She saw Stephanie shiver as she cried,
“I cannot – marry him! I will – not! Oh, Laetitia – what am I to do?”
It was a cry that Laetitia had heard so often before that she merely said quickly,
“Don’t think about it! Forget it for the moment and just be happy because Kyril is back.”
“You promised to help me and prevent the King from – proposing to me.”
“That is what I am trying to do.”
“But we have only two more days. He will be here on Thursday.”
“Yes, I know,” Laetitia said, “but, please, Stephanie, for the moment just think and pray that it will not be as bad as you anticipate. At the same time remember that you and Kyril, if you meet secretly, are doing something that is very very dangerous.”
“I promise I will remember,” Stephanie replied, “and I am praying, Laetitia, as you told
