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said, “Did that happen to you, Grandmama?”
    The Queen Mother smiled.
    “I was very fortunate, Zosina. Very very fortunate! Have you never been told what happened where my marriage was concerned?”
    “No, Grandmama.”
    Zosina saw the smile in the Queen Mother’s eyes and on her lips as she went on,
    “Your grandfather, who was then the Crown Prince of Lützelstein, came to stay with my father because it had been suggested that he should marry my elder sister.”
    Zosina’s eyes widened, but she did not say anything.
    “I was only sixteen at the time,” the Queen Mother continued, “and very excited to hear that we were to have a Crown Prince as a very special guest.”
    She paused for a moment, as if she was recalling what had happened.
    “It was naughty of me, but I was determined to see him before anybody else did. So I rode from my father’s Palace down the route to a point that I knew the Prince must pass when he entered the country.”
    “What happened, Grandmama ?” Zosina enquired.
    “I bypassed the welcoming parade of soldiers lining the streets by approaching the border from a different direction,” the Queen Mother answered. “I had learned that the Royal party from Lützelstein, who had been travelling for several days were to stop at a certain inn just inside my father’s Kingdom for refreshment and to tidy up and make themselves look presentable before they entered our Capital in state.”
    Zosina was entranced by the story, sitting forward on the seat, her eyes on her grandmother’s face.
    “I often wonder now how I had the temerity to do anything so outrageous,” the Queen Mother said, “but I waited by some trees until I saw the Prince and his entourage come out of the inn. They were laughing and talking and their horses all stood waiting to be mounted.”
    “Then what did you do?” “I rode down to them at a gallop. I remember I was wearing a green velvet habit with a little tricorn hat, which I thought very becoming, with green feathers in it. I pulled my horse up right in front of the Prince. ‘Welcome, Sire!’ I said and he stared at me in astonishment.”
    “It must have been a surprise!” Zosina cried.
    “It was!” the Queen Mother laughed. “Then I made my horse go down on his knees as I had trained him to do and bow his head, while I sat in the saddle holding my whip in a theatrical posture like a circus performer!”
    Zosina was delighted.
    “Oh, Grandmama! They must have thought it fantastic!” “It was fantastic!” her grandmother said with a smile. “Your grandfather fell in love with me on the spot! He invited me to ride with him back to my father’s Palace.” “And did you?”
    “No. I was far too sensible to do that. I knew what a lot of trouble I would be in. I rode back alone, except of course, for the groom who was waiting for me by the trees.”
    “And what happened after that?” Zosina wanted to know.
    “When he reached the Palace, my sister was waiting for him and he said to my father, ‘I understand Your Majesty has another daughter?’ ‘Yes,’ my father replied, ‘but she is too young to take part in our celebrations to commemorate Your Royal Highness’s visit.’ ‘Will she not think it rather unfair to be left out of the celebrations?’ your grandfather persisted.”
    “So you were allowed to take part,” Zosina asked.
    “My father and mother were extremely annoyed,” the Queen Mother replied, “but at the Crown Prince’s insistence, I came down to dinner. I remember how exciting it was and even more exciting when before the Prince left, he told my father that it was I he wished to marry.”
    “Oh, Grandmama, it’s the most thrilling story I have ever heard!” Zosina exclaimed. “Why have I never been told it before?”
    “I think,” her grandmother replied, “your mother thought it might put the wrong sort of ideas into your head.”
    “It’s the kind of story Katalin would love,” Zosina said. “I do wish I could