Royal Rabbits of London

by Santa Montefiore

  He shuffled slowly down the corridor, his hind paws heavy as if they were filled with mud. He knew he’d find the Generalissimo at his desk, because he was always there, working day and night, in his green uniform and military boots, spectacles on his nose, expression serious and full of concentration. Shylo wished there was some way that he could avoid it. But he couldn’t. He had to do what was right. He had to be true to himself, just like Horatio had said.

  Frisby was in her usual position by the double doors. Crimson jacket pressed, gold buttons shining, nose in the air, baton in paw, ready to knock.

  ‘I need to see Nelson,’ said Shylo, and Frisby, who was usually brisk and self-important, gave him a kind smile because the poor little bunny looked so sad.

  She rapped three times on the door. ‘Shylo,’ she announced and she pushed it open. Shylo took a deep breath then hopped inside.

  Nelson looked up from his desk. He registered Shylo’s floppy ears and sagging shoulders and frowned. Then he took off his glasses and examined the bunkin more intensely. ‘Good greengage, Shylo, you look as if you’ve come to tell me the palace has burned down! What on earth has happened?’ Shylo hopped slowly towards his desk. The Generalissimo’s face grew more concerned. ‘What is it, Shylo? Out with it!’

  ‘I have news about . . .’ he murred in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

  ‘What? What news?’

  Shylo took another deep breath, gave a little sniff and wiped his nose with the back of his paw.

  Suddenly, the door opened. Belle de Paw strode in, followed by a very cross Frisby waving her baton in the air. ‘You can’t just walk in like this!’ the Majordomo protested angrily.

  Belle de Paw stood before Nelson. ‘I have it,’ she said, and she put a package wrapped in a shawl on Nelson’s desk.

  Shylo stared at Belle de Paw in amazement. When she gazed back at him, her eyes were full of sorrow and remorse. Shylo’s heart melted like ice cream in sunshine. Hesitantly, he put out his paw. Belle de Paw looked at it, then she looked at Shylo as if surprised that he should forgive her so readily, and took it.

  Nelson stood up. He stared down at the shawl. ‘What is this?’ he asked.

  ‘Open it,’ said Belle de Paw.

  Nelson frowned at her. ‘It can’t be!’

  ‘It is,’ she murred softly. ‘It’s what you’ve been looking for.’

  The Generalissimo unwrapped the shawl, and there, sparkling and twinkling and glittering, was the famous Siberian Diamond.

  Nelson gasped.

  He put out his paw and touched it. Then he raised his eyes to the two rabbits standing before him. ‘How did you get it?’

  Belle de Paw looked uncomfortable. She shuffled and bit her bottom lip. Her big brown eyes shone.

  Shylo cut in, desperate to save his friend from getting into trouble. ‘Well, you see—’

  ‘No, Shylo,’ interrupted Belle de Paw. ‘I think it’s time to tell the truth. Telling the truth is always the right thing to do.’

  And so she told Nelson her story, from the beginning. Nelson listened to every word without taking his eyes off her and said nothing. Shylo wondered what the Generalissimo would do. He feared Nelson would be angry and would punish Belle. Maybe he would banish her from The Grand Burrow, rub out her Red Badge and strip her of the Order of the Royal Rabbits of London as Belle had feared. Perhaps he’d send her into exile in the countryside, or even back to France.

  But the Generalissimo didn’t do any of those things because Nelson was nothing if not wise. ‘Why did you do it, Belle de Paw?’ he asked.

  ‘To prove to you that I could.’

  He nodded thoughtfully. ‘I see,’ he growled.

  Belle de Paw hung her head in shame. ‘I’m sorry, Generalissimo,’ she murred. ‘I was angry because I felt overlooked, so I stole the diamond to prove I was as brave and cunning as the others. But I was only thinking of myself and my hurt pride. It is my duty to serve the Royal Family and to take my orders from you. I was wrong and I am sorry for it. I deserve whatever price you ask me to pay.’

  Nelson rubbed his chin pensively. Then he shifted his eyes from Belle de Paw to Shylo. ‘And you knew about this and were coming to tell me, Shylo?’ he said. Shylo nodded and Belle de Paw squeezed his paw to reassure him that she understood why he had come to tell Nelson and that she was not angry with him.

