The Protection of Love Read online

  “I should think it was,” Meta nodded.

  “You missed all this,” Richard went on, “because of Mama’s illness and then her funeral. But the uproar in Europe made the Czar return Prince Alexander to Austria.”

  “Why not Bulgaria?” Meta enquired.

  “The Prince was so completely disillusioned by the treachery of the Bulgarian Army that he abdicated for a second time.”

  “Oh, no!” Meta exclaimed. “So the Czar won?”

  “He thought he had,” Richard said, “but actually he is discovering that the new reigning Prince is a staunch patriot and just as hostile to Russia as Prince Alexander.”

  “That at least is some consolation,” Meta commented.

  “That is what I think,” Richard replied. “I agree with Her Majesty that the whole episode was disgraceful.”

  He paused for a moment and then he explained,

  “At the same time this is in the past and the Czar’s Armies are moving steadily forward in Asia and adding thousands of square miles to his Empire and at an alarming rate.”

  Meta stared at him.

  “Surely something should be done about it?”

  “I think at last, now that the Marquis of Salisbury has become Prime Minister,” Richard answered, “the defences in India have been tightened and all Russian movements are being watched very carefully.”

  The way he spoke told Meta how serious he thought this was.

  At the same time she was wondering how this in any way concerned herself.

  There was a short silence between them before her brother continued,

  “I don’t expect you know that I sometimes have journeys to undertake on behalf of the Secretary of State for War.”

  Meta laughed.

  “Of course I know. You don’t suppose that I have not been aware for some time that you go on the same sort of secret missions that Papa undertook when he was a Diplomat.”

  Her brother stared at her.

  “You knew!” he exclaimed in astonishment.

  “Mama and I used to laugh about it,” Meta said, “but, as you obviously wanted to keep it a secret, we let you have your fun.”

  Richard looked a little shamefaced.

  “I suppose really I should have trusted you, but you must be aware that one slip of the tongue could mean the difference between life and death.”

  “Papa used to say that and, of course, I understood. But I want you to trust me.”

  “I am trusting you now,” Richard said, “and I don’t have to tell you that everything I say is in complete confidence and must not be repeated to anyone.”

  Meta smiled at him.

  “I promise I will be very careful, but actually there is no one to tell except the horses – and I am sure that they are very discreet.”

  Richard laughed.

  And then he said,

  “Quite frankly, Meta, I have come here to ask for your help.”

  “In what way?” his sister enquired rather nervously.

  “In doing a little of the same sort of work that Papa was doing in the past and I am doing now.”

  “Explain what it means.”

  She knew before he spoke that her brother was feeling for his words.

  Finally he said,

  “The Queen is quite convinced that Russia is sending spies to this country, just as they have infiltrated their Agents, as they call them, into all the countries of Europe.”

  “In what way?” Meta asked.

  Richard made a very expressive gesture with his hands.

  “I am told,” he said, “that Russia has undercover men setting up subversive cells as they pose as icon sellers. The Prime Minister is aware that Russian Embassy Officials pay crowds in other countries to stage riots. They have even tried to build a fortress in Turkey, pretending that it was a Church.”

  “And what are they doing in England?” Meta quizzed him.

  “That, of course, we don’t know,” Richard replied. “The Prime Minister on the authority of Her Majesty is keeping a very strict watch on Russian Nationals living here.”

  Again there was silence until at last Meta wanted to know,

  “But how can this in any way affect me?”

  “That is exactly what I was going to tell you. Of course, if it is something that you don’t wish to do, I shall understand.”

  “What is it?” Meta enquired.

  “Her Majesty has been informed,” Richard answered, “that a Russian Prince has recently arrived in England with his sister. He is of no great importance in Russia, but his mother was English, the daughter of the Duke of Cambria.”

  Meta was listening intently and her brother went on,

  “The Prince has taken a house in London and he is looking for one in the country in a region where he is able to hunt.”

  Meta’s eyes widened.

  She was beginning to see where all this might be leading.

  “On the Marquis of Salisbury’s suggestion,” Richard said, “I have offered that the Prince rent from us immediately and I have also agreed that I will find him someone to teach his sister, who is with him, English.”

  Meta gave a little gasp.

  “Do you – intend that – to be me?”

  “I thought you would be quick enough to understand,” Richard said. “Princess Nathlia is seventeen and, although I understand she speaks some English and, of course, fluent French, as they all do in Russia, her English is not very good. It was the Queen’s idea that someone could be found to be with her who is a lady.”

  Meta was about to speak, but her brother continued,

  “At the same time she would report anything that seemed at all strange in the house and that would prove, as Her Majesty suspects, that Prince Alexis is a spy.”

  Meta gasped.

  “You really – think that and expect – me to have – them here?”

  “It will not be a question of you having them,” he replied, “but of them having you.”

