‘Again, I can’t say for certain whether she wished to introduce you to your father for your sake, or his. Or, in fact, to benefit herself and therefore gain the King’s patronage. However, things turned out as they did and the King told me on a number of occasions how much he enjoyed your company. And indeed, he saw many ways in which the two of you were alike. Your appearance in his life gave him great joy, Miss MacNichol. If he had lived longer, I am sure your relationship would have become closer.’
‘And through this, I became something to be coveted by others because they knew I was the King’s daughter. And recently accepted by him, even if illegitimate . . .’ Flora mused quietly. ‘That is why Freddie thought to marry me. The Countess kept speaking of my “good stock” and even talked of the possibility of the King’s attendance at our wedding . . .’
‘It perhaps had a bearing on events, yes. But, of course, now the King is dead, and the Queen lives—’
‘And the illusion that was created with Mrs Keppel’s magic wand has disappeared like a dream. Well . . .’ Flora allowed herself a ghost of a smile. ‘Whatever has been and whatever may come, I am glad that I at least spent some time with him.’
‘He was proud of you, Miss MacNichol, but had to be so in secret. I hope you understand.’
‘I do.’
‘And now, as you have alluded to, there is a new era dawning; the old court is at an end, and we who served it are washed away and must endeavour to survive the future. I, on behalf of the King, hope the contents of that envelope will enable you to do so. And I suggest that you have no false pride about using it. He saw you as a free spirit, an innocent untainted by all he had to deal with from birth. Whatever your future may be, use his legacy wisely. So, will you go to stay at your sister’s?’
‘I cannot.’
‘The doors are already closed to you there?’
‘Yes.’ Flora decided not to elaborate.
‘Please remember that the position you find yourself in is through no fault of your own. You must feel no guilt. The machinations around you are not of your making. It is a simple accident of birth. That has been your curse and, I sincerely hope, your recent pleasure.’
‘It was indeed a pleasure to become acquainted with the King.’
‘And now, Miss MacNichol, I must take my leave. As you can imagine, I have much to do, but I know you were uppermost in the King’s thoughts when he was close to death.’
‘Thank you for sparing the time to come and see me.’ Flora rose, and Ernest Cassel followed suit.
‘Don’t thank me. I feel quite dreadful that I must now leave you here alone in this house.’
‘No, Sir Ernest, I do thank you for it. For better or worse, you have given me the answers I’ve been searching for ever since I arrived in London. Now that I know, it is possible for me to move forward.’
‘And I will always be at your service. If you wish me to help invest your inheritance, do not hesitate to contact me. And may I say that the grace with which you have taken what I have had to tell you tonight marks you out as a great princess. And as your father’s daughter. Goodnight, Miss MacNichol.’
Ernest Cassel gave a slight bow, then swept out of the room at great speed, which Flora instinctively knew was to hide his own emotion. With Panther at her heels, she walked sedately upstairs to her room, as if it was any other day. Someone had lit the gas lamps and she lay down on the bed, studying the hefty envelope. A strange sense of calm had overtaken her; what she had just been told was no more surreal than the events of the past seven months. Now everything fitted together like a completed jigsaw puzzle.
She slept then, nature taking pity on her and allowing her shocked mind to rest. She woke in the early hours just before dawn. And, with Panther purring by her side, she opened the first envelope.
26th April 1909
My dear Flora,
(I do commend your mother on your name – you are aware I have always been partial to Scotland.)
As you will know by now if you are reading this I am your blood father. If you doubt this, as I can assure you I did before Mrs Keppel suggested that I meet you, then doubt it no longer. My dear girl you even have my nose! In this I sympathise with you, for it is unattractive but sits on your face nobly. There is much that I recognise of myself in you and to be blunt Flora, I was not particularly wishing to, although the facts of your conception are undeniable: I can confirm that your mother was untouched by another when we began our brief liaison.
Firstly you must forgive me for my behaviour towards her and, subsequently, you. I hope you are able to understand the situation I was placed in. No more needs to be said about that other than that I was glad when I heard your mother had been safely married.
Ernest Cassel will have seen you and handed this to you, along with an amount that I hope will secure your future. I beg you to only count yourself lucky that you do not lead the life of your half-brothers and sisters. It is my hope that at least one of my children can live a life unfettered by protocol and the demands of a royal position. Live your life in the freedom of anonymity as I wished to have had the chance to live mine. And above all, be true to yourself.
So now, my dear Flora, I wish you happiness, fulfilment and love. And I am saddened that I have not had longer to get to know you better.
Remember the short moments we shared.
And I beg you please burn this letter for all concerned.
The letter was signed in Edward’s script, with the royal seal.
Flora then opened the heavy envelope, already suspecting what it would contain. Out fluttered hundreds of notes – the value of which she would count later.
Flora stuffed the money back into the envelope, and the letter into the silken pocket at the back of her journal. Then she rose from her bed and rang the bell for Peggie, asking her to tell Freed she would need him to drive her to Euston station shortly.
After boarding the train and settling herself in a carriage, she peered through the window as it left the station. Panther meowed in his basket and as there was no one else in the carriage with her, she took him into her arms.
‘Don’t cry, my darling,’ she murmured. ‘We’re going home.’
Star
High Weald, Kent
October 2007
Rubus fruticosus (blackberry – Rosaceae family)
32
‘So, there we are. It’s quite a story, isn’t it?’
Mouse’s voice had a soothing resonance to it, and I’d closed my eyes, forgetting where I was as he transported me back almost one hundred years ago. Flora’s rich, descriptive language – the kind that Orlando adored and continued to use himself – only enhanced the picture I’d created in my mind.
Flora’s real father . . . a king. But that wasn’t the point. I swallowed the lump in my throat at the emotion she had felt and so poignantly described in her journal. And wondered how I would feel if the same thing ever happened to me.
‘Star? Hello?’