“It will be safe for us to talk in here,” she heard a man’s voice say.
She was suddenly aware that it was Prince Igor who had spoken.
Because she had no wish to see him or for him to find that she was here, she moved quickly to the nearest window.
She slipped behind the long red velvet curtains.
She heard footsteps of men approaching and she prayed that Prince Igor would not discover her.
She had seen him once already today and that was quite enough and she had no wish to bandy words with him as they had done last night.
To her great relief she heard Prince Igor and the man with him stop behind one of the large bookcases in the centre of the room.
“Everything is arranged, Your Royal Highness,” a man’s voice said. “I’ve brought you the money that was promised to you. There’s three million roubles in total, but the Russian Embassy in Alexandria will change it into any currency you require.”
“Thank you,” Prince Igor replied. “And what other plans have you made?”
“As soon as everyone retires tonight, you and the Comtesse will leave by the North door of the Palace. If you turn left and step down to the North gate, from which all the sentries will have been removed, you will find a carriage waiting to take you to the bay by the coast where a ship is waiting for you.”
“That sounds excellent. Are you quite certain no one is aware of our arrangements?”
“Absolutely certain,” the man replied. “Tomorrow morning it will be announced that you have disappeared and there will be chaos!”
Both laughed before the speaker went on,
“While the people are confused and angry that there will be no wedding, our troops will move in and it will be easy in the confusion for them to take over without any resistance or bloodshed.”
“What about the Palace?” Prince Igor asked almost sharply.
“We’ve thought of that as well,” the man replied. “Six bottles of drugged champagne will be given to the Comtesse to hand out to the soldiers on guard, telling them to drink the health of the bride and bridegroom.”
He gave a laugh before he added,
“I have never known a soldier yet who would not accept a drink whatever time of day or night it is offered to him!”
“That is true,” Prince Igor agreed.
“It’s all foolproof,” the conspirator said. “And the Officers at Headquarters think that perhaps the Princess should meet with a regrettable accident, which will prevent her causing any trouble once we have taken over.”
“Yes, that’s a wise decision,” Prince Igor answered. “She has caused enough difficulty and problems already by interfering with the Courts of Justice.”
“I agree with Your Royal Highness,” the man said, “and the sooner she is out of the way the better.”
There was a rasping sound as if they were rising to their feet.
“Thank you for the money,” Prince Igor muttered. “I am very grateful. And please tell your Leader that the Commander-in-Chief of the Army has co-operated fully. He will carry out your instructions to move most of his troops to the East side of the City while we move in on the West.”
“I will see that he does so,” was the answer.
As the man walked to the door, he said something in Russian that Tarena could not follow, but she thought it must have been some sort of joke because Prince Igor laughed before he followed him out of the library.
After they had gone, for a moment Tarena could only stand where she was, thinking that it could not have happened.
Surely she could not have overheard anything so appalling and despicable.
It seemed to her incredible that Prince Igor should actually conspire with the Russians and had accepted a huge bribe to leave everyone in total confusion while they moved in and took over Karlova.
For a while she felt that she must be dreaming and imagined the whole scenario.
Then she realised she must do something at once.
Nothing could be better in that everyone concerned with the wedding was just then involved in the meeting in the Throne Room.
‘I have to tell them now,’ she decided, ‘and I have to make them believe me.’
She was afraid that they would not believe her.
Then she felt as if someone was guiding her and she was sure that it was her father.
After all, he had loved his people.
And he had kept them free from the Russians as long as he was alive.
Now she had to prevent them from carrying out this dreadful plot to take over the country and murder her.
She came from behind the curtain and saw that the drawer of the chest was still open.
As if again she was being guided, she took from it a glittering Star and sash as well as the sword.
Carrying them in her arms, she then walked slowly across the library.
She knew that she must be very careful not to be seen by Prince Igor if he was still about.
She opened the library door by a fraction and then looked round.
All she could see was the empty corridor.
Still holding onto the Star of Karlova and the sash in one hand and the big sword in the other, she hurried down the passage.
The Throne Room was some way from the library, but fortunately it was on the same side of the Palace and she did not have to go through the hall that was always filled with equerries and servants.
When she reached the door of the Throne Room, she saw that there were two sentries outside and an equerry who looked at her in surprise.
As he bowed, she demanded imperiously,
“I want to go into the meeting.”
“I have my orders, Your Royal Highness, not to let anyone in until their discussions are finished.” Tarena smiled at the equerry.
“I think, as I have a very special present for my uncle, who will be leaving soon after the wedding, they will not be annoyed if I take up a little of their time.”
The equerry smiled back, as he noticed what Tarena was carrying.
“Of course not, Your Royal Highness. I am sure he will be most honoured to receive the Star of Karlova.”
“I know he will.” The equerry opened the door and she walked in.
The men were sitting at an oval table facing the Prime Minister, who was seated just below the throne.
