“I’m especially happy since you came home with us.” He beamed at her. “Want to see your room now? If Grandmama lets Kat move out.”

  “Whether it’s Kat’s room or mine, I’d love to see it.”

  He led her to the room next to his and, although slightly larger and more feminine, it too was modern and comfortable. Not cold and formal like the other rooms in the castle. “Very nice—” She paused at what sounded like Kat’s voice calling out.

  “In here,” Mishka yelled back. “In your room.”

  Kat rushed in with wide eyes. “Grandmama wants to see you right now, Meri. At once.” Spencer came behind her, a slightly grim expression shadowing his face.

  “Your presence is requested in the royal chambers, Miss Meredith.” He grimaced. “I will take you there now.”

  As she followed him, she wondered if she should check her teeth or smooth her hair. Or was it too late for that?

  “I’ll warn you, the queen isn’t taking this well,” Spencer said as they went down the massive wood staircase. She ran her hand along an intricately carved banister, wondering how many hands had done the same—perhaps heading for the dungeon or gallows.

  “I gathered that.”

  “Keep in mind, it’s nothing personal,” he said quietly. “It’s just that she doesn’t like to feel like she’s been hoodwinked.”

  Despite the grim circumstances, she smiled. “Hoodwinked?”

  “You know, someone conniving behind her back. Gets her worked up.”

  “Does she think this is my doing?”

  “Not completely. She blames Kat too. But since Kat is her granddaughter, it’s probably easier to blame you.”

  “Of course.” Was there any point in trying to set the queen straight? Or would her mind be made up?

  “I think if she meets you, it will help,” he said, almost as if reading her thoughts. “She really does care about the children. And Kat did a brilliant job of laying out the situation. Well, until the queen grew irritated. Then it turned into an argument. And that never goes well.”

  “Hard to win an argument against the ruler of the kingdom?”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  “Off with your head?” she said quietly on the last step.

  He chuckled. “Something like that.”

  “Any tips for how to talk to her? Should I bow or curtsy?”

  “A respectful tipping of your head wouldn’t do any harm.” He took her arm, leading her down a hallway. “It’s right up here.”

  “And how do I address her? Your Majesty? Your Highness?”

  “Queen Katerina should be acceptable. Said respectfully, of course. Servants and subjects use the more proper address—which is Your Majesty for the queen and Your Highness for the children—but you’re not exactly either.”

  “Right.” And not likely to become one, she thought as Spencer stopped by a set of tall double doors with ornate brass hardware. He knocked three times, and one door was opened by a man in a dark suit who nodded somberly and waved them into a large foyer as he spoke into a device. She couldn’t understand him, but she assumed he was announcing them. He turned to Spencer, pointing to the chairs with more foreign words.

  “He wants us to sit and wait. The queen is occupied.”

  Meredith sat nervously on the edge of a firm chair. “I feel like I’m in the principal’s office,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “You know, the headmaster’s, when you get in trouble in primary school. They’d make you wait so it felt more serious.”

  He chuckled. “Did you get in trouble much?”

  “Enough to know I didn’t like it.” She looked at the guard who didn’t appear to speak English. “It seems there wasn’t as much hurry as Kat thought.”

  “I’d rather be waiting for the queen than the other way around.”

  “Right.” She glanced around the room. “No magazines or reading material, like at the dentist’s office?”

  “Maybe I’ll suggest that.” He patted her hand. “Don’t be too nervous. This won’t be as painful as a dental appointment.”

  She laughed. “But seriously, do you have any advice?”

  “Just be yourself. The queen respects intelligence and strength. And you have both.”

  She blinked. “Well, thank you.”

  “But don’t unpack your bags.”

  “Right.” She looked up as the doors to the next room opened, and a female voice spoke.

  “Her assistant, Miss Stepanovic, is inviting us to come in now.” He stood and took her hand. “Try to relax and exude confidence.”

  Exude confidence? She felt like running to the ladies’ room and throwing up. But if Spencer thought she was intelligent and strong, the least she could do was pretend. As she walked into a rather regal room filled with heavy wood antiques and walls full of stories, she squared her shoulders and remembered her dad’s words. “You are a princess, Meri, the daughter of the King of Kings.”

  Behind a large ornately carved desk sat a stern woman with short dark hair streaked elegantly with gray. She wore dark-rimmed glasses and a charcoal gray sweater set, probably cashmere, and a single strand of pearls.

  “Your Majesty,” Meredith said almost without thinking, bowing her head with the respect this woman seemed to demand.

  “Miss Cardwell,” the queen said in a flat unimpressed tone, pointing to the pair of leather chairs across from her. “Be seated, please.”

  Meredith sat and Spencer greeted the queen then took the chair beside her. “Miss Cardwell is eager to answer your questions, Queen Katerina.”

  The queen cleared her throat. “Can you explain, Miss Cardwell, why my granddaughter, Princess Katerina, is convinced that you are the only choice for her governess?”

  “The princess and I have become friends, Your Majesty, and I believe she was in need of a friend. Beyond that, she feels she is too old for a nanny.”

  The queen looked slightly taken aback by Meredith’s frankness. “She has told me as much. But I have already engaged Mrs. Bosko for the children.”

