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Chapter Twenty
Helen sat between Pen and Sirena in the plush carriage traveling through London, calmly enjoying the women’s lively exchanges.
“It’s Buckingham Palace!” exclaimed Pen. “How could itnotbe?”
“He did say large,” said Sirena. “The palace is of a good size, isn’t it?”
Nicholas, who sat across from them with his father, smiled. “Another of Father’s clues was ‘filled with life.’”
Pen opened her hands. “Their Royal Highnesses have six children! A seventh to be born any time now. And surely the servants must number quite high!”
Sirena tapped her lips pensively before looking at her husband, who sat grinning, his arms clasped just over his small belly and above the glinting gold chain of his pocket watch. “You’re not going to tell us yet, are you?”
He shook his head. “Continue debating the mystery! Helen, do you think our destination is Buckingham Palace, eh?”
I hope not!As keenly as Pen hoped they were about to visit the royal residence, such a surprise sounded decidedly unappealing to Helen. She lifted her palms. “Oh, no! I haven’t any idea.”
“Papa, you said that we’ll see treasures from lands far away. Prince Albert is German!”
Sirena wagged her finger. “Yes! There is artwork there, too, from all over the world.”
As was the case every time since her and Nicholas’s first night together, Helen’s cheeks tingled as her thoughts drifted to what they now shared together…every night. Judging by the blissful look they shared across the carriage, she wasn’t alone in her thoughts.
Just as we aren’t alone in the carriage!she reminded herself. With some guilt about what felt like deception, she forced herself to consider the rest of Vassilis’s list of hints about their destination. He intended to reveal to his family and friends—quite dramatically, she was sure—more information about the venue he wished to select for the Great Exhibition.
“Isn’t Buckingham Palace rather…old?” Helen asked. “One clue is that we’re visiting someplace ‘modern,’ is it not?”
Vassilis’s hands unlinked from over his abdomen, and he shot one finger high into the air. “Clearlymodern!”
Sirena frowned. “Is the palace ‘clearly modern’? It was first built some time ago, but Queen Victoria is the first monarch to reside there, and it’s being—” She spoke in rapid Greek.
Nicholas, Vassilis, and Pen replied simultaneously.
“Refurbished,” the two men said.
“Rebuilt,” she supplied.
Sirena waved her hand around. “In any case, Helen, the palace has changed these past years. They have built a new wing to accommodate the large royal family. Is that clearly modern enough? It’s only just finished, so I believe it is!”
Vassilis chuckled. “My wife and daughter have made up their minds! Will the carriages pull to a stop at Buckingham Palace? It is time to see!”
He tugged open the royal-blue velvet curtain. Behind their carriage followed another, carrying Nicholas’s his employer, the Earl of…Someplace—Helen could never quite remember—and Clara and James Robertson. By previous arrangement, the two carriages had met at Grosvenor Square at two o’clock in the afternoon and proceeded on their journey.
“Oh, if I’d known you were presenting me to the Queen today, I would have worn something else!” Pen declared. “Something with more ruffles!”
Wide-eyed, Helen looked down at her own ensemble. At least she’d worn one of her new London day gowns from Madame Robillard’s in a vibrant emerald-green.It could be worse. I could look very Boston 1849!
She nearly laughed at what her brother would make of her visiting Buckingham Palace. Most likely, he would hope she would bestow the same sort of honor upon Queen Victoria as he had on the British Admiralty.
Pen squealed, bouncing on the cushion with such force that Helen and Sirena bobbed along with her. “If Papa has finally arranged for me to meet the prince—oh, how many questions I have for him about his education reforms—the carriage must turn…now!”
But the carriage did not turn down Constitution Hill, and Helen held her breath, wondering how sorely disappointed Pen would be. The young woman asserted it was for the best, however, for she would prefer warning to formulate a proper list of questions and a visit the modiste for a gown befitting the occasion.
“Besides,” interjected Vassilis, “while I endorsed Nicholas’s idea,he’sthe one who made the arrangements today. He wouldn’t clear his afternoon obligations for Buckingham Palace! And just imagine James’s face if he were being presented at the English court!” He laughed heartily.
Helen looked up sharply, her surprised gaze meeting Nicholas’s calm one. He hadn’t said anything about being behind today’s plan!
“Kew Bridge!” exclaimed Pen, peering out the window. “Helen,doenjoy this view of the stone bridge as we approach.”
