Chapter TwoThe Duke was about to ask Zoia’s other name, but the Princess chattered on,
“You must find it terribly hot here as we all do. Of course ordinarily we are never in St. Petersburg at this time of the year but, as the Czar is at The Winter Palace, how can we go to the country and feel that we are deserting him?”
They moved through the beautiful apartments that the Duke had noted on his way to the theatre and footmen then opened the double doors of a huge Reception room, which the Duke realised was aptly named as it was all in white.
The carved stone mantelpiece was an artistic delight and the curtains under the exquisite gold pelmets were of heavy white Chinese silk.
There was a glittering silver teapot on a silver tray set on a low table by one of the sofas and the Princess la
