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

Apparently Princess Udele has not yet been allowed to come down to dinner. Now I have demanded that she should, there is a revolution going on among those who sit at the top table!”
    Everyone smiled.
    And then the Count seated himself beside Udele.
    â€œAnd what do you think about it all, Your Royal Highness?” he asked.
    â€œI think it is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened here. You have arrived here as if you were dropped down from Heaven! It has been so dull until you came.”
    â€œWe will soon change things and I am sure Princess Zoleka can arrange for us to dance. If there is anyone who can play the piano, we can even dance tonight.”
    â€œWhy ever not?” agreed Zoleka. “I suppose there is a Music room?”
    â€œYes, of course there is,” answered Udele, “and a large ballroom too, but that is shut up.”
    â€œWe will find some way to open it,” said the Count. “But what we need is someone to play the piano.”
    As he spoke Anton Bauer came into the room.
    â€œOh, you are just the person we want,” the Count called out before anyone else could speak. “You live here and must know of someone who can play the piano and perhaps even the fiddle. Her Royal Highness and I want to dance.”
    â€œYou want to dance?” Anton repeated, as if it was something very extraordinary.
    â€œOf course we do. What else is there to amuse one in the evenings?”
    Before Anton could respond, the Lord Chamberlain returned and walked in.
    They all looked at him questioningly and everyone was silent.
    â€œI have spoken with His Royal Highness,” the Lord Chamberlain said to Zoleka, “and he will be very delighted if you will dine with him at eight o’clock this evening.”
    â€œAnd the rest of the party?”
    â€œHis Royal Highness of course expects his daughter to come with you, also Count Franz von Hofmannstall and Herr Pieter Seitz.”
    Before Zoleka could reply to the Lord Chamberlain, Udele clapped her hands.
    â€œThat is a party, a real party! And it is all so very thrilling.”
    â€œSurely there are some aides-de-camp in the Palace who should come too,” Zoleka asked.
    â€œThey are mostly rather old,” the Lord Chamberlain admitted, “and although they usually dine with His Royal Highness, perhaps tonight it would be wise if they dined in another room.”
    He glanced at the Prime Minister as he spoke, who nodded.
    Zoleka, now using her Third Eye, suddenly knew the reason. Prince Majmir usually dined with a collection of men of his own age and they just ate and drank because there was nothing more interesting for them to do.
    She was as sure of it as if someone had told her.
    She thought that Anton Bauer had almost hinted at it when she had questioned him at home.
    â€˜I must make sure it is a most interesting evening so that he will ask us again,’ reflected Zoleka. ‘At least we have jumped a good number of fences on our first day. In fact, if I am not mistaken, the winning post is in sight!’

CHAPTER THREE
    They all went upstairs to dress for dinner.
    Zoleka walked with Udele into her room first where they found Marla with all the cases unpacked and her bath waiting on the hearthrug.
    Udele clapped her hands together.
    â€œOh, it looks so pretty! It is wonderful that we can sleep in these rooms. I have hardly ever been inside them before.”
    â€œNow you are grown up the Palace is yours, Udele. We will make ourselves so comfortable here and tomorrow we will ask for large arrangements of flowers.”
    â€œI thought Your Royal Highness would notice there weren’t any,” muttered Marla.
    â€œCome and look at my room and see if it is as nice as yours,” Udele suggested to Zoleka.
    They walked through to the adjoining boudoir and Zoleka opened the door into the Lily room.
    It was a very large room, just like hers, except that the covers and curtains were