Chapter 7Margit moved towards the door.
“If Your Majesty will ring when you want me – ” she murmured, curtseying and left the room.
Xenia turned round.
Johanna was standing at the far end of the bedroom just inside the door and Xenia saw that she was dressed as a widow.
Her gown, far too elegant for anyone who was deeply bereaved and which revealed her slender and graceful figure, was ornamented with crepe.
She wore a small crepe bonnet on her head and had a crepe veil that completely covered her face.
She raised this with black-gloved hands and Xenia saw that she was smiling.
“Here I am!” Johanna exclaimed, “and don’t say that you are surprised to see me!”
“Not – surprised,” Xenia managed to reply, “but I expected you – yesterday or the – day before.”
Johanna walked towards her a