  ‘I imagine you have learned a great deal about friendship and loyalty,’ said Nelson gruffly.

  Shylo nodded. He had also learned a great deal about himself.

  Nelson turned to Belle de Paw. ‘You are right. You were indeed blinded by pride and nearly broke your oath and betrayed your honour. But you didn’t. The difference between an ordinary rabbit and a Royal Rabbit is that we will always do the right thing in the end. Good always wins over evil; greed always gives way to generosity and pride always yields to forgiveness if your heart is in the right place. We all have the choice to be better, to be the best rabbits we can be. You have shown courage today, both of you, and have been true to yourselves and your own honourable hearts.

  ‘The diamond has been returned, which is the most important thing, and I do not feel the need to punish you, Belle de Paw. You have learned an important lesson all on your own. In fact, I admit that I have also learned something today. I underestimated you, Belle. I’m only sorry that you had to go to such lengths to show me. In future, you shall go out into the field with the others. I know you will be an asset.’

  Belle de Paw smiled happily. ‘Thank you, Generalissimo,’ she murred.

  ‘However, I ask only one more thing of both of you.’ Nelson’s gaze settled on them with all its weight, wisdom and kindness, and the two rabbits were ready to do whatever he asked.

  ‘I want you to take the diamond back to the Queen.’

  Belle de Paw put on a black yoga outfit which she had bought, intending to do some exercise, but had never worn. Shylo wore his usual red jacket, but he carried a very special cargo in his rucksack: the Siberian Diamond.

  Escorted by a squad of four Thumpers, they hopped down the corridor towards the dumb waiter, which was an old lift once used for taking food up from the palace kitchen to the dining room. They jumped in and the Thumpers pulled on the ropes. Up they went. Up, up, up into the palace.

  ‘This is the first time we’ve been on a mission together,’ said Belle de Paw excitedly. ‘I cannot think of a finer partner,’ she added, then she gazed at him with tender eyes. ‘I meant to say this before. Thank you, Shylo. It’s because of you that I realized I couldn’t keep the diamond. Thank you for making me the best rabbit I can be.’

  He smiled shyly, and she smiled back. A smile that held within it affection, happiness and trust. ‘We all need reminding sometimes,’ he murred.

  ‘Indeed, we do.’ Belle de Paw sighed. ‘I shall be sad to give the diamond away, but it’s the right thing to do. I know that.’ She grinned mischievously. ‘But perhaps I can look at it one more time.’

  She put out her paw and Shylo patted it away playfully. ‘Not until we’re in the Queen’s bedchamber,’ he murred, bowing his ears. ‘And only for a moment.’

  They arrived in the old kitchen and hopped out on to the tiled floor. They opened the two-door hatch in the wall and snuck through, into the palace. The crimson carpets and gold-backed chairs, high ceilings and papered walls filled with enormous paintings were familiar to Shylo now, as was the smell of corgi. Today it wasn’t strong. He hoped that meant they were out for their morning walk.

  As they hopped through the state rooms and down the corridors, Shylo no longer looked about him in awe at the scale of the rooms or the splendour of the fireplaces, mirrors, tall windows and elaborate curtains, for he had seen them many times before.

  They hurried on through the palace until they reached the Queen’s private apartments and Shylo’s sense of wonder returned. He would never get over being in the Queen’s own sitting room and boudoir. He would never grow complacent about being close to Her Majesty
. In those rare and wonderful moments, he was truly grateful to be a Royal Rabbit of London, protecting the King and Queen of England.

  Shylo and Belle de Paw lolloped into the Queen’s bedroom. It was empty. However, the four-poster bed was not made and there was a large basket of laundry on the carpet, as if the maid had had to leave in a hurry. Shylo took off his rucksack and put it on the floor. He opened it and lifted out the diamond. It was very big and heavy for such a small rabbit to hold. He placed it on the carpet where it caught the light streaming in through the nearby window and sparkled.

  Belle de Paw gazed at it longingly. ‘It is so beautiful,’ she gushed.

  Shylo remembered how, deep inside the diamond, he had seen a vision of the wood back at home on the farm, and his heart ached for his mother and his warm, familiar burrow. But he said nothing and watched Belle de Paw gaze at it lovingly.

  ‘Au revoir, precious gem,’ she murred.

