A Princess Prays Read Online Free PDF Page B

condition.
    Yet if she said so no one would take any notice of her, least of all her stepmother.
    â€˜I am sure if Mama was alive today he would not have become ill,’ she thought. ‘And as he has never been really happy with his new wife, perhaps that is one of the reasons why he is so ill now?’
    It was, however, something she could not say to her father.
    She went into his room and found him awake and delighted to see her.
    â€œCome and talk to me, my dearest,” he said. “I am bored with my own company.”
    â€œYou know that I always love to be with you, Papa. Shall we talk or would you like to play a game of chess?”
    â€œI would like to talk about you,” the King said.
    â€œThat will bore me. Let us leave things as they are at the moment and let us reminisce about Mama.”
    The King smiled and she continued,
    â€œDo you remember how happy we were when you taught me to swim in the river? And Mama used to cook a picnic so we could all be together without a bodyguard or anyone interfering.”
    The King sighed.
    â€œThe sun always seemed to shine and your mother and I were so happy.”
    â€œSo was I,” added Attila.
    â€œI want you to be happy now, my dearest.”
    â€œI do think, Papa, that you should pray and believe that you will get well.”
    â€œThe doctors all say there is nothing they can do for me.”
    â€œDo you really think Mama would have listened to them or believed anything they said?”
    There was silence for a moment and then the King replied,
    â€œNo, your mother would have made me a strong concoction of herbs and I would doubtless have been well again in a few days.”
    â€œI think that is just what she wants you to be now,” Attila told him very softly.
    Her father looked at her quizzically.
    â€œWhy do you say that?”
    â€œI went to visit Father Jozsef this very morning and I prayed in his little Chapel. I was quite certain, Papa, that Mama was there telling me you had to believe you were going to get well.”
    She saw her father was listening to her.
    â€œMama often said the secret of being healed was to believe you would be.”
    â€œI can remember her saying that,” agreed the King.
    â€œShe always said it and I am sure she was right.”
    â€œWhat you are telling me,” added the King slowly, “is that I should not accept what the doctors have said, but believe I shall recover.”
    â€œIf you believe, which is what Mama would want you to do, I am quite certain you will be well again soon.”
    She pressed her hand over his.
    â€œYou are wanted, wanted desperately by everyone. Do you sincerely believe that I, Stepmama or anyone else could take your place?”
    The King drew in his breath.
    â€œIt has been worrying me a great deal.”
    â€œDo not waste your time and brain worrying, just believe you are going to recover and of course I know, almost as if I can hear her telling you, that is what Mama is praying you will do.”
    There was silence and Attila knew her father was thinking of her mother and how much he had loved her.
    After what seemed a long time the King said,
    â€œI will do what you tell me to do, because I know it is what your mother would have wanted. But I have been thinking that if I were to die, I would be with her and that to me would be Heaven.”
    â€œI don’t think Mama is far away from any of us, Papa. Equally she would not want you to shirk your duty. As I have always said – Valdina needs you desperately.”
    â€œYou are quite right, my dearest, and I do admit to being rather feeble in accepting the verdict of those doctors without really querying it.”
    â€œThey just make it safe for themselves. If you die they will say they predicted it and if you recover they will say it is their brilliance that saved you!”
    The King laughed as she wanted him to do.
    â€œYou are quite right, my dear, that is exactly