There were soldiers lining the route but, Lord Victor thought scornfully, not nearly enough.
There were more, he was glad to see, outside the Palace, which was a very attractive building. It was white and set against a background of trees in blossom.
Two huge fountains were playing, one on each side of the marble steps that led up to the front door.
“Have we to climb all those steps?” the Princess asked.
She was waving her hand and bowing to the cheering populace on each side of the road.
“I am afraid so,” Lord Victor answered, “and the King, the Prime Minister and a large number of other dignitaries will be waiting for you at the top of them.”
“You – you will walk up – with me?” the Princess asked him nervously.
“Of course,” Lord Victor replied, “and the Captain and I will make sure that you are not harmed in any way.”
He knew as he spoke that she was frightened, but he thought that nobody could have behaved better than she was doing at this critical moment.
She looked outstandingly beautiful.
She had a little hat perched at the back of her head trimmed with feathers and she was all in white with only her bouquet of pink roses to make a splash of colour.
As her eyes met Lord Victor’s, he knew that she was pleading with him to help her.
He bent forward to say quietly,
“Everything is arranged and I will be beside you just in case there is anything you need.”
He knew that was what she wanted to hear and he saw the light come into her eyes.
They had not been alone together since he had taken her back to the Battleship.
But he could read her thoughts and he knew she was wishing that at the last minute they could run away together into obscurity.
The carriage came to a standstill and a footman in elaborate livery ran to open the carriage door.
As the Princess stepped out, the crew from the Battleship presented arms, then raised their caps as they gave three cheers.
Lord Victor and the Captain followed closely behind her and, when they reached the top of the steps, there was a man standing outside the glass door that led into the Palace.
Lord Victor expected it to be the King, but it was the Prime Minister.
When the Princess reached him, he bowed low and kissed her hand.
Then he said in a very serious tone,
“I must ask you, Your Royal Highness, to come into a Reception room where there are several people waiting to meet you.”
The Princess did not seem surprised.
Lord Victor, however, thought it extraordinary that there was as yet no sign of the King.
The Prime Minister led the way with the Princess, Lord Victor and the Captain walking behind him.
They were aware as they did so that the Palace was very attractively built and the furniture and pictures they noticed as they passed by were exceptionally fine.
The Prime Minister opened the door of what was a comparatively small room.
Waiting for them was the Ambassador and Mr. Orestes with a Priest whom Lord Victor thought must be the Archbishop.
There was also the Lord Chamberlain, the Comptroller of the Household, a be-medalled General, an Admiral and three other men who Lord Victor guessed were members of the Privy Council.
Then the door was closed behind them and the Prime Minister said,
“May I, Your Royal Highness, present the Archbishop of Zararis.”
The Princess shook the Archbishop by the hand.
One after another the other men were then presented to her.
She, of course, already knew the Ambassador and Mr. Orestes.
The Prime Minister indicated a chair for the Princess to sit on before they surrounded her in a half-circle.
Lord Victor could not imagine what all this was about.
Then the Prime Minister said,
“I have the sad task, Your Royal Highness, of bringing you exceedingly distressing news.”
The Princess looked up in surprise as he went on,
“I regret to inform Your Royal Highness that His Majesty, who has not been well for some time, died last night.”
Lord Victor started.
Then, as he knew that the Princess was at a loss for words, he went to her side.
She was finding it difficult to speak and he responded,
“This is indeed grave news, Mr. Prime Minister, and a tremendous shock to Her Royal Highness on top of everything that has already happened.”
“I am aware of that, my Lord,” the Prime Minister replied, “but I think you will understand that because of the most regrettable occurrence on Her Royal Highness’s arrival, we have had to keep secret the news of His Majesty’s death until this moment.”
“And is no one else aware that he had died?” Lord Victor asked.
“His personal servants and the doctors have been sworn to secrecy and we here present are the only other people who know the truth – ”
Lord Victor did not say anything more.
And after a moment the Prime Minister said to the Princess,
“Your Royal Highness must be aware that if this situation is known, the Russians will do everything possible to prevent us from appointing another Royal Ruler of Zararis. We are therefore begging Your Royal Highness to take the throne and do us the very great honour of becoming our Queen.”
The Princess gave a gasp of horror and Lord Victor said quickly,
“Are you saying, Prime Minister, that, if Her Royal Highness becomes Queen, the Russians will accept that Zararis is under the protection of the British Empire and their efforts to infiltrate and disturb the country will cease?”
“You are putting into words what I actually would have said myself, my Lord,” the Prime Minister replied, “and I profoundly hope that you, as the representative of Her Majesty Queen Victoria will persuade the Princess to take the throne of Zararis and save us from our enemies.”
As he spoke, Princess Sydella reached out and slipped her hand into Lord Victor’s.
“I-I am deeply – grieved to learn of – His Majesty’s – death,” she said in a small hesitating voice, “and while I am – aware of the great – honour you do me in – offering me the throne, I could not – contemplate being just by myself in such a – responsible position – and in fact – I would – not know – what to do.”
Lord Victor saw the consternation in the Prime Minister’s face and in those of the other men present.
He knew that they were fully aware, as the Marquis of Salisbury had told him, how vulnerable Zararis was.
If there was no one at all on the throne, let alone someone British, the Russians would undoubtedly stir up even more trouble, as they already had done elsewhere in the Balkans.
He was just wondering if he should suggest that he spoke to the Princess alone.
However, before he could say anything, she rose to her feet.
“Thank you,” she said, “for what – you have – offered, but I would – like to – go home.”
The Prime Minister stepped forward as if he would physically prevent her from leaving.
Then he replied, the words falling over themselves,
“I am sure, Your Royal Highness, that we can find some member of His Late Majesty’s family who would be willing to be crowned King, if you would stay here as his bride.”
He turned to the Archbishop saying,
“What about Prince Frederick? You have seen him in the last year?”
“He is not in good health,” the Archbishop replied, “and is, as you know, a recluse, but, of course, you could approach him.”
The Princess turned to Lord Victor.
“No, no,” she protested. “I cannot – marry – any – one. Please – take me – home!”
It was the cry of a child.
Then, as Lord Victor hesitated, not knowing what to say, she gave a sudden exclamation.
Still holding onto his hand, she turned to
wards the Prime Minister.
“If – you want – a King,” she said, “why not – Lord Victor Brooke? He is – a descendant of an – English King and – like me, has Queen Victoria as his – Godmother.”
The Prime Minister stared at her and Mr. Orestes, who had his arm in a sling, moved forward.
“This is extraordinary,” he said, “because I have been working on the family lineage of his Lordship.”
He paused for a moment to make sure that everybody was listening to him and then continued,
“Charles II became King of England at the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. Later he made his son, by his mistress Nell Gwyn, the Duke of St. Albans. Lord Victor Brooke’s mother, the Duchess of Droxbrooke, was the sister of the late Duke of St. Albans, his direct descendant and is the aunt of the present Duke.”
There was an exclamation from the Statesmen while the Prime Minister’s expression changed.
He looked towards Lord Victor and said,
“In which case, my Lord, I speak with confidence on behalf of the people of Zararis and of our House of Parliament and I beg of you to accept the throne of Zararis and to thereby preserve and protect this country under the patronage of The British Empire and Her Majesty Queen Victoria of Great Britain.”
Then there was a pause and the Princess turned to look at Lord Victor anxiously.
Then there was complete silence while everyone seemed to be holding their breath.
“Please, please,” the Princess whispered.
After what seemed a long pause Lord Victor said slowly,
“Thank you for the trust you place in me. With the help of God I will endeavour to serve this country and its people.”
The Prime Minister went down on one knee.
“The King is dead!” he intoned. “Long live the King!”
Taking Lord Victor’s hand he raised it to his lips and each of the other men present followed his example.
As the last one rose to his feet, Lord Victor said,
“If I am to become your King, I will now announce what I require to be done to make sure that my future wife is safe and that you need no longer as a country walk in fear.”
He drew in his breath before looking at the Archbishop and saying,
“I want, my Lord, our marriage to take place tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock and that we should be crowned immediately afterwards.”
He then turned towards the General and said,
“Every available soldier in the country is to line the route and I want you, General, to immediately enlist every able-bodied young man into the Armed Forces and some will be required for the Navy.”
The General bowed in acceptance of the order and Lord Victor went on,
“The Prime Minister will announce conscription for every boy of seventeen for at least three years.”
Lord Victor paused for breath before he continued,
“I direct, Admiral, that two battleships and three destroyers should be placed on order from England. Arrangements must be made for the crews who will man them to begin training immediately.”
There was a gasp from those who were listening.
Then Lord Victor said, in a different tone,
“As my future wife has been through a very traumatic experience and neither of us had any sleep last night, we will now retire to our private apartments and any celebrations as regards our wedding can take place tomorrow.”
He looked round at the men who were all staring at him and added,
“I feel sure that I can leave the sacred burial of His Majesty in your hands and that you, Prime Minister, will announce to the people tomorrow at midday, and not before, that, following His Majesty’s death, there is a National Emergency and it is for this reason that our marriage will take place immediately.”
As he stopped speaking, Lord Victor offered his arm to the Princess and then they walked towards the door.
Realising that they were leaving, the Comptroller of the Household hurried to open it for them.
