Entry #533986, added on 09-09-07 @ 2:39 pm EDT
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| Chapter Twenty Three | Entry #533986 |
Silas raised a wry smile as he studied the morning’s paper. ‘Lawman Killed in Tragic Horse Accident’, it amused him how the man charged with ensuring the safety of a high profile Royal visitor couldn’t even ensure that of his own, to Silas it stood as simply yet another example of the incompetence of the majority of society’s supposed respected community today.
“This country my dear, is going to the dogs” remarked Silas as May, his young personal assistant brought him a steaming cup of morning coffee atop a fine silver tray.
“Indeed sir, I’m sure.”
Spying the letter beside his coffee on the silver tray Silas lowered his newspaper
“Ah my dear, now what do we have here?”
“Pardon me Sir, a messenger delivered it first thing, it has the Royal seal sir.”
Silas flipped the letter over to expose the crimson, waxed Royal mark along the envelopes seal. “Indeed you’re right my dear, well I suppose I’d better see how I can be of service.”
The excited young May hovered beside Silas clearly very curious of the words pertained.
Silas noticing the reaction of his young assistant lowered the letter momentarily “I understand your excitement my dear but I really should open this alone”.
May’s head dropped, clearly disappointed and turned and begun to make her way out the room. With this Silas’ soft side made a brief and rare appearance.
“Okay my dear, why not, you can stay but understand the information contained within must stay here, I can not abide the wagging of careless tongues, should I find a word of this to be breathed outside these four walls I will no doubt need to be finding myself a new assistant.”
“Of course sir, you have my word of sworn silence, thank you sir”
Silas began to read the letter
“My Dear Silas, my beloved grand daughter HRH Princess Viktoria of Prussia has expressed a keen desire to see the sites of this Grand City of London. Clearly matters of state prevent me from accompanying her in this endeavour and with the riots, and general state of crime shadowing our city at this time combined with my current diminished confidence in Scotland Yard I fear you are the only one a trust to safeguard the young Princess.
In four short weeks Princess Viktoria is destined to marry Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe in Berlin so I’m sure you understand the importance to both families that her safety is secure and the implications on the Crown and relations with Germany should she befall any harm.
I understand the nature of your busy lifestyle and the demands of your various business interests however I would be most grateful if you would accompany my Grand Daughter as a personal favour to your Queen and in an act that I’m sure would also be of great appreciation to King Frederick which will no doubt further serve to strengthen your business relations under his rule.
Your Queen and friend, Victoria”
“You will accept sir?” enquired May
“But of course dear, one must always be prepared to serve and respect the request of ones Monarch, please rearrange all my day’s appointments and tell the driver to prepare the carriage, and ensure he's aware I want the horses groomed to perfection, we’ll be in the presence of Royalty after all.”
“Of course sir, straight away”.
May quickly left the room to act on Silas’s wishes leaving Silas alone. Silas raised himself to his feet and approached an ornamentally decorated wall mirror, typical of gothic tradition. Peering into the mirror Silas examined his appearance, brushed a dust grain dust from his shoulder, straightened his jacket and re-positioned his bow tie.
“Perfect for a date with a Princess I do think”.
As Silas’s carriage pulled up to the Palace gates, the guards on duty quickly allowed access without delay enabling an uninterrupted journey up to the Palace entrance itself. No sooner had the carriage stopped and Silas lowered himself from the carriage he found himself greeted by the warming smile of the Princess Viktoria.
“Your highness, it is an honour once again”
“Indeed shall we go, I find the confines of the palace quite stifling.
Silas aided Viktoria into the carriage before climbing in to join her himself.
“So what would you like to see first?”
“I have been told that London is the greatest city in all the world, a wondrous place of innovation. I ask you show me what makes it so; you are my guide after all”.
“Indeed I’m sure that is something I can accommodate I know just where to start, Driver take us to the Crystal Palace”.
The carriage headed of on its journey across London taking in the sites of the famed Crystal Palace, including Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London amongst many others. Conversation between Silas and the Princess flowed effortlessly, she was not like anyone Silas had previously met, she truly mesmerised him. Sure Viktoria was a very striking young woman but her confidence and challenging personality was what proved most attractive to Silas. It had always been in Silas’ nature to be a true gentleman amongst women, he had always very much believed in treating women as if they were true ladies, Princesses if you will and although this endeared him to a great many women very few could serve to hold his interest before boredom inevitably set in. Ironically now he was in the company of a real Princess he had soon discovered that to treat her in this way served only to insult and anger her and ultimately embarrass himself. Viktoria was a woman of strong mind and intellect and demanded that conversation took place on one level only and that was of as an equal, anything else to her was simply patronising. On their first meeting this had initially horrified Silas but she had definitely left a deep impression by the end of that day, and the longer she remained in his company the more he’d grown accustomed to her manner, her honesty and found himself greeting her in the same way. On moments of reflection this terrified Silas, with all the skeletons he held in his closet one periodic slip could expose him to a very uncomfortable situation at best still she was too compelling for him to resist and more important to him he didn’t want to.
As Maxton Silas and Princess Viktoria walked amongst the grounds of Hyde Park and beneath the Marble Arch Viktoria had realised her charms were indeed becoming to be most appreciated by Silas.
“You do realise I’m about to be married in a few short weeks”
“Yes, your grandmother had made me aware, I’m also aware that he is indeed not your first choice.”
This clearly surprised Viktoria. “I’m not sure I understand”.
“Please Viktoria spare me the innocence, I know of Prince Alexander of Battenberg, I’m well aware that he is the one who holds your heart, this marriage is nothing but one of political convenience”
“How dare you assume such a thing” barked an angered Princess, “granted I did love Alexander dearly and yes politically it may have been damaging to relations with Russia but a lot has changed since then, Prince Adolf is a fine suitor and one with whom I’m extremely fond, you know nothing of my relationahip with him.”
Silas responded with soft voice and smug smile “You can be rather defensive can’t you? Tell me does he treat you like a Princess?”
Viktoria’s angered look began to crack into a smile and a soft chuckle “I guess you may know him better than I first thought after all”.
Speaking through broken laughter “That’s better, it doesn’t serve to see someone of such beauty so serious, now my dear Princess take my arm and let us enjoy this fine afternoon”
Viktoria took Silas’ offered arm and the two continued their walk in full gaze of a public that knew better than to dare intrude on a man of Maxton’s character.
After the end had come to a near perfect day Silas dropped the Princess back of at the Palace and bid her a fond farewell with a kiss to the hand, few words were spoken, they didn’t need to be.
Silas raised himself back up to the carriage and sat down with a smile as dusk fell on another day. As they exited the palace gates Silas’ attention was drawn to a letter left carelessly beside him. Silas was about to tell the driver to stop thinking the Princess may have inadvertently left it behind, and then he saw his name.
Silas carefully opened the letter taking in the sweet scent of lavender from the fragranced note within. On further inspection he found it to be an invitation to a Palace Ball in honour of the Princesses forthcoming wedding. Silas folded the letter away and placed it in his jacket pocket before smiling one of his biggest smiles for just a moment, before crumbling away to his more darkened thoughts.
“Driver, I think it’s about time we paid Dr Mason a visit, lets pray for his sake it’s worth my while and he’s made some progress.”
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© Copyright 2007 ReflectingeyE (UN: reflectingeye at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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