The King Without a Heart by Barbara Cartland

effectively and you can be back and ready when Princess Sophie requires you.”
    â€œThat is clever, so very clever of you!” exclaimed Titania.
    â€œAnd now that I have had this wonderful ride with Your Majesty, I would miss it madly if it has to stop!”
    â€œThen that is certainly something we must prevent.”
    The King drew his watch from his pocket. “Now we must turn back and ride home.”
    Titania took a last look round as she rode beside the King. She thought it was all too marvellous to be true and she was riding a horse that was almost as good as Mercury.
    Yet because the King was so kind, Mercury would be with her in a short time as well as Nanny.
    â€˜I am happy, I am so happy,’ she said to herself, ‘I want to kiss the whole world!’

CHAPTER FIVE
    Â The King and Titania reached the entrance to the Palace grounds a little in advance of the two aides-de-camp , who had kept well behind as they were told to do.
    As they drew in their horses the King said to Titania,
    â€œI am sure you will be in plenty of time, but why do you have to be with your cousin so early in the morning?”
    â€œBecause,” replied Titania, “she has a lady’s maid who does not speak English, so I have to translate everything she requires.”
    The King put his hand up to his forehead.
    â€œI never thought of that! But it is something that can easily be remedied.”
    Titania looked at him questioningly.
    Then she said to the King,
    â€œIt seems wrong for me to ask you for anything when you have been so wonderful – but there is something I do want very badly.”
    â€œWhat is it?” the King asked.
    â€œSome books to read.”
    The King looked surprised and Titania explained,
    â€œThere does not seem to be a book in the whole Palace except in the library and you know, Sire, that is forbidden ground!”
    The King laughed a little ruefully.
    â€œThat is something else I never thought of, but, of course, you shall have some books. What do you want – novels?”
    â€œI can think of far more interesting books I want to read, especially about your wonderful country.”
    She thought that she caught a slightly cynical twist to the King’s lips and added quickly,
    â€œMy father always took immense trouble to learn about a country before he visited it and then he did as much research as he could when he was there, besides of course meeting as many of the people as possible.”
    â€œYou shall have exactly what you want,” the King promised her. As the two aides-de-camp joined them, he said to Kastri,
    â€œYou are to immediately find a lady’s maid for Princess Sophie who speaks English, as I understand that the one who has been provided speaks only our language and that is not, I consider, very hospitable.”
    Kastri looked as if he thought the King considered that it was all his fault, but His Majesty had already turned his head towards Darius.
    â€œWhen Miss Brooke is free of her duties,” he ordered, “take her into the library so that she can choose whichever books she requires. I understand there are none in her sitting room or anywhere else in the Palace.”
    â€œI think, Sire,” replied Darius, “they were put away with the ornaments and all the other superfluous objets d’art when Your Majesty’s stepmother became Queen.”
    â€œDo you mean they are all preserved in some part of the Palace?”
    â€œYes indeed, Sire, there is quite an Aladdin’s cave in some of the rooms that are never used.”
    â€œI think one day soon I shall have to explore them,” the King reflected. 
    He then rode on with Titania beside him until they reached the stables.
    As she knew it must be approaching nine o’clock, she slipped from the saddle down to the ground and said to the King who had also dismounted,
    â€œThank you again, Sire, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my