As she did so, a man leaned over the barrier behind her and hit her so hard that she fell to the ground with a cry.
Sola called out so that the coachman would hear her,
“Stop! Stop the carriage.”
Surprised, but obedient, the coachman drew in his horses.
Sola opened the carriage door before the Count realised what was happening.
“Carry my train!” she ordered as she jumped from the carriage into the road.
Both the Grand Duke and the Count were too surprised to say anything.
But the Count picked up Sola’s train and held it chest high so that it would not trail in the dust.
She reached the child, who was lying face downwards on the road.
She looked at the man who had hit the child and who was still leaning over the barrier.
“How could you strike a poor little child?” she demanded ang
