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#1: A Royal Visit - short and complete Author: Laura V, Location: Czech Republic

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:37 pm
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Having just read New and Gillian I was intrigued to know what happened to one of the characters in those books as they are never mentioned again. I hope everyone finds this version of what happened to be believable! Confused

"Bitte Fraulein, there is a gentleman here to see you."

Hilda Annersley looked up from her correspondance with a smile on her face.

"Do show him in Anna, danke sehr," she said as she foled away the piece of paper. I wonder who it can be, she thought to herself. She was soon to find out.

Two mintues later there was a knock at the door.

"Herein," Hilda called, expecting it to be one of the Doctors from the San or perhaps Herr Mensch or Herr Marani. But to her suprise when the door opened the visitor was revealed it be none of them.

"Prince Balbini!" Hilda exclaimed.

"Signorina," he said with a sweeping bow. "I am here for very important business. it is that I wish to remove Maria from the Chalet School immediately."

Hilda did her best to compose herself with the shocking announcement.

"Signor Balbini, please do sit down and we can discuss this," she said calmly.

Maria had been a pupil at the school for just two and a half terms, having been sent away by her father as punishment for the trouble she had caused with her twin Mario and several young friends. Though she had taken a long time to settle in she was finally starting on the right path towards becoming a true Chalet girl. She had recently joined the School's Guide movement and hoped to be taking part in the summer camp. However, Prince Balbini had other ideas.

The Prince shook his head in sorrow.

"I am sorry, Signorina, I have been so foolish. It is that I used have had little time for my children, and then after my wife's passing I send them both away and so I do not see them enough. My poor wife should not wish this. I have been a selfish father and I should help my children through this difficult time. But I can not do this if they are not with me."

Miss Annersley nodded sympathetically.

"I understand your predicament Signor Balbini, but Maria is greatly improving in school conditions. Her marks are getting better and we hoped that she would gain her remove after the summer exams. To take her away at such a difficult time would cause problems not only for her school work but also her character."

"Miss Annersley, you need not worry about Maria's schooling for I have arranged for her to be educated at an excellent school near to where we shall be living," the Prince replied.

" 'Near to where we shall be living' ?" She had never meant to pry but...

"Yes, Signorina. I shall take Maria this evening, then we shall travel to England together to collect Mario. Our ship leaves for Beunos Aires at the end of next week."

"Buenos Aires? Argentina?" Hilda gasped, unable to digest what she had just heard.

"Yes, and if you please I should like to take Maria tonight - please do not stop me - for we have little time left."

Hilda studied the Prince's expression carefully and concluded that she could not change his mind.

"Very well, Signor, I will do as you wish. You are Maria's father and I must respect your request. I shall have Maria ready for six o'clock."

The Prince stood up and bowed. "You are a good woman," he said before he left the room.

****************************

Later that day found an angry faced Maria Balbini waiting with her trunk in the comfy staff room. The news of her father's decision had brought back the bad traits which schooling had removed. At six o'clock exactly the Prince arrived with his driver and Maria was hurried into the runabout.

Hilda watched with sorrow as the little girl thrust a begging look at her headmistress as she was walked from the school grounds.

The School never learnt if the Balbini's had made it to Argentina, or if Maria had settled into her new school. That was the last they ever saw of her.

#2: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:24 pm
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Thanks, Laura

Poor Maria being wrenched away like that.

Are you sure we don't know what else happened to her? *offers bunny bribes*

#3: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:06 pm
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Thank you Laura. I wonder, did Prince Balbini have an inkling of what was about to happen in Europe? This must be very close to the events of Exile.

#4: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:12 pm
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Awww - that's so poignant.

Thanks Laura. Fabulous. I do like your short drabbles.

#5: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:42 pm
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Laura I'm sure you must have the bunny somewhere that will know what happened to them - please search for it.

Thank you

#6: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:13 pm
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Lesley wrote:

Laura I'm sure you must have the bunny somewhere that will know what happened to them - please search for it.

Oh yes, please find the bunny!

#7: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:30 pm
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Thanks, Laura. I'm sorry that he removed Maria from the school.

#8: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:36 pm
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Thank you, Laura. Poor Maria. Crying or Very sad

#9: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:01 pm
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Poor Maria - I wonder, he did seem to be in a great hurry to leave didn't he?

#10: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:20 pm
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How to make a bad decision lots worse, I'd say. Laura, keep on hunting for that bunny! Poor little girl.

#11: Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:46 am
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am sending lots and lots of carrots, dandelion leaves and cowslips for the bunny, in the hopes of tempting him/her back...

I always wanted to know what happened to maria and mario

#12: Author: Laura V, Location: Czech Republic

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:18 pm
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eeek! Shocked

I'll have a go at a sequel, just give me a few days Wink

#13: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:22 pm
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Yay! Very Happy

#14: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:24 pm
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I was scrolling down intending to ask you to elaborate on this mysterious beginning, but I see you've already been persuaded. Hurrah!

I enjoyed this very much. Why is he going to Buenos Aires? Why so fast? Will Maria be OK? Will she ultimately meet a hot doctor? These are all questions I'm hoping you can answer for me...

#15: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:13 pm
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I hope Maria will be all right; I really enjoyed that, Laura, and will eagerly await the sequel!

#16: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:17 pm
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Thanks Laura, that was really interesting. I look forward to the sequel!

#17: Author: Loryat,

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:44 pm
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That was good - very like Prince Balbini as I found him in the books! Evil or Very Mad

Poor Maria!

On second thoughts, I could be more charitable and say that PB was trying to escape fascism.

#18: Author: Laura V, Location: Czech Republic

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:19 pm
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In answer to everyone's questions...

*the political situation in Italy at this time would probably have made things difficult for aristocratic families
*Buenos Aires as Argentina was a popular destination for emigrating Italians in the 1920s and 30s
*I always saw Prince Balbini as a man who made decisions on the spur of the moment, hence the sudden departure
*Maria marrying a doctor? let's wait and see! Wink

#19: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:20 pm
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Laura V wrote:

*Maria marrying a doctor? let's wait and see! Wink

Oh please please please...

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