Katya & The Prince of Siam

Undaunted, she went again a few days later with her husband but, unfortunately, they had been misinformed about the time of the service, which had already taken place. However, this disappointment was mitigated when a Chernogorian from the Ukraine spoke to them in Russian. ‘Oh what a joy! It was such a pleasure to hear our native tongue. People mostly speak English here, which of course I cannot understand. I am afraid it will be terribly difficult for me in Siam. Being apart from Russia is harder than I supposed. But I cannot do anything about it now. I had no choice then.

‘Now I must encourage myself

’, she continued bravely, ‘with the thought that I am married to a man who loves me and whom I have made happy.’ This last sentence, with its note of feminine resignation and no mention of her own feelings, is sad but not surprising when one considers how closely young girls were guarded in those days and that everything around Katya was utterly strange including the realities of a passionate honeymoon.

Naturally a visit was made to the Sphinx and the pyramids, where Katya would like to have climbed right to the top, but was afraid of dizziness and also she shrank from being lifted by not only one, but three Arab guides, who were waiting to render that service to all visitors.

Many diplomats and agents called on Chakrabongse at their hotel, but Katya stayed in her room while they were received by her husband and one senses a feeling of foreboding:

 

‘We do not want to announce our marriage as we are afraid it might reach the King, and it would also mean we should have to attend celebrations and balls. This would mean great expense as ladies here are very fashionable and we have no money to spare on buying ball-dresses. Besides we should then have to pay visits to all these ladies, and as they speak only English, I should not understand a word they say.

‘I am missing books terribly. Chakrabongse has subscribed to some Russian newspapers for me but I beg you, Vanya, to send me any Russian magazines and books, or I shall go mad.

‘Now that I have come to understand my future better, it begins to lose its rosy colour. Well, my husband was right when he told me in St Petersburg that it was a real sacrifice to go with him although not everyone would agree.