Bride to the King by Barbara Cartland Page A

remember them.
    Her face must have been very expressive for the Regent said,
    “Forgive me, please forgive me for creating this tangle. I see now only too clearly what I have done, but I don’t know how to undo it.”
    There was a note of humility in his voice and at the same time a sympathy and compassion that had not been there before.
    “There is – nothing you can do,” Zosina said. “I am aware it is – up to me – but please help me and – if you can – give me courage – because I am – afraid.”
    Without really realising what she was doing, as she spoke, she put out her hand towards him and he took it in both of his.
    “I don’t believe that any woman could be braver or more wonderful!” he said quietly.

CHAPTER FOUR
    For what seemed to Zosina a long time she looked into the Regent’s eyes. Then, in a voice that seemed to her to come from a long way away, she whispered,
    “Thank – you.”
    As she spoke, the door opened and the Queen Mother came back into the sitting room.
    She looked in surprise at the Regent as he released Zosina’s hand and asked,
    “Where is Gyórgy? I thought he was here.”
    “He had an audience which he had forgotten, ma’am,” the Regent replied.
    “How like Gyórgy!” the Queen Mother remarked, “but I think that since I last saw him he is much improved. I congratulate you, Sándor. I know how difficult it has been.”
    As she finished speaking, she glanced at Zosina in a way that made her sure that her grandmother had forgotten she was in the room.
    The Queen Mother then paused and said in a different tone,
    “I am sure, dear child, it would be a good idea if you rested before this evening. I want you to look your very best at the State Banquet.”
    “I will go and lie down, Grandmama.”
    Zosina curtseyed and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. Then she dropped a curtsey to the Regent, feeling as she did so that it was impossible to look at him.
    In her bedroom she found a programme of future events left on a secrétaire and knew that it had been put there by one of the aides-de-camp who had been looking after them since they arrived.
    It contained, besides the events at which they were to be present, a list of the important people they would meet and their positions.
    Zosina picked it up absent-mindedly, because her thoughts were elsewhere.
    When she glanced down to see at what time she had to be ready tonight for the State Banquet, she read,
    “ 11.30. a.m. H.M. Queen Szófia and H.R.H. Princess Zosina to inspect the Convent of the Sacred Heart .
    2.30. p.m. H.M. Queen Szófia to open the new Botanical Gardens .
    7.00. p.m. H.M. The King, H.M. Queen Szófia, H.R.H. Princess Zosina, H.R.H. The Prince Regent, will dine with the Members of the Order of St. Miklos .”
     
    These she knew were all the Royalty of Dórsia. Then an entry for the next and last day made her draw in her breath.
     
    “ 11.00. a.m. Reception by the Prime Minister in the House of Parliament where all the Members will be assembled. On this occasion the King’s impending marriage will be announced .”
     
    Zosina put down the programme and walked across her bedroom to sit down on the stool in front of the dressing table.
    For a moment she saw her reflection, not with her hair elegantly and fashionably arranged, but with a glittering crown on her head.
    This was why she had come to Dórsia, this would be her future.
    She gave a little cry and put her hands up to her eyes.
    How could she endure it? Not being Queen of such a charming and friendly people, but being the King’s wife.
    She felt as if it was a trap from which there was no escape – her thoughts were going round and round as if they were like a squirrel in a cage, which knew there was no way out and she would go on turning and turning until she died.
    Then, almost as if he was again standing beside her, she could hear the Regent say,
    “ I don’t believe that any woman could be more brave or more wonderful !”
    ‘That is