The King Without a Heart by Barbara Cartland Page B

had taken her through and he was sitting at it writing with his back to them.
    Yet without Darius speaking he became aware that they were behind him and rose to his feet.
    Titania remembered to curtsy and said excitedly,
    â€œThis is the most magnificent library I have ever seen! How lucky you are to have all these marvellous books.”
    â€œThat is just what I think,” agreed the King, “but I have never met anyone else who was particularly enthusiastic about them.”
    â€œI think they are wonderful and I would like to read every single one!”
    The King laughed.
    â€œI am afraid that will take you a very long time, though of course I shall only be too delighted for you to be my guest for at least a hundred years!”
    Titania laughed too.
    â€œNow what particularly would you find of interest?” he enquired.
    â€œI was wondering what you are working on at the moment,” replied Titania.
    She had noticed as she entered the room that there was a huge pile of books by the desk and several ancient tomes open on the desk itself.
    â€œAs I expect Darius has told you that I am writing the history of Velidos. I discovered only a short while ago that one of the Kings a century or so ago was interested in religion. He therefore invited representatives of all the great religions at that time to come to Velidos and tell him of their beliefs.”
    â€œThat is a subject that would have fascinated my father.”
    â€œAt the moment,” the King continued as if she had not spoken, “I am researching a religion I am sure you have never heard of – that of the Sufis.”
    Titania gave a little laugh.
    â€œCertainly I have heard of them, Sire, and actually I met and talked to a number of Sufis when we were travelling in the Middle East.”
    The King stared at her as if he thought it was somewhat unlikely.
    Titania continued,
    â€œI am sure you have many books in this amazing library about the mysticism of Islam, and, of course as you will know, the Sufis have a fascinating store of legends and stories.”
    She looked at the King waiting for his comment, but he merely nodded,
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œThey have, Papa thought, raised poetry to the highest level of aspiration and, what I found more exciting, brought song and dance into the lives of artisans and peasants.”
    The King sat down in his chair.
    â€œI do not believe it!” he exclaimed. “You cannot be saying all this to me. I have never met anyone in Velidos who knows anything about the Sufis.”
    Titania smiled.
    â€œWho else came to your ancestor’s meeting, Sire? Perhaps I have heard of them too.”
    The King looked down at his papers in front of him and she felt he was deliberately choosing one of the more difficult religions before he responded,
    â€œThe Zen Buddhists for one. What do you know about them?”
    He spoke as if it was a challenge.
    â€œI have been to some of their monasteries and was thrilled with the stonework they carved to describe what they felt about ‘the wisdom that has gone beyond’.”
    She paused for a moment.
    â€œPapa, of course, was allowed to go inside the monastery, which I was not, but he did write down some of the stories they told him that he found extremely interesting.”
    â€œI would like to see your father’s notes.”
    Titania made a helpless little gesture with her hands.
    â€œI was not allowed to keep them, but I might have saved one or two of them at home. My uncle sold my father’s house and all its contents and that included all the notes he had written about our journeys abroad.”
    There was a hint of pain in her voice which the King did not miss.
    â€œTell me about the other religions you encountered when you were travelling with your father.”
    â€œOf course, when we were travelling I was very young,” Titania told him. “But I feel that a great deal that went into my mind at