Ruled by Love Page 6

  Zoleka was seated on Prince Majmir’s right and his daughter on his left with the Count on the other side of her.

  They were waited on by four servants, but the fare, Zoleka considered, was not particularly interesting.

  She knew her father would not have thought it good enough for visiting Royalty or anyone else for that matter.

  There was champagne, but she noticed that before it was served Prince Majmir was given a different drink that was not offered to the rest of the party.

  She was wondering what it could possibly be as he quickly emptied his glass and then it was instantly refilled by a footman every time he drank from it.

  As Prince Majmir had very little to contribute, the conversation might have been most dreary and boring, but the Count started to amuse them with many stories of the horses he had ridden at home and of races he had tried to arrange without success.

  Zoleka realised that Udele was listening rapturously to the Count’s tales.

  She thought it must be the very first time the poor girl had been allowed to attend a dinner with a young and handsome man, so completely different from her elderly and dull governesses.

  ‘The Count is so right,’ she mused, ‘we must cheer up the evenings in this dismal Palace or we will all begin to feel depressed.’

  As Prince Majmir seemed to have nothing to say to her, Zoleka talked to the others and Pieter joined in with a number of extremely amusing anecdotes.

  Course followed course each less imaginative than the last, but the champagne sparkled and on the whole, she thought, the conversation did too.

  She politely addressed quite a number of remarks to Prince Majmir and yet because he was so slow in replying, it was usually the Count who answered first.

  Finally they reached the last course and desert was being served. Turning politely to say a word to her host, Zoleka was aware that his eyes were closing.

  She looked at him in astonishment and then to her even greater surprise Anton and the Count rose.

  Almost before Zoleka realised what was happening they helped the Prince out of his chair and more or less carried him from the room.

  She looked at Pieter for an explanation and he told her quietly,

  “I had heard before we came here that this always happens in the evening.”

  “You mean he is drunk?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Continually. Now you will surely understand why it is wiser not to dine with His Royal Highness.”

  “I had no idea!” exclaimed Zoleka, “I never thought of anything like this happening.”

  Some moments passed before the Count and Anton returned. They sat down as if nothing had happened and carried on the conversation from where they had left off.

  She realised they were being most tactful and were determined to say nothing in front of the servants.

  When dessert was finished, Zoleka turned to Anton.

  “What is usual here? At home, because my mother was English, the ladies would leave the gentlemen to their port. But in other countries like France there are different ways of behaving.”

  “As I personally don’t care for port,” suggested the Count, “I think we should all adjourn to the sitting room where I am sure there will be coffee and liqueurs.”

  Anton Bauer gave a laugh.

  “That would be something unusual, but I will see to it. Princess Udele knows the way to the room which you will be using in the future.”

  “Is that the one you showed me yesterday?” Udele asked him.

  “Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

  “Oh, that is good. It is a very nice room and I am sure our guests will like it.”

  “Let’s all come with you and see it for ourselves,” proposed Zoleka.

  They walked back into the other part of the Palace and Udele led them into a room which she said was always used by guests.

  It was a beautifully furnished room with many fine pictures on the walls and exquisitely carved gold mirrors, an amazing contrast to the dreary rooms occupied by Prince Majmir.

  Zoleka looked at Anton for an explanation.

  “These rooms were decorated for Princess Udele’s mother just before she died. She had been complaining for a long time about the Palace looking dull and dismal, and finally Prince Majmir gave in and ordered the decoration of several rooms as a Christmas present.”

  He gave a sigh before he continued,

  “I have always considered it wrong that Her Royal Highness was not allowed to use them rather than the dull nursery upstairs.”

  “Well, she will most certainly be using them now,” asserted Zoleka. “Is there a dining room?”

  Anton smiled.

  “Yes, there is a small dining room just as attractive as this room and beyond it is what I am sure Your Royal Highness will enjoy – a library.”

  Zoleka’s eyes lit up.

  “I was just going to ask if there were books in the Palace. I specially would like to read a history of Krnov if you have one.”

  “I am sure we have several and, of course, they are all at Your Royal Highness’s disposal.”

  Then the Count suggested,

  “I think it is now too late to dance tonight, but I am going to insist that we have some music tomorrow. I have already heard from one of the Officers I have been talking to that there is an excellent pianist in the City and a small band, which can be hired whenever we require it.”

  Zoleka laughed.

  “You certainly waste no time!”

  “I think it’s a question of having no time to waste.”

  She knew exactly what he meant.

  However, she felt it would be a great mistake to talk openly of their fears about Krnov.

  Anton next suggested they played a game of cards and a table was brought in with several packs of cards.

  They played ridiculous rather childish games which made them all laugh.

  Finally as the clock struck eleven, Zoleka said she thought it was time for them all to retire to bed.

  “We have so much to do tomorrow and if the Count is going to keep us up late tomorrow evening we shall need our beauty sleep in advance.”

  She rose to her feet.

