Free Ruled by Love by Barbara Cartland

they should expand it and enlist and train many more recruits than they do at the moment.”
    â€œI am sure that is just what my father would think is very necessary.”
    â€œWhat I think would be a good idea,” continued the Count, “is to say we need volunteers to learn riding from me as an expert, and I can be helped by the other Officers if we attract a large number of recruits.”
    â€œI think that is an excellent idea, Franz. At least it will increase the number of soldiers guarding the Palace.”
    â€œWe shall need very many more if we are to protect the whole country!”
    The Count was talking seriously to her and Zoleka gave him a quick glance.
    â€œWhat is in your mind?” she asked tentatively.
    â€œI am telling you, Your Royal Highness, that I am extremely worried about Krnov, as I know you are.”
    â€œHow do you know I am so worried?”
    He smiled at her.
    â€œI am not a fool, and I realised soon after I arrived in Opava that your father and the more intelligent members of your Government were extremely perturbed about what is happening in Krnov.”
    Zoleka had not thought that he was aware of all this.
    As she looked at him in surprise, he added,
    â€œActually my father talked about it too when I was at home and I realised that something should be done.”
    â€œI am so glad you have told me that you feel like this,” Zoleka told him. “As I expect you will now realise, I have come to be Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess, not because I wanted to, but because Papa felt it was my duty to help Krnov, as they had asked specifically for me.”
    She gave a deep sigh and continued,
    â€œAlso he is very afraid that the fall of Krnov would endanger the independence of our country and of course of Cieszyn as well.”
    The Count nodded.
    â€œHe is absolutely right. From what I have seen so far I don’t believe that Krnov would be able to stand up to any attack from the Prussians.”
    â€œThen we must do something quickly. I have asked for an audience with the Prime Minister today. It is he who invited me here, so I know he is worried.”
    â€œI suspect that he is as concerned as we are. When you see him, advise him that he must recruit immediately a great number of men into the Army and train them. I will ask for volunteers to learn to ride, but they must also learn to shoot. We can only work as quickly as possible to make them much better prepared than they are at present.”
    Zoleka realised that he was talking commonsense.
    â€œI will do everything that I possibly can, Franz, and I will tell you this evening what the Prime Minister says.”
    The Count smiled at her, then rode forward to join the other Officers and Udele and on his instructions they started galloping again.
    It was soon time to return home.
    â€œThat was wonderful, absolutely wonderful,” Udele enthused when they drew up outside the Palace.
    â€œIt is something we must do again tomorrow,” the Count suggested, “and may I now congratulate Your Royal Highness on being an excellent rider.”
    â€œThat is just the nicest thing you could say to me,” Udele answered. “I was afraid you would think that I was not good enough for the mount you chose for me.”
    She bent forward as she spoke and patted her horse.
    She looked so very pretty as she did so and Zoleka hoped the men watching her would make a fuss of her.
    It seemed so pathetic that she should have spent the last few years since her mother died alone with her father, who was obviously not interested in her.
    She had been treated by the staff at the Palace as if she was of no particular significance and like a small child.
    Zoleka thought it was extremely unkind of the Lord Chamberlain not to have found playmates for her.
    She might even have had girls of the same age to share governesses with her. Instead of which, from what she had gathered, Udele had been doing lessons with