The King Without a Heart by Barbara Cartland

been hers if her uncle had not sold them all with the house, although she had to admit that the library at Starbrooke Hall was very comprehensive.
    She thought now that if the worst came to the worst she would have to buy books in Velidos, even if it meant spending some of her precious money.
    Amid the cheers, waving of flags and throwing of flowers by the children, the procession eventually reached the steps of the Palace.
    Now holding on to Prince Frederick’s arm Sophie was only too pleased to walk up the steps and they stopped halfway to turn and wave to the crowds before reaching the top.
    The other carriages coming from the Cathedral drove round to the back of the Palace and there was, much to Titania’s surprise, no sign of the King in the procession.
    She learnt later that he had left the Cathedral by a side door and had then been taken back to the Palace by a different route where there were no crowds.
    â€˜I expect,’ Titania thought, ‘he does not want to steal any of the glamour and applause from his brother.’
    Equally she could not help wondering if there was a different reason and perhaps the King was bored by all this fuss and excitement over a wedding.
    Titania reasoned to herself that this could be true.
    The bridal couple, having arrived at the Palace, processed straight into the Throne Room to receive their guests, but there was still no sign of the King.
    Titania watched her cousin shaking hands with hundreds of people before moving into the great Banqueting Hall.
    Prince Frederick cut the cake with his sword and everyone drank their health.
    Titania had learned, although the rest of the guests were unaware of any such arrangements, that the bride and bridegroom were not going away on a honeymoon.
    As Sophie had just spent a long time at sea, she had no wish to board a ship again and the Prince was anxious for her to stay in the City and be seen on a great number of different occasions.
    When Titania looked at the programme, she thought it seemed rather boring, but she was sure that Sophie would enjoy being the most important person present.
    After the wedding-breakfast was over Prince Frederick made yet another much shorter speech and then the bride and bridegroom bid everyone farewell and retired to their own suite, where they were to be left strictly alone and not disturbed by anyone in the Palace.
    Titania, of course, was required to help Sophie change from her wedding dress into a different gown.
    â€œEveryone admired you, Sophie,” she said as she took off her tiara, “and you must have felt proud to be of such importance to so many people.”
    â€œI thought my bouquet should have been larger,” moaned Sophie, “and if I had realised I was to wear my own tiara, I would have brought one of Mama’s larger ones.”
    â€œDid you expect Prince Frederick to give you one of the Crown Jewels?”
    â€œWhy not? I am one of the Royal family now and, as there is no Queen, undoubtedly the First Lady in the land is me .”
    She said it so proudly that Titania was quite certain that Prince Frederick had put the idea into her head, as she would not have thought of such an idea herself.
    â€œOf course,” continued Sophie, “you must be aware that Frederick should really be King instead of his brother, who behaves as if he is a monk or a recluse.”
    She spoke scornfully.
    â€œHe looks very different from what I had expected ,” admitted Titania, “and he is certainly very handsome.”
    â€œI don’t admire him at all,” scoffed Sophie, “and, if you ask me, the best thing he could do would be to abdicate in favour of Frederick!”
    Titania felt that this was a dangerous way of talking and she hoped it was the sort of remark that Sophie would say only to her and to no one else.
    She was just about to ask her cousin to be careful with her words when Sophie changed the subject.
    â€œI intend to get hold of some of