Fortune Is a Woman - Elizabeth Adler [0]
FOR THE TAKING …
LOVE WAS THE PRIZE WITHHELD …
THE MANDARIN LAI TSIN—A legend in San Francisco, the frail Chinese tycoon built a fortune from ashes, driven by secret passions that would haunt generations to come….
FRANCIE HARRISON—They called her the Mandarin’s concubine, never suspecting the truth about the runaway heiress and the mysterious Lai Tsin, who saved her life and molded her fate….
HARRY HARRISON—The handsome, dissolute Nob Hill heir vowed to finish the job his father began—and to destroy his sister if it was the last thing he ever did….
ANNIE AYSGARTH—The Yorkshire lass turned world-class hotelier found her destiny on the burning streets of San Francisco with the Mandarin and Francie, who would trust her with their secrets—and their lives….
LYSANDRA LAI TSIN—Suddenly Francie’s young daughter was the richest girl in the world … and she would grow up to be a ravishing merchant queen faced with the ultimate choice between her empire—and her heart….
Books by Elizabeth Adler
LÉONIE
PEACH
FLEETING IMAGES INDISCRETIONS
THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
FORTUNE IS A WOMAN
LEGACY OF SECRETS
THE SECRET OF THE VILLA MIMOSA
NOW OR NEVER
SOONER OR LATER
THE RICH SHALL INHERIT
ALL OR NOTHING
IN A HEARTBEAT
Table of Contents
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Dedication
Prologue
Part I - Francie and Annie
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Part II - The Mandarin
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Part III - Harry: 1911–1918
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Part IV - Buck
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Part V - Francie: 1937
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Part VI - Lysandra: 1963
Chapter 43
Epilogue
About the Author
Copyright
For my lovely Mom,
the one and only Annie Louisa
“Fortune is a woman, and it is necessary,
if you wish to master her, to conquer her by force.”
—Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince, 1513
PROLOGUE
1937
When Lysandra’s grandfather, the Mandarin Lai Tsin, knew he had very little time left on this earth, he took her to visit Hong Kong. He was seventy years old, or maybe more, small and thin and very dignified with parchment skin, high cheekbones, and lacquer-black, almond-shaped eyes. Lysandra was seven, her golden hair spiraled past her shoulders in a thousand energetic curls. She had round, sapphire eyes and a delicate creamy complexion, but she didn’t think it strange that she belonged to him. He was Grandfather and she was Lysandra, it was as simple as that.
The journey from San Francisco took six days by flying boat with overnight stops at grand hotels in different cities en route and in that time he talked to her about his business and about China while Lysandra listened interestedly.
“I am an old man,” he said as the flying boat lifted sluggishly from Manila Bay on the last leg of its journey. “I shall not have the honor of knowing you on your long journey through life into womanhood. I am giving you everything you could wish for on this earth—riches, power, and success—in the hope that your life will be blessed with happiness. I have told you everything, Lysandra, with the exception of one Truth. This Truth is my secret. This Truth is written down and locked away in my private safe in my office in Hong Kong. Only if despair overtakes you and your path in life seems unclear must you read it. And if that day should come, Granddaughter, then I pray you will forgive me and that my Truth will help you choose the right road to happiness.”
Lysandra nodded wonderingly; sometimes the Mandarin was very confusing, but she loved him so much that “truths” didn’t seem nearly as important as the fact that he had chosen her as his companion.
When they arrived in Hong Kong they drove immediately to the white,