Read Online Ruled by Love by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B

his old cronies and the servants always has to help them to bed as they can’t help themselves.”
    â€œIt’s very bad for the country and we shall have to see what we can do about it.”
    â€œThat’ll mean you doing a great deal more than you expects, Your Royal Highness.”
    â€œWell, we will have to wait and see, Marla. More importantly, you do know that I shall need your help to make Princess Udele look as lovely as she should do? I am going to tell the housekeeper that she must have a lady’s maid for herself, someone who is experienced, but until then I really need your expertise, please.”
    â€œI expect expertise’ll be hard to find in this place!”
    The way Marla spoke told Zoleka all too clearly she was not impressed with the Palace.
    But she thought it was a mistake to say too much.
    She was, however, profoundly shocked by what had happened at dinner, and she knew her father was quite right to be exceedingly worried about the situation in Krnov.
    News travels on the wind and servants always talk and she was therefore certain that the Prince’s drunkenness was known all over the City.
    That meant not only his own people would know, but so would the Prussians and their local agents who liked to make trouble and therefore prepare the way for taking over the country.
    â€˜I shall have to do something about this situation,’ Zoleka reflected, ‘but I have no idea what the solution is.’
    Because it had been such a long day, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
    She was dreaming, but it was not about Krnov.
    *
    She was awoken by Marla pulling back the curtains and she could see from the clock by her bed that it was just half-past seven.
    The sun was shining and the idea of riding was, for the moment, far more important and stimulating than anything else.
    Having ascertained that Udele had also been called, she dressed hurriedly.
    Her riding habit looked very smart and fashionable. With it she wore a small high-crowned hat swathed with a blue gauze veil which matched the colour of the habit.
    Zoleka was well aware, as she descended the stairs, that the Count was looking at her admiringly, as were the others waiting in the hall.
    There was not a sign of Pieter or Anton, but there were three other gentlemen who the Count introduced.
    Zoleka realised at once they were Officers from the most eminent Regiment in Krnov and they were young and good-looking.
    Udele came running down the stairs a little late.
    Zoleka knew that it was exhilarating and delightful for the girl to meet so many young men.
    â€œThe Officers are taking us to a place where we can gallop,” announced the Count, “and I have chosen a horse for Her Royal Highness which I think she will appreciate.”
    Zoleka was rather apprehensive in case Udele was not a good rider, but her mother’s Russian blood showed when she was mounted on a horse.
    The Officers took them first through the garden of the Palace. Out at the back there was a path leading to some plain land, which ran alongside a fast flowing, sparkling river.
    Once there they began to gallop in the high grass and as they did so yellow butterflies flew ahead of them.
    The sun was shining and they had a glimpse of the mountains far away in the distance.
    It was, Zoleka considered, very nearly as beautiful and enchanting as Opava.
    They galloped for a long way.
    When the horses began to slow up, they were able to talk, so the Count drew his horse beside Zoleka’s and they let the others go ahead of them.
    â€œI want to tell you about my idea,” he began.
    â€œI am longing to hear it, Franz.”
    â€œI walked over to the Officers’ mess last night and introduced myself and all they wanted to talk about was horses.”
    â€œI am not surprised at that!”
    â€œI also gathered that their Army is very small. The Commander and the Officers I brought with us today are convinced that