  “I’m aware of that. Princess Katerina suggested that you might engage both a governess and a nanny. As you must know, Mishka—excuse me, Prince George—needs more care and supervision, but the princess…perhaps not as much.”

  She narrowed her eyes and leaned back. “So then, tell me, why would we need you as well as Mrs. Bosko?”

  “As I mentioned, Your Majesty, the princess needed a friend, a confidante. She has been without a mother’s care for five years, and although she loves and respects you, you must realize that with all your responsibilities to the kingdom, you can’t give her the kind of time and attention she may require while growing up.”

  “I have spent considerable time educating my granddaughter on the responsibilities of royalty and preparing her for her future role as queen of Rotslavia.”

  “I’m aware of that, Your Majesty, and I think you’ve done an admirable job of it. Princess Katerina seems well on her way to being a ruler, but in my opinion, she must first become her own person—and grow up. And that’s not always easy for an adolescent girl.” She locked eyes with the queen, noticing they were dark like Mishka’s. “Please understand, it’s not that I think I’m the only one who can help Princess Katerina along this path. It’s more that she and I have formed something of a kinship, and I really do care about her.”

  The queen cocked her head to one side. “My security has done a complete confidence check on you, including employment and academic records. From what they have learned, your background is sufficient.” She narrowed her eyes at Spencer. “I assume you ran the same check before hiring her in Austria.”

  He glanced at Meredith. Without flinching, he answered, “I received Miss Cardwell’s name through the US Consulate. I trusted my contact’s judgment and didn’t find them to be in error.”

  The queen didn’t look convinced but returned her attention to Meredith. “For the sake of the princess, I am willing to give you a trial as her governess. But it is only a trial. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. And I will do my best not to disappoint you.” She smiled. “I’ve developed a great fondness for both your grandchildren and find the prince and princess to be exceptional in their own ways. I will do my best by them.”

  “See that you do.” She stood with an expression that suggested the interview was over, and Miss Stepanovic opened the door for them. “I’ll see you all at dinner.”

  Spencer took Meredith’s arm, escorting her out of the chambers and into the hallway, where Meredith paused to breathe. “That was harder than I expected…but it seemed to go okay.” She saw that he looked relieved too.

  “You did brilliantly.” He beamed at her. “For now, your position is secure.”

  “For now.” She cringed. Did that mean she would be walking on eggshells?

  “The queen is unpredictable. Even when she seems busy or preoccupied, nothing gets past her.”

  “That sounds like a good quality for a ruler.”

  “I guess.” He walked her to the staircase. “You did just fine, Meri. I’ll leave you to the children. I have business to attend to here. And dinner, in case the children don’t inform you, is at seven sharp. Don’t be late.”

  She mock saluted him. “Aye-aye, Captain.”

  He chuckled. “Trust me, I am not captain of anything around here. As you Yankees might say, I am low man on the totem pole in the palace. Even my children have more royal clout than I do.”

  “See you at seven.” As she went up the staircase, she wondered if she’d have been smarter to have flunked the interview and sent packing. But that wasn’t who she was. She always tried her best. Her time at the palace would be no different. Do your best and trust God with the rest.

  22

  Kat’s plan to have Meredith take her old room so she could upgrade to the royal princess suite quickly blew up into a puff of smoke when a servant informed Meredith she would most likely be occupying a room in the servants’ quarters on the top floor. But in the end, Meredith was shown to a room off the family quarters.

  Before the dinner hour, wearing the midnight blue dress she’d brought from the villa, she knocked on Kat’s bedroom door to make sure it was appropriate. She was at Kat’s mercy when it came to dressing decisions, not to mention mentally preparing herself for dinner with the queen.

  “You look fine,” Kat told her. “Don’t worry so much.”

  “Okay.” Meredith nodded. “Thank you.”

  “We can go down together with Mishka. Solidarity.”

  “I appreciate it.” She smoothed the dress, wondering if she should’ve asked for an iron to steam it, but her room, while nice, had been rather sparse.

  Mishka, dressed in dark gray trousers and a light blue shirt, was waiting for them in the living room.

  “You’re looking dapper,” she told him.

  “Nanny Bosko picked it out,” he whispered to her.

  “Will she join us for dinner tonight?”

  “No, she eats in her room,” Kat said.

  “Oh, I see. I’d like to meet her.”

  “You will.” Mishka took her hand. “Tomorrow.”

  Meredith took a deep breath as they went down the stairs. Really, why should she be so nervous? Even if the queen kicked her out, she would have all of western Europe to tour. Yet…something in her wanted to meet the queen’s high expectations. Was that nuts?

  “If you forget which one is the seafood fork, just watch me,” Kat said quietly.

  “And put your napkin in your lap when Grandmama does,” Mishka added.

  “You’ll be fine,” Kat assured her.

  “Do you like your room?” Mishka asked with a furrowed brow.

  “It’s perfectly fine,” she told him as they approached the royal dining room. “Really, it’s quite nice.” She had no intention of complaining.

