The Gates of Paradise by Barbara Cartland

Constantinople.
    Paks had orders to wake Mr. Ward, but before he went to do so he said to Narina,
    â€œI ain’t allowing that Ward gentleman to get up for dinner, Your Royal Highness.  He has to stay where he be until them wounds on his back have been properly treated.
    There be no point in him a-getting up and finding them starts to bleed again.”
    â€œNo, Paks, you are quite right, and if he wants to go on sleeping I will understand.  Otherwise I suggest you put a table by the bed and I can sit on one side of it.”
    It was the way she had eaten meals with her mother when she was ill, and thought it was a cosy and delightful way to share dinner with someone in bed.
    She waited until Paks came to the sitting room to announce rather pompously,
    â€œDinner be served, Your Royal Highness.”
    Narina jumped up and went into the bedroom.
    The curtains were drawn although it was still fairly light outside and candles were lit.
    Narina knew that everything that happened upstairs was promptly reported and commented on downstairs.
    If there were too many candles being lit, they would never believe that Prince Rudolf was in the darkness the doctors had ordered for him.
    There was, however, just one small candelabrum on the table and Narina was not surprised to find that it was composed of the same cupids with stars at their feet that she had noticed before on the bed and mirror.
    The tablecloth was of very fine lace and Paks had arranged bright flowers from the garden on the table.
    Michael was sitting up in bed with his hair neatly brushed and wearing a silk scarf round his neck.
    He looked, she thought, very much better than he had before he had gone to sleep.
    He smiled as she walked across the room.
    â€œI must tell you,” he said as she sat down, “that you look exceedingly beautiful and very smart.  As this is the first decent meal I have had for many months, I am going to enjoy every mouthful.  But most of all I will appreciate the beauty I will share it with.”
    â€œThat makes it exciting for me too,” Narina replied, “and if you are looking forward to dinner then so am I.  I have found it very gloomy eating alone and having no one to talk to except for Paks.”
    â€œHe is exactly the sort of servant who should be in charge of a Royal Prince.  He made me laugh even when he was hurting me when treating my wounds.”
    â€œAre they still very uncomfortable?”
    â€œI am not going to think about that while you are here.  I want you to tell all me about yourself and how you could turn up so unexpectedly when I would expect you to be at home helping your father to teach the children their Catechism.”
    Narina laughed.
    â€œI don’t have to do that, but I am alone with Papa most of the time.  He is a wonderful companion when he is not too busy to attend to me.”
    â€œSo then you were unexpectedly caught up in this wildly dramatic adventure, because, I would guess, you are a friend of Princess Louise and also resemble her.”
    â€œThat is very astute of you.  We were always taken for twins at school, although actually we are not related.  When Louise asked me to come out here at a moment’s notice, I came with pleasure although I had no idea what was expected of me.”
    â€œI think it is very brave of you – ”
    â€œIt is the most exciting and thrilling thing that has ever happened to me except when someone like you comes out of the blue and scares me half to death!”
    â€œI am sorry if I scared you, but you were just like an angel delivering me from the devil and carrying me on winged feet to safety.”
    Narina giggled.
    â€œYou will really have to write a book about it one day including all your own adventures in India.”
    â€œI have thought of that, but actually it will not be very long before I am forced to retire.”
    â€œForced!” exclaimed Narina.
    â€œFor family reasons