The Queen Wins Read online

  “I have been thinking it over all the way back from the North, Tarena, I believe it is God’s will that you should help these people and save them.”

  ‘No! No!’ Tarena tried to scream, but the words would not come.

  “Your father gave up everything he cared for,” he continued, “because he knew that without him his country would be lost. Now you have to follow his lead because his blood is yours and save his country once again.”

  “Suppose – I refuse?” she whispered.

  Her uncle made a wide gesture with his hands.

  “No one will force you to do anything you feel you cannot do and against your will, my dearest.” “But I want to stay here with you, Uncle Richard. I want to find someone who loves me and marry a man with whom I will be as happy as you say Mama was with Papa.”

  There was silence for a moment and then he asked,

  “Could you be really happy, Tarena, knowing that you are condemning your father’s country to which you, as his child, belong as well, to a life that for many of them would be worse than death?”

  There was complete silence.

  Her uncle was praying that she would understand the urgency of his request.

  Tarena rose from her chair and walked over to the window.

  She stood looking out over the garden she loved so much that had been planned by her mother.

  She reflected as to how happy she had been without parents throughout these many years she had spent with her uncle.

  This was her home.

  This was where she had thought she would belong until she made a home of her own.

  Then she closed her eyes, as if the sun was blinding her, and prayed fervently for guidance in a way she had never prayed before.

  ‘Help me God! Please tell me what I am to do.’ she prayed. ‘How can I do this when I am not even trained for it? Tell me the answer.’

  Then, just as she opened her eyes, a bright shaft of sunlight blazed through the window.

  Suddenly she felt as if someone touched her face very gently, as if she heard a voice that she knew, although she could not remember it – it had to be her father’s.

  She could hear it quite clearly in her mind.

  ‘You must save my people, Tarena. They are now yours and you cannot allow them to suffer.”

  She turned round to see her uncle gazing lovingly at her.

  “Very – well, Uncle Richard,” she said hesitantly, “I will try to do – as you ask. But I am terribly frightened. Unless you help me and – unless I am told exactly what to do, I would rather die than make a mess of it.”

  He smiled and held out his hands.

  “I knew you would understand. You are not your father’s daughter for nothing. Although it was an agony beyond words for Ivan to leave your mother, he did what he felt God wanted him to do and he was a great success.”

  “Do you think that I can be too?” Tarena asked.

  “As Ivan’s daughter you will be received with open arms. Don’t forget that he belonged to them and was a part of them. When you take his place, they will love you as they loved him.”

  “How could he have left Mama when they were so happy?”

  There was a pause before Uncle Richard replied,

  “The night before he left I had a long talk with Ivan. He said to me, ‘it is an agony beyond words for me to leave everything I love and everything that matters to me, but I believe, as I know you believe, Richard, it is a call from God’.”

  There was silence and then Tarena sighed,

  “I only hope if God helped Papa to save Karlova, which you say he did, then He will help me as well.”

  “The answer to that, Tarena, is that I will pray for you every day and you must pray for yourself. It is what you learnt to do when you were a child and I promise you that God and your Guardian Angel will never desert you.”

  “I suppose that should be very reassuring, but I am really frightened, Uncle Richard, that, when I do reach Karlova, suppose Prince Igor does not like me?”

  He smiled.

  “You are very beautiful, my dearest, and you are English. Like your father, he is desperate to keep Karlova and Dubnik free from the Russians. The most important factor, as you are aware, is the people themselves and he is handicapped because he comes from Dubnik.”

  “What you are saying, Uncle Richard, is that they will believe because of Papa that I am part of them.”

  “Exactly. In fact they will recognise you now as their rightful Queen. But if you reigned alone, you could find it very difficult to withstand the Russians. If, on the other hand, you marry this Prince Igor, you could together rescue both countries through the strength of your union.”

  “Then I can only pray that the situation will be better than it seems at present.” Tarena thought for a moment and then asked,

  “I expect you are giving up this house and your Parish anyway, Uncle Richard?”

  “I have to, although it’s a home I love and have no wish to leave,” the new Earl replied.

  “That makes two of us. So I suppose we can only hope that in our new lives we will find the same happiness we have enjoyed up to now.”

  Quite suddenly she gave a little cry,

  “I cannot bear it, Uncle Richard. It’s too much to ask. owHow can I go away from everything I know and everything I love?”

  How can I possibly go away from everything I know and everything I love?”

  She threw herself against him and he put his arms around her.

  “I know exactly what you are feeling, my dearest, and I will want to cry myself when I leave Oxford which has meant so much to me. But we are both called to a new life and we have to make the very best of it. “Where you are concerned, my dear, you have to make sure that the people of Karlova love you as much as they all loved your father – and that should not be too difficult.”

  “It seems impossible to me and there will be no one there who knows me or cares for me!” “I think you will be surprised to find how many people will be looking forward to seeing you and will be thrilled and grateful because you are coming to save them.”

  Tarena was crying too much to answer.

