In the midst of the preparations, Prince David drew me aside.
‘Will you come back from time to time, Bart, please? I know that things will come up where I’ll need your guidance. Gerhardt is good, but you, Mr. Policeman, seem to understand my country better than anyone. And we’d like to be with you all again. From a bad beginning, I’ve become very fond of you, Senior Sergeant.’ With a big smile and a firm handshake. ‘And then Senior.’
Gerhardt made the arrangements and after two weeks of farewells we were on a plane to Australia. I watched Tessadonna carefully but she was busy packing and farewelling and then marshalling children and luggage at the Vienna airport. Often, in the preparing, she stopped what she was doing to give me a hug and perhaps a kiss. The kids were excited. I wasn’t. I was watching my wife.
After we took off and had flown for a little while, the Austrian Captain said, in German, ‘If you all look to port, that’s the left, you’ll see that we’re now flying over the beautiful little Principality of Bassenburg du Mont, ruled by the von Pramberg family for many hundreds of years. There, in the distance is the family castle. Doesn’t it look beautiful, gleaming in the sun?’
I’d understood it all. I didn’t need the cabin attendant’s translation afterwards.
Tessa moved onto my lap to look through the window. As she looked, I could just see a slight glistening of her eyes. Then she turned to me and gave me a long and hearty kiss, holding my face in her hands. She rested her forehead on mine, green eyes looking into blue, smiling. It was a very happy smile and, for the first time, I was relaxed about our decision.
And the Princess Tessadonna Annaliese Katharina Marina Christina von Pramberg du Mont Corrigan, jillaroo, smiled and said,
‘And now, Bart, my darling. Take us home!’
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The Princess and the Cop Page 20