The Anti-Cinderella Takes London

by Tawdra Kandle

  “I have no idea what you mean.” She sniffed and then winked at me. “All right, then. I just wanted to be sure. I know that what you’re choosing to do in marrying Nicky isn’t easy. I know the whole royal deal has been a steep learning curve. I’m proud of you for handling everything with a tremendous amount of grace.”

  “Thank you.” Touched, I kissed her worn cheek. “Honey, you know, you could always come live with Nicky and me in England. The cottage is a bit small, but we won’t be there forever. We could find a perfect little place for you, or we could build you something.”

  “That’s a very generous offer, sweetheart.” Honey patted my back. “I appreciate it, and I’m touched. But no, I can’t leave the States. Not when your father and mother and the other girls are here—and my business, too. I’m going to have to pick up the slack that your grandfather leaves.”

  “I’m happy to help with that, too,” I assured her. “Don’t let it cause you too much stress.”

  “Don’t worry—I know how to work hard, but I also know my limits.” She leaned over to pick up a small white shell, examined it closely, and tucked it into her pocket. “And one of the reasons I plan to pace myself is that there is no way I’m missing your wedