Because Laetitia had no wish for her sister to start one of her tirades against the Grand Duchess, she said quickly,
“Come on, let’s go to the Palace. If we are too early, we can wait there.”
She knew as she spoke that she was really hoping she would have a chance to speak to the King.
Even if they only said ‘good morning’ to each other she knew that their vibrations would be linked together with love and that to be near him would renew in her the glorious sensations she had known last night.
“Have you brought your gloves?” the Princess asked automatically.
Then, as she saw the girls were both carrying white kid gloves, she said,
“You can put them on as we walk across the garden.”
Gertrude stood waiting to see them off at the door and remarked,
“I’m real proud of you and that’s the truth!”
“I wish you could come too, Gertrude,” Marie-Henriette said.
“Don’t you worry,” Gertrude replied, “I’ll be in the crowd watching you coming back to the Palace and nobody’s going to stop me from doing that!”
They walked from the courtyard into the garden and cutting across the drive went over the green lawns, gay with their flowerbeds, towards the front door of the Palace.
They were halfway there when they saw an open carriage driving away with an escort of Cavalry in front and behind it.
They all stood still to watch it, knowing that the two people inside the carriage were the Grand Duchess and Prince Otto, on their way to the Civic Hall to be there when King Viktor arrived.
Neither Princess Olga nor her daughters spoke, but they were all thinking the same, that it was an insult to the Grand Duke that his wife and son should take his place.
Only when the last horses of the Cavalry were out of sight did the Princess move forward again and they walked on to the Palace.
As they reached the steps, the sentries presented arms and the Lord Steward stepped forward to bow and say,
“Good morning, Your Highness. I was instructed to escort you as soon as you arrived to the salon where His Royal Highness and His Majesty are waiting.”
Laetitia felt her heart leap. She would not only see the King again, she would be able to speak to him.
It would take a little while for the Grand Duchess and Otto to reach the Civic Hall to be received by the Lord Mayor and the Prime Minister, so she would have time not only to greet the King but also to talk to him.
The Lord Steward led them to the salon and two footmen with powdered wigs opened the doors.
The Grand Duke and the King were alone and Laetitia guessed that the aides-de-camp and other people who would accompany them in other carriages were being looked after in another room.
The Grand Duke held out his hand to the Princess saying,
“Good morning, my dear Olga! I feel sure that you would like a glass of champagne before we face the crowds and the ceremony at which inevitably the speeches will be long and dreary!”
The Princess curtseyed and laughed.
“You must not make His Majesty feel apprehensive of what is waiting for him, Louis.”
She curtseyed to the King who kissed her hand and then Laetitia, having greeted the Grand Duke, was at his side.
He looked at her in a way which told her without words how much he loved her.
For a moment she almost forgot to curtsey, then as she did so and the King’s hand touched hers she felt as if their love was so strong that it must be impossible for her mother and the Grand Duke not to perceive it.
Fortunately at that moment Stephanie came hurrying into the salon,
“I am sorry to be late, Papa,” she said impulsively, “but I hated the gown Mama chose for me and changed it as soon as she left!”
She went to her father as she spoke, put up her face to kiss him and the Grand Duke said,
“It seems to me that you will be in trouble when your mother sees what you have done.”
“I am always in trouble!” Stephanie replied.
Then, as she curtseyed to the King, she added,
“I had a tremendous scolding, Your Majesty, this morning, because you did not open the ball with me and I think it was very unfair that you have got off scot-free!”
The King laughed.
“I am sure because you look so pretty that you will eventually be forgiven.”
“I doubt it!” Stephanie replied.
She did not wait for him to answer, but kissed Princess Olga and then the two girls.
They were all aware that she was in high spirits because the King had not proposed.
Stephanie realised because she was to travel in another carriage that her mother had for the moment accepted defeat.
But that would not mean, Laetitia thought, that the Grand Duchess would give up the chase altogether or perhaps she had another King in mind.
However, Stephanie’s good humour was somehow infectious and, as they sipped their champagne, they were all laughing and talking in a way that would have been impossible had the Grand Duchess been with them.
Somehow, although she could not think how it happened, Laetitia found herself at one of the windows with the King a little apart from the others.
In a voice that only she could hear, he said very softly,
“You are even more beautiful than you were last night. Did you dream of me?”
“How – could I do – anything – else?”
It was hard to answer him because little thrills like shafts of sunlight were running through her body and, when she looked into his eyes, she felt as if he was kissing her.
“I love you,” the King whispered, “and I swear that, if I have to move Heaven and earth to do so, you will belong to me!”
It was impossible to answer and, as she stood looking at him pouring out her love without words, the door was opened and the Lord Steward entered to say to the Grand Duke,
“I think, Your Royal Highness, it is time that you and His Majesty started for the Civic Hall.”
“Of course,” the Grand Duke agreed.
He put down his glass and looked round as if he wondered where his distinguished guest had gone and hastily the King moved from the window towards him.
