The King Without a Heart by Barbara Cartland Page B

asked,
    â€œWhat has upset you? Why are you crying?”
    She thought it was Darius and without answering she picked up the letter which lay in her lap, turned and handed it to him.
    She covered her face again and tried to control her tears.
    She became aware that Darius had sat down beside her and was reading the letter. Titania felt as if the words were burning in front of her eyes. Nanny had written,
    â€œMy Dearest Miss Titania, I have been to see Mercury every day as I promised you I would. He misses you very much, as I do, and the stable boys tell me that at seven o’clock every morning he’s waiting at the door of his stall expecting you to come in from the yard.
    They’re exercising him as you’d want them to do, but at the same time he won’t eat his food and has got a little thin. He’s so pleased to see me and nuzzles against me, but he wants to be with you.
    Now I have some bad news although I don’t want to upset you. His Grace sent for me last night and said that now you’ve gone abroad there’s really not enough work for me to do at the Hall. He therefore suggested I should find other employment and he gave me a month in which to do so.
    You knows as well as I do, dearest, that I’ve never been with anyone except you and your dear mother, and I don’t know how to begin to serve anyone else.
    I’d go to my own family, but I’ve lost touch with them these past years and have no idea where I can find them.
    I expect I’ll be all right, but I am really too old to start a new life all over again.
    I’ll write to you again in two days time as I promised, and I’m sure Mercury will be better by then.
    Take care of your precious self and God be with you.
    Your loving, Nanny.”
    Titania had heard the rustle of the paper as Darius turned the letter over.
    Then a strange voice said,
    â€œStop crying and let us discuss what we can do about this problem.”
    Titania was astounded that it was not Darius beside her and she took her hands away from her eyes and turned her head round.
    To her amazement she was looking at the King !
    He was gazing at her and she had no idea how pitiable yet at the same time how lovely she looked. There were tears in her large grey eyes running down the soft white skin of her cheeks.
    â€œI – thought – you were – Darius, Your – M-Majesty,” she managed to stammer.
    As she spoke she began to rise and curtsy.
    The King put out his hand and laid it on her arm.
    â€œDo not move,” he said. “I have read this letter from your Nanny and of course it is something you cannot allow to happen.”
    â€œWhat – can I – do?” asked Titania in a broken voice. “My uncle said I would – only be – here for six months and I had – no idea he would – send Nanny away. She is getting on for sixty and it is – cruel and wicked of him to make her – try to find somewhere – else to work.”
    â€œI agree with you,” said the King. “That is why I will suggest a solution which I am sure you will agree with.”
    â€œI thought,” murmured Titania tentatively, “that perhaps – you would – send me home. If I was back in England – Uncle Edward would have to let – Nanny stay with me, and if he grudges her money – I have some of my own, but he has – control of it.”
    â€œI have a much better idea than that.”
    â€œWhat – is it – Sire?”
    As she spoke she realised she had not yet addressed him correctly, so she added quickly,
    â€œI am sorry I am not – being very polite, but it is difficult to think of – anything but the two people in the world I have, who – love me as I – love them.”
    â€œWhy are there so few?”
    â€œIt is a long story which I am sure would bore Your Majesty,” she answered.
    â€œI want to know,” insisted the King.