  There was an expression of pain in her uncle’s eyes as he held her close.

  Then he was praying – praying silently to God who had never failed him yet, that she would be happy as well as successful.

  And that the new challenge in her life would not be as difficult as she feared it would be.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Early the next morning they set off for London.

  They had stayed up late talking about the situation and Tarena had learnt from her uncle a great deal more about her father than she had been told before.

  By the time she retired, she was finally convinced that the only course she could take was to follow in her father’s footsteps and help his people who were now hers.

  When she was in bed, she thought of Prince Igor with a little shudder.

  Then she told herself she must be fair and not make any decisions about him until they actually met.

  “What we have to do,” her Uncle Richard had said to her, “is to buy you a complete trousseau. You cannot go to Karlova to be Queen in the clothes you are wearing now. We will have to shop quickly and naturally expensively. Luckily I can now well afford it.”

  To his relief Tarena gave a little laugh.

  “That is some consolation at any rate,” she smiled. “I must have a really fantastic wedding gown.”

  “Of course, of course,” he agreed hurriedly.

  Fortunately he had driven down from the North in a chaise drawn by a team of extremely fine horses that had belonged to his father.

  And now they set off at a pace that Tarena felt she had never travelled at before.

  She was fascinated to find how well her uncle could drive them and when she told him so, he replied,

  “Actually, I always drove my father’s best horses even when I was young. I have indeed missed, but I have not said
so, a team like this since I have been a Parson.”

  They reached London in what Tarena was certain was a record time and went straight to Grandbrooke House in Belgrave Square.

  It had been closed up for the last five years since the late Earl had been so ill and only two old servants had been kept on there as caretakers.

  They were delighted to see the new Earl and Tarena when they arrived.

  “It’s been real lonely here, my Lord,” the butler said. “No one came from the North to see us. Although several relatives popped in when they was in London, we sometimes went months without seeing any of the family.”

  “Well, I am afraid that we will not be with you for long, Simpkins” the Earl replied. “But I intend to come to London at least once or twice a month and so you must engage any extra servants you need to keep the house in good order.”

  Tarena could see that the butler was delighted at this piece of news.

  As they had arrived late and without warning, a somewhat scanty luncheon was provided for them.

  However, Simpkins promised that the cook, who was his wife, would serve them a delicious dinner.

  Tarena would have really liked to explore the house as she had never seen it before, but her uncle insisted that they should go at once to Bond Street.

  “I promised the Marquis of Salisbury that we would leave as soon as possible,” he explained. “I have an idea that Her Majesty might wish to see you tomorrow, so we must shop while we have the chance.”

  “The Queen!” exclaimed Tarena. “Do you really think that she will want to see me?”

  “I am sure she will. She is very worried about the Russians and is determined to circumvent their ambitions as far as she can.”

  Bond Street was a delight that Tarena had never experienced before.

  Her uncle with his keen eye for detail had taken the trouble, after speaking to the Marquis, to find out from his relatives and others in the know who came to his father’s funeral which were the best shops.

  “We have to make quick decisions,” he told Tarena. “Therefore just calculate what you will require to impress your new countrymen who have not, I would suppose, seen very much of current French fashions.”

  “What about Princess Catrina?” Tarena asked.

  Her uncle smiled.

  “I was told most confidentially that she is not very prepossessing and had no dress sense or made herself as spectacular as a Queen should be.”

  Tarena sighed.

  “Poor Papa, he must have hated having someone who was not beautiful as Mama – as his wife.”

  “I think he must have suffered, as perhaps no other man has suffered in all those long years when he knew they would never meet again.”

  “I think now they are together,” Tarena said softly, “and Mama will be happy again.”

  The Earl did not say anything.

  But he thought that it was very touching that his niece should be so sure that her father and mother were now as one.

  And he did everything in his power to make her feel more confident in herself.

  When, as he expected, a call came from Windsor Castle, they drove off together the following morning.

  As soon as the carriage wheels started, he said,

  “You look very lovely, my dear, and in my opinion exactly as a young Queen should be.”

  Tarena laughed.

  “I would never have thought of myself as a Queen, but I am sure that I will make a thousand mistakes and then people will laugh at me.”

  “I think that is most unlikely,” he replied. “I have always found that you are never at a loss to say the right words and do the right thing.”

  He smiled before he continued,

  “People in Oxford used to tell me how much they admired the way you looked after my guests for me and played the part of hostess at the Vicarage when you were still only twelve or thirteen.”

  “The Vicarage is one thing, but a Palace and a large country are quite another. I am just wondering how I can possibly get to know the Karlovans.”

  “I am sure you will find it will all come to you when you arrive and I am certain that your father will be helping you in every way he possibly can.”

  Tarena smiled at him wistfully.

  “It seems rather strange, but I am sure of that too. Although I am frightened and want to stay in England with you, I can feel Papa pulling me towards Karlova!”

  When they arrived at Windsor Castle, Tarena was overawed by the immensity of it all, also the number of equerries and Statesmen who were waiting to meet her.

