Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [29]
Baroness von Luckner was not surprised when the Doctor appeared at her door. She might not possess the remarkable abilities of her ward, but she could sense when trouble was coming. At breakfast this mysterious stranger had given her warning of his suspicions. No doubt he had since uncovered at least part of the truth, making a second encounter inevitable. She was just irritated that it had come so soon, before she could make good her departure from the royal residence. Packing away her gowns and belongings had taken longer than she expected without assistance from one of the servants.
'Leaving so soon?' the Doctor said. He pulled open the lid of the, trunk to reveal the clothes inside, along with two solid silver picture frames and several other carefully chosen and quite expensive items. 'And I see you were taking some souvenirs with you. Presents from a grateful Queen, perhaps?'
`Yes. You can go and ask her yourself, if you like.' Luckner suggested.
'That will not be necessary,' an imperious voice replied.
The Queen was standing in the doorway, glaring at the two of them. 'We are already here.'
'Your Majesty,' the Doctor began, bowing deeply. believe this woman is an impostor. She is certainly no Baroness and as for being a Luckner...' He gestured at the stolen items sitting atop the truck's contents. 'That is a noble family name and not one usually associated with petty theft.'
'Thank you, Doctor, we are already aware of this woman's duplicity,' Victoria said, sweeping into the room, followed by her ladies-in-waiting and General Doulton. 'Perhaps she would like to tell us her real name and the purpose behind this falsehood?'
The impostor sagged into a chair, her head bowed, the fight gone from her limbs. 'Walker. Mrs Sylvia Walker,' she admitted, her cultured tones and Germanic accent replaced by those of a Londoner born and bred.
'Did we give you permission to sit in our presence?'
Victoria asked haughtily.
Mrs Walker stood up again, not daring to lift her gaze from the floor. `Sorry, Your Majesty, I didn't... Sorry.'
'Your apologies are neither here nor there, woman - we want the truth!' The Queen summoned Doulton to her side. Ìf you are unwilling to divulge it, we will happily pass you over to others. You may be assured that they will not stint in their efforts to find the truth.'
The Doctor stepped into the fray, bowing his head to the Queen. 'Your Majesty, I do not believe such tactics will be necessary. Before you arrived I was about to question this woman about her deception. Would you let me continue?'
Victoria nodded her acquiescence. She raised an eyebrow at the general who quickly fetched her a chair. Once seated, the Queen signalled for the Doctor to resume his questions.
'When I arrived, you were preparing to leave - why?' he asked Mrs Walker.
'The jig was up and I knew it. Decided it were time to get out while I still could.'
'How long have you been maintaining this facade?'
'This what?'
'How long have you been pretending to be Baroness Von Luckner?'
'Three years now. Y'see, I'm an actress - least, I used to be. Did well on the London stage too, but I was getting old for that. I read about this woman who pretended to be part of a noble family. She had been caught out but I knew I could carry it off, being an actress and all. So instead of Mrs Sylvia Walker I became the Baroness - it's amazing what you can get away with if you're all high and mighty, playing at being Lady Muck.' Mrs Walker paled as she remembered in whose presence she was standing. `Sorry, Your Majesty.' The Queen waved away her concern and the impostor continued. ‘I started doing the rounds of all the nobility, blending in and learning how to play the toff. Nobody ever questions you when you've got a title, they wouldn't dare. Soon I could walk into any salon or garden party and pretend to be Baroness