The two men now walked from the salon side by side and Princess Olga and Stephanie followed with Laetitia and Marie-Henriette behind.
They passed through the hall where the aides-de-camp and the occupants of the fourth carriage were and bowed as they appeared.
The Grand Duke and the King went out onto the steps of the Palace.
There the open carriage which was to drive them to the Civic Hall was waiting.
Ornamented with gold it was very impressive and the four horses drawing it had feathered plumes on their heads. The coachman and the footmen who stood up behind were wearing the crimson, white and gold livery of the seventeenth century with tricorn hats on top of their white wigs.
It was all very grand and Laetitia hoped that the King was duly impressed and wondered if Zvotana could equal such splendour.
Then, just as the Grand Duke with a gesture of his hand invited the King to enter the carriage first, there was the sound of galloping hoofs and a moment later an Officer on horseback came tearing up the drive.
Because everybody looked in his direction, the King paused.
As he did so, Laetitia realised that the Officer who was approaching them at such speed was Kyril.
He drew his horse to a standstill beside the carriage and, as one of the grooms hurried to his horse’s head, he walked up the steps to the Grand Duke.
It was not only the speed with which he had ridden, but something in his bearing that made everybody wait silently to hear what he had to say.
He saluted the Grand Duke, then surprisingly swept off his helmet before he said very quietly but clearly,
“I regret, sir, that I bring Your Royal Highness grievous news.”
“What is it, Kyril?” the Grand Duke asked apprehensively.
&nbs
p; “A bomb has been thrown into the carriage containing Her Royal Highness and Prince Otto! It exploded and I can only offer my deepest and most sincere sympathy in Your Royal Highness’s terrible loss.”
For a moment there was absolute silence.
Then the Grand Duke asked in a voice that did not sound like his own,
“They are both – dead?”
“There was no chance, sir, of saving them.”
The Grand Duke squared his shoulders.
Then he said quietly,
“I must come with you and see what I can do.”
“I think that would be a mistake, sir, if you will forgive my saying so,” Kyril replied. “The doctors are taking away the bodies of the onlookers who were killed in the explosion and those who were injured to hospital.”
He paused and added,
“There is for the moment great confusion and consternation in the City and it would be best therefore if Your Royal Highness stayed here with His Majesty until things are quieter.”
“I understand,” the Grand Duke replied.
“I will see to everything, sir.”
Kyril replaced his helmet on his head, saluted and, walking back to his horse, mounted it and rode away.
It seemed as he did so as if everybody present was turned to stone.
Then Princess Olga moved to the Grand Duke’s side to say,
“Kyril is right, Louis dear. There is nothing you can do at the moment and, if the crowds are distressed and panicking, it would be best for you to be here.”
“Yes, of course,” the Grand Duke agreed.
Forgetting the King, the Princess led the Grand Duke back into the Palace. They walked through the hall, but instead of going to the salon, they went to the Grand Duke’s private room and the door closed behind them.
As Kyril rode away, Laetitia had taken Stephanie’s hand in hers and now, as her father seemed for the moment to have forgotten her, they went, followed by the King and Marie-Henriette, into the salon.
“I-I cannot believe – it!” Stephanie exclaimed in horror.
“I am sorry, dearest,” Laetitia said sympathetically.
“Poor Mama!”
She was not crying and, after a moment, the King remarked as if he was taking charge,
“This has been a tremendous shock and I think we should all have a drink.”
He started to pour champagne into some glasses and asked Marie-Henriette as he did so,
“Would you like champagne or would you prefer lemonade?”
“To be honest I would prefer lemonade,” Marie-Henriette replied.
Then, as Stephanie and Laetitia sat down on the sofa, she joined the King at the table on which the drinks were laid out and said in a whisper,
“I am not such a hypocrite as to pretend I am sorry!”
“What do you mean?” the King enquired.
“I mean,” Marie-Henriette said, “that, now there is a very good chance that Stephanie will be allowed to marry my brother Kyril.”
“So that is how the wind blows!” the King remarked and his eyes were twinkling. “Well, I imagine there can be no difficulties now that he is the Crown Prince.”
Marie-Henriette stared at him in astonishment.
“I never thought of that, but of course he is, now Otto is dead!”
She gave a little sigh that was undoubtedly one of triumph as she exclaimed,
“How wonderful! How absolutely wonderful!”
“I should point out,” the King said, “that this is not a moment for such elation.”
“You would feel the same if you had suffered as we have,” Marie-Henriette retorted.
“I have my own reasons for feeling elated,” the King remarked, “so I do in fact understand how you are feeling.”
Marie-Henriette looked at him speculatively.
Then she asked,
“Are you telling me that you love Laetitia? You certainly caused a scandal by the way you behaved last night.”
“I not only love her,” the King replied firmly, “but I intend to marry her!”
Marie-Henriette gave a cry of delight.
