Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time there lived a young prince.  His name is Albert, and he is thirty-three years old.  He is tall and handsome with fair hair and blue eyes.  One day he is called to a family meeting.  His uncle Francis is sat at the table.  His sister Carla is sitting on a chair reading a letter. 

Albert walks into the room. His uncle asks him to take a seat. 

“Bertie, I would like you to meet a young lady called Loretta with a view to marriage.  She lives in the south of France.  She is thirty years old and comes from the French royal family, the house of Rouen’s” “I think she would make a good wife for you Albert”. 

“When do you want me to go?  Where about is it?” 

‘At the end of April.  It will take place at a chateau in the south of France.” 

Albert is apprehensive about the forthcoming meeting. His heart was in his mouth. 

He got ready for the trip.  He had to pick up a car to go to the airport.  His flight to Nice was at 11.15.  He gets on the plane; a member of staff brings him a sandwich and a drink.  He eats the food and makes himself comfortable and begins to read.  The flight is short and soon he arrives.  The heat and humidity hit him as he gets off the plane. 

Prince Albert gets into the car with his security officer.  The driver takes them to Raffles hotel and restaurant.  He orders some smoked salmon and a bottle of wine.  He sits at a table with the security guard.  They finish their meal and pay with a credit card.  Then he goes to reception to collect the key card to the Principal Suite. 

They take the elevator to the suite.  It is made up of several rooms.  There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms with smaller shower rooms.  The lounge area has a grand piano, two large sofas and several armchairs.  The dining furniture is mahogany. 

The furnishings are all top of the range, made from the most expensive and luxurious fabrics from around the world. 

The next evening, he was due to meet Loretta.  His appointment was at 8.30 pm at a chateau in the French countryside. 

The next morning, they got into the car. The driver took them through a vineyard.  The sun was beating down.  The owner of the vineyard was expecting Prince Albert.  He arranged a meal of cooked meats and cheese, French bread and olives.  They were served the finest wine at dinner. 

Albert got ready for his meeting with Loretta.  He put on dark grey trousers, a crisp white shirt and a navy blazer with gold brocade on the lapels and sleeves. 

Princess Loretta was being dressed by her maid.  Loretta is petite, she has brown hair and dark eyes.  She is wearing a burgundy dress with lace panels inserted into the bodice. The skirt was bustle and rustled as she walked across the floor. 

Loretta’s aunt, Cecelia, came into the room.  She introduces Loretta to Prince Albert. 

Loretta begins to complain “it is so hot in here; my dress is really uncomfortable”.  She shifted from foot to foot, trying to make herself more comfortable, with little success. 

They were asked to go into the dining room.  Albert and Loretta are seated opposite each other.  The staff begin to serve the potato and leek soup. 

Over dinner, Loretta and Albert begin to talk to one another.  Aunt Cecelia is sat at the head of the table acting as a chaperone. 

Albert discovered that she had a gloomy outlook of almost everything.  She was passionate about vintage cars.  She owned a Bugatti, and a Ferrari. 

She had large stables with twenty-four horses.  Her favourite is a grey colt called Shadow. 

Albert telephones his uncle Francis later that evening. 

“Hello Frank” 

“Hello Bertie” 

“How did the meeting go?” 

“I don’t like her at all.  She is rude and opinionated” 

“Give it time.  Maybe you will grow to like each other” 

“No, I don’t like her, and I refuse to marry her” 

“You must marry her” 

“I will not” 

“OK, if you can find yourself a suitable bride within the next 6 months, you will not have to marry her” 

“Fine” 

Albert sets off around Europe on an extravagant holiday.  He goes on a yacht in St Tropez and to the Cannes film festival. 

At the awards ceremony, he spots a beautiful actress.  She is tall and elegant with short blonde wavy hair and blue eyes. 

He was fascinated by this woman.   He asked around his friends and discovered that she was called Ruby White.  He found out that she lived in Soho in London. 

He was unable to engineer a meeting until the following month.  She was performing at the Lyric theatre.  He had two dozen red roses sent to her dressing room with an invitation to the palace for dinner. 

