Read Online The Gates of Paradise by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online

the Palace staff very curious about His Royal Highness’s illness?” she asked Maria.
    â€œPaks has told them that his eyes be getting better, but the doctors insist his room’s kept dark and no sunshine allowed in for fear it strains his sight.
    â€œPaks also tells them that His Royal Highness hurt his head when he fell and he therefore has to be kept as quiet as possible.”
    Narina was aware that Paks and Maria had made it impossible for anyone to guess that there was actually no one in the Royal bedroom.
    She knew that Paks locked the door at night and it was widely reported that the doctor had said that His Royal Highness must not be disturbed by any noise.
    None of the housemaids were allowed into the three private rooms where Narina spent her time.
    *
    The next day Narina realised she had nothing to do.
    Therefore she took one of the books her father had given her out of her trunk and after locking it again, she put the key into her handbag where no one would find it.
    Then she told Maria she was going into the private garden to sit in the sunshine.
    â€œYou’ll be safe there, Your Royal Highness, and no one’ll interrupt you as His Royal Highness decreed some time ago that he and his wife must have somewhere they could sunbathe and not be seen by prying eyes.”
    â€œThat was indeed sensible of him.”
    â€œWell, you’ll find the garden nice and quiet and no one’ll come near you, but don’t you go sitting in the sun without a hat or a sunshade. It’s red hot in the afternoon.”
    â€œYes, I realise that, but as I seldom wear a hat I will sit under the trees in the shade.”
    â€œNow you wait until I gives a order to the gardener to put a comfortable seat with a cushion under the trees and make sure no one intrudes for the rest of the afternoon.”
    Narina thanked her, but did not make any comment.
    She had thought it would be interesting to talk to one of the gardeners about the flowers of Alexanderburg.
    Equally as Louise had been here for over two years, she should know the answer by this time and it would seem stupid to make the gardener surprised at her ignorance.
    She thought that it would have been much more fun if Louise was here with her at this moment and they could laugh about everything that had happened –
    â€˜I will talk to her when she returns,’ she decided.
    Then suddenly something struck her which she had not thought of before.
    If she remained after Louise returned, it would be a great mistake for the two of them to be seen together.
    There would doubtless be speculation about their looking so alike and people would wonder whether at one time or another they had been deceived into thinking that Princess Louise was actually the girl from England.
    â€˜That means,’ Narina reflected, ‘I will have to leave as soon as they arrive back home.’
    It certainly seemed as if it would be impossible for her to stay on and she could only think despairingly, if that was right, that she would never have a moment alone with Louise as she longed for.
    â€˜Maybe I could go away from here and then come back again,’ she pondered.
    But she was not certain that it would be as easy as it sounded.
    â€˜Anyway it’s no use me getting worked up now about whether or not I will have to leave.  There is undoubtedly much for me to do as ‘Princess Louise’ before I depart.’
    She found that the small narrow staircase, which she had been unable to see in the darkness when she arrived, had a very pretty carpet.
    There were watercolour paintings of the garden on the walls and she wondered who could have painted them.
    Then she thought perhaps she would have a chance to talk about them to the Lord Chamberlain.
    She knew that he had a good sense of humour and she felt it would be interesting if they could ever be alone together for an hour or so.
    As Narina reached the private garden, she told herself that she