An Adventure of Love

by Barbara Cartland

  “I not only loved her,” Rudolf answered, “I have judged all the women I have met by her beauty and her standards.”

  Zorina knew, without Rudolf saying anything more, that he thought she resembled his grandmother.

  She felt a warmth within her that was very different from the fear that had consumed her earlier in the day and which now seemed to be gradually disappearing.

  “You are sleeping in the room that I insisted was redecorated to be exactly as it was when my grandmother was alive,” Rudolf told her.

  Zorina realised that it must have been changed by the King’s wife and she answered,

  “I will look at it more closely when I go upstairs.”

  “Also the sitting room, where I used to go and talk to her when I was a little boy,” Rudolf said. “She told me stories of the Greek Goddesses who looked like you.”

  Zorina drew in her breath.

  Rudolf went on quickly, as if he felt that he had said too much,

  “I ordered the flowers which I knew you would appreciate. Tonight there will be orchids in your bedroom which have not been picked since my grandmother died.”

  “I am sure they – will be beautiful,” Zorina murmured.

  “As beautiful as you,” he declared almost beneath his breath.

  Because she was with Rudolf, it seemed only a few minutes before dinner was ended and the Crown Princess rose to lead the ladies from the dining room.

  As they reached the salon where they had assembled before dinner, there was coffee and liqueurs waiting for them.

  When the gentlemen joined them, Zorina realised that everyone she spoke to was trying, without putting it into words, to apologise for the King.

  They wanted to help her not to be upset by what had occurred at dinner.

  It was not so much what they said in words, but she could see the compassion in their eyes and feel it emanating from them in a way that could not be mistaken.

  Equally no one had actually mentioned the King by name and this seemed so weird.

  If he really was ill, surely they would be concerned about him and would ask if the doctor had been sent for and if so what was his verdict.

  While they were at dinner, card tables had been erected at one end of the salon and quite a number of the older relatives started to play whist.

  Zorina, however, to her overwhelming delight found that Rudolf was at her side.

  She reflected that if there had not been trouble, if the King had not been whisked away in that strange manner at dinner, he would in all probability not have come near her.

  She knew that the other guests were thinking that Rudolf was being tactful in keeping her amused and she was determined to make the most of it.

  “Please show me some of the treasures you have here and that were chosen by your grandmother,” she suggested.

  Rudolf gave her a smile that made her heart turn several somersaults and then took her towards a glass case where there was a fascinating collection of snuffboxes.

  This was at the other end of the room from those who were playing cards.

  Zorina looked at the snuffboxes when Rudolf had opened the case and realised that they were uniquely exceptional. Decorated with diamonds and other precious stones, many of them contained a miniature in the centre.

  Then, as she reckoned that no one could overhear what they were saying to each other, Zorina asked softly,

  “Have I – done what you – wanted me to – do so far?”

  “You have been marvellous, Zorina, utterly and completely marvellous.”

  “You – liked my – speech?”

  “Only you could have thought of thanking those present and have done it so perfectly and touchingly.”

  “I wanted to – please – you.”

  “You were thinking of me?”

  “It is – impossible for me to think of – anything else.”

  “Oh, my darling – ”

  He began a sentence and then stopped and Zorina saw that the pain was back in his eyes again.

  “Please,” she pleaded, “be kind to me. I am – frightened, very – frightened.”

  There was no need to elaborate that she was thinking of the King.

  Zorina saw the frown between Rudolf’s eyes and the hard line of his lips as he thought about his father.

  “I know there is – nothing we can do,” Zorina said pathetically. “But – help me – please help me. Otherwise I cannot – go on.”

  “I knew that was what you were thinking at dinner.”

  “Only – you would – understand,” Zorina whispered. “And if you don’t – help me – I shall run away.”

  “I think you are blackmailing me,” Rudolf commented accusingly.

  But his lips were smiling and now there was a twinkle in his eyes.

  “I will blackmail you – kneel at your feet or do – anything as long as – you don’t leave me alone.”

  “Now you are thinking of yourself and not of me!”

  He laughed and it was a very tender sound before he went on,

  “How can you look so absurdly beautiful, so untouched, so very childlike and yet be so intelligent?”

  “If I am – I think you are the – only human being who would – appreciate it.”

  They were both aware that she was speaking of the King and she saw Rudolf’s fingers clench together as they rested on the side of the cabinet.

  “It’s intolerable,” he asserted. “Absolutely intolerable!”

  “But I can see – you and I can – talk to you,” Zorina stressed.

  The positions seemed to be reversed. Now she was comforting him when she knew that he had set out to comfort her.

  Rudolf did not need to speak, but his eyes were very eloquent.

  “I love – you,” Zorina said very softly, “and there is – nothing I can do – about it.”

  Rudolf just went on gazing at her and after a moment she whispered,

  “Promise – me that you will – not go away. At least – not until after I am – married.”