  “I do – not – understand,” Meta stammered.

  “If we rent them the house and the servants along with it, then you must take a somewhat subsidiary place because you will be employed as if you are a Governess.”

  “Do you think – that is – possible?”

  “It is possible only if you can act out the part so convincingly,” Richard replied, “that the Prince believes you to be an ordinary girl the same age as his sister, who will then share her interests and in doing so teach her the English language.”

  Meta was silent and after a moment Richard carried on,

  “Of course he must never guess for one moment that you can speak Russian. That is why it is tremendously important for you to do this job, because it would be very difficult to find anyone else.”

  He smiled before he added,

  “The Prime Minister said to me that Her Majesty always expects miracles and if you can solve this, Lindley, then you are a magician.”

  Meta laughed.

  “And you told him you were.”

  “I told him that I had a very clever and very intelligent sister who spoke Russian and a number of other languages. She would appear to be an ordinary charming young woman with no thoughts beyond clothes and the next ball at which she was intending to shine.”

  “Now that is an insult!” Meta cried.

  “I know that,” Richard chimed in. “But that is how you have to appear. Don’t forget that the Russians are very astute and are used to espionage. It is part of their lives.”

  “That is what Papa said,” Meta agreed.

  “Since the Czar Alexander III came to the throne,” Richard added, “I cannot believe that they think of anything else. They are aiming for power and even more power. That can be very dangerous as we all know.”

  “I wish you had told me before that all this was happening,” Meta said. “I should have taken more interest in what was written about Russia in the newspapers.”

  “You will not find very much about it in the English ne
wspapers,” her brother answered. “It is the foreign ones that point out the danger of the Czar’s ambitions while those who have been crushed beneath the Russian feet and Cossack horses cry for the help that no one gives them.”

  “It sounds – frightening,” Meta murmured.

  “It is very frightening and thank Goodness the Marquis of Salisbury is well aware of it. Gladstone would not listen to the Queen and she is now determined that we must watch the Russians so carefully and prevent them from eventually invading India.”

  “Is that what the Czar wants?” Meta asked.

  “Those who think clearly are absolutely sure that that is his ultimate goal. Now we have to raise our defences and be a step in front of him by guessing what he is going to do before he actually does it.”

  “I can – understand – that,” Meta answered, “but of course it is – difficult.”

  “What you have to do,” Richard said, “is not to get yourself into trouble, which would be fatal, but just to keep your eyes open and with your sharp little brain be aware of anything that seems in the slightest strange or unusual.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Meta asked.

  “Anything that is somehow connected with the Czar’s ambition to make his Empire the greatest in the whole world,” Richard said positively.

  “But how do you – think that there is any – chance of my becoming aware of that,” Meta enquired, “sitting here and teaching a young girl English.”

  “Her brother will be in the house and you will be able to see who comes in and out, who communicates with him and what his general attitude towards the English is.”

  “When I know that what – do I do?”

  “Tell me,” Richard said. “The Prime Minister has agreed that I should deal with this matter, or rather this man and the first person I need to help me is you.”

  “That sounds – easy,” Meta answered, “but I am feeling – scared.”

  “Of course you are,” her brother said, “and I am very scared too. After the way that the Russians have behaved towards Prince Alexander and what is going on now in the Balkans, I would not trust one of them to cross the road without having an ulterior motive behind it.”

  Meta then rose from her chair and walked over to the window.

  She stood there looking out at the garden.

  It was a warm day and there was the buzz of bees and birds were flying in and out of the trees.

  It was very peaceful, very quiet and very lovely.

  Somehow it seemed wrong that this beauty should be menaced by the darkness of the Russians striving, fighting and killing for more and more power in the world.

  Meta was suddenly aware that her brother had joined her at the window.

  He put his arm round her shoulders.

  “Do not be afraid,” he said gently. “I shall be with you as much as I can and available whenever you want me. If things go as I plan, you will come to London with the Prince and his sister and you will therefore go to many parties that you have been deprived of because of Mama’s death.”

  He turned her round as he added,

  “You have been very brave and very wonderful these past months and I know it has been extremely lonely for you here in the country. But if I have calculated right, this will be a new life and something very different.”

  “Suppose we – fail?” Meta whispered.

  She felt her brother shrug his shoulders.

  “One cannot win every game, but if there is anything to be discovered, I cannot believe that between us we will not find it.”

  “Who else will – know what – we are doing?” Meta enquired.

  “No one except for the Prime Minister and Her Majesty the Queen.”

  “She knows it is – you who is – in charge of the operation?” Meta asked.

  “She was very fond of Papa,” Richard said. “In fact I think that he went on one or two excellent missions on her behalf, which she has never forgotten.”

  “And – you?” Meta questioned.

  “I am telling no tales,” he answered with a smile, “but at the moment I am in favour and long may it last.”