When Tarena appeared, they stared for a moment and then slowly and reluctantly rose to their feet.
“You must forgive me, gentlemen” she began, “for interrupting you, but I have something of grave importance to tell you. But first, if you will allow me, I wish to give my uncle a special gift from Karlova and I hope he will wear it at my wedding before he returns to England.”
Now, as she spoke, the men present were smiling at her and then the Prime Minister came in,
“But, of course, Your Royal Highness, we do all understand, and we are extremely grateful to the Earl of Grandbrooke for bringing you here.”
Tarena walked up to the Prime Minister. There was a small table in front of him on which she laid down the sword and the Star and sash.
As she stood to one side of the table, the Earl, as if he knew the procedure, rose and walked up to her.
Holding the glittering Star in her hand, Tarena said,
“The Earl of Grandbrooke, as Queen of Karlova, I bestow on you the Star of Karlova in gratitude for the help you have given to the people of my country. May the Star bless you for the rest of your life.”
The Earl went down on one knee and she placed the sash with the Star over his shoulder.
Then he rose to his feet and turned round,
“I thank Your Royal Highness for this great honour, which I will always cherish.”
He walked back to where he had been sitting.
Tarena then picked up the sword.
“Will Count Vladimir of Sazon come forward,” she asked.
She saw the astonishment on the Count’s face, but he obediently walked forward.
Without her saying
anything, he knelt on one knee in front of her.
Tarena dubbed him on both shoulders and declared,
“On behalf of my country and to thank you for all you have done for our citizens, I now create you Prince Vladimir of Sazon.”
There was an audible gasp from everyone present.
For a moment the Count looked up at her with a bewildered expression in his eyes and, as he rose to his feet and before he could speak, Tarena continued,
“Now I have a matter of great urgency to tell you all. It is something I am afraid you will find almost incredible.”
Slowly, choosing her words carefully and speaking with a sincerity no one could question, she told them word for word everything she had just overheard.
She repeated the whole unbelievable story except the part about the Commander-in-Chief.
When she had finished, the Prime Minister said,
“I find it hard to believe what Her Royal Highness has just told us. Yet I know, and I am convinced as we all are, it is the truth and we must act accordingly.”
“The first thing I will do,” the Commander-in-Chief came in, “is to arrest Prince Igor and the Comtesse.”
Tarena put up her hand.
“There is one thing yet I have not told you,” she said. “It is that the Commander-in-Chief who has just spoken, has agreed to carry out orders from the Russians to take the majority of his troops to the East of the City while they intend to invade us from the West.”
As she spoke, the Commander-in Chief had reached the door and, as he did so, he turned round and pulled a revolver from his belt.
He raised it and was aiming it directly at Tarena when the Count, who was still standing beside her, fired first.
He shot him full in the chest and he fell forward with a crash to the ground.
Everyone rose hastily to their feet and before they could say anything the new Prince Vladimir said sharply,
“He is dead, but it would be a mistake for anyone outside to be aware of it. Put his body out of sight until after the marriage has taken place tomorrow.”
Those present all stared at him in astonishment.
Then he added,
“Now we know what our enemies are planning, we have to be absolutely certain that the Russian Army when it approaches us meets a very different reception from the one they are expecting.”
Two of the younger Members of the Cabinet then picked up the Commander-in-Chief’s body and carried it down the room and placed it under the platform.
There was silence until they returned to their seats. In the meantime Tarena had sat down next to the Prime Minister with Prince Vladimir beside her.
When the two Members of the Cabinet were seated again, Prince Vladimir rose to his feet and asked,
“So what do you suggest we do next, gentlemen?”
Two or three men started speaking at the same time saying,
“Arrest Prince Igor and the Comtesse now.”
“I have been thinking that over and I would advise that it would be a mistake,” Prince Vladimir replied.
“Why?” the Prime Minister asked.
“Because then the Russians will know we are aware of what they have planned. However carefully we may keep their plot a secret, servants talk and someone, perhaps Prince Igor’s valet, will find out that he is under arrest.”
“I do see your point,” a Minister said. “Let them go ahead and leave the country without them finding out that their plans have gone awry.”
“What they intend is that we cancel the wedding, and that in itself will upset the people and give them an excellent excuse to take over the City.”
There was silence for a moment and then Prince Vladimir turned and looked at Tarena.
“May I presume,” he began, “that owing to Your Royal Highness’s gracious action, we are now on equal terms. Therefore may I ask Your Royal Highness to do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”
“My answer,” Tarena murmured, “is that it would make me very happy. I promise that you and I together will do everything in our power to make the people of Karlova safe and secure and as happy as we intend to be ourselves.”
The men sitting round the table stared at her as if they could hardly believe what was happening.
Then, as if some of them guessed the truth, they gave a low cheer.
