“No one is to know, my Lord, that I have given you my permission to go to Plymouth to see Prince Vladimir and to discuss this delicate matter with him.”
She stopped for a moment before she went on,
“It would be a great mistake if, by any chance, the Prince does not wish his daughter to undertake such a task and the newspapers then learn that we were obliged to tell Samosia that we could not assist them in any way.”
The Earl bowed.
“I understand, ma’am, and I think it is a very wise and sensible thing to do. And you can, of course, trust me implicitly. So I will take a little time off from my work to travel to Plymouth and will then be able to bring you back the answer.”
“As you have already told me that speed is of the essence, I will let you proceed at once,” the Queen said. “I will
