Entry #527565, added on 01-30-08 @ 5:11 pm EST
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| Chapter Twenty One | Entry #527565 |
A large crowd had amassed in Dover harbour to welcome the arrival of Princess Viktoria. Her Majesty’s Yacht Victoria and Albert II escorted proudly from Germany by three Royal Naval Cruisers had now docked and an impatient crowd waited and cheered in anticipation of her impending appearance.
Greening’s nerves however were somewhat frayed, with all the goings on in London and the devastating consequences on his career should any unforeseen incidences occur the pressure was truly on. Yes Silas has helped ensure all eventualities had been accounted for and provided the stretched force the extra man power of his own personal security team to ensure all would pass to plan but Greening was under no illusions that should something go wrong then a scapegoat would be identified and that would undoubtedly be him.
As the disembarkation ramp was moved alongside the vessel Sir Silas accompanied by Chief Inspector Stubbs was shouting out final instructions to the driver of the awaiting Royal coach and its four accompanying escorts one of which being the personal coach of Sir Silas himself. Meanwhile the mish mash team of police officers and members of Silas’s personal security fought to hold back the crowds and keep the roadway clear for their impending departure.
Finally Princess Viktoria emerged to a wave of cheering spectators and the soundtrack of a vibrant brass band and graciously made her way down the ramp. As she stepped on to solid ground Sir Silas made his approach leaving Chief Inspector Stubbs to follow two steps behind, a position in which Stubbs had often found himself, he didn’t mind though, Stubbs always preferred to stay out the limelight, he was quite happy to be in the background the shadow that people saw though paid little attention to. Sir Silas bowed his head and taking her gently by the hand, placed a kiss in honorary style.
“Your highness, please let me introduce myself I’m Sir Maxton Silas, to meet you is a true honour and a pleasure indeed, let me be the first to welcome you to our land.”
“Thank you Sir Silas, my grandmother speaks most highly of you, still this theatre of ceremony is not of such that I enjoy, I’d appreciate it if we can get moving as soon as possible it’s been a long voyage and I’m eager to meet with your Queen”.
“Of course your highness, Stubbs you heard her wishes lets get this procession on the road.”
Stubbs turned to give final instructions to the lead coach drivers while Sir Silas escorted her highness to the Royal Coach giving his hand to assist her climb in to the cabin before climbing in himself to join her. Stubbs ran over to take his seat alongside the driver of the Royal Coach and gave the order to make haste to London.
The procession made its way through the crowd and slowly to the open roads leading out of Dover and to the capital in waiting. Meanwhile Greening sat in one of the lead coaches breathed a huge sigh of relief, all good so far.
“So your highness...”
“Please call me Viktoria,” interrupted the Princess “this formality serves only to bore me.”
“As you wish Viktoria, so tell me how is your father Frederick, he still happy with our transport agreements I trust, his assistance in securing my businesses shipping rights was a greatly appreciated.”
“Let me be candid with you Sir Silas, I have little interest in the business of shipping or that of your dealings with my father, if you wish to find out the stature of your favour amongst him I suggest you converse with him not me.”
“I assure you your highness…”
Viktoria stabs a glare at Silas
“Err... I..., Viktoria, I was merely making conversation, I am not of the kind to work is such underlying ways and a grandchild of my Queen or not I will not take kindly to the suggestion of such” snapped an agitated Silas.
“Viktoria let a smile crease her rather serious looking face before letting out a sweet chuckle, “That’s better, my grandmother did tell me I’d like you, I can’t bear those awful people that fear to challenge me simply due of my position”.
Silas slightly confused with the response obtained from his vented agitation slowly drained the redness from his face and regained his natural colour.
Viktoria reaching out to take Silas’s hand “So Maxton, may I call you Maxton.”
“But of course.” Replied Silas in a charmed and gentle tone
“Tell me of yourself.”
Maxton and Viktoria remained engrossed in conversation throughout the long journey to the capital. For most of the trip Silas remained mostly confused, Viktoria was clearly not the typical Royal Princess, she had a force of character and determination not typical of the times, a quality Silas found most attractive but at the same time quite terrifying.
Three hours later Greening’s nerves started to become frayed once more as the Royal Coach finally made its way into the centre of London. Greening was scouring the streets with his lingering gaze, looking for anything that could pass as suspicious or God forbid dangerous, still all looked calm and well.
Princess Viktoria was expected to make her way first to a Ceremonial Horse show at Horse Guards Parade and meet with her grandmother, the Queen before retiring back to Buckingham Palace via The Mall in horse drawn carriage beside her.
As the Royal Coach of Princess Viktoria entered Horse Guards Parade the crowd cheered their approval.
“Well Viktoria seems their pleased to see you.”
With that the Royal Coach came to a stop and moments later the driver stepped down from his perch to open the coach door for the Royal Princess. Silas exited the vehicle and leant his hand to help Viktoria down.
“Well my Princess I will leave you to your ceremony.”
“You will not join me?” enquired the Princess.
“I would very much enjoy that, still it is not my place, though I do hope we’ll be able to share some time together again very soon.”
“I think I would like that.”
With that Silas climbed back into the Royal Coach as it drove off out of the show arena, meanwhile Princess Viktoria made her way led by an aide to the Royal box where HRH Queen Victoria was already in waiting. As Viktoria entered the box she was greeted in the understated manner as is often so with Royal public reunions, a simple handshake. As the Royalty took their seats the ceremony of the event got underway as England’s best military horsemen demonstrated their skills.
Greening watched on from the stable area finally starting to relax, the whole event had gone relatively smoothly; in fact things couldn’t have gone any better really. All what was left was a simple journey up the Mall to the Royal Palace and with the strength of Scotland Yards presence surrounding this final stretch Greening was confident that all his hard work had paid off and already anticipating the praise and recognition of Superintendent Jennings’ as he petted the nose of the proud animal that had appeared by his side. Greening was then distracted from his pleasant daydreaming by a gun shot exploding behind him, a young soldier practising his drill prior to his proud moment in front of the Queen had prematurely fired his weapon in error. As Greening turned to see what was going on he was met with the vision of a rearing horse as it’s hoof impaled itself into the side of Greening’s fragile skull.
Despite the gunshot, neither the Queen, the Princess nor any of the amassed crowd suspected any cause for concern, after all gunshots were common place in ceremonial events of this type and the timing fitted perfectly with the going on's in the arena.
Back in the stable area however a handful of people gathered to come to the aid of the fallen Greening, but it was all with little avail the heavily smashed skull and the profuse bleeding made it all very clear that Inspector Greening’s short life and even shorter career was all but over.
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