  The Marquis of Salisbury introduced her to them and the Earl became aware that they were delighted by her beauty and the manner in which she conducted herself.

  She might be scared, but she did not show it.

  When they were both finally ushered into Queen Victoria’s private sitting room, Tarena’s curtsy was exactly as it should be.

  “I am very delighted, Princess Tarena,” the Queen began, “that you are going to Karlova and you will, I am sure, save it from being taken over by the Russians. And I feel certain you understand that no time must be lost in filling the empty throne.”

  “I do understand, Your Majesty,” Tarena replied.

  “We know very little about Prince Igor of Dubnik,” the Queen went on, “who has, I understand, been holding the fort ever since your father died and, the sooner you are on the throne, the more difficult it will be for the Russians to infiltrate into the country.”

  There was nothing Tarena could say except that she was very grateful to receive Her Majesty’s blessing.

  “Now that I have seen you,” the Queen declared, “I think that you are exactly what Karlova needs and, as your father was so popular, there is no doubt that you will be equally welcome.”

  “I will do my best, Your Majesty. And I can only pray that I will receive every possible help from those who are already there.”

  “To make sure of that,” the Queen stated, “I have instructed the Marquis of Salisbury to have you taken to the Kingdom of Karlova in one of our newest and most impressive Ironclads.”

  Tarena’s eyes sparkled.

  “I have always wanted to travel on one of the large Battleships and it will be a most spectacular way to arrive. Oh, I thank Your Majesty, thank you, thank you.”

  The Queen smiled at her enthusiasm.

  When she left, she told the Earl, who had stayed behind, that she was very taken by his niece.

  “She is exactly the sort of girl we want to put on the small thrones,” she stipulated, “and make sure the wicked Russians do not, as they are constantly trying to do, work up the people against their Rulers.”

  “I feel sure that Your Majesty is right,” the Earl said, “and my niece will undoubtedly capture their hearts.”

  The Queen gave a little sigh.

  “I wish we knew more about this Prince Igor,” she said, “but apparently he has had very little contact with our Ambassador in Karlova and has spent nearly all his time in Dubnik, his own country.”

  “I am sure when he sees my niece, Your Majesty, he will fall in love with her,” added the Earl.

  He was thinking of how much Tarena resembled her mother and that Ivan had lost his heart the moment he saw her.

  “As you are going to Karlova with your niece,” Queen Victoria was saying. “I feel sure you will be able to give me a clear and unbiased report on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet at Karlova.”

  “Of course, I will be honoured to do whatever Your Majesty requires.” “I am always afraid when a King, who was as much loved at King Ivan was, dies,” the Queen said reflectively, “that they find it hard to start again at the beginning with someone new. That can lead to a dangerous situation of which the Russians will undoubtedly take advantage.”

  “I will report all that I find to Your Majesty as soon as I return, but if things are very difficult, Your Majesty will understand that it might be wise for me to stay and support Tarena until we are quite s
ure that both she and the throne are safe.”

  “Of course, of course,” the Queen agreed. “But I will look forward to seeing you again and I am happy that you will be able to spare time from your magnificent house in Northumberland to be here with me at Windsor.”

  “Your Majesty is very gracious,” the Earl replied.

  He bowed his way from the sitting room to join Tarena, who was wondering why he was taking so long.

  “Did Her Majesty disapprove of me?” she asked him, a bit nervously.

  “On the contrary, my dearest, she was so delighted with you and feels sure that you will save Karlova from the enemy as your father managed to do for so many years.”

  “I only wish that my father was here now,” Tarena murmured beneath her breath.

  The Earl knew she was thinking of the man she had to marry and was apprehensive as to what he might be like.

  He then talked to the Ambassador and various other officials who had come from Karlova.

  They were vague about Prince Igor and apparently knew very little about him.

  He was over thirty and had, as far as the Earl could ascertain, seldom left his house, which was on the far side of Dubnik, to visit the Palace in Karlova.

  “You are quite certain that he is the only candidate for the throne?” the Earl asked the Karlovan Ambassador privately. “Surely there must be other young Princes we can turn to if my niece finds Prince Igor unacceptably unattractive.”

  “If there are, then I know nothing about them,” the Ambassador replied. “When the late King Ivan was in good health, he gave quite a number of parties at the Palace which we all enjoyed. But now I think about it, there were no young men with any pretence of Royal blood.”

  *

  There were two more days of shopping.

  As they started early in the morning and did not end until nearly dinnertime, Tarena said she had enough clothes to last her for a hundred years.

  Her uncle laughed.

  “On the contrary, my dearest, I am prepared to bet that in six months or so you will be saying you have not a thing to wear and are preparing to travel to Paris!”

  “I will do nothing of the sort,” Tarena asserted. “I think buying clothes is an awful bore. But I have chosen two attractive riding habits that I am certain will convince the natives that I am more anxious to please the horses than anyone else!”