‘Please God – help me to make the King happy – it will not be easy – but I will try to be good – so help me – please, please help me!’
In the State Coach, which conveyed them very slowly from the Cathedral to the Palace, the King said as their hands moved automatically to acknowledge the cheering crowds,
“One blessing, Anastasia, is that we shall never have to go through this again!”
“Are you not enjoying yourself?” Anastasia asked him in consternation.
“If you want the truth, I find such pomp and circumstance extremely boring,” the King answered.
“I am – sorry,” Anastasia murmured uncertainly.
“Why should you be? I was wrong to complain! Our wedding day should be an ecstatic occasion!”
His voice was mocking and cynical.
Then, as he saw her expression, he put out his free hand and
