An Adventure of Love Read online

  “Now you are talking – like the Marquis of Salisbury!” Zorina countered in a dull voice.

  Rudolf gave a little laugh that had no humour in it before he replied,

  “I am talking like this because I dare not say what I want to say.”

  He looked at her and his voice deepened.

  “I love you! I adore you! I worship you! You are everything I have sought and thought I would never find in a woman. Now, as I said the last time we were together, it is too late. Too late!”

  “It may be – too late to – change what we – have to do,” Zorina said hesitantly. “At the same time – I do not think that a love like ours is – wrong because love – comes from God and is blessed by God.”

  Rudolf made a broken sound and, taking her hand in his, he raised it to his lips.

  He kissed it passionately and she quivered at the intensity of his lips.

  Then he turned it over and kissed her palm.

  It gave her such a strange sensation that she had never known before, almost as if the moonlight had entered her body and little shafts of it were streaking through her like electric shocks.

  Rudolf raised his head.

  “As I have already told you, my darling one. I want you wildly and uncontrollably, but instead I shall kneel at your feet and light a candle to you, because I cannot spoil anything so perfect.”

  His eyes as he looked at her seemed to be blazing with fire and he went on very quietly,

  “You said that our love comes from God and so do you. That is why I must leave you and we must not come here again.”

  He bent once more over her hand, kissing it not passionately but very gently, as if she were infinitely precious.

  Then before Zorina could speak, before she could prevent him from leaving her, he had melted into the shadows and she was alone.

  She sat for a long time staring at the moon as the train sped resolutely on through the night.

  *

  From that moment until the end of the journey Zorina found that there was no possibility of speaking to Rudolf and somehow he even contrived to keep out of her sight.

  When they stopped at a Station, he was always first out of the train and, accompanied by an aide-de-camp, he would disappear until it was time to re-embark.

  Then when they were in the drawing room coach, he contrived to sit behind her so that she could not look at him.

  His place was taken by the Foreign Secretary of Leothia, who was a dry pompous man, who made everything he said sound exceedingly dull.

  Because she realised what Rudolf was doing, Zorina spent a great deal of time in her sleeping compartment.

  “Are you all right, dearest?” her mother asked her anxiously at one time.

  “I have a slight headache, Mama, from the movement of the train and so I find it very difficult to concentrate on what people are saying.”

  “Then, of course, you must rest,” her mother agreed at once. “The most important thing is for you to look beautiful and feel well when we arrive at our destination.”

  Because she was frightened of what lay ahead for her, Zorina nearly answered that, as far as she was concerned, the journey could go on forever.

  She knew when she looked at him that Rudolf was clearly feeling the strain.

  He seemed paler than when he had come aboard and only she would have noticed that there were lines under his eyes, which told her that he was not sleeping.

  She was almost wishing that they could have a train smash.

  Then, if she was dead, there would be no more problems and no more difficulties that seemed now to be so insurmountable.

  Perhaps because she was young and had been taught to believe in the power of prayer, there was still a faint hope in her heart like the light at the end of a tunnel.

  By a miracle something might happen so that the future would not be as dreadful as she was anticipating.

  Nevertheless, as they travelled towards Archam, which was the Capital of Leothia, she could not help being thrilled by the countryside that they were passing through.

  As she had been told, Leothia was a small country, but there were high snow-topped mountains encircling most of its borders.

  In the centre there was a fertile valley with a silver river running through it.

  It was like a country out of a Fairytale with smiling peasants working in the fields yielding fertile crops or brilliant with wild flowers.

  Sunshine illuminated the red roofs of the alpine-style cottages and there were Castles perched high on hills that seemed to rise almost vertically out of the ground to be silhouetted against a bright blue sky.

  “It’s really lovely!” Zorina exclaimed loudly when the train crossed over the border from Austria.

  She looked round as she spoke to see if Rudolf was near her and wanting to share her enthusiasm with him.

  But she could not see him and so she returned disappointedly to viewing the beauty of the land that she would reign over.

  When the train eventually drew into the Station at Archam, she was aware before it came to a standstill that there was a large welcoming party waiting on the platform.

  The Station itself was decorated with flags, bunting and flowers and a guard of soldiers in red and white uniforms and their Commander in a plumed helmet were very impressive standing at attention.

  As the train came to a halt, Rudolf came to Zorina’s side.

  “Will you step out first, Your Royal Highness?” he asked her formally.

  Without thinking, Zorina put out her gloved hand for him to help her to her feet.

  As his fingers closed over hers, she felt as if a shaft of light joined them and she sensed that he felt the same.

  Then, as they walked towards the entrance to the carriage hand-in-hand, she felt her fingers squeezed almost bloodless and she recognised how desperately he loved her.

  Rudolf’s brother, the Crown Prince Karl, greeted her first.

  There was some resemblance to Rudolf, but he looked stiff and there was a languid air about him that Zorina had not expected.