  She knew by the way her brother spoke that he was delighted that the Queen trusted him.

  “What I want you to do,” Richard said as if she had already agreed, “is to put away your mourning because that would prevent you from going to the same parties as Princess Nathlia will attend. You will then, when the Prince arrives, suggest to him that he will need more servants than we have at the moment and you can provide them from people in the village.”

  “Why ‒ the village?” Meta asked.

  “Because,” her brother answered, “we don’t want strangers coming here who may in turn be spying on us.”

  Meta put her fingers up to her eyes.

  “I cannot believe that this is – real life. It sounds like it is all straight out of – a book.”

  “I have often thought the same myself,” Richard replied, “but who could imagine for a moment that the Russians would be behaving as they are all over Europe. According to the Prime Minister, they have spies in every country, who report directly to St. Petersburg.”

  “I can – hardly believe it,” Meta sighed.

  At the same time she knew from what she remembered her father telling her in the past that it was true.

  He had said that the Third Section in Russia had always been a menace as the Russian version of a Secret Service

  It had been increased enormously under Czar Alexander so that now every country was apprehensive of what they might do next.

  There was a long silence and then Meta asked,

  “Supposing they – discover what we are – doing, would it be – dangerous?”

  “You know the answer to that without my telling you,” he replied. “Papa survived and so have I.”

  “Have – you been in very dangerous – situations?” Meta enquired.

  “There have been moments,” Richard answered, “when I thought I had had a short life but a merry one.”

  “Then please, please – don’t – let’s do it,” Meta pleaded. “I am – very frightened for you because if I – lost you, now that – Papa and Mama are – no longer with us – I would have – no one.”

  “I can look after myself,” Richard said. “Quite frankly I have no wish to die yet and I certainly intend not to become a Russian prisoner.”

  Then unexpectedly he put his fingers under her chin and turned her face up to his.

  “You are so lovely,” he said slowly, “and you look so young and innocent that no one would think for a moment that you are as clever as you are.”

  “I hardly – think that is a – compliment,” his sister pointed out.

  “What I am really saying is that you are perfect for the part. Because you are very clever, I know you will be able to convince everyone who sees you that you dream dreams and never think of anything more unpleasant than a rainy day.”

  Because she could not help it, Meta laughed.

  “Now – you are just being – ridiculous.”

  “No, I am not,” Richard answered. “The moment the Marquis told me exactly what he wanted, I knew that I not only had the house to offer the Prince but some of the best hunting in the Shires as well. Also a brilliant Teacher for his sister, whom he would be unable to find elsewhere.”

  “So you have – told him already – what I will do,” Meta said hesitantly.

  “I just could not believe that, as Papa’s daughter and my sister, you would fail us.”

  “That is taking an ‒ unfair advantage of the situation,” Meta complained.

  “I know, I know,” Richard agreed, “but I need you desperately. If you refuse to do what I ask, then I shall just have to go to the Prime Minister and admit that I am a failure and he must find someone else to look after the Prince.”

  Before Meta could speak, he added,

  “Incidentally we are to receive a very large rent for the house. Enough to enable you to do
up all the rooms that you have been complaining about and also, my pretty little sister, to buy yourself the most beautiful gowns that Bond Street can provide.”

  Still Meta hesitated.

  She knew at the back of her mind that this was dangerous and in a way wrong.

  Watching the expression in her eyes, Richard said,

  “I think I have forgotten one thing.”

  ‘“What is that?” she asked.

  “You are doing this for England and it is of the utmost importance that the Czar should not, with his troops, who are conquering mile by mile the land between Russia and the North-West Frontier, invade India.”

  Meta knew that this was undoubtedly the truth.

  Her father had always promised to take her to India. She had read so much about it and was well aware of how much it meant as ‘the Jewel in the Imperial Crown’.

  She gave a deep sigh.

  “Very well, Richard, I agree. But you must promise that you will be near me so that, if I am – frightened or intimidated, I can tell – you what is happening.”

  “Of course you can and thank you, my precious little sister, for being so helpful and so understanding.”

  He suddenly threw up his hands.

  “Thank you! Thank you!” he cried. “I was so terrified you might say ‘no’.”

  Then, because it seemed so ridiculous, they were both laughing.

  Yet while Meta laughed she felt a little shadow of fear in case her task was even more dangerous than it now appeared.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning Richard left for London.

  Before he departed he said to Meta,

  “I was thinking it all over in my bed last night and I want you to engage more servants immediately just in case the Prince prefers not to bring his own.”

  “Would that be a mistake?” Meta asked.

  “The fewer strangers we have in the house, the easier it will then be to know who calls on him,” Richard replied.

  Meta thought for a moment.

  Then she said,

  “That is, of course, if I am to be accepted in the drawing room. As you say, I am to be employed as a Governess. I may have to sit upstairs alone in my bedroom.”