Disclaimer: Anna and the King is not mine. It belongs to 20th Century Fox and Andy Tennant.
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If Anna Leonowens thought her journey to Siam had been something of a challenge, to leave it was even more so because much had happened since she and her son Louis had traveled with their servants Moonshee and Beebee from Bombay.
She had been retained by the King of Siam to tutor his eldest son, Prince Chulalongkorn and had ended up teaching his 58 children. It was not something she had been prepared for, but she had soon learned that what she had agreed upon with the king and what her actual duties turned out to be were two very different things.
Even something as simple as a home for her and her family had been a battle of wills between her and the monarch.
In the end though, it was because of King Mongkut that she had been able to let go of the awful pain and loneliness of the loss of her beloved Tom, a British officer who had died in India.
It was something that had happened so quietly and gently that it didn't frighten her as it might have otherwise or made her feel as though she were being unfaithful to her husband's memory. Anna had fallen deeply in love and she knew before she had become fully aware of it that it was a love that could never be. Not just because she'd lost her heart to a king, but he would never be exclusively hers and that was something that she could never accept.
It didn't help matters when he told her that he wished it could be different as well. But as she had been told more than once, everything in Siam had it's own time. Anna knew though, that there would never be a time for them and because of that she could not stay.
Moonshee had accompanied Louis to the palace that morning to spend time with Chulalongkorn and the other children before they had to board the HMS Newcastle, which at the moment waited for the outgoing tide. Beebee had made a pot of tea while they waited for Moonshee and Louis to return and Anna watched as some of the few household crates that remained were loaded onto a barge and then it slowly began to move away from the dock and down the river.
When the two finally did return, the king and the crowned prince accompanied them on the Royal Barge. This was not something that Anna had expected and she sighed, which got her a look of concern from Beebee.
"I'm all right." Anna told her and wasn't sure who she tried to reassure more, Beebee or herself.
"Do you think he would take some tea?" She asked in an attempt to lighten the moment.
"I don't think so Beebee." Anna sighed again and stood up. "We need to think about packing up the tea things so we can be ready for the barge when it returns."
"Mother!" Louis called to her as he ran up the gravel walk. "The king says that he's going to take us to our ship!"
"If that is all right with mem." King Mongkut told her quietly as his three personal guards and Moonshee followed behind him.
Anna curtsied. "That is very kind of you, Your Majesty. But we're expecting the barge to return and we'll board then with the last of our things." She answered just as quietly.
"Please mem teacher." Chulalongkorn asked her.
Anna looked into the young face that had matured since she had arrived. The topknot that he'd worn when the king had introduced her to the young prince was gone because his head had been shaved. As with his father before him, Chulalongkorn had gone into the monastery. All future kings had to for a time because it was in the monastic life that they learned humility. His hair had begun to grow back and the look of arrogance had long since been replaced by a look of confidence and kindness, so much like his father.
"Please Mother." Louis added.
She looked to Moonshee for help, but all he did was give her a look that told her it was her decision. He continued up to the veranda and beaconed to the boys to accompany him into the house while Beebee picked up the tea tray and followed them inside.
"King never had English tradition of tea." He remarked.
"No Your Majesty, you did not." She said.
He was quiet for a moment and looked at her. "Am wondering if perhaps we might have some tea before it is time for you to leave."
She didn't know what to say.
"Please mem." Was all he said.
The decision seemed to be taken out of her hands when Beebee returned with a full tray. "This is the last of the tea, ma'am."
The king stepped up on the veranda and waited for Anna to be seated before he sat across the tea table from her. Beebee filled their cups and stepped back into the house.
She was aware of the fact that he watched her and when she looked over at him he smiled. "My little monkey would have enjoyed such."
Princess Fa-Ying.
How many times had Anna thought of her since she'd been taken during the cholera epidemic and the king had been inconsolable? "I think about her everyday."
"King does as well. Fa-Ying thought much of mem." He said and a look of sadness crossed his face.
"I thought much of her too Your Majesty."
He put his cup down. "Will mem not think then about accepting offer?"
Why was it so hard for her to accept?
"Mem Leonowens, it would please king if you would accept and Chulalongkorn wishes it to be so."
She couldn't help but smile. "When you put it that way Your Majesty, I don't suppose I have any choice."
He smiled back at her. "Thank you mem. Prince will be pleased, as is king ."