Outside there were a number of footmen, servants and Palace officials.
As they bowed, the Comptroller suggested,
“I will show Her Royal Highness to her private apartments.”
He walked ahead.
Lord Victor was aware that the Princess was worried that she might be parted from him.
He put his right hand over hers, which was on his arm.
She knew that he was telling her without words that he would never leave her.
Then, as he saw the radiance in her eyes, he knew that for the Princess as well as for himself, the stars were glittering.
They were all around them.
However, they were no longer on earth, but flying up to the sky.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Comptroller of the Household opened a door and showed the Princess and Lord Victor into a most impressive bedroom.
Two maids were already unpacking the Princess’s luggage, which had been brought ashore from the Battleship.
“These are Your Royal Highness’s apartments,” the Comptroller said, “the sitting room, ma’am, is next door.”
He walked across to the communicating door and Lord Victor said very quietly to the Princess,
“Stay here for a moment.”
He saw the apprehension in her eyes and added,
“I am not leaving you, I just want to talk to him alone.”
She nodded to say that she understood.
Lord Victor joined the Comptroller in an attractive and comfortable sitting room and, as Lord Victor came to his side, the Comptroller said,
“You understand, my Lord, that this is not the Royal Suite, because obviously it cannot be used at the moment.”
“No, no, of course, I understand,” Lord Victor replied.
Then lowering his voice he went on,
“Tonight I wish to be near the Princess and I imagine that there is another room attached to this one?”
The Comptroller looked at him apprehensively.
“Do you really think – ?” he began.
“I am taking no risks,” Lord Victor interrupted, “and I have already arranged with the Captain of H.M.S. Victorious for a detachment of men to be stationed on guard outside the Palace.”
As he was concerned that the Comptroller would think it an insult to his country’s soldiers, he added,
“I want this whole floor guarded so that no one – no one at all – including yourself, can approach us once Her Royal Highness has retired to bed.”
“I will see to that,” the Comptroller agreed.
“What we require now,” Lord Victor went on, “is in an hour or so to have a light meal served in this room and after that is over I want the Princess to have as much sleep as possible.”
“Your wishes will be carried out, my Lord,” the Comptroller said.
He showed Lord Victor a bedroom, which was on the other side of the sitting room.
It was almost as impressive as the one that the Princess was using and Lord Victor asked that his valet and his luggage be sent there.
Then he went back into the sitting room and, after the Comptroller had left, bowing respectfully, he called to the Princess.
She came running from the bedroom.
“Is – everything all – right?” she asked anxiously.
“Everything, my darling,” Lord Victor said, “but I am just wondering how you managed to put me into a position that I could never have expected – even in my wildest dreams!”
“I-I just wanted to – be with you,” the Princess said, “it does not matter to me whether – you are a King, or a crossing sweeper, as – long as – we are – together.”
Lord Victor thought that no man could ask more of any woman.
He took the Princess’s hand and raised it to his lips.
Then she moved away from him and closed the door that led into the bedroom.
Then, as he waited, she came back to him looking, he thought, dazzlingly lovely.
She stood beside him before she asked,
“You are – quite sure – that you – really want to – marry me?”
Lord Victor smiled.
He knew that the question was very important to her.
“I want it more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life,” he said. “But I thought last night that I would have to go home alone, missing you unbearably. I realised too that now I could never marry.”
The Princess gave a little cry of relief.
“That is – what I wanted – you to say – ! Oh, darling, darling Victor, how can – we have been – so lucky?”
She put her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers.
Then he was kissing her fiercely, possessively, passionately until they were both breathless.
An hour later they had a light but delicious meal and Lord Victor thought it almost as good as any food he had eaten in France.
When they had finished, he said,
“Now my lovely one, I want you to go to bed and, when you are undressed, I have something to explain to you.”
The Princess looked curious, but Lord Victor walked away towards his own room.
He had already given his orders and he knew that his valet and the maids who were looking after the Princess would already have left the floor.
He nevertheless looked out into the corridor to make sure that there was no one about.
He could see in the distance that the sailors from H.M.S. Victorious were standing guard and he recognised that it would be impossible for anyone to pass them.
He undressed, changed into a long robe and then returned to the Princess.
She was wearing a pretty negligée of blue satin, trimmed with Valencian lace. Her hair was loose and fell over her shoulders.
As she ran towards him, he thought that no one could look more beautiful.
However, he only kissed her gently and then, taking his arms from her, he said,
“Now, my precious, I want you to do exactly what I tell you.”
“You – know I – will do – that,” the Princess answered, “as I always – will.”
It was with difficulty that Lord Victor refrained from kissing her again.
A Royal Rebuke Page 10