  While Udele was talking to the Count, Anton spoke to Zoleka in a low voice so that the others could not hear,

  “Would you like to give me your orders now for the morning as I am sure you have a great number.”

  Zoleka drew him to one side.

  “First and foremost, I must purchase Princess Udele some decent new clothes. She only has those childish ugly garments she was wearing when I arrived and tonight she is wearing one of my gowns.”

  “I thought that was so. There will be no difficulties about it. But how do you want to go shopping?”

  Zoleka smiled.

  “I think it is important that Princess Udele should become well known in the City and therefore we must go in style.”

  “With an Escort?”

  “Of course.”

  “It is something that has never happened before,” Anton admitted, “and will doubtless cause a sensation.”

  “That is just what I want.”

  “And what else, Your Royal Highness?”

  “A list, which I am sure will not take much time, of the eligible and interesting young people of the same age as Princess Udele, or not much older, living in the City.”

  She hesitated before she continued,

  “If, as the Count insists, we will be twenty or more for dinner tomorrow night, I would like to see the chef.”

  “I cannot think what the Lord Chamberlain will say to all this!” exclaimed Anton.

  “I will leave it to you to cope with him, Anton, and some time tomorrow I would like a private meeting with the Prime Minister.”

  Anton Bauer raised his eyebrows as she carried on,

  “It is he who asked me to come here and I think it only right that I should tell him what I am doing in case it is, in any way, contrary to what he wants himself.”

&n
bsp; “I understand and incidentally I am sorry for what happened tonight. I did suppose that perhaps His Royal Highness would be a little careful as you had just arrived.”

  “Does he always drink so much?”

  “I am afraid so,” replied Anton.

  “What was he drinking?”

  “Vodka.”

  “Now I understand. My father always told me that vodka suddenly takes possession of you when you are not expecting it.”

  “I believe that is exactly what does happen to him, but the servants are used to coping with it.”

  Zoleka gave a heartfelt sigh as she was beginning to understand why no one was doing anything to modernise Krnov.

  She said good night to the rest of the party and she and Udele walked up the stairs together.

  They had only gone a short way when the Count came running after them.

  “I forgot to ask you,” he said, “surely you will want to ride tomorrow morning?”

  “Of course I do,” replied Zoleka, “and if His Royal Highness’s horses are disappointing, we will have to ride our own.”

  “That is just what I was thinking, but I have an idea that I would like to discuss with you in the morning. What time can you ride with me?”

  “Will eight o’clock be too early or too late?”

  “Exactly right and I will bring you back for breakfast at nine.”

  He was just about to descend the stairs, when Udele spoke up,

  “Oh, please may I come too?”

  “Of course, Udele. We would not think of going without you and I am sure that the Count will ask for an especially good mount for you.”

  “I promise to do so,” the Count called up from the bottom of the stairs, “and we will be waiting for you both at the front door at exactly eight o’clock.”

  “Thank you, thank you,” both Princesses chorused.

  As they went up to the landing, Udele sighed,

  “I just cannot believe all this is happening. It is so wonderful and so exciting, I am quite sure I am dreaming.”

  “This is only the beginning,” Zoleka told her, “and it is going to get better every day.”

  When she said goodnight, Udele kissed Zoleka and then hugged her.

  “It is so marvellous to have you here in Krnov,” she enthused. “Please, please don’t go away too quickly.”

  “I will try not to, but my father is missing me and I cannot leave him alone for too long.”

  She saw disappointment in Udele’s eyes and added quickly,

  “But don’t let us talk about leaving just as I have arrived. We have so much to do that we must have our wits about us and not make too many mistakes.”

  “I am sure you never make a mistake, Zoleka. I am already counting the hours I have to sleep before tomorrow morning comes!”

  “Hurry up and go to bed. I expect that the maid is waiting for you and Marla is yawning when she thinks I am not looking.”

  Marla, who had been at the back of the room, piped up,

  “It’s been a long day, Your Royal Highness.”

  “I know and you have been so fantastic in making things shipshape as you always do.”

  She kissed Udele goodnight again and opened the door into the boudoir.

  “Hurry up and go to sleep,” she urged her. “It will soon be morning.”

  “I am just afraid that I shall wake up and find you have disappeared and I am not in the Lily room but back upstairs where it is dark and lonely.”

  “Forget all about it, Udele, and enjoy the Lily room and everything that will happen tomorrow.”

  “I am quite sure I am going to do so.”

  She waved her hand and disappeared.

  Zoleka closed the boudoir door and walked towards the dressing table.

  “What is happening downstairs, Marla?” she asked.

  “They feel as if they’ve been struck by a tornado, Your Royal Highness. The older Palace servants be rather worried in case they’ve too much to do, but the young ones are a-thinking it’s brought new life into the place and not before ’twas wanted.”

  Zoleka laughed.

  “Keep them thinking that way. I am sure they will have to take on more staff if the Count has his way and we throw parties every night.”

