“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 herthe 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.”
