“Yes, of course,” Alnina said. “I was wondering how we could leave the Palace without there being any unpleasantness about it, because it might affect William.”
“I thought about that too,” he answered.
He held up the letter that was written on his crested writing paper and began,
“To His Royal Highness, Prince Vladimir Petrov.
Your Royal Highness,
It is with deep regret that we had to rush away from your delightful party without saying goodbye.
But a messenger arrived at midnight to inform me that I must, on the orders of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, return to England immediately.
Her Majesty requires me to welcome some Rulers from other countries who are arriving in ten days’ time at Windsor Castle.
You will, I know, understand that I can do nothing but obey Her Majesty’s command a