She was very pleased with the invitation.  Soon the day arrived.  She went to the hairdressers and the beautician.  She bought a new dress. When she was ready, the prince organises a car to pick her up.  When they arrive at the palace, she is led into a large drawing room.  She is introduced to Uncle Francis and Carla and the principal members of the household. 

They were ushered into the dining room. Bertie has arranged for Ruby to sit beside him.  They begin to serve the soup.  

 Uncle Francis begins to question Ruby about her life.  

“Tell me Ruby – what are your plans for the future?” 

“I intend to concentrate on my acting for the next few years.  I am interested in writing and would like for someone to produce my work for the London stage.” 

“What about family – do you want any children?” 

“No, not right away.  I am still young and will have plenty of time for that later.” 

“If the acting did not work out, how would you support yourself?” 

“I would survive, I always have.”  “Acting work is very sporadic and I take on small jobs between roles” 

The next morning, he calls a family meeting.  Uncle Francis is pacing the floor. 

“I don’t think Ruby is suitable wife material.  She is an actress and is fine for a bit of fun, but you can’t possibly marry her” 

“I like her and intend to marry the woman I choose” 

“I think Loretta would be a much better option for you” 

“I don’t think so!” “Not at all” 

Carla said “I agree with Uncle Frank.  Loretta would be the most sensible option,” “She is from a good family and understands how to behave in modern society”. 

“Ruby is no good for you”. “She will ruin your life” 

It was some time before Prince Albert and Ruby can arrange another date.  Ruby was working in the theatre in London’s West End.  She had two performances most days and very little free time.  She was exhausted. 

Bertie went to the Italian Lakes on a yacht named Grace.  It had six staff onboard. Bertie had invited Ruby to join him.  They visited Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. 

Bertie was very attentive during the holiday.  He showered her with attention and compliments.  The chef prepared the finest local food.  Ruby particularly liked seafood.  They enjoyed lobster and oysters accompanied with the finest wines.  Ruby had a fantastic time and Bertie was completely enchanted by her. 

During the holiday they went shopping on the Isle of Capri which is home to the finest designer shops.  They had dinner in a restaurant which was part of a grand hotel.  The hotel was very opulent with marble hallways and a large staircase with a red carpet.  After dinner, they were shown to a suite. 

Bertie had arranged for a large bouquet of flowers and some chilled champagne to be put in the room. 

Bertie ran Ruby a bath and added some bath salts and luxurious bath crème.  Ruby talked to Bertie about how much she had enjoyed the holiday.  One of her highlights was visiting Lake Como and taking a small boat into the caves.  They called Hello and heard Hello echo all around the top of the cavern.  She said that the waters were crystal clear and that the waves had buffeted around the small vessel.  When Ruby had finished her bath, Bertie passed her a white robe to put on. 

Uncle Francis and Carla were keen that Bertie marries Loretta although he was dead set against the idea. 

Uncle Francis was suffering from headaches and pains in his chest.  He was under investigation by the hospital, and it was discovered that he had lung cancer.  He decided not to tell his family straight away as he did not want them worrying about him. 

Carla has dark hair and eyes and disapproved of Bertie’s relationship with Ruby and tried to convince him that Loretta was the best option as she was from the French royal family (The House of Rouens). 

The sky was heavy with the next snowfall.  She could see the outline of the trees, empty of leaves, branches tinged with frost. 

Carla put on her boots and her heavy coat and ventured outside.  It was bitingly cold, and she pulled her collar tight around her, 

She walked into the village where there was a winter wonderland.  She watched people skating on the ice.  Sleigh Ride blasted from the nearby speakers.  She was hoping to see Tom.  She walked through the crowd past the stalls and away from the market and into a small country pub.  There was a large log fire crackling.  The furniture in the pub was dark wood, possibly mahogany and upholstered in leather in dark muted colours. 

She looked around and spotted Tom at the other side of the room.  She went over and said Hello. 

Tom was tall, athletic with dark curly hair and green eyes.  Carla thought the world of him.  The only problem was that Tom was married to her closest friend, Sarah, who she has known since high school. 

