Bride to the King by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page A

“I often teased your grandfather and said it was not me he fell in love with, but my horse, especially as he could do such splendid tricks.”
    “And what did Grandpapa reply?” Zosina asked.
    The Queen Mother’s eyes were very soft before she said,
    “You are too young for me to tell you that, but one day you will learn what a man says when he tells you what is in his heart.”
    There were more stations, more crowds and the country with its mountains, its valleys, its distant snowy peaks and its silver rivers had made Zosina know that the Ambassador had been right when he said it was one of the most beautiful places one could imagine.
    There were lakes and castles, which made her think of the warring history of the early Dórsians and then, as the countryside became more populous, she knew that they were coming into the Capital.
    She felt her heart begin to beat in a manner that told her she was frightened and, as the Ladies-in-Waiting began to fuss round the Queen Mother giving her her gloves, her handbag, asking if she needed a mirror, Zosina thought almost for the first time of her own appearance.
    She knew her pink gown was exceedingly becoming, but somehow she suddenly felt gauche and insignificant beside the majesty and elegance of her grandmother.
    ‘I must not make any mistakes,’ she said frantically to herself.
    Then the train began to slow down and she saw that they were moving slowly into position at what appeared to be a crowded platform.
    “Are you ready, my dearest?” the Queen Mother asked. “I will alight first and you follow behind me. The King and I expect too the Regent will be waiting directly opposite the carriage door.”
    Zosina wanted to reply, but her voice seemed to be strangled in her throat.
    The train came to a standstill.
    The Ladies-in-Waiting rose to their feet and Zosina saw the Royal Party and several other gentlemen accompanying them pass in front of the window and knew that they would be waiting at the door of the carriage.
    Without hurrying, arranging her skirt to her satisfaction, the Queen Mother stood for a moment determined, Zosina thought, to give a touch of drama to the moment when they would appear.
    Then slowly, smiling her beguiling smile, she walked to the door of the carriage.
    Zosina felt as if her feet had suddenly been rooted to the ground and it was with considerable effort that she made them obey her and move too.
    The Queen Mother assisted by willing hands stepped down onto the platform, then, almost without realising it, Zosina found herself behind her and a second later she heard a man’s voice say,
    “Welcome to Dórsia, ma’am! It is a very great pleasure and a privilege to have you here as my guest.”
    She thought the voice sounded young and rather boyish. Then the next moment the Queen Mother had moved on and Zosina curtseyed deeply as she took the hand that was waiting for her.
    For a moment it was impossible to focus her eyes to look up and she heard the King say again,
    “Welcome to Dórsia! It is a very great pleasure and a privilege to have you here as my guest.”
    Now she raised her eyes.
    He was good-looking and the miniature had been an excellent likeness, but there was something the artist had omitted and which to Zosina was very noticeable.
    It was the expression in the King’s eyes and she knew, as she looked at him, that he was staring at her with what she thought was resentment and, she was quite sure, dislike.
    It was only a quick impression, but, almost before it was possible to look at the King and him at her, he had turned his face towards Count Csàky, who was directly behind her and Zosina was forced to move on.
    As she did so, she heard the Queen Mother say,
    “I want you to meet my granddaughter, the Princess Zosina.”
    Zosina curtseyed again, realising as she did so, that she was now in front of the Regent, Prince Sándor.
    It was difficult for a moment to think of anything but the way the King had looked at her and to know