A Princess Prays by Barbara Cartland

wood.
    As the last man disappeared Attila gave a deep sigh of relief.
    She had won the battle of nerves and they had gone away without finding their victim.
    She realised, however, that she must be careful. If the leader was suspicious, he might be watching them.
    Lamos, who had continued his cooking by the fire, looked round.
    â€œIs Your Royal Highness all right?” he asked her anxiously.
    Attila put her hand to her lips and ran towards him.
    â€œBe careful what you say. I don’t wish those men to know who I am – or the man who has just arrived.”
    â€œI’m sorry. It just slipped out.”
    She had told both Lamos and Kilkos not to say who she was when they had been at the Monastery.
    â€œThey think I am just a pupil of Father Jozsef’s,” she said, “and that indeed is the truth.”
    They had understood that she did not want them to make a great fuss over her.
    And now she was sure it would be a great mistake for the stranger, whoever he was, to have any idea that she was a Princess.
    As if Lamos was upset at having made an error, he said,
    â€œI will have something ready for you in about five minutes. Do you expect the stranger will be hungry too?”
    â€œI will go and ask him,” replied Attila, “but he will be wise to stay where he is while those men are about.”
    â€œI agree with you,” said Lamos. “A nasty lot they seemed to me.”
    Attila went back to the carriage where she looked towards the trees and then opened the door.
    â€œThey have gone,” she announced.
    The stranger sat up and pushed back the hood from his head.
    â€œHow can I ever thank you for saving my life? I cannot think of any woman who would have been so quick or so skilful without asking a great number of questions.”
    Attila smiled.
    â€œIn which case they would have caught you.”
    â€œAnd killed me!”
    Attila glanced over her shoulder again.
    â€œI think they were convinced you were not here, but one can never be sure. It is very difficult to hide out in the grassland and they think you have returned to the woods.”
    â€œIt is only because you were clever enough to tell me to shave off my moustache that he believed I was a priest.”
    â€œWhy does he want to kill you?” enquired Attila.
    She thought she must seem rather inquisitive, but at the same time this young man, nice though he seemed, had maybe committed some terrible crime.
    â€œAs you have been very kind to me,” the stranger answered her, “I am more than prepared to tell you the whole gruesome story. But for the moment I can only feel gratitude that at the very last moment I found an angel to befriend me.”
    Attila laughed.
    â€œI am delighted that you think of me as an angel, but actually I am only a humble pilgrim.”
    â€œAnd a very beautiful one,” he added.
    As Attila was not used to being paid compliments, she blushed and then said quickly,
    â€œI am sure you must be feeling hungry and supper, I am told, will be ready in five minutes.”
    â€œWill it be safe for me to come out of the carriage?” the stranger asked.
    â€œOnly if you wear the cassock and you should keep the hood over your head. If they spy on you from the wood, they might recognise you, even though very soon it will be dark.”
    â€œYou think of everything and I am just so grateful. Is my horse safe?”
    She liked it that he was worrying about his horse.
    â€œHe is with the other horses down by the stream,” she told him. “Ours will come when they are called and I hope yours will do the same.”
    â€œHe is young but fairly obedient. In fact he is one of the fastest horses I have ever ridden and there is Arab blood in him.”
    â€œThen I must take a look at him,” suggested Attila. “I love horses and, if you do too, you will admire mine.”
    â€œI am prepared to believe everything about you is perfect!”
    Attila