  He made her a formal speech of welcome and excused his father from being present, saying that he was slightly indisposed.

  “He will, however, Your Royal Highness, be waiting for you eagerly at The Palace,” he said, “and now may I present my wife.”

  Looking at the Crown Princess, Zorina could well understand why her husband looked somewhat dispirited. She was a heavily built sharp-featured Princess of German origin.

  They had been married, Zorina had already learned, by an arrangement between their countries when they were both very young.

  From the way the Crown Princess greeted her, Zorina knew at once that there was no friendship for her there.

  Next to be presented was the Lord Chamberlain of Leothia, a cheerful man, and his wife, who was very smartly dressed but over-gushing in her aim to make Zorina feel welcome.

  There were a few more introductions, followed by the two National Anthems, played slowly and pompously by a Regimental Band.

  Then they proceeded out through the crowds that packed the inside of the Station to where outside were waiting several State carriages to carry them to The Palace.

  In the first one Zorina travelled with the Crown Prince.

  In the second were her mother, the Crown Princess, Rudolf and another Royal relative.

  There were three carriages behind them and Zorina was well aware that she should have been met and escorted by the King.

  She wondered as she waved to the cheering crowds whether he was really indisposed or was there some sinister ulterior motive in his not coming to greet her.

  Then with an effort she forced herself to smile at the people along the route and show them that she appreciated the effort they were making.

  There were Union Jacks everywhere, small ones waved by the children, large ones flying from buildings and incorporated with the flag of Leothia on lampposts.

  It was impossible not to appreciate the picture
the Leothians made in their native dress, which Zorina knew was very much the same over the whole of the Balkans.

  There was the full red skirt, the embroidered blouse and a black velvet corset.

  For high days and holidays, of which this was one, on every woman’s head there was a headdress of coloured ribbons.

  When they saw Zorina, they obviously appreciated how young and pretty she was.

  Her bonnet, decorated with spring flowers, made her look, although she was not aware of it, like Persephone herself.

  There were flowers everywhere and endless bunches of them were thrown into the open carriage.

  By the time they had passed through the main streets of the City and were climbing up a steep hill, Zorina and the Crown Prince seemed to be covered by a blanket of blossom.

  It was then that Zorina had her first sight of The Palace.

  It was perched high above the town, gleaming white in the sunshine and looking exactly as if it had stepped out of a Fairytale book.

  Its towers and turrets were gleaming and the hill where it stood was green with young trees, some of them in full bloom.

  It was so enchanting that Zorina drew in her breath.

  At the same time she knew that, if she had been driving here with Rudolf, it would have been a right and fitting end to the tale of their love.

  Instead The Palace was the cage where she would be imprisoned with a husband who she had not yet seen.

  For some reason yet to be made clear the King had made excuses not to be at the Station to welcome her.

  She had known when the Crown Prince was making his father’s apologies that the reasons he gave for his absence were not the truth.

  She could hear it in the dull tones in his voice and see it in the shifting of his eyes.

  ‘What is – wrong?’ Zorina wanted to ask him.

  Then, as the cheers of the crowd were left behind and The Palace loomed up ahead, she was frightened.

  She felt cold and she knew too that her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

  chapter five

  Close to The Palace was even lovelier than it had appeared in the distance.

  In the front there were wrought-iron gates surmounted by a crown and every spike was tipped with gold.

  Inside there were fountains with sculptured stone basins throwing iridescent rainbows up into the sky. The whole garden was an endless mass of brilliant flowers and shrubs against a background of trees.

  As the carriage came to a standstill at a long flight of marble steps, the Crown Prince said,

  “I expect my father will be waiting for you at the door.”

  With an effort Zorina managed to flash him a smile, although she felt that there were a thousand butterflies fluttering in her breast.

  Soldiers presented arms and she walked slowly beside the Crown Prince up the red-carpeted steps.

  Because she was feeling intimidated, she was praying fervently,

  ‘Please, God, don’t – let him be – horrible. Please, God, let me – like him.’

  The Crown Prince moved slowly and Zorina was aware that he was allowing time for the rest of the party from the other carriages to process behind them.

  When they had almost reached the top of the steps, Zorina saw a man come out of the front door and with a sinking of her heart she thought that he must be the King.

  He was wearing a uniform ablaze with decorations and Zorina found it hard to look at his face but, before she could do so, the Crown Prince murmured,

  “The Commander-in-Chief of the Army.”

  She looked at him in surprise, thinking it odd that the King was not waiting for her as his son had expected.

  Then, as they met the Commander-in-Chief, he welcomed Zorina and burst into a flood of explanations as to why His Majesty was unfortunately not well enough to greet her as he had intended to do.

  “I suppose,” the Crown Prince asked, “that the Prime Minister and the other Members of the Cabinet are waiting for us.”

  “They are all in the Throne Room, Your Royal Highness,” the Commander-in-Chief replied, “together with Ambassadors and a large number of other people who are extremely eager to meet Her Royal Highness.”

