Ruled by Love by Barbara Cartland

the roofing has been neglected and the walls have cracks in them!”
    Zoleka laughed again, but at the same time she was well aware it was really no laughing matter.
    â€œIs everything really all right?” asked the Count.
    â€œIf you want the truth,” responded Zoleka, “I think everything here is totally wrong. But what you are doing is marvellous. We can only hope it will make people, whose name we must not mention, pause and think.”
    The Count nodded and then he said in a low voice which only she could hear,
    â€œWe are running against time and that is what really frightens me.”
    â€œI know, Franz, we can only hope that we can beat them by keeping one move ahead and by using our brains. Obviously no one in this country has used theirs for a long time!”
    â€œHow could they have been such fools?” the Count sighed. “Equally I do love a good battle and this one, my lovely Princess, you and I must win. If we do not, we will never forgive ourselves.”
    Udele, who was bringing in more flowers, turned round to face them.
    The sunshine coming through the window shone on her and she was looking very lovely in one of the dresses she had bought that morning.
    It struck Zoleka just how ghastly it would be for her if the Prussians took over her country.
    If they did not actually kill her, she would surely be thrown out with her father to live in penury and misery.
    Into a world where no one wanted them.
    Zoleka saw that the Count was looking at her too.
    She murmured to him quietly,
    â€œWe have to win for her sake.”
    â€œThat is just what I was thinking. She has no one but that drunken father and by the blessing of God, you .”
    â€œYou have forgotten yourself, Franz. No one could have done more than you have done in the last twenty-four hours.”
    He smiled.
    Then in her usual cheerful voice Zoleka continued,
    â€œAnd there is a great deal more to come. One thing which is cheap in this country is enthusiasm and one does not have to pay extra for using one’s brains.”
    Zoleka was laughing as Udele joined them.
    â€œThis room looks better already,” she enthused.
    â€œAnd it is going to look a great deal better still,” the Count added, “when you dazzle them tonight as they have never been dazzled before and they will have so much to talk about when they go home.”
    â€œThey must thank you and not me,” insisted Udele. “How can both of you be so wonderful as to make all these amazing wonders happen?”
    â€œThis is just the beginning, but you have to play your part. You must smile at everyone and make them go home feeling they have never enjoyed a more delightful evening.”
    â€œHow can I do that?”
    Udele sounded a little worried as she spoke.
    However, she looked so very pretty gazing up at the Count that Zoleka remarked,
    â€œYou are not to be nervous. Everyone coming here tonight will be excited and curious because most of them have never been to the Palace before. What we have to do is to make them think how much they have missed as it is such a beautiful place.”
    As she spoke three gardeners were ushered into the Music room by the footman.
    The Count walked across to them and to Zoleka’s surprise he spoke to them in their own language.
    He asked which was the Head Gardener and said to him,
    â€œI need your help. Her Royal Highness, Princess Zoleka, has just arrived in Krnov and so have I, to find that the Palace has been neglected and the rooms where we are having a party tonight look dull and dismal.
    â€œThe one thing which has favourably impressed me and Her Royal Highness is the Palace gardens.”
    Zoleka noticed that the Head Gardener straightened his shoulders and looked pleased with himself.
    â€œWhat I want you to do,” added the Count, “may be rather difficult, but I feel you will not fail me.”
    â€œWhat is it, sir?”
    â€œI want you in the next several