“Of course we are both surprised and delighted by what Your Royal Highness has said,” the Prime Minister added. “But now comes a very difficult decision which we must make immediately. We must agree who is to take over the Army now that the Commander-in-Chief is no longer with us.”
“I would be prepared to do so,” Prince Vladimir said, “with the assistance of General Milan who I see is here at the moment.”
“I will be very honoured,” the General said, rising to his feet, “to serve under Your Royal Highness. I have always realised that you were right in so many initiatives you suggested, but you were ignored by the Commander-in-Chief.”
“At least we know at what point the Russians will be approaching the City, no doubt overconfidently and that is where our Army will be waiting for them. Meanwhile our prime duty is to protect the Queen. I will arrange that my own special troops in whom I have complete trust, will guard the Palace and ourselves as we drive towards the Cathedral.”
“When” the Prime Minister asked, “are we to let the people know that the marriage will take place, but there will be a different bridegroom?”
“Not until we have actually reached the Cathedral.” They looked surprised and Prince Vladimir added,
“We have found one Russian supporter here in our midst, in fact three, if we count in Prince Igor and the Comtesse. I think it would be a mistake if when we leave this room we breathe a single word to anyone of what has occurred. That includes your wives, your family and your staff. The Russians must not know anything until it is too late for them to change their plans.”
He paused before he continued,
“If we all keep the secret, they will walk into a trap which will, I hope convince them painfully that, when Her Royal Highness and myself are on the throne, Karlova will never lose its independence!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Is it all right,” the Prime Minister asked, “for us to leave now?”
“I believe,” Prince Vladimir replied, “what really matters is that no one and I repeat no one, except ourselves, has the slightest idea of what has occurred in this room.
“I will see to everything that concerns the Palace and my future wife and we will then concentrate on the defence of the City.”
The Prime Minister nodded.
Finally after some whispered conversation amongst themselves, they opened the door and moved into another part of the Palace.
Tarena slipped her hand into Prince Vladimir’s.
“You were so right,” she sighed. “God has helped us when we least expected it.”
Vladimir smiled at her and then he realised that the last of the Cabinet had left the room.
The only man there besides himself was the Earl, and he walked over to Prince Vladimir.
“I cannot tell you,” he said, “how happy it makes me to know that my niece will marry you and not Prince Igor.”
“I hoped you would say that, my Lord.” “It is wonderful, Uncle Richard,” Tarena enthused. “I love Vladimir and I know he loves me, which is the way I always wanted to be married.”
“You have been a very brave and clever girl. Now I can go home in peace. I admit previously that I felt very worried about you.”
“There is something I want to ask you,” Vladimir said, “when are you leaving and how?”
“Actually I was not yet going to tell Tarena when I was going because I thought it would upset her, but I have arranged with the Captain of The Royal Sovereign that I will leave tomorrow after the marriage has taken place.”
Vladimir made a sound that was almost a whoop of joy.
“The Royal Sovereign!” he exclaimed. “Where is sh
e?”
“She should be coming into Port at any moment,” the Earl replied. “I hope I was right in inviting the Captain to be present at the wedding.”
“Of course you were right. He is the one man I want to see at this very moment.”
“I will be very surprised if The Royal Sovereign is not in Port soon after luncheon,” the Earl added.
“I expect our luncheon is ready now,” Tarena came in.
Vladimir looked at the large clock on the wall.
“I hope you will forgive me, my darling, but I think I must skip luncheon as I have so much to see to. As it all concerns you, I know you will understand.
“And don’t forget that no one must know I am not on my regular duty of guarding the Palace.”
“What are you really going to do?” asked Tarena.
“Something which concerns you, my precious, and you will realise it is much more important than luncheon.”
She smiled at her new Prince and she knew from the expression in his eyes that he wanted to kiss her.
It was what she wanted more than anything else, but it would be a mistake to do anything in the Palace that might seem unusual.
Vladimir hurried away, as Tarena slipped her arm through her uncle’s.
“I am the luckiest and happiest girl in the whole world,” she sighed.
“It is what you deserve, my dearest. You astonish me how brilliantly you have behaved since you came here. When I saw Prince Igor I was deeply worried.”
“Not half as worried as I was, but now we need no longer concern ourselves with him or that evil Comptesse, thank goodness.”
“But be careful, very careful,” the Earl said, “not to say anything to arouse their suspicions.”
They were very discreet at luncheon where the chef excelled himself in producing delicious dishes.
Prince Igor sat at one end of the table and Tarena at the other.
She was only afraid that he would see the happiness in her eyes and be aware that her heart was dancing.
Fortunately there were a good number of people at the luncheon, who come to see both Prince Igor and the Prime Minister. Having had to wait as the meeting had taken a long time, they had stayed on for luncheon.
When they left the table, Tarena was quite certain that Prince Igor had not the least idea how the situation had changed in the last few hours.
The Queen Wins Page 12