“Yes, please, miss. I’ll just sit on the rug by the fire if you like. I don’t care. I just don’t fancy being alone.”

I was about to say that it simply wasn’t done but she looked as white as a sheet, and I wasn’t feeling too steady myself.

“Oh, very well,” I said, not wanting to admit that I too was grateful for the company. “I suppose I can make an exception this once. Come on, then.”

We retreated back to my room, encountering nobody along the way. Once in my room I got into bed. Queenie sat dutifully on the hearth rug, hugging her knees to her chest, giving a good imitation of Cinderella. My kind heart won out over every ounce of my upbringing. “Queenie, there is actually plenty of room in this bed. Come on, you’ll freeze sitting there.”

Gratefully she climbed into bed beside me. I found the warmth of another body beside me comforting and fell asleep.

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Bran Castle
Friday, November 18

I was awoken by the blaring of horns. It was the sort of sound I associated with an army going into battle or alerting a castle’s occupants to the enemy’s advance and it caused me to leap out of bed. I didn’t think that conquering armies showed up unannounced these days in central Europe, but one never knew and I didn’t want to be caught in my night attire. I fumbled with the shutters, which had iced up, and flung them open just in time to see a procession of big black motorcars flying royal standards crawling up the snowy ramp to the castle. Heralds were standing on the battlements blowing on long, straight horns. The pass must have opened and the kings and queens had arrived.

I closed the shutters hastily to keep out the bitter chill and decided that morning tea would be welcome before I had to be presented to visiting royalty. It was quite light and surely tea should have arrived by now. . . . That was when I remembered Queenie. I looked back at my bed where Queenie still lay blissfully sleeping, mouth open. It was not a pretty sight.

“Queenie!” I yelled, standing over her.

She opened her eyes and gave me a vague smile. “Oh, ’ello, miss.”

“The royal party has just arrived. I should be ready and dressed to be presented. Oh, and I’d like my morning tea. So up you get.”

She sat up slowly, yawning her head off. “Right you are, miss,” she said, not moving.

“Now, Queenie.”

With that she staggered to her feet, then looked down at herself. “Lawks, miss, I can’t go walking around in me nightie, can I? What would people say? I wouldn’t half get an earful!”