  “His Royal Highness won’t be taking much part in them,” commented Marla, “from what I hears.”

  “What have you heard?”

  “That he drinks himself stupid every night with two or three of his old cronies and the servants always has to help them to bed as they can’t help themselves.”

  “It’s very bad for the country and we shall have to see what we can do about it.”

  “That’ll mean you doing a great deal more than you expects, Your Royal Highness.”

  “Well, we will have to wait and see, Marla. More importantly, you do know that I shall need your help to make Princess Udele look as lovely as she should do? I am going to tell the housekeeper that she must have a lady’s maid for herself, someone who is experienced, but until then I really need your expertise, please.”

  “I expect expertise’ll be hard to find in this place!”

  The way Marla spoke told Zoleka all too clearly she was not impressed with the Palace.

  But she thought it was a mistake to say too much.

  She was, however, profoundly shocked by what had happened at dinner, and she knew her father was quite right to be exceedingly worried about the situation in Krnov.

  News travels on the wind and servants always talk and she was therefore certain that the Prince’s drunkenness was known all over the City.

  That meant not only his own people would know, but so would the Prussians and their local agents who liked to make trouble and therefore prepare the way for taking over the country.

  ‘I shall have to do something about this situation,’ Zoleka reflected, ‘but I have no idea what the solution is.’

  Because it had been such a long day, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.

  She was dreaming, but it was not about Krnov.

  *

  She was awoken by Marla pulling back the curtains and she could see from the clock by her bed that it was just half-past seven.

  The sun was shining and the idea of riding was, for the moment, far more important and stimulating than anything else.

  Having ascertained that Udele had also been called, she dressed hurriedly.

  Her riding habit looked very smart and fashionable. With it she wore a small high-crowned hat swathed with a blue gauze veil which matched the colour of the habit.

  Zoleka was well aware, as she descended the stairs, that the Count was looking at her admiringly, as were the others waiting in the hall.

  There was not a sign of Pieter or Anton, but there were three other gentlemen who the Count introduced.

  Zoleka realised at once they were Officers from the most eminent Regiment in Krnov and they were young and good-looking.

  Udele came running down the stairs a little late.

  Zoleka knew that it was exhilarating and delightful for the girl to meet so many young men.

  “The Officers are taking us to a place where we can gallop,” announced the Count, “and I have chosen a horse for Her Royal Highness which I think she will appreciate.”

  Zoleka was rather apprehensive in case Udele was not a good rider, but her mother’s Russian blood showed when she was mounted on a horse.

  The Officers took them first through the garden of the Palace. Out at the back there was a path leading to some plain land, which ran alongside a fast flowing, sparkling river.

  Once there they began to gallop in the high grass and as they did so yellow butterflies flew ahead of them.

  The sun was shining and they had a glimpse of the mountains far away in the distance.

  It was, Zoleka considered, very nearly as beautiful and enchanting as Opava.

  They galloped for a long way.

  When the horses began to slow up, they were able
to talk, so the Count drew his horse beside Zoleka’s and they let the others go ahead of them.

  “I want to tell you about my idea,” he began.

  “I am longing to hear it, Franz.”

  “I walked over to the Officers’ mess last night and introduced myself and all they wanted to talk about was horses.”

  “I am not surprised at that!”

  “I also gathered that their Army is very small. The Commander and the Officers I brought with us today are convinced that they should expand it and enlist and train many more recruits than they do at the moment.”

  “I am sure that is just what my father would think is very necessary.”

  “What I think would be a good idea,” continued the Count, “is to say we need volunteers to learn riding from me as an expert, and I can be helped by the other Officers if we attract a large number of recruits.”

  “I think that is an excellent idea, Franz. At least it will increase the number of soldiers guarding the Palace.”

  “We shall need very many more if we are to protect the whole country!”

  The Count was talking seriously to her and Zoleka gave him a quick glance.

  “What is in your mind?” she asked tentatively.

  “I am telling you, Your Royal Highness, that I am extremely worried about Krnov, as I know you are.”

  “How do you know I am so worried?”

  He smiled at her.

  “I am not a fool, and I realised soon after I arrived in Opava that your father and the more intelligent members of your Government were extremely perturbed about what is happening in Krnov.”

  Zoleka had not thought that he was aware of all this.

  As she looked at him in surprise, he added,

  “Actually my father talked about it too when I was at home and I realised that something should be done.”

  “I am so glad you have told me that you feel like this,” Zoleka told him. “As I expect you will now realise, I have come to be Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess, not because I wanted to, but because Papa felt it was my duty to help Krnov, as they had asked specifically for me.”

  She gave a deep sigh and continued,

  “Also he is very afraid that the fall of Krnov would endanger the independence of our country and of course of Cieszyn as well.”

  The Count nodded.

  “He is absolutely right. From what I have seen so far I don’t believe that Krnov would be able to stand up to any attack from the Prussians.”