
  17. THE COUNTESS WHO MARRIED HER GROOM 222
  18. A NOBLE VAGABOND 231
  19. FOOTLIGHTS AND CORONETS 243
  20. A PEASANT COUNTESS 256
  21. THE FAVOURITE OF A QUEEN 266
  22. TWO IRISH BEAUTIES 282
  23. THE MYSTERIOUS TWINS 298
  24. THE MAYPOLE DUCHESS 316
  25. 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