In The Name Of Love

Chapter 6

"I will do everything for him that I can," Mircea said before I'd even got half way through the story.

I'd managed to persuade Dorina to sit with us whilst I did the talking. She'd been silent until now, but she wasn't talking. She was crying again, though this time it was with relief and gratitude. She turned away and tried to force the tears to stop, but a few minutes later she was still sat there. Mircea knelt before her and gently took her hands from her face.

He said something to her which soothed her and then something which threatened to make her cry all over again, but she held the tears back. And then she hugged him. He hugged her back after a moment, but the action made her realise what she was doing and she leapt back, stood up probably apologising and hurried from the carriage. Mircea sighed and then sat next to me.

He slouched and put his bare feet on the table. I copied him and let him rest his head on my shoulder.

"I said that if she ever needs help with anything that she can't sort herself she should come to us," he said. "Is that ok?"

"If you didn't say it I would have."

"She's really proud of her work. She started a couple of months before I came here. She was always early, always the most neatly dressed, always polite. Works the longest hours too. A lot of staff ask for two days off. She was hired because she only asked for one even though she had no experience. She's a maid, mostly. Serves a lot of the guests because of her languages, but she's willing to help out wherever she's needed," he said.

"Are you proud of her?" I asked teasingly.

"I am. I told her that. That's why she nearly cried the second time. Why did she tell you this? Because you're not royal either?"

"No. I was just asking how she got the job. Being so young and all. I... I kind of forgot the war probably had something to do with it. Which was stupid."

"Yeah. It was," he said pretty bluntly.

He got his phone out and talked to someone for about half an hour. Then he pressed a button which I guessed was to call for service. A few moments later Dorina walked in, in uniform, and curtsied.

Mircea said something to her. I picked out the words 'brother' and 'palace' and her face lit up and tears fell from her eyes. Even whilst she was grinning she switched to German and asked if she could get us anything. Mircea asked for lunch and tea.

"So, her brother's moving into the palace?" I asked.

"So you do speak Romanian!" he said in mock surprise.  

"I know a few words. I really need to learn it."

"I will teach you. And not exactly. There are a few empty rooms in the gatehouse and they will have a couple. I will secure him a place at school and she'll be given time to take and collect him," he explained.

"That's great!"

"I just wish we could do it for everyone," he sighed.

"You can't. But you've helped one little boy and his sister. Small victories, Mircea. Small victories." I kissed his hair.

"We won't get to Cardiff until nine."

"Then we won't get to the house until about... midnight. Mum and Dad will be in bed by then. Did I tell you we need to be up early?"

"Yes."