The King Without a Heart by Barbara Cartland

of your language, although actually I think it quite unnecessary.”
    â€œI am sure if you will do so,” said Darius tactfully, “you will delight our people. And you do realise, my Lady, there will be very large crowds to see you arrive and to cheer you all the way to the Palace.”
    This made Sophie think about her appearance.
    Titania was made to unpack a great number of different hats and dresses as now Sophie was determined to look outstanding when she arrived at the port.
    It was planned that the ship should appear at exactly eleven o’clock. Allowing time for it to dock and the gangways to be let down, the welcome should commence at half past eleven.
    The Duchess was equally concerned with her own appearance and made nearly as much fuss about it as Sophie.
    Nobody gave a thought to what Titania would be wearing for the occasion, but she was thankful that Nanny had insisted on her buying a few pretty and expensive dresses from London.
    â€œFirst impressions are always important,” her mother had once told her.
    Titania therefore put on her best afternoon gown and her prettiest hat trimmed with flowers.
    â€œDo I look alright, Martha?” she asked the Duchess’s maid, knowing no one else would be in the slightest interested.
    â€œIf you asks me,” replied Martha, “you look too pretty, Miss Titania, for it to please her Ladyship.”
    Titania smiled.
    â€œShe is quite safe, Martha. I am certainly not in a position to steal her thunder!”
    â€œNow you try and enjoy yourself,” said Martha in a motherly tone, “now you’re in a new country. It’s a real shame the way they treats you at the Hall and I promised Nanny I’d look after you. So if you’re in trouble, you come to me.”
    Titania was very touched as she had never thought that Martha took any notice of her. She was always in attendance on her aunt and she had hardly ever spoken to her.
    â€œThat is most kind of you, Martha, and as you can guess, I miss Nanny terribly.”
    â€œI knows she’ll be missing you too, but equally she’ll want you to have a good time. You’re too young to be bothering about other people’s importance and the way they grab at everything for themselves. It’s something your father and mother never did.”
    â€œThank you for all you have said, Martha. I shall be sorry when you go back to England with Aunt Louise.”
    â€œWell you remember what I’ve said to you,” continued Martha, “and don’t you go making yourself too unhappy because you’re in a strange country. It’s something your father always enjoyed, although His Grace had a lot of disagreeable things to say about him, because he was travelling round the world instead of staying at home with them lot.”
    â€œTo Papa it was always an adventure,” admitted Titania, “and that was what Nanny said I was to make it.”
    â€œWell you never knows what might turn up. Perhaps, although you don’t think so now, it’ll prove to be a blessing in disguise.”
    â€œI do hope so and thank you for saying all those kind words to me.”
    She left the cabin and had no idea that when she was gone Martha shook her head.
    â€˜It’s a crying shame,’ she said to herself, ‘the way His Grace and her Ladyship treats Miss Titania. But with her looks she should find someone special to comfort her.’
    The next morning everyone was up early making ready for their arrival.
    The Duchess was giving her daughter instructions as well as finding fault with Titania simply because she felt disagreeable at being out of bed.
    Sophie changed her hat half a dozen times.
    â€œI am sure everyone will think you look wonderful,”
    Titania told her to cheer her up.
    â€œIt’s Frederick I am worrying about,” answered Sophie. “After all there must have been dozens of other women longing to marry him and, as Papa says,