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Authors: Jean Plaidy
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clustered round the grand piano and Louise played Christmas carols and hymns and they all sang together; then the older children took it in turns to play and Alix and Dagmar performed a duet which their parents loudly applauded.
Alix sat by her father afterwards who said very gently that he wanted to speak to her seriously.
‘You know, my dear, you are a good child but you have one distressing fault. You are constantly unpunctual.’
‘Yes, Papa, I’m so sorry.’
‘But, my darling child, it is no use being sorry only – although sorry you should be. You must try to rectify the fault.’
‘I do, Papa.’
A look of affectionate exasperation crossed Prince Christian’s face.
‘But, Alix, if you really tried how could you fail to succeed? It is so easy. You have to be at a certain spot at a certain time. What but your own carelessness can prevent you?’
‘It’s true, I know, Papa. But somehow I don’t think until I hear the gong and then I am in a fluster.’
‘But, my child, you must think. You must remember what time the gong goes – it is always precisely on the minute so you know it’s coming. You must be ready before it strikes and then … there you are at your place like the rest of us.’
‘But, Papa, is it so important?’
‘My dear child, it is of the utmost importance. It is something you will have to remember when you are older, for to keep people waiting is most impolite, giving the impression as it does of being in no haste to see them since you cannot make the effort to be there on time.’
‘Oh, Papa, I will try … I really will.’
He nodded. ‘I hope you were never late when you were in England.’
‘Well, not often … and it didn’t seem to be so important there.’
‘Of course it is important everywhere. Always remember that. And you saw the Queen. How fortunate you were … more fortunate than your brothers and sisters.’
‘Oh yes, it was a great adventure.’
‘Tell me now, what was the nicest thing about it all?’
She did not hesitate. ‘Coming home to you and Mama and the children and the Yellow Palace, and Bernstorff and Rumpenheim in the summer.’
Prince Christian smiled tenderly. ‘So it has not made you despise your home? I’m glad of that. What did you think of the Queen of England?’
‘Oh …’ Alix considered. ‘She is a little lady. You are rather surprised because you would imagine she should be big. She is kind and said she was glad to see me. She was a bit frightening, though – as though she wanted to be nice but was too important really.’
Prince Christian was silent for a moment. Then he said: ‘Shall I tell you a secret, Alix?’
‘Oh, Papa, yes.’
‘I might have married the Queen of England.’
‘Really, Papa. But what of Mama? You are married to her.’
‘This was before. A lot of letters passed between our governments and she married Prince Albert and I married your mama.’
Alix was struck by this awesome statement.
‘But if you had married the Queen she would have been our mama.’
‘The thought seems to disturb you. Don’t let it. It can’t happen now, you know. Besides, everything would have been different then.’
‘I might have been Alice or Lenchen.’
‘Oh, things don’t work out that way. Still, I think what happened was really for the best for us all, don’t you?’
Alix looked at the denuded Christmas tree, at Mama with Dagmar at the piano and Thyra standing by watching; and the boys with their heads together examining each other’s presents.
‘Oh yes, Papa,’ she said fervently. ‘It happened the best way.’
They had come back from Rumpenheim to Bernstorff. It had been a wonderful summer, with river trips and picnics and conversation. Cousin Mary had been there and she told Alix what a good impression she had made in England. The royal children had all enjoyed meeting her and the Queen had said she seemed a very pleasant little girl.
Cousin Mary said that one day Alix would have to
Alix sat by her father afterwards who said very gently that he wanted to speak to her seriously.
‘You know, my dear, you are a good child but you have one distressing fault. You are constantly unpunctual.’
‘Yes, Papa, I’m so sorry.’
‘But, my darling child, it is no use being sorry only – although sorry you should be. You must try to rectify the fault.’
‘I do, Papa.’
A look of affectionate exasperation crossed Prince Christian’s face.
‘But, Alix, if you really tried how could you fail to succeed? It is so easy. You have to be at a certain spot at a certain time. What but your own carelessness can prevent you?’
‘It’s true, I know, Papa. But somehow I don’t think until I hear the gong and then I am in a fluster.’
‘But, my child, you must think. You must remember what time the gong goes – it is always precisely on the minute so you know it’s coming. You must be ready before it strikes and then … there you are at your place like the rest of us.’
‘But, Papa, is it so important?’
‘My dear child, it is of the utmost importance. It is something you will have to remember when you are older, for to keep people waiting is most impolite, giving the impression as it does of being in no haste to see them since you cannot make the effort to be there on time.’
‘Oh, Papa, I will try … I really will.’
He nodded. ‘I hope you were never late when you were in England.’
‘Well, not often … and it didn’t seem to be so important there.’
‘Of course it is important everywhere. Always remember that. And you saw the Queen. How fortunate you were … more fortunate than your brothers and sisters.’
‘Oh yes, it was a great adventure.’
‘Tell me now, what was the nicest thing about it all?’
She did not hesitate. ‘Coming home to you and Mama and the children and the Yellow Palace, and Bernstorff and Rumpenheim in the summer.’
Prince Christian smiled tenderly. ‘So it has not made you despise your home? I’m glad of that. What did you think of the Queen of England?’
‘Oh …’ Alix considered. ‘She is a little lady. You are rather surprised because you would imagine she should be big. She is kind and said she was glad to see me. She was a bit frightening, though – as though she wanted to be nice but was too important really.’
Prince Christian was silent for a moment. Then he said: ‘Shall I tell you a secret, Alix?’
‘Oh, Papa, yes.’
‘I might have married the Queen of England.’
‘Really, Papa. But what of Mama? You are married to her.’
‘This was before. A lot of letters passed between our governments and she married Prince Albert and I married your mama.’
Alix was struck by this awesome statement.
‘But if you had married the Queen she would have been our mama.’
‘The thought seems to disturb you. Don’t let it. It can’t happen now, you know. Besides, everything would have been different then.’
‘I might have been Alice or Lenchen.’
‘Oh, things don’t work out that way. Still, I think what happened was really for the best for us all, don’t you?’
Alix looked at the denuded Christmas tree, at Mama with Dagmar at the piano and Thyra standing by watching; and the boys with their heads together examining each other’s presents.
‘Oh yes, Papa,’ she said fervently. ‘It happened the best way.’
They had come back from Rumpenheim to Bernstorff. It had been a wonderful summer, with river trips and picnics and conversation. Cousin Mary had been there and she told Alix what a good impression she had made in England. The royal children had all enjoyed meeting her and the Queen had said she seemed a very pleasant little girl.
Cousin Mary said that one day Alix would have to
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