The Gates of Paradise by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

Viennese copy the French.”
    Narina laughed.
    â€œSo that’s what it amounts to.”
    â€œLady look very pretty – and very Royal.”
    Narina giggled and looked again in the mirror.
    She had to admit she did look quite different from a Bishop’s daughter.
    Breakfast was served in her sitting room and for the first time she met Paks.
    He was a man of nearly forty and Narina felt that no one seeing the twinkle in his eyes and his rather strange and unusual face would connect him with such an adventure and perhaps drama.
    He bowed to her politely as she entered the room and he addressed her as Maria had done.
    When she had finished breakfast, he suggested,
    â€œIf Your Royal Highness should wish to go into the garden, please inform me and I’ll make sure that there’s no one watching who we don’t trust.”
    â€œYou don’t think there is likely to be anyone hostile or foreign in the garden?” asked Narina.
    Paks made an expressive movement with his hands.
    â€œOne just never knows.  In these days, Your Royal Highness, even the walls have ears.  We has to be careful, very very careful, for His Royal Highness be our lifeline to happiness.”
    The way he spoke to her with a strong accent made the words seem as unreal as everything else did to Narina.
    She could hardly believe it was possible for her to be treated like a Princess and to be moving about in these beautiful rooms.
    Now she was aware that they held a great number of treasures, which she decided she must inspect when she had the time.
    As her breakfast was carried away, Paks came back to announce,
    â€œHis Royal Highness’s Lord Chamberlain requests an audience with Your Royal Highness.”
    â€œPlease ask him to come in.”
    The Lord Chamberlain bowed deeply to her in the Royal manner and as Paks left the room, he came towards where Narina was sitting on the sofa.
    â€œAre you all right?” he enquired.
    â€œI am feeling that I am sitting in the clouds,” Narina answered, “and that this cannot be happening to me.  At the same time it’s all very exciting.”
    The Lord Chamberlain laughed and as he remained standing, Narina suggested,
    â€œPlease sit down, Lord Chamberlain.”
    â€œI was waiting for you to invite me to do so.”
    Narina gave a little gasp.
    â€œAm I to play my part even when we are alone?”
    â€œTo be a good actor or actress, you have to act not only with your body but also with your mind.  So you must think you are what you pretend to be, otherwise it might be easy for someone to discover that you are acting a part.”
    Narina smiled.
    â€œI understand, so please tell me more of what I have to do and I promise to try to be perfect in my part so that you never have to rebuke me.”
    The Lord Chamberlain sat down.
    â€œI am rather afraid, Your Royal Highness, that this afternoon you have to receive a group of women who come here every year as guests of the Mayor.”
    Narina gasped.
    â€œBut I thought I just had to stay here reading a book until Louise and His Royal Highness return?”
    â€œThat is what we hoped you would be able to do, but unfortunately this appointment was made by one of my aides-de-camp who forgot to tell me about it.  It is too late to cancel it now, as they will have already left their homes in the country and will be travelling for the City.”
    Narina drew in her breath.
    â€œSuppose I make a mistake?”
    â€œI am quite sure you have often attended exactly the same type of occasion with your father.”
    â€œWell, if you put it like that, I have,” she admitted.
    â€œThen you know what to do and it really consists of listening, being sympathetic to their grievances, if any, and as far as you are concerned, doing nothing.  I am told that you are fluent in German, so language will be no problem.”
    â€œYou are quite certain, Lord Chamberlain, that they will not