Tom said, ‘Hello Carla, what would you like to drink?’  Carla ordered a large glass of wine.  She asked him to sit down.  He placed the drinks on the table and took a seat. 

Carla asked, ‘How are you?’ and how was work going?  He said ‘Fine’ and that he had been busy as it was approaching the end of the business financial year. 

How are the girls? 

Fine.  Angelica was about to leave for university and Olivia is revising for her mock GCSE exams.  His wife Sarah runs the local village shop. 

How are your family?  

Carla began to complain about Bertie and his determination not to marry. 

As far as Carla was concerned, Ruby was the most dreadful woman who would ruin Bertie’s life.  She felt that Loretta would be a good mother to his children as she knew the correct way to behave in royal society. 

Carla and Tom swap numbers and arrange to meet again.  They begin an affair.   

They must meet away from the village as it is the sort of place where gossip is rife, and everyone knows everything about everyone else.  It would not take long for word to get back to Sarah, 

They went to a B & B in a nearby town.  It is very basic and has a small ensuite bathroom.  The bedroom contained a bed, a dressing table, a chair and a small wardrobe. 

Tom went to have a shower.  Carla decided to join him. They begin to wash each other and have sex first in the shower and then in the bedroom. 

Uncle Frank’s health began to deteriorate.  He had several bouts of pneumonia and was coughing up blood.  The Doctor was called and ordered him to stay in bed.  He didn’t have the energy to do anything else. 

After a few days bed rest, his condition has not improved.  On the Thursday, his family were called to his bedside.  He asked them to come in one by one. 

“Carla, promise me that you will look after Bertie as he is young and needs to make his own mistakes” 

“I promise” 

“Please raise awareness of this dreadful disease by becoming patron of a well-known charity and promoting it on TV and Radio.  The public will support you and help raise much needed funds for the charity” 

“I will do that” 

“Bertie, I would like you to marry Loretta, but I know you are not prepared to do that.” 

“No. I love Ruby and hope to marry her one day” 

“I don’t think Ruby is good for you but if your mind is made up, may I suggest that you get married sooner rather than later?   

“I am not sure I am ready for such a big commitment” 

“The two of you will be stronger together and she will be a good support for you.  Once I am gone, you will have a lot of extra responsibility and she would keep your feet firmly on the ground.” 

“I love you and Carla as if you were my own children and want the best for both of you” 

“I love you too” “Goodbye Uncle Frank”. 

Two weeks later there was a state funeral for Uncle Francis.  It was very well attended, and the public gathered along the route so that they could pay their respects.  Francis was very popular and was given a military salute and an army of mourners walked along the boulevard behind the funeral procession, Carla was visibly upset, and Bertie tried to console her without success. 

Tom was quiet, distant, somehow.  He had not responded to any of her messages for the past two months.  Carla needed to speak to him.  She felt tired all the time, was experiencing dizzy spells and needed to urinate more often.  She decided to take a test.  She waited anxiously until two blue lines appeared.  She needed to tell Tom but was not sure how he would react. 

“Hello Tom” 

“Hello Carla” 

“How are you?” 

“Not so bad, yourself?” 

“I think I may be pregnant”. 

“How could you let this happen?” 

“I have two children already.  I don’t want anymore. How am I going to tell Sarah?” 

“I’m sure you will think of something”. 

Carla put the phone down.  She went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. Tears started to run down her face.  How could she be so careless?  The more she thought about it, the more she wanted this baby.  Tom cut off all contact. 

A few weeks later Bertie noticed that Carla didn’t feel well after they had lunch.  She was pale and a bit queasy. 

“What’s wrong Carla?” 

“I am pregnant”. 

“How far are you?” 

“Almost three months” 

“Who is the father?” 

“Tom, it’s Tom, but he doesn’t want to know”.  

“Do you want to keep the baby?” 

“Yes, I would like that very much”. 

“Ruby and I will help you in any way that we can”. 

“Thanks Bertie, I appreciate all your support”. 

Bertie and Ruby had a trip to New Orleans.  They stayed in The Roosevelt, Waldorf Astoria hotel which is a large white building with three turrets in a gothic style.  It had opened in 1893, had a grand ballroom and a suite called The Blue Room which had hosted the best performers in the city. 