  Just then, the door opened. The rabbits spun round in alarm to see a pair of black shoes walking towards them. Without hesitating, they dived into the laundry basket, hiding beneath the sheets. When they peeped out, they saw that the feet belonged to a maid.

  She didn’t notice the diamond.

  She went to the bed and set about stripping the pillows, humming happily to herself.

  Just when Shylo and Belle de Paw were thinking of jumping out and hopping to safety, in trotted the Pack. Messalina came in first. She wagged her stumpy tail, pricked her triangular ears and stuck out her tongue, panting excitedly. Then she sensed something delicious in the laundry basket and her tail began to wag faster, like a little propeller.

  The other dogs trotted over to see what had captured her attention. They stuffed their snouts into the tangle of sheets. Shylo and Belle de Paw swiftly burrowed to the bottom of the basket as the dogs’ noses prodded and poked, this way and that, smelling rabbit and trying desperately to find it. Shylo pressed himself against the bottom of the basket. After this whole adventure, it would be very unfortunate if he was now eaten by a dog at the palace!

  A voice shooed them away and the basket was lifted off the ground. Belle de Paw and Shylo put their heads out to see Messalina and her Pack gazing up at them furiously. Shylo was so relieved to be out of their reach that he gave a little wave. Messalina growled.

  Then she noticed the diamond on the floor.

  She gave it a sniff.

  Shylo’s wave froze.

  Belle de Paw stifled a cry.

  The two rabbits watched in horror as the dog opened her mouth and lifted the diamond off the carpet, settling it between her teeth. She plonked her bottom down and gave Shylo and Belle de Paw a triumphant smile.

  Laser was at the back of the war room at the periscopes, watching the action in the Queen’s boudoir, when Messalina picked up the diamond. ‘Don’t swallow it!’ she cried in alarm. ‘Don’t swallow it!’ The sound of panic in her voice alerted the other rabbits and the place fell silent.

  Zeno strode over to where Laser was frantically moving from periscope to periscope. ‘What’s happened?’ he asked.

  ‘Messalina has the diamond in her mouth!’ she cried. ‘Now she’s trotting down the corridor.’

  ‘How the devil did she get it in her mouth?’ asked Clooney, pushing himself up from the sofa and joining Zeno. ‘And where are Belle de Paw and Shylo?’

  Nelson hobbled over, the frown deepening into his fur. ‘Where is she now, Laser?’ he asked.

  Laser moved to the next periscope. ‘She’s passing the White Drawing Room. If you dare swallow the Siberian Diamond, you dumb mutt, I’ll . . . !’ She was about to say something very rude but stopped herself. Nelson was a rabbit who expected good manners at all times, even when talking about the Pack.

  Horatio stood beside Nelson. The brothers looked at each other worriedly. ‘If she swallows it, the diamond will be lost forever,’ Nelson growled.

  ‘That will be one expensive dog!’ quipped Clooney. But no one laughed.

  Laser switched periscopes. ‘She’s headed into the Queen’s private study.’ She turned the periscope around. ‘I can’t tell whether or not she still has it in her mouth.’

  The rabbits held their breath.

  In the Queen’s private study, Her Majesty sat at her desk, signing important documents. Beside her was Lady Araminta Fortescue, her lady-in-waiting, and Sir Marmaduke Scantum, her Private Secretary. They were all looking very serious as the Queen’s fountain pen swept across the pages.

  The Queen glanced up as Messalina trotted in. She paused her pen over the paper and watched her dog. Then she took off her glasses, put the lid on her pen and pushed out her chair.

  ‘What have you got in your mouth?’ she asked, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees.

  Lady Araminta Fortescue stepped back to allow the dog to trot by (she knew her place!). Messalina lifted her chin and wagged her tail as she approached her mistress.

  ‘Is it a bone? You get far too many treats in the kitchen, don’t you?’ said the Queen.

  Messalina stuffed her nose into the Queen’s hand and dropped her precious cargo.

  ‘What is this?’ The Queen stared down at the diamond twinkling in her palm.

  Lady Araminta gasped.

  Sir Marmaduke muttered, ‘Good Lord!’

  But the Queen just smiled, a smile that was full of relief and joy and a deep, deep gratitude. She stared into the diamond, into the silvery flaws and imperfections that meant so much to her. And she found herself there in the garden, pruning the roses and listening to the gentle hum of bees.

  She looked down at her dog fondly. ‘The Siberian Diamond! You clever girl! But where on earth did you find it?’ Then she laughed, her eyes welling with tears, and patted her dog on the head. ‘Did you steal it out of the cabinet? Well, I am surprised. A little dog like you! We’re all going to have to be a lot more careful, aren’t we?’

  Minsky-the-Terrible was in the banya, having a steam bath, when he read the news headline on his smartphone.

  Siberian Diamond returned to the Queen – by a corgi!

  How did that happen? he wondered. How did the dog find it? As far as he knew, there had been no corgis at Tiger Towers that night. But what did it matter? He switched off his phone and sighed with pleasure. The steam was very pleasant. He was retired now; his days of being ferocious were over. If Russia wanted the diamond back, they would have to find someone else to do the job for them.

  Then his gaze fell on the silver trophy sitting proudly on the steam-room shelf and he smiled contentedly. His team had won. But there was another competition coming up in Paris in the autumn. They had a lot of work to do. The French were not going to be as easy to beat as the English. He thought of Zeno and Laser, and laughed out loud. Those rabbits might be the most formidable fighters in England, but they hadn’t a clue about judo!

  Not too far away in Hampstead, Amura was lying in bed, making her way through a bucket of deliciously light and fluffy powder-pink marshmallows with caviar, when the report came on to her television screen.

  ‘In what can only be described as a miracle,’ said the newsreader, ‘the Siberian Diamond has been returned to Buckingham Palace where it now sits in a high-security room in the museum. Buckingham Palace will not expand on their statement, which reads: “The Siberian Diamond made a surprise appearance today in Buckingham Palace — in the mouth of one of Her Majesty’s corgis. The Queen is delighted.” ’

  Amura threw the bucket of pink marshmallows on to the carpet and yelled, ‘SAPPHIRE, COME HERE AT ONCE! THE QUEEN HAS STOLEN MY DIAMOND!’

  At the very top of the Shard, Mavis and Flintskin stood before the Doctor. The Doctor was very excited: it had been a while since Papa Ratzi had ordered a punishment. But these two Ratzis who stood before him now had let Papa Ratzi down and that could not be tolerated. (They had both determinedly blamed each other for the fact that rabbits and minks had turned up at Tiger Towers, so Papa Ratzi had decided to punish them both.) The Siberian Diamon
d was back in the palace museum and Russia and Great Britain were still friends. There would be no fury, no jealousy, no war. The Big Ratzi was furious!

  Flintskin stood with his head bowed and his shoulders sagging, feeling very sorry for himself. Mavis, who didn’t believe any of this was her fault, stood with her nose in the air and her arms folded over her flabby belly. Whatever Papa Ratzi chose to do, she would bear it bravely.

  At last, the hologram of words rolled across the space right in front of them.

  ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE DISAPPOINTED ME! I EXPECT MORE FROM MY RATZIS. MUCH MORE!

  The Doctor stepped forward. ‘Here, Papa. I’m ready to carry out their punishment.’ His narrow eyes gleamed and he grinned at Flintskin and Mavis.

  Papa Ratzi continued to type.

  I WILL NOT BE NEEDING YOUR SERVICES TODAY, DOCTOR.

  The Doctor’s face fell in disappointment.

  I HAVE DECIDED TO SENTENCE FLINTSKIN AND MAVIS TO FIVE HOURS’ TRAINING IN THE GYM!

  Flintskin collapsed on to his knees and began to sob. ‘Not the gym!’ he wailed.

  Mavis whacked him round the head. ‘Shut up! Don’t be so pathetic.’

  Papa Ratzi continued:

  AND A DIET OF CARROT AND CABBAGE FOR A WEEK.

  Now Mavis sank to her knees and began to sob as well. ‘Carrot and cabbage!’ she cried. ‘Take an ear. Or a slice of tail. But not carrot and cabbage – for a WEEK! I BEG YOU!’

  YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN AGAIN BECAUSE I WILL CHOOSE ANOTHER MORE WORTHY RAT FOR MY NEXT PLAN.

  Mavis stuck out her lower lip. Was this the end of her dreams of being famous? Of having her own reality TV show?

  Of course not. She was not going to give up so easily. She’d think of something . . .