The Queen Wins by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78213-205-9
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com
Published: 2013-01-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

The next morning Tarena woke early and thought over everything that had happened the day before.

She was happier because in some ways it had all gone far better than she had anticipated.

Equally she was intelligent enough to realise that an enormous number of difficulties still lay ahead.

She had taken breakfast in the boudoir next door.

Then she was informed that the Count would like to see her.

She had dressed before breakfast and had quickly arranged her hair just in case it had become untidy whilst she was eating.

Then she called out for the Count to come in.

He was smiling as he walked towards her.

“I might have known,” he sighed, “that you would be up and ready, because we have a great deal to do.”

“I am aware of that, Count Vladimir. What do we do first?”

“I think that first of all you should pay a visit to the Cathedral where you are to be married in the morning of the day after tomorrow.”

Tarena gave a little exclamation.

“How can I possibly be married as quickly as that when I have not yet met Prince Igor?”

There was silence for a moment before the Count replied,

“I think it is best to be frank and tell you that the Prince is apparently somewhat reluctant to marry you, but a marriage must take place.”

“Why so quickly?” The Count walked towards the window so that he had his back to her.

She knew without his saying anything that he was debating with himself whether he should tell her the truth or not.

“I suppose,” she said in a small voice, “the Russian situation is now worse than you expected.”

The Count turned round.

“You are right, of course you are right. You are too astute for me to lie to you, Your Royal Highness.”

“I would be very disappointed if you did,” Tarena flashed back at him. “I have felt that I can trust you and we were always frank with each other when we were on The Royal Sovereign.”

The Count smiled and Tarena indicated to him to sit down opposite her.

“What I have learnt since I came back,” he began, “is that things are even more serious than I imagined.”

Tarena did not say anything.

She was looking at him wide-eyed and listening to everything he was saying.

“The trouble is,” the Count continued, “after your father died they were rather slow in asking for help from England. The Russians, thinking it was impossible for the Queen to find anyone to send, were encouraged to believe they could take over Karlova swiftly without any serious opposition.”

“I suppose that means,” Tarena replied after a little pause, “that there are not as many soldiers as we need and the Russian troops are more formidable than we thought.”

The Count gave a little laugh.

“You are so intelligent,” he said, “that sometimes you frighten me. I feel that you know more than I do and certainly a great deal more than the General whose job it is to defend Karlova.”

“Tell me exactly what has happened,” she begged.

“When I left here to come to England, it was not too bad.

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