Chapter 5Galloping beside the King, Xenia thought that she had never been so happy in her whole life.
For the first time she was riding a horse of the type her mother had described to her so often, a thoroughbred, which was spirited and at the same time responded to every touch of her hand.
The snow on the peaks of the mountains was brilliant against a clear blue sky and the grass they were riding over on the Steppes was filled with wild flowers.
It was so lovely and so colourful that Xenia felt there was no artist living who could do it justice.
It was also an indescribable joy to be alone with the King.
They had in fact a mounted escort, but the four troopers who accompanied them kept in the background and it was easy for Xenia to forget their very existence.
In the last few days i
