The Gates of Paradise by Barbara Cartland Page A

clever.”
    â€œI am sure that the Lord Mayor will give us a date before you leave and the exhibition will, I am quite certain, be of considerable interest to the many tourists who will be visiting Alexanderburg in July and August.”
    There was a distinct gasp of excitement and then all the women started to clap and cheer.
    Narina’s idea had very obviously appealed to their imagination and they were thrilled at the idea of showing how clever their children were.
    Helped by the Lord Mayor, she slipped down from the chair and started talking to them individually.
    â€œThat be something so new, Your Royal Highness,” one woman said, “and as I’ve five children, they’ll all be hoping they can win a prize!”
    â€œI hope they will too and I promise you there will be plenty of prizes.  In fact my husband and I will work out exactly how many different ways they can compete so that no one is left out.”
    She shook hands with one mother after another.
    When finally she left long after the Lord Mayor had expected her to do so, they all cheered her, not only in the City Hall but outside as she stepped into her carriage.
    Then they waved until she was out of sight.
    When she was alone with the equerry, he said,
    â€œIf you will excuse me, Your Royal Highness, that was an absolutely brilliant idea of yours.  I have often felt that the women are neglected and forgotten.”
    â€œI think if nothing else it will give them something new to talk about,” added Narina.
    â€œAnd I am certain there will be a big rush for honey after all Your Royal Highness has said.  Actually the honey in this country is exceptionally good.”
    â€œI look forward to enjoying it myself.”
    She realised that she had spoken as if she had not tasted Alexanderburg honey before.
    Quickly, to cover up what she knew was a definite faux pas , she added,
    â€œI think in the Palace the cooks believe that honey is too simple and do not provide it as much as I would like.  They prefer to send it up for only breakfast.”
    She was speaking as her mother might have spoken.
    Then she thought that perhaps the women she had just left might think it rather strange that while she was so interested in children, she still had none of her own.
    Almost instinctively she found herself praying that Prince Rudolf’s trip to Constantinople would be successful and that there would soon be an heir to the throne.
    As they neared the Palace, the equerry piped up,
    â€œWould it be forward of me, Your Royal Highness, to say how much I have admired you this afternoon?  And how impressed I was with the way you handled not only the women but also the Lord Mayor?”
    Narina gave a little laugh.
    â€œDid I handle him?” she quizzed.
    â€œYour Royal Highness did indeed.  He is so much a stickler for everything being done exactly as it has always been done before.  I saw his surprise when you insisted on going into the ladies’ tea room.”
    â€œI can see that he is rather a fuddy-duddy.  We shall have to teach him that the Palace requires everything to be new and exciting for those we reign over.”
    â€œYour Royal Highness has certainly struck the first blow this afternoon and the City will be talking of nothing else before they go to bed.
    The Lord Chamberlain also praised Narina when she arrived back at the Palace.
    He had been told what had happened and came up to the sitting room where she was reading.
    â€œI hear that you burst a bombshell under the Lord Mayor this afternoon, Your Royal Highness!”
    â€œI hope I did not do anything wrong – ”
    â€œNo, you were completely and absolutely right.  It’s something we should have thought of before and I blame myself for not doing so.”
    He was smiling as he shook his head and went on,
    â€œTo be honest, I have forgotten how important the women are. But you have brilliantly created a new defence