For seven years I live next to a prince. I take walks on his land and admire his garden and peacocks. Then one day we cross paths and we are introduced. We shake hands and I address him as “Your Royal Highness”. For an instant his face pulls, as if I had said something distasteful to him, but he quickly recovers and asks politely after my family. Feeling a little awkward I compose my lines so as to avoid having to address him in this way. Afterwards I ask my landlady whether I did something wrong. She replies, “Think nothing of it”, and that is exactly what I do. Besides, I never see the prince again.
But, some time later I am at the gym and start talking a tall, blonde man. He is none other than the nephew of the prince. We talk for a while and he gives me an open invitation to tea. For whatever reason I never call and never see the nephew again either.
Years later I renew my interest in horses. One windy morning at the stables I rescue an elderly lady’s hat and upon handing it to her, recognise her as the prince’s sister. This time there are no formal introductions, only some friendly talk about my horse and we part ways.
Not long after I am at a dinner party and the elderly princess is a fellow guest. I relate to her the story of my life as her now late brother’s neighbour, throwing in the curious incident of that awkward introduction. She fiddles for a moment with her walking stick and with a dismissive gesture shrugs “I’m sure it was nothing” and asks if my godmother thought I was any good at riding. Determined to get an answer, I ask my godmother about the incident and is met with yet another non-answer.
You know that feeling you get when you are not being told something, but have no reason to press the matter other than a seemingly insignificant piece of evidence? Every now and again I recall that incident with the prince and my mind wanders. I think about some scandalous story: the prince in exile, banished to live in South Africa in total obscurity.
I am, however, resolved to clear up the matter and will arrange a visit with my then landlady and put the matter to rest and will post the story if I am successful.