  Her voice broke on the last word and she looked down so that Rudolf would not see the tears in her eyes.

  “I will stay here,” Rudolf promised and he spoke the words as if they were a vow and then he added,

  “But only if God will give me the strength to endure it.”

  chapter six

  When she had finished her breakfast, Zorina found that an aide-de-camp had left her a programme for the day.

  “I am afraid you are going to be very busy,” her mother remarked as she had breakfast with her in the sitting room.

  Zorina looked at the programme and saw that she was to receive three deputations before luncheon.

  Afterwards there was to be an inspection of the Wedding presents in one of the State rooms and then two more deputations later on in the afternoon.

  She thought, with a distinct sinking of her heart, that these would involve a great number of speeches, which so far she had found dreary and uninspiring.

  “You must not overtire yourself before tomorrow, dearest,” her mother admonished her as she poured herself another cup of coffee.

  “Why is tomorrow so particular?”

  “Because you are to drive in State to the House of Parliament.”

  Zorina listened as her mother continued,

  “We must choose one of your prettiest gowns because it will be the first time that the people in the City will see you. Also the Members of Parliament will have a chance to admire you.”

  Princess Louise smiled as she spoke and Zorina knew that her mother was deliberately trying to make the programme seem attractive and she was well aware of the reason.

  “Shall I be accompanied – by the King?” she asked bluntly.

  “Of course, dearest,” her mother said quickly, “I feel sure that he will have recovered by then.”

  She rose from the table, saying,

  “I think you should hurry and get ready for the first deputation, which I believe is
that of the Burgomasters.”

  Zorina had been right in thinking that the speeches would be long and dull.

  By luncheontime she was tired of thanking the deputations for the Wedding gifts that they had presented to her with much ceremony.

  As she had expected, there was no sign of the King and the Crown Prince again took his place.

  Zorina had a feeling that a number of men in the deputation looked at her with sympathy and expressions of compassion.

  Luncheon was strictly a family meal and to her joy Rudolf was present.

  The conversation, however, was monopolised by the Crown Princess.

  One of her relatives, who was the reigning Grand Duke of a small Principality, had been attacked by an anarchist.

  Although he was alive, he had lost an arm.

  “It is disgraceful, utterly disgraceful, that nothing is done about these criminals,” the Crown Princess kept saying in her strident voice and speaking in her own language which made it easier for her to describe her feelings.

  “There is very little that can be done,” the Crown Prince joined in wearily. “No one has any idea who they are or where they are hiding until they strike.”

  “That is just the sort of thing you would say, Karl,” his wife responded harshly. “It is just an excuse for the authorities to be lazy and so do nothing.”

  The way she spoke was so offensive that Zorina stared at her in astonishment thinking that such obvious animosity between husband and wife was very uncomfortable.

  It struck her that perhaps in the future that was the way she would feel towards the King.

  And once again she felt her fear of the future seep over her.

  Rudolf looked at her across the table and she knew that he understood her and somehow, because he was there and because she loved him, her panic started to slip away.

  She no longer listened to the Crown Princess ranting on and saying that it was just a question of proper organisation and discipline on the part of the Army and the Police.

  Princess Louise brought luncheon to a welcome close, saying that, as time was getting on, Zorina should have time to get ready for the inspection of the Wedding presents.

  When they were alone going upstairs, Zorina said to her mother,

  “How can the Crown Princess speak to Prince Karl so rudely in front of us?”

  “She is a very tiresome woman,” Princess Louise replied. “I am sure that her behaviour would greatly shock Queen Victoria.”

  Zorina went to her own bedroom and, when she was ready, an aide-de-camp was waiting to escort her and Princess Louise downstairs.

  The inspection of the Wedding presents was, she found, quite a Ceremony.

  They were accompanied by the Lord Chamberlain and several other Members of the Court, who explained to her in detail who had given each gift and its significance.

  By the time they had finished, Zorina thought, although it seemed ungrateful, that she was no longer interested in large cups, bowls, salvers and plates of gold or silver all heavily inscribed.

  She even found it impossible to be enthusiastic about the jewellery, which had been presented by the King’s relatives.

  Some of it was attractive, but she remembered that she would have to wear it on State occasions with the King.

  Once again Zorina was conscious of his red face and bloodshot eyes and of the strange way that he had behaved last night.

  At last the exhausting day drew to a close and Princess Louise observed,

  “I think I would like to go upstairs and rest. I know there is a dinner party tonight and I do not wish to disgrace myself by falling asleep.”

  Zorina laughed,

  “It would be very surprising. I too, Mama, would like to rest.”

  “Then that is what we shall do.”

  They left the rest of the family, which included the Crown Princess. She had been obviously envious of the Wedding presents and was ready to disparage everything that they had seen.

  “You were very good, my dearest,” Princess Louise said as she and Zorina went upstairs. “Now try and sleep or read one of the interesting books that I have seen in the sitting room.”

  Zorina knew that her mother was really suggesting, although she did not actually put it into words, that she should for the moment forget her Wedding, which would take place in three days’ time.

  Having seen her mother into her room, Zorina crossed the corridor towards her own bedroom.

  She was actually turning the handle of her door when a man dressed in Royal livery came hurrying up to her.

  He stopped and spoke to her in a breathless tone,

  “Excuse me, Your Royal Highness, but His Majesty wishes to receive you.”

  “His Majesty?” Zorina queried in surprise.

  “Yes, Your Royal Highness, he’s asked me to take you to him.”

  Zorina drew in her breath,

  “Of course I will – come at – once.”

  She turned towards the end of the corridor, where she knew that the King’s Suite was situated, but the man beside her then informed her,

  “His Majesty’s in his Private apartments, Your Royal Highness.”

  Zorina looked surprised.

  Then, as they walked in the other direction, the man said,

  “I am Josef, His Majesty’s personal valet.”

  “You are taking me to His Majesty’s Private Apartments?”

  “Yes, Your Royal Highness. His Majesty uses the State rooms in this part of The Palace only on what you might call State occasions.”

  Zorina thought that the King’s marriage was certainly a State occasion, but she made no comment.

  Josef then went on,

  “His Majesty much prefers his rooms in the South wing, which is where I’m takin’ Your Royal Highness now.”

  They walked on in silence, going what seemed to Zorina to be a long distance before they descended a side staircase to the ground floor.

  She realised by this time that they were at the other end of The Palace.

  Josef walked towards an important-looking door and opened it.

  Zorina’s lips were dry and there was a heavy feeling of nervous anticipation in her breast.

  “Her Royal Highness Princess Zorina,” she heard Josef announce.

  Then she was inside the room and the door closed behind her.

  A first glance told her that the room was quite different from those in the other parts of The Palace.

  It seemed to her very ordinary and certainly less glamorous. She also saw that it was untidy.

  Then Zorina could see or think of nothing except for the King.

  He was standing at the far end of the room by a cupboard, which was open and the shelves were filled with bottles and glasses.

  The King was holding a bottle and was pouring its contents into a glass that he held in his other hand.

  He turned his head as she was announced and put down the bottle, but held on to the glass.

  As she walked towards him, Zorina realised to her astonishment that he had removed his coat and was wearing a white shirt, which was open at the neck and his trousers were supported by braces.

  Zorina was so surprised that she could only stare at him.

  Because her father had been dead for years, she could not remember when she had last seen a man in shirtsleeves.

  “So, here you are,” the King remarked, slurring his words as she advanced towards him.

  Zorina curtseyed.

  “Your valet – told me,” she said in a hesitant little voice, “that Your Majesty – wished to – see me.”

  The King took a long drink from his glass and then put it down on a side table.

  “I have been told by my elder son,” he said in a thick voice, “not only to see you but to apologise for my behaviour last night.”

  Zorina could not look at him, but she managed to respond,

  “No – please – it is quite – unnecessary.”

  “He seemed to think it very necessary,�
�� the King replied. “Also that I should tell you how attractive I find you.”

  Zorina was looking down at the floor, feeling that all this was very embarrassing and wishing that Prince Karl had not interfered.

  She was also palpitatingly aware that she was now alone with the King and that it was becoming difficult to control her feelings for him.

  “You are very pretty,” she heard him say. “It’s true I am a lucky man.”

  There was a note in his voice that made Zorina feel frightened.

  Before she could express it even to herself, the King stepped forward and, to her utter astonishment, his arms went round her.

  “Very pretty,” he muttered thickly, “and you will give me the children I want.”

  His arms tightened and Zorina gave a scream as she realised that he was about to kiss her.

  Instinctively she struggled so that the King’s mouth touched the side of her cheek whilst his thick moustache was against her lips.

  Zorina was acutely aware of the strong smell of spirits and every instinct in her body revolted against him and what he was doing to her.

  She then pressed her hands, fingers outstretched, against his chest and said incoherently,

  “No – no – let me go!”

  The King, however, was stronger than she thought he would be. His arms held her closer and she could feel his lips hot against her skin.

  Zorina threw back her head and at the same time using all her strength she pushed him away from her.

  She must have taken him by surprise for his arms slackened a little and she thrust against him as hard as she could.

  The King moved as if to prevent her and, in doing so, fell backwards, crashing down on the floor and hitting his head against the carved corner of a seat of a chair.

  He gave a groan, which was almost a cry, then his eyes closed and he did not move.

  Shocked into immobility, Zorina stood staring at him, finding it hard to believe that it had actually happened and that the King was lying there prone at her feet.

  Then the door at the far end of the room opened and a woman came running down the room. She was red-haired and appeared to be nearing middle age.

  Zorina thought that she must be a servant until she realised that she was dressed in a floating negligée of silk and lace.

  The woman went down on her knees beside the King, putting one hand on his forehead and the other on his heart.