The hotel has 504 rooms and is known for luxury, style and grace.  It has one of the grandest hotel lobbies in America lined with crystal chandeliers.  They stayed in the Teddy Roosevelt suite which has sumptuous furnishings and a piano.  The Sazerat bar, famous for a cocktail of the same name of which they sell 50,000 per year.  The hotel boasts a rooftop pool and spa. 

After arriving at the hotel in New Orleans, Bertie and Ruby went for a cup of Columbian coffee from French Truck Coffee, They then arranged for a tour of the Garden District.  They took a streetcar from the hustle and bustle of the creole French quarter, they then took a stroll around the Garden District, where there are many historical buildings and some fantastic architecture.  

The French quarter is famed for its gothic and macabre past.  There is a large cemetery called Lafayette Cemetery where many TV shows were filmed. 

They then had lunch at The Commander’s Palace restaurant which is one of the most famous and popular in New Orleans.  Ruby ate Spring Melon & Cucumber followed by Wild White Shrimp & Saffron Risotto.  Bertie had grilled Centre Cut Harris Ranch Fillet, accompanied by garlic potatoes.  This was washed down by the finest champagne. 

They then spent the next few hours at the Voodoo and Pharmacy museums.  After a walk around the French quarter, they discovered the Palace market which is home to many artists, painters and jewellers selling their amazing creations. 

They went back to the hotel and had a light supper before going to bed.  The next day, Ruby and Bertie had breakfast and took a carriage ride to the Mississippi river where they took a cruise from New Orleans to Memphis. 

The ship departed from New Orleans, the next day was in Nottoway, St. Francisville, Natchez, Vicksburg, followed by a scenic river cruise, Tunica the following day arriving at Memphis on the 29th. 

They stayed in a deluxe stateroom with an outside veranda on a ship called The American Queen.  On the last night of the cruise, they had dinner of Oysters and Champagne.  After dinner, 

“Ruby, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” 

“Yes Bertie, I would be happy to accept”. 

Bertie cupped her face in his hand and kissed her. 

Upon their return, they announced their engagement.  They held a press conference and informed all the newspapers that their wedding would take place in September the following year at Westminster Cathedral. 

The announcement created much anticipation and excitement around the world.  Bertie and Ruby received thousands of cards, letters and e-mails from well-wishers. 

Carla was heavily pregnant.  She had started to feel really uncomfortable and was looking forward to the arrival of the new baby.  It seemed as though the pregnancy had gone on forever. 

Tom had still not been in touch as he felt it best to distance himself from Carla and the baby.  He and Sarah had been having a lot of arguments.  His daughters were teenagers and sometimes made life difficult because they were trying to assert their own independence without being emotionally mature enough to cope with it. 

There were often power struggles. Olivia was particularly strong willed and obstinate.  She had passed her GCSEs with flying colours and wanted to go on holiday with her friends to celebrate.  Tom felt that at sixteen she was too young and told her that she could not go.  Olivia was disappointed and there was a massive argument.  She stormed off to her bedroom and slammed the door.  Sarah said “Leave her. She will come round”. 

One Friday evening, the storm was raging, the thunder clapped and rolled into the distance and the lightning lit up the night sky. 

Carla woke up with strong pains in her stomach.  She called the midwife who told her that it would be a while before the baby is ready to be born and that she should stay at home until the contractions started.  She tried to settle down but couldn’t get comfortable.  She experiences a few twinges and waits until the contractions were ten minutes apart.  She called the midwife who told her to meet her at the hospital.  It was a private hospital in the centre of London. 

She called Bertie who said I will be there as soon as I can.  She was in labour for thirteen hours.  It was difficult and she was very tired. 

“One last push Carla. You are doing really well”. 

The baby’s head emerged.  He had a mop of brown hair just like his father.  One last push and he was born.  Edward Francis (known as Teddy) born at 12.55 pm. 

The nurse wrapped him in a blanket and placed him on Carla’s chest.  She looked at him and noticed his big brown almond shaped eyes.  He was beautiful.