There was silence for a moment, then the Emperor said in a voice that showed he was hurt,
“I am sorry, Pauline.”
She did not reply and after a moment he said,
“I must go. I have to be at a reception before the dinner, but I am returning here as you know later tonight, although I shall not see you.”
“Why should you have your fun and I have none?” the Princess grumbled.
“Perhaps it will all prove to be a storm in a teacup,” the Emperor replied, “but to be honest I am not too hopeful.”
Listening tensely outside the door Vernita realised that the Emperor would now be leaving and hurriedly she turned and ran to hide herself on the backstairs.
She heard the sound of the door opening then closing and the Emperor passed the top of the stairs where she was hiding, as he wended his way throug
