It had been decided that Anna and Louis would travel on the Royal Barge with the king and the prince.

Moonshee and Beebee would wait for the cargo barge to return and they would make sure the last of the crates was loaded. So as Beebee took the tea tray into the house and Moonshee folded up the table, Louis and Prince Chulalongkorn ran down to the Barge as King Mongkut escorted Anna.

They walked down the gravel path and Anna couldn't resist the urge to stop and turn around so she could take one last look at her home. It had been a place that had brought her much joy and it had not been an easy decision to leave it.

"Is mem sure this is what she wants?" She heard his familiar voice close to her ear. She hadn't realized the king was so close and when she turned around he was as close to her as the night they waltzed to the tune from the music box.

"It's best Your Majesty, even if it is not what I might want." She told him as she felt her face begin to burn with a blush.

The look in his eyes all but pleaded with her to stay, but she knew he would never ask because he knew what her answer would be. "Even if children wish mem to stay?"

"That is not fair. His Majesty is well aware of my reasons." Anna frowned.

"Yes, I am aware of reasons but hold out hope that mem might change her mind."

She looked into his eyes and sighed. "We have very different customs Your Majesty and there is one such custom that I cannot follow."

He nodded as though to tell her he understood. "King would not want such from mem."

"Thank you." She said as she opened her parasol and before she had a chance to take a step, he offered her his hand just as he had done the night of the anniversary party when they had danced.

"It would please King if you would allow such." He smiled and she took the hand he offered.

Neither said another word as they headed down the dock and when they reached the Barge, he kept a hold of her hand to help her aboard.

The last time Anna had sat with the King, Fa-Ying had been with them when he had brought Louis and her to their home. "I don't think I'll ever forget this place. I don't remember much about England and India is a place I would like to forget."

"Because you lose husband?"

"In part. My life was there because of my mother and father and it was where I met Tom. But it was also where I lost him and to go back there now would be too painful."

"Mem is wise to see this."

"I've learned a great many things here Your Majesty."

"This is very good." He told her as the Barge slipped away from the dock and the Royal Oarsmen began to paddle down river.

It wasn't difficult for Louis and the prince to keep themselves occupied as they watched the Oarsmen steer the boat and that left Anna and King Mongkut by themselves.

"It is not like mem to be silent."

Anna turned to look at him and couldn't help but smile. "The silence is deafening I suppose."

He smiled back at her. "Kings own words come back to him."

"I meant no disrespect Your Majesty."

He nodded. "What had mem so quiet?"

"Remembering."

He looked at her with concern. "It must not be good if mem is frowning."

"I'm sorry Your Majesty, I didn't realize I was frowning."

The king looked at her. "Is it something you wish to keep from King?"

"It is not that. I was remembering when you brought Louis and I here and I was remembering the anniversary dinner. I was thinking about the children and what they are going to do now." And she could feel a tear slip down her cheek.

"Children will be fine mem and I will make sure they write." He told her quietly.

"I would like that very much."

"You will write to children as well and perhaps the Lady Thiang? She was fond of mem as well."

She turned back to look at him. "I would be honored Your Majesty."

"The Lady Thiang wishes King to tell mem she is most grateful for friendship. It was most welcome after cholera take Fa-Ying."

"The princess was her only other child?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Please convey to the Lady Thiang that I am most grateful to her for her help when I first arrived. She was most kind and I shall always remember it."

The King smiled. "She will be pleased to hear such from mem."

They were quiet then as the Oarsmen guided the Barge down the river. Neither said any more and it was a companionable silence that brought them into Bangkok Harbor. It was as Anna remembered when she and Louis had arrived and seemed to be busier than ever.

As the Barge was moored at the Royal Dock, the harbor went silent as Siamese citizens prostrated themselves. King Mongkut stepped off the Barge and again held out his hand to Anna, but once she had stepped on the dock he let it go.

"Will mem be all right?" He looked at her with concern.

"We will be fine Your Majesty. Louis and I will wait aboard the Newcastle for Moonshee and Beebee."

"They are coming soon?"

"Yes. As soon as the barge returns to the house, they will make sure the last of our things are transported here."

He nodded. "That is good mem."

There was so much that she wanted to say that she couldn't. "Thank you for bringing me here Your Majesty."

"King will always be grateful you came."

As they said goodbye, Louis came to stand next to her and the prince next to his father.

She looked at the king and the young prince and felt another tear roll down her cheek. She took her son by the hand. "Come along Louis. We'll wait for Moonshee and Beebee on the ship."

"Thank you mem teacher for all you did for us." The prince told her. "We will never forget you."

"Nor I you Your Highness." She smiled at him before she dropped into a deep curtsey before them and Louis bowed.

"Have safe journey to England mem." The king told her as she rose.

"Thank you Your Majesty." She answered before he and the prince turned around and headed back to the Barge. The king stepped aboard and Chulalongkorn was about to before he turned back around and ran to Anna. He didn't say anything, but put his arms around her and she hugged him back. "Mind your father Your Highness. He is so very proud of you."

She felt him nod before he let her go and ran back to the Barge and joined his father as the Oarsmen pushed away from the dock and headed back up river. He stood at the rail and waved until the Barge disappeared around a bend in the river.

Anna looked at her son and smiled. "Come along Louis, let's find our rooms."

She took his hand and they boarded the HMS Newcastle, bound for England.