“That is the most marvellous, exciting thing I have ever heard!”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed the King’s cheek and Laetitia, looking at them from where she was sitting on the sofa, stared in sheer astonishment.
Marie-Henriette left the King and ran across the room to them.
“Although I know I should not say so, everything is wonderful!” she cried. “The King says, Stephanie, that you will have no difficulty now in marrying Kyril because he will be the Crown Prince and he is going to marry Laetitia!”
There was a moment’s silence.
Then, as Laetitia began to say,
“Really, Hettie – !” Stephanie interrupted.
“Is that true?”
“Of course it is!”
“I know that Papa – because he loves Kyril, will – allow me to – marry him.”
As she spoke, the door opened and Princess Olga came into the salon.
Afraid that she might be shocked at anything she had overheard, Stephanie rose to her feet, but the Princess went towards the King.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty,” she said, “that we left you as we did. The Grand Duke has asked me to make his apologies and say that he was not thinking clearly at the time.”
“It was a great shock,” the King said quietly, “and, although what has happened is deeply regrettable, I can only say how glad I am that the Grand Duke’s life has been spared.”
“Several people have arrived to see him,” the Princess said, “but he has asked me to go back and be with him. He was, however, worrying about Your Majesty.”
“I am being very agreeably entertained,” the King assured her, “by Princess Stephanie and your daughters.”
As if she had almost forgotten her existence, Princess Olga then went to Stephanie saying,
“I am so sorry, my dearest child!”
“I am quite all right, Cousin Olga,” Stephanie replied, “and I know that Papa wants you to be with him.”
“Yes, I must go back to him,” the Princess agreed.
She curtseyed hastily to the King and left the salon.
Then Stephanie put out her hand towards Marie-Henriette and said,
“Come up to my room with me, Hettie, I want to talk to you.”
Laetitia knew, although it might seem heartless, that Stephanie wanted to discuss with Marie-Henriette how soon it might possible for her to marry Kyril.
It also flashed through her mind that now the Grand Duchess was dead the Grand Duke would rely more and more on her mother and perhaps since they were both lonely people they would find happiness together.
The two girls, giving only very perfunctory curtseys to the King, hurried from the room and he and Laetitia were left alone.
For a moment they just looked at each other.
Then he put out his hand, saying,
“I think we should go into the garden. We might be disturbed here.”
She put her hand into his and thought as she did so that it was impossible to believe that the miracle she had hoped for had actually become reality and the flame of hope that had been lit in her last night would not be extinguished.
They walked in silence through the open window and down into the garden and she knew that they were going to the Herb Garden where they had sat last night.
It was enclosed by a red brick wall and now the sunshine on the water thrown upwards by the fountain was creating a million iridescent little rainbows.
In the pool there were some pink water lilies and a number of goldfish.
They sat down side by side on the same seat as they had last night and the King raised both Laetitia’s hands to his lips before he said,
“You see, my darling, my instinct was right and, without my having to create a world-stirring revolution, we can be married! But if you think I am going to wait the conventional year of mourning, you are very much mis
taken!”
Because she was trembling with excitement at the touch of his hand, Laetitia could only murmur rather weakly,
“Y-you are going – too quickly!”
“Nonsense!” the King replied, “I am only emulating your own behaviour, my precious, by going bull-headed at what I want and what I intend to have.”
He laughed.
Then he said,
“You set me an example of determination that I can do nothing but admire and follow and you are hardly the right person to be lecturing me about the conventions or propriety!”
Laetitia blushed and took her eyes from his.
“When you talk to me like that,” she said a little provocatively, “I begin to wonder if I am the – right person to be – your wife – and a Queen.”
“It does not matter whether you are right or wrong,” the King replied. “I want you and I want you quickly.”
There was a note in his voice that she had not heard before and she said,
“I love you, and I suppose I shall do – anything you tell me to do, but are you – quite sure that you really – want me?”
“Can you ask me such an absurd question?” the King enquired.
“I was only thinking that what I did was to save Stephanie from having to – marry you and now that she is safe because the Grand Duchess is dead you do not – have to take a – wife from Ovenstadt.”
The King laughed and it was a very tender sound.
“I know exactly what you are doing, my darling,” he said, “You are safeguarding yourself against any reproaches I might make in the future about being pressurised into marriage by you or by magic.”
He laughed again before he added,
“But that is exactly what is happening and you or gypsy magic, it does not matter which, have made it utterly impossible for me to marry anybody else. So the sooner you fulfil your part of the bargain the better!”
He raised her hand to his lips as he went on,
“We are already married according to gypsy law which, whether people like it or not, is the law of my blood and yours.”
He spoke very seriously and Laetitia sighed,
“I love you for believing that – and please – I want to be your wife. I want it so – desperately that it is only because now it is possible that I am giving you a – chance to escape.”
“I realise that,” the King replied, “but there is no escape for you or for me, my darling, now or ever and I will make sure of that.”
Princes and Princesses: Favourite Royal Romances Page 103
