“M-maybe that

          isn’t such a good place to land,” she cautioned.

          “We don’t have a choice,” said Tom impatiently. “It’s there or nowhere.”

          “But we’ll be arrested.”

          “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine,” said Hainsworth evenly. “It’s time I pay a visit to an old friend.”

          All three worked feverishly to control the descent as the balloon swiftly skimmed the tree-tops and headed up the “Long Walk,” a lengthy pathway leading directly to Windsor Castle.

          The oldest inhabited royal residence in Britain, Windsor Castle represents the pinnacle of majesty. First built in 1070 by William the Conqueror, the original wooden structure was replaced with greyish stone and improved over the centuries. Perched high on a hill and illuminated by lights, it stood as an enormous fortified structure with thirty-foot walls and fifty-foot rectangular towers.

          The balloon scraped over the grass and skidded to a stop on the Royal Mews, right next to the main entrance. Tom and Sarah each grabbed a stake and quickly jumped out, firmly securing the balloon.

Situated in

the town of Windsor, Berkshire, Windsor Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror following the Norman conquest of 1066. Since Henry I (1110-1135), it is the longest continuously occupied palace in Europe. Originally designed to protect Norman dominance around the outskirts of London, Windsor Castle was built as a motte-and-bailey, which was gradually replaced with stone fortifications. Henry III (1216-1272) built a luxurious royal palace within the castle, and Edward III (1313-1377) rebuilt the palace to create an even grander castle that became one of the most expensive building projects in England during the Middle Ages. Edward’s core design lasted through the Tudor period, during which Henry VIII (1509-1547) and Elizabeth I (1558-1603) used the castle as a royal court and center for diplomatic entertainment. Windsor Castle survived the English Civil War, when it was used as a military headquarters for Parliamentary forces and a prison for Charles I (1600-1649). During the 18th century, George III and George IV renovated and rebuilt Charles II’s palace at colossal expense, producing the current design of the State Apartments, full of Rococo, Gothic and Baroque furnishings. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) made a few minor changes, which became the center for royal entertainment for much of her reign.

          By the time Tom and Sarah finished tightening the ropes, twenty well-armed royal guards had surrounded them: it took no more than sixty seconds from the balloon touching down to a security force being sent out. Make no mistake about these well-trained men; unlike the popular Beefeaters dressed in their colorful red and black suits and carrying long staffs, these men were wearing high-tech army gear and holding M-16 rifles. They would do anything to protect the Royals and Windsor Castle.

          Sarah looked up. “Tom,” she whispered, her worst fears realized.

          He glanced over and froze. “Not the welcome we hoped for,” he responded dispassionately. “Professor?”

          As the commander aggressively approached the balloon, Hainsworth peacefully surveyed the situation.

The professor,

Tom, and Sarah followed the footmen down a long corridor and through adjoining rooms. Each section was its own masterpiece: walls covered in velvet or silk, century-old tapestries embroidered with scenes of famous battles, crystal chandeliers sparkling from the coffered ceilings, antique furniture from around the world and bronze statues artistically positioned.

Afraid to touch anything, Tom and Sarah walked straight ahead, arms pinned to their sides. They made their way up two marble staircases and into a mahogany hallway with polished teak floors. Each was shown to a bedroom.

Hainsworth disappeared through a door as Sarah looked over to Tom and bid him farewell.

“Adieu, mon ami,” she whispered, vanishing into her bedroom.

“Yeah . . . whatever.”

Tom entered a room that could have easily fit half of the Grievouses’ house. The ceilings soared above him. There was a four-poster oak bed with enough room for every orphan at Weatherly, a fireplace he could stand in and an array of elegant tables and stylish chairs.

     They strolled

         into the Waterloo Chamber, a stately banquet hall with wood paneled walls, an assortment of 19th century portraits, a barrel-shaped ceiling with arched windows on each side and five chandeliers evenly spaced in the middle.

         The room was blazing with activity as servants and staff efficiently worked away. An eighty-foot mahogany table was at the center, polished to perfection and gleaming like a mirror. There were four massive porcelain urns in the middle waiting to be filled with fresh flowers. Each place setting had Royal Doulton bone china plates, surrounded by fifteen distinct pieces of Dixon & Sons silverware and seven different-sized Waterford crystal glasses. Two servants carefully walked along, painstakingly checking each fixture with a ruler. Brass was polished, shelves dusted, and oriental carpets cleaned. Everything was perfect.