  “Then let’s get on with it,” the Crown Prince stated sharply.

  He was speaking Leothian, but during her journey from England Zorina had managed to learn quite a lot of the language. She was not yet very sure of herself when she spoke it, but she found it easy to understand what was being said to her.

  Because she could not talk to Rudolf and the Foreign Secretary was opposite her, she insisted on his talking to her in his own language.

  She then found to her delight that many words were the same as those of the Balkan languages that she already knew and it was much easier to learn than she had expected.

  As they walked down an ornate corridor, the Crown Prince informed her in a rather embarrassed voice,

  “I am sure that my father will be well enough to meet you this evening. We are having a family dinner party, which I hope you will enjoy.”

  Zorina did not reply.

  In a way, although it seemed strange, she was glad not to have to meet the King until she had time to see more of her surroundings.

  The Palace was certainly very impressive and, she thought, unusually beautiful.

  There were many pictures that she wanted to look at closely and the furniture, much of which she suspected was the work of local craftsmen, was unusual and attractive.

  Then they were in the Throne Room, which was exactly as she might have expected.

  There was a gold Throne under a canopy of crimson velvet that was decorated with the Leothian Arms.

  The walls were covered in golden mirrors and it was indeed a replica of the Palace of Versailles. There were carved gold stands for the lights, which Zorina thought would be dazzling when they were lit.

  The high ceiling was painted with a profusion of GreekGods and Goddesses of classical mythology.

  The room itself was filled with what Zorina thought must be all the dignitaries of Leothia, wearing their best suits or uniforms on such an auspicious occasion.

  The women were blazing with jewels and their bonnets fluttering with feathers, which with their bustles made them look like Birds of Paradise.

  The men, not to be outdone, wore their decorations on uniforms that were as colourful as their wives’ gowns.

  There was a hushed silence as Zorina and the Crown Prince appeared in the doorway and then they moved along a narrow red carpet that led them directly to the dais where stood the Throne.

  Spontaneously everyone present began to clap and, because it was so unexpected, Zorina found herself blushing and at the same time smiling.

  When she and the Crown Prince stepped onto the dais, there was a surge forward from everyone in the room as if they wanted to stare at her more closely.

  The Crown Prince made another stiff and insipid speech of welcome and again excusing his father for his absence.

  Then the presentations began.

  The Lord Chamberlain announced who each person was as they climbed up one side of the dais, curtseyed or bowed to the Crown Prince and Zorina and descended on the other side.

  The Prime Minister came first and then every Member of the Cabinet followed by the Ambassadors of every country that was represented in Leothia.

  Because she thought that it would surprise them, which it certainly did, Zorina spoke to each one of them in their own language.

  She knew, as they expressed their astonishment, and, when she saw them whispering after they had left her, that they thought she was remarkable and were delighted with her.

  It took a long time before the formal presentations were completed.

  Then, without waiting for the Crown Prince to suggest it, she walked down from the dais into the room and moved around the guests.

  She talked first to one and then to another and they were all eager to converse with her.

  After what seemed to
her a very long time, Zorina and her mother were shown to their bedrooms so that they could tidy themselves before luncheon.

  “You were splendid, darling,” the Princess beamed. “I was very proud of you.”

  She gave a little laugh before she said,

  “You certainly astonished the Ambassadors. Each one of them came up to me to say how amazing it was that you could speak their language! And also that you are exactly the Queen Leothia needs.”

  “Did you discover what was wrong with the King?” Zorina asked because it was the thought that was now uppermost in her mind.

  She noticed that her mother’s expression changed as she replied hastily,

  “I must go to my own room and wash. I am longing for something to eat, as I am sure you are too, dearest.”

  She hurried from the room.

  As she did so, a maid came in, curtseyed and said,

  “I’m to look after Your Royal Highness and I hope I’ll give satisfaction.”

  She was a young woman of about twenty-five and, as she spoke to her slowly, Zorina understood every word.

  “I am sure you will,” she answered in Leothian with a smile.

  The maid gave a cry of delight,

  “Your Royal Highness speaks our language! That’s good, very very good.”

  “I speak a little,” Zorina pointed out, “and now you must help me to become really proficient.”

  “It’s a great honour for me to help Your Royal Highness.”

  “What is your name?” Zorina enquired.

  “It’s Hildegard, Your Royal Highness.”

  “Then, Hildegard, you must help me. You can imagine it is very difficult for me coming from so far away to live in a country that I have never seen before.”

  It was a cry from one woman to another and Hildegard clasped her hands together as she said,

  “I pray to God I can really help Your Royal Highness.”

  *

  It was a huge luncheon party, which, despite the excellent food and the beauty of the dining room itself, Zorina found rather ponderous and monotonous.

  One after another the dignitaries present rose to their feet and made long and pompous speeches.

  They expressed their admiration for Britain and Queen Victoria, their joy at having a Queen with her British connections as well as being a relative of the famous British Queen.