  Other than two servants busying themselves with the table, no one was in the dining room. Following Kat’s direction, Meredith took the seat next to Mishka. She hoped it was the right one. She smiled at Mishka and winked as Kat sat across from her, which made Kat smile. Shortly thereafter, Spencer entered the room with the queen on his arm. He escorted her to the head of the table, helped her into her chair, then took the chair at the other side.

  The queen dipped her head to a server, and as he was about to serve, Mishka spoke up. “Meredith always asks a blessing first,” he said.

  The queen’s dark brows arched.

  He repeated himself. “She asks God to bless our food and the ones that prepared it.”

  Meredith smiled, grateful that he’d actually gotten it.

  “Miss Cardwell,” the queen said, tipping her head toward Meredith. “By all means, go ahead.”

  Despite the frosty invitation, Meredith did her best. As dinner was served, she decided to relax and let the chips fall where they may. Really, what was the worst that could happen? But it was disheartening to see Spencer changing, catering to the queen’s whims and becoming less of a person than Meredith knew he could be. Why did he do that? Of course, the children were different too. More proper. In a way, it was nice. In another way, it was disturbing. She wanted them to be themselves. Just children!

  Spencer’s attempt at small talk, which was admirable but sad, included him explaining how the children had enjoyed sports in Austria and how Meredith was good at helping them.

  “Athletics are fine for some people, but I doubt they play a role in real life,” the queen stated.

  “I disagree,” Meredith said, but seeing everyone staring at her, she wished she hadn’t.

  “How so?” the queen asked in an icy tone.

  Meredith silently prayed for help. “I think we learn a lot about life through sports. Whether it’s attaining self-confidence or learning to be a gracious loser, sports teach good lessons.”

  The queen stared at her for a long moment. “Perhaps you have a point.”

  Spencer took this an opening and began to sing Meredith’s praises with his children, explaining how Prince George had learned to swim, and Princess Katerina had become quite accomplished at tennis and football. “In such a short time too,” he finished, looking directly at Meredith which seem like affection. “She’s really been quite brilliant with the children.”

  “She has,” Mishka chimed in. “And she likes hearing about animals and is good at bedtime too.”

  “And she’s a good listener,” Kat added.

  “Well.” Queen Katerina set down her fork. “It seems you are all enchanted by our American governess.” Her eyes narrowed, ever so slightly, at Meredith. “I am suitably impressed and anxious to hear more.” She pointed at Meredith’s dress. “Do I recognize that garment?”

  Meredith looked down at the expensive dress that once belonged to Princess Anastasia. “It’s possible you do recall it.” She clumsily attempted to explain how Mrs. Warner had convinced her to use the princess’s wardrobe, which had been about to be donated, and how her own bags had been stolen in Vienna.

  The queen looked skeptical as she waved for coffee and dessert. “How convenient for you.”

  Meredith’s heart sank. The conversation was over. And although the strudel with cream was probably delicious, it tasted like cardboard to her. As soon as it was graciously possible, she excused herself from the table—after exchanging apologetic looks with the children. Really, this was out of her hands. And she was just plain tired.

  She ran up the stairs, anxious to get into her small room, which was probably much nicer than the hostels she might’ve been staying in if she were touring Europe on her original plan. Mostly, she was thankful for the quietness…and privacy.

  She got ready for bed, and after praying for mercy, she was almost asleep when a tapping sound on her door roused her. Imagining it was Mishka or Kat, she opened it. But it was Spencer. Embarrassed that she only had on a thin cotton nightgown, she grabbed a cardigan and asked if the children were okay.

  “They’re fine. I helped them get to bed.” He smiled. “And it was rather nice.”

  “Good to hear.” She made a forced smile.

  “I was worried about you. I promised the children I’d check on you.”

  “Oh. Well, you checked. I’m fine.” She started to close the door.

  “I was hoping to talk with you.”

  “About?”

  “Will you come out?” He glanced at her room. “It wouldn’t be proper to come in here.”

  “Yes. Of course.” She stepped out. “I forgot I’m just a servant and you are a prince.”

  “That’s not it.” He shook his head. “It’s just that the palace has eyes…and mouths. Let’s not give them reason to talk.”

  “Right.” She closed her door and went into the narrow hallway.

  “Follow me.”

  Feeling a bit suspicious but not overly concerned, she followed until they came to an open room with several chairs as well as views out over the snowcapped mountains where a full moon was illuminating the surroundings.

  “Oh my,” she exclaimed when she saw the magical scene. “That’s absolutely beautiful.”

  He waved to a pair of chairs, and she sat down. “You did just fine during dinner. We all thought so.”

  She frowned. “Including the queen?”

  “Well, perhaps not.”

  She sighed. “I didn’t think so.”

  “You need to understand the queen has her own agenda.”

  “Okay. What would that agenda be?”

  “To do what’s best for the country.”

  “I understand. And I don’t blame her.”

  “She doesn’t see you as part of that agenda.” He leaned forward, his hands laying limply across his knees.

  “I’m not surprised. Does this mean I need to go? I figured it could happen.”

  “No.” He sat up straight. “No one wants you to go.”

  “All right. But I feel like I’m walking on pins and needles.” She gazed intently at him.