‘She really amazes me sometimes for, although it’s true she is twelve years older than me, she behaves like a woman of eighty, and if she hears words like “fool” or “hell”, she turns red with embarrassment, and I realise I am shocking her ears all the time. But never mind, she must get accustomed to it. I’m not going to change myself. I feel we are from different planets and her presence is no help to me as, apart from missing her husband, she says she is quite satisfied to be here – I cannot stand this atmosphere much longer without life around me.
‘Lek complains in his many telegrams that I don’t write to him, but so far I’ve received no letters from him and I can’t think why this is so.
‘He promised me that I would be staying here only two weeks, but I shall be finished soon. He doesn’t say a word about our departure in his telegrams. I am in despair. I would pay anything to escape from here and spend an evening with you, it would put life into me at once.
‘In spite of all my love for Lek, Singapore seems a hell to me though, if he had been with me I should not have felt so sad, but I am not only far away from others I love, but far away from him.
‘Lek and I always have plans for the future and our eyes burn with brilliance when we discuss our trip to Russia. I am sure we shall both be longing for St Petersburg when we are in Siam. I was so happy there and it was always such a pleasure, dear Elisaveta Ivanovna, to come to your house and to know I was loved there and that nobody looked daggers at me. I am afraid that is how they will regard me in Bangkok once they know I am the Prince’s wife.
‘Whenever I think of Easter without matins, my heart feels heavy.
‘How will it be for me in Siam? Think of it, dear Elisaveta Ivanovna, being alone here without even letters everything seems worse and gloomier to me than it really is. I shall hope to write you a letter full of joy and happiness from Siam and indeed I am sure I will, for I shall be with my boy and everything will be all right.’
Nevertheless, Katya’s next letter to Elisaveta Ivanovna was still from Singapore and was no more cheerful in tone. Written to arrive in time for the latter’s name day she began:
‘I am cordially congratulating you on the day of your angel and wishing you health and peace of mind.
‘I am still in despair as on Thursday it will be three weeks since we arrived here and I have only received two of Lek’s letters. And I have not heard anything from my home for two months. I have a terrible feeling that a terrible scandal will break out on my arrival in Bangkok and Lek is obviously afraid it will be worse than we expected. Everything would have been easier if we could have been together now.
‘I have been praying the whole night asking God to prevent a misfortune and, although I have only known you a short time, I write without concealing anything, sharing my joys and griefs with you. I am sorry to trouble you with my letters, but frankly I have no one else to write to. My relatives do not know Lek and God knows what they would imagine if I write to them that I am still in Singapore without him and dying from sadness.
‘Although we are staying in the best hotel, the accommodation is not very good. The bathrooms for instance are most uncomfortable, containing a barrel instead of a bath and a scoop to pour the water. No matter what they say the East is not civilised yet. The servants here are all Chinese, who speak only their own language, though notices in the hotel announce they speak English. I have to communicate with them by gesture, which is so expressive that Elena Nicholaievna begs me not to do it during lunch or dinner or she will die of laughing. In Siam I am to have a Siamese maid who has worked for the Europeans before, but here we have ‘Fairy’, who was sent to Elena Nicholaievna. She is Siamese and seems afraid of everything as though she never saw Europeans or their dress in her life. We cannot explain anything to her as neither of us speak Siamese, so again I have to communicate with amusing gesticulation while Fairy relaxes comfortably in the rocking-chair in our presence and drinks from our glasses and understands absolutely nothing I am trying to convey.
‘Sometimes I think it will take some time to get accustomed to the life here; at other times, if all turns out well with my arrival, I think I shall be at home with the East quite soon.
‘I read in one of Lek’s letters that on 5th April, new style, there was a ceremony to open the palace where we shall live and all the relatives were present. I am very anxious to be in Siam by Easter since, though I have no opportunity to go to church for matins, I would at least like to be with Lek on this solemn day, and would be unhappy to spend this day on the ship.
‘God takes care of us. I trust that I’ll soon be able to send you a joyful message.’
V
Life Behind Palace Walls
Prince Chakrabongse.
Meanwhile Chakrabongse had been welcomed in Bangkok with joy and appropriate celebration, and soon became aware of the high regard in which he was held, and the added lustre which his years in the Russian Army and colonelcy in the Imperial Hussars had imparted.
He was appointed Commandant of the Military College, and his duties there and attendance at the numerous official social functions which his rank and importance imposed, occupied him to the full. For his residence, he was given Paruskavan Palace near Ampornsathan Palace, where the King lived.
The construction of Paruskavan Palace had in fact been begun in 1903 with 22,075 baht being paid for walls of 275 metres in length on 30th December. On 19th April 1904, 61,173 baht was paid upon completion of the walls excluding the roof. Originally three architects were involved but two became ill during the course of work (Mr Tamayo got cholera and had to return to Europe while Mr Scos got smallpox and died). This left Beyroleyri in charge until the work was finished at the end of 1905.
Chakrabongse threw himself into his work with his customary diligence and enthusiasm and many days passed, not one of them seeming to offer the ideal moment to broach the subject of his marriage. Indeed – as is often the case in such situations – he may have experienced a guilty relief as the sun went down on yet another day, during which time the disclosure of his secret had again been postponed.
However, one morning, after he had been in Bangkok three weeks, he set out to arrive – punctual as always – at the weekly private audience held by the King at Dusit Palace. Attendance was not obligatory, but it was unofficially understood that members of the Royal Family and important notables were expected to be present.
Unknown to Chakrabongse, however, gossip and rumour had been winging round the city like flocks of mischievous birds, twittering that there was a Madame Bisnulok staying in Singapore. Discounted at first as being unbelievable, the story gained credence and eventually reached the ears of the King. Therefore on this fateful occasion, it was not long after Chakrabongse had arrived that he was invited to draw nearer to his father. The Monarch was his usual genial self as he chatted to his son, and while still smiling amiably though watching him closely, said jestingly: ‘Lek, I hear you have a European wife – is it true?’
Torn between consternation and relief that the dreaded moment had inescapably come to pass, Chakrabongse turned pale, and at a similar loss for words as when he had proposed to Katya, muttered hoarsely and ineptly: ‘Very possibly’. A terrible silence fell. Then with a look like forked lightning, Chulalongkorn turned on his heel and left, terminating the audience and his hitherto complete confidence in his beloved son.