Page 58 of The Uprising
‘Okay. We’d better move fast. I’ll book a room at our favourite hotel on Richmond Hill.’
‘Perfect,’ said Cara.
‘I probably won’t find any mention of us—it’s all so long ago, but I want to check,’ she said, reaching for George’s hand.
‘I sort of hope you find nothing. I don’t want to know when we die. There’s such a thing as too much information.’
Their eyes locked as they both contemplated what she would discover.
Chapter 18
Windsor Castle, 1848 - Victoriana
The carriage wound through the pretty streets of Windsor, and the sparkling sunlit waters of the River Thames flowed nearby like a constant companion. The imposing castle built by William the Conqueror, towered over the old, majestic river town, visible from almost every angle. The carriage dragged them up the steep hill towards the castle which looked truly magnificent against the backdrop of wispy clouds in the azure blue sky.
‘I love Windsor—not only because it’s where we first met but also because it always feels so familiar to me. It’s almost like I’ve been here before in another life,’ said Cara, wistfully, turning to him. ‘Do you know what I mean?’
George studied his wife’s glowing face, pondering when or whether he might tell her she had indeed been at Windsor Castle in another lifetime—serving as lady-in-waiting to Jane Seymour.
‘Yes, I do,’ he said carefully. ‘I sometimes experience a similar feeling, especially at the palaces. I suppose it’s only natural that their history will rise up to give one a sense of connection to the past.’
Cara squeezed George’s arm, her small hand encased in a black velvet glove. They were dressed in their finest clothes in honour of the grand occasion, and Cara bubbled with excitement.
‘I love how I can tell you even the strangest things and you never make me feel ridiculous.’
George weighed up the odd predicament he found himself in. He recalled that several years earlier in Seville; she had briefly recognised Eddie from another timeline, but since George had returned to Victoriana, Cara had displayed no awareness of another life. He concluded they must only have access to memories of another timeline when they were the one time travelling. This would explain why he had no awareness in Tudorville apart from the odd sense of deja-vu, much like Cara was experiencing now. George tried to avoid thinking too much about the mechanics of how it all worked because invariably, when he did, he ended up feeling frustrated. George gallantly pressed his lips against Cara’s glove and said, ‘Ready for an audience with the queen?’
‘Yes, I’m ready! I’ve missed her and I’m curious to know why she summoned us.’
A footman dressed in a smart red tunic sprang into action the moment the carriage came to a halt outside the main entrance of the castle. He opened the door with a flourish for George and Cara to alight.
George winced slightly as his feet hit the hard ground; his left upper arm still bandaged from the bullet wound. He had been warned to take it easy until it healed.
‘Dear Lady Cara,’ said Queen Victoria, after they were shown into the opulent Crimson Drawing Roomwhere the queen awaited their arrival and they observed the usual formalities. ‘It’s so good to see you after all this time. You look well.’
‘Thank you, Your Majesty. I am feeling much better and was thrilled to receive your invitation and have the chance to see you again. How are the children?’
They exchanged the latest news for a few moments before Queen Victoria invited them to sit. ‘You’re a wounded hero, Lord Cavendish, and I understand you must rest for a speedy recovery.’
‘Not at all, ma’am. They fuss so, but I assure you I am quite well.’
‘Let’s all sit, nevertheless. It’s always a pleasure to see you both, but you must wonder why I expressly invited you to Windsor today, rather than waiting for my return to Buckingham Palace.’
‘I confess, it had crossed my mind,’ said Cara.
‘Well, as you may know, the renegade Chartist faction has been dismantled and they are safely behind bars, thanks to your brave intervention. I can barely believe they wished us dead—the thought of such venom against their sovereign chills my soul. And for that reason, I would like to request that you keep the plot to yourselves. After some reflection, Prince Albert and I came to the sober conclusion that the less our people know of how close those rebel Chartists came to murdering us in our beds, the better,’ said the queen, her hands rested neatly on her knees.
‘I see the wisdom in your decision, ma’am. My only reservation would be that there were quite a number of police and members of security, not to mention the palace staff who witnessed the attack. Are you convinced we will be able to prevent it from leaking into the public domain?’ said George.
‘My security and staff are sworn to secrecy, and I trust them implicitly. As for the police; if the truth about how close the intruders came to blowing up the palace and Britain’s monarchy along with it, they would be a laughing stock. And I don’t need to tell you they wish to avoid that,’ replied the queen.
‘Good point, ma’am. Well, I hope you know you may trust us to guard the secret with our lives.’
‘Indeed, although as you very nearly already paid the price of your life to save me, I do hope that won’t be necessary,’ said the queen, smiling at them both. ‘I was frightfully worried when I heard you had been shot.’
‘Thank you, ma’am. You are too kind. I was only doing what any royal servant would do in the circumstances.’
‘And you, Cara, I understand you accompanied Lord Cavendish and the footman on their midnight mission and alerted the guards.’ She held up one hand as she spoke. ‘And before you say it’s what any off-duty lady-in-waiting would do, let me assure you I have not found that to be the case. I am forever in your debt and await your return to my side just as soon as you both feel well enough to resume your positions.’
