The Princess and I

Chapter XXXIV: An unexpected visitor

That night I fall asleep under the stars with an angel by my side and I have never slept so well. No nightmares, only wonderful dreams about flying. And like sleeping beauty I am awakened by my true love's kiss, which tastes so sweet in the morning, I imagine myself dreaming still. But this is my reality now and this realisation could not make me happier. It is just a week until my nineteenth birthday, but I guess the greatest gift I have already received.

We lie down for a while still taking each other in fondly. I discovered so much about Christina that I had not known. Christina's family from her mother's side is actually Spanish. After the Seven Years' War against Great Britain her mother's family, the Altamira's, moved to London, where Christina's grandmother gave birth to first Emma Altamira and three years later Maria Altamira, who fell in love with Duke Roger Arlington when she was only eighteen years old. Christina's able to speak a few words in Spanish also, though she's raised to speak English and French only. Secondly, it turned out Christina's really fond of animals and would love to have a dog of her own. She would love a small dog, which she could carry around and which would welcome her home enthusiastically after she came home. Thirdly, my love loves to read. Not only does she love to learn, but she's also a big fan of novels and poetry.

I smile fondly. She's such a versatile woman, I never thought I could love her even more, but after tonight I found out that I can love her even more. She caresses my jawline softly with the tips of her slender fingers. 'A penny for your thoughts?' she muses.

'I was thinking about all the things you told me.'

'I am surprised you did not fall asleep after all the talking I've done.'

'I love to hear you talk. Even better: I love to get to know you even better.'

She chuckles. 'You have a strange way of spending your evenings, love, if you think this was nice.'

I bump her warningly with my hips. 'There's still so much I don't know about you.'

'And I am not about to divagate. At least, not at the moment. We fell asleep before you could tell me more about you, so I guess it's up to you now.'

While we make our way back through the secret passageways, I answer all the questions she fires at me. I tell her about my life in France and the things I still miss about it. I tell her about my passion for reading, singing and drawing and how I would like to do a little bit more with those hobbies. I'd like to make art for money for example or I'd like to sing for an audience. I can't see the way Christina looks at my confessions, but by the way she adoringly caresses the palm of my hand I know she understands and respects me for it.

This time it turns out to be much more difficult to get back to our rooms unnoticed, since Arlington Park's servants are already awake and about, but laughing silently we manage to sneak back into our respective bedrooms. And not a minute too soon, since Christina's housekeeper, who is temporarily assigned to me as my housemaid, Mrs. Brown arrives just a minute after I went in.

'Duke Arlington wants breakfast served at the dining room today, Lady Le Bon. Does that suit you?'

Since I normally have breakfast with Christina in the morning this was an unusual request. But I guess, since he had been showing the Grand duchess Eleanor around yesterday, he has some stories to share with us. So, I concede and Mrs. Brown quickly gets me dressed properly. She is just about to put some jewellery around my neck, when Christina enters. She does not knock anymore, since I always let her in anyway. Mrs. Brown curtsies and asks: 'Princess, is there something wrong?'