A Princess Prays

CHAPTER ONE - 1798-1

CHAPTER ONE

1798

Princess Attila walked into the Palace and up the stairs as she was heading for her father’s bedroom.

The King had not been at all well for several weeks and she knew he would be very pleased with the first wild strawberries she had found.

Every day she tried to find something different to take to him.

When he could not walk into his garden which he enjoyed – “the garden,” she said, “had to come to him.”

The Palace was very ancient as it had been in the possession of the Kings of Valdina for over three hundred years.

A few modern improvements had been made when Attila’s mother was alive, but they had found it easier to leave things as they were.

As far as her father was concerned he was always very comfortable.

Sadly, his new wife, Attila’s stepmother, had very different ideas. As Queen Margit she was quite determined to make an impression not only on the people of Valdina, but also on their neighbours.

The Royal Family of Hungary, however, were not very interested in the smaller countries on their borders, which Queen Margit found infuriating as she wished to move in grand Royal circles.

Princess Attila was content to ride the magnificent horses her father had brought from Hungary.

She was not in the least concerned whether she was invited to balls and Social functions at the Hungarian Palace.

As she walked towards her father’s suite she was deep in thought.

She could not help feeling that it would be a mistake, whilst he was not feeling well, for her stepmother to continue entertaining as many people as she had in the last few months.

She gave luncheons, dinner parties and receptions almost every day.

If a visitor of any importance appeared in Valdina, she insisted on being notified and then she would invite everyone within driving distance to come to the Palace.

The majority of the Queen’s friends boasted titles of Social importance and were therefore usually middle-aged or ancient.

Attila was always polite to them and yet she often mused it would be more amusing if some young people of her own age were invited.

She was eighteen and having been an only child she did find her life lonely at times.

As soon as her father had married again things changed as the new Queen was extremely particular about who was entertained at the Palace.

“I consider those middle class people, that you insist are so interesting, to be of no Social importance,” she said severely to Attila, “thus, I have no intention of entertaining them!”

“But the young men of their family are outstanding athletes,” the Princess protested. “They have not only won all the races held in the country this year, but have a superb reputation, even in Hungary.”

“I still have no intention of inviting them to sit round my dining room table,” the Queen had retorted sharply.

Attila wanted to argue the issue out with her father, but he was not well and she knew it might worry him.

She therefore had to be content with watching the young men whom she admired from the Royal Box, and she thought they were rather disappointed at not being asked to the Palace.

So were the athletes who came to the country from Moravia and Silesia, both countries on their borders.

Because Valdina was not very large her own mother had always made a point of being friendly to their neighbours and gave them invitations whenever possible.

Attila had now arrived at her father’s bedroom door and was just about to knock when she realised the door was slightly ajar.

She could hear her stepmother speaking inside and for a moment Attila hesitated.

She wondered if she should wait untill her father was alone before she joined him.

But then she heard her stepmother saying,

“The sooner Attila is married off the better. I have invited Prince Otto of Dedregen to dinner next week.”

Attila stiffened as she heard her father reply slowly,

“I cannot remember him at all. But I thought I had heard something about him which was not particularly to his advantage.”

Queen Margit gave an affected little laugh.

“I think you must have been reading some of the salacious news they write in the newspapers, or listening to one of your more tiresome courtiers who always has something unpleasant to say about anyone of importance.”

“I am certain I have heard something about Prince Otto,” the King murmured frowning.

Attila knew exactly what her father was trying to remember.

There had been a scandal last year.

It had been whispered amongst the Royal families that Prince Otto had seduced a young woman. She lived in an adjacent country and she was, Attila heard, attempting to sue him for refusing to marry her.

It was said she had many letters in her possession from the Prince which were very incriminating.

For weeks there had been a great deal of gossip and then the woman in question was paid a very large sum of money to disappear and no one was at all certain where she went.

Even apart from this allegation, Prince Otto was talked of as a womaniser.

Attila could remember one of her mother’s friends saying she had no intention of entertaining him or allowing him to meet her daughters.

She could hardly believe that her stepmother was now actually encouraging him on her behalf.

As if the King was thinking the same he asked,

“Why would you think Prince Otto is interested in Attila? I cannot remember him coming here?”

“Apparently he was not invited,” the Queen replied sharply. “I met him the other night when I dined with the Grand Duke. His Royal Highness told me that he was longing to meet Attila as apparently he has heard so much of her beauty and her charm.”

She paused then continued impressively,

“As he will eventually reign in Dedregen when his father dies, I was sensible enough to invite him here. After all it will be an excellent marriage for Attila.”

“There is no hurry,” replied the King firmly. “As I have no son I want my people, when I die, to accept her as the Queen.”

There was a pause and then Queen Margit said,

“You are not going to die, dearest Sigismund, for many, many years. So I think Attila would be far happier married than having to cope with all the difficulties and problems that you find so tiring.

“But you know, my dearest, I will help you in every way I can. You must tell the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet to consult me, which they refuse to do at the moment.”

Attila drew in her breath as she knew now exactly what her stepmother was trying to do.

Her father, when they had been alone, had told her that as he had no son, she would have to take his place.

It would not be unusual for Valdina to be ruled by a Queen.

Fifty years ago there had been a very distinguished female ancestor, who had not only reigned superbly over the country but had fought endless battles against Moravia and won.

Attila understood exactly what her father wanted from her.

She had recognised early on why she had been given such an extensive education, which was certainly unusual where women were concerned.

Her father and mother had insisted on Attila being taught by tutors in all the main subjects, including mathematics and Latin. She knew that she had received the same education as a privileged boy by the time she left the schoolroom and was grateful for it.

Her father had married again because he was lonely and he missed her mother almost unbearably.

Attila sadly realised that from the very moment her stepmother had arrived at the Palace she was jealous of her new stepdaughter.

Queen Margit was, in reality, a pushy woman who wanted to lord it over everyone she met – most especially over her stepdaughter.

Attila had suspected all along that what she really wanted was to become the Ruler of Valdina if the King, who was far older than she was, should die.

She was therefore contriving to be rid of Attila to leave the path clear for herself. Everyone knew that if she married a reigning Prince, there would be no question of her reigning over Valdina.

She had by now been living with her stepmother for more than three years and realised that she was tenacious and determined in every particular to get her own way.

Attila also recognised that if Prince Otto proposed, the Queen would do everything in her power to force her into accepting him.

It did not surprise her that her father did not seem to know all the unsavoury stories about Prince Otto.

The King was never interested in gossip and when the Palace women started whispering amongst themselves, he always retired to his own room, as he had no wish to be bored by them.

However, it would have been impossible for her not to hear the gossip and she was well aware that Prince Otto was considered a very unpleasant character.

There was even secret gossip about him, which was considered too improper for her young ears.

‘What am I to do?’ Attila asked herself frantically.

Then she heard the Queen say,

“I am going to leave you now, dearest Sigismund, because you must rest. Do not worry because I can assure you I have Attila’s future very much at heart. Dedregen is a most attractive country and rather larger than ours.”

She must have risen to her feet as she was speaking for now Attila could hear her footsteps on the stone floor.

Softly so that her stepmother would not see her, she opened another door and slipped into a small side room as her stepmother passed and continued on down the passage.

She waited until she was out of sight and then she went into her father’s room.

She walked to the bed, bent down and kissed him.

“How are you feeling, Papa?” she asked him. “I do hope you are well enough to eat these wild strawberries I have brought for you. I know you like them better than the ones that grow in the garden.”

“Strawberries!” exclaimed the King. “That means summer is here and we must enjoy every minute of it.”

“I think we deserve it after that very hard winter,” Attila agreed.

She sat down beside the bed.

“I have a distinct feeling, Papa,” she began softly, “that Stepmama has been talking to you about my being married. I have no wish to marry anyone and I am very happy here with you.”

“Which is just where I want you to be, my darling. At the same time your stepmother is insistent that you look round at the eligible young men and she seems to have one particularly in mind – ”

“I think that you must be referring to Prince Otto of Dredregen and I can tell you now, dear Papa, he has a very unpleasant reputation. I know Mama would not approve of him coming here to the Palace, let alone wishing to marry me!”

She spoke so vehemently that the King reached out and patted her hand.

“Now, now, my dearest. We know nothing at all about this young man. He may be very desirable and your stepmother feels quite rightly that you should have a home of your own.”

“I cannot see anything right about it,” she asserted, “and there is no real reason for me to hurry into marriage.”

“No, no of course not,” agreed the King. “At the same time I married your darling mother the day before her eighteenth birthday. It was undoubtedly the best and most wonderful thing that could possibly have ever happened to me.”

There was anguish in her father’s voice, which was what Attila always heard when he spoke about her mother.

“Mama knew you were so happy, because she told me you both fell in love the moment you met one another.”

The King nodded.

“That is so very true. When I first saw your mother, I thought I was meeting an angel from Heaven and that is exactly what she was when she married me.”

“Mama told me how handsome and charming you were. So you will understand, Papa, that I want to fall in love in the same way and not be pushed off on some Prince who in Stepmama’s eyes is of great dynastic importance.”