Desiree's Diary(Book Two) 精彩片段：
Chapter 52 June 1822: Oscar Needs A Beautiful Wife
This morning I dressed very carefully, like a girl who is going to meet her lover. Im forty-two, but my heart was trembling like a girls.
"What time will Prince Oscar arrive?" I asked Lowenhjelm for the twentieth time.
Lowenhjelm is my equerry. He took Rosens place last year. Hes a terribly serious young man. He isnt like Rosen and Brahe at all.
Now he answered slowly: "At half past twelve, Your Majesty. My Uncle Charles, his equerry, is here in Aachen (a city in the west of German) with him. Theyll visit the cathedral at eleven oclock, and theyll walk around the city. Then theyll have lunch with Your Majesty."
"Who else will have lunch with us?"
"Only your Majestys nephew and niece."
My nephew and niece are Etiennes children, Marius and Marceline. Marceline has been my lady-in-waiting since I became Queen. Her brother helps my equerry.
"I dont want to meet my son in front of a crowd of people," I said to Lowenhjelm. "I want to meet him secretly, before he comes here. I havent seen him since he was eleven years old. Now hes twenty-two. I shant even recognize him."
I thought for a moment. Then I went on: "Send your uncle a message. Tell him that you and I will be at the cathedral at eleven oclock. When he sees us, he must quietly move away from His Royal Highness. Then Ill introduce myself to my son. Do you understand?"
Lowenhjelm didnt like this idea at all. He was used to ceremonies, not surprises. But in the end he had to agree.
When we reached the cathedral, I sat down and prayed. Then I thought: "Have I changed very much? Will he recognize me?" I drew a veil over my face, and I waited.
When he came, I recognized him at once. He wasnt in uniform; he was in ordinary clothes. He was almost as tall as his father. I hadnt seen him for eleven years. But I knew his way of walking; I knew how he held his head. A mother doesnt forget those things.
He was trying to read the words below an old stone figure. My Lowenhjelm made a sign to his uncle. Then both equerries moved away, and I boldly touched Oscars arm.
"Excuse me, Your Highness," I said. I was trying not to speak in my usual voice. But could he see through my veil? "Excuse me. Youre Crown Prince of Sweden, arent you? Id very much like to talk with you. My husband is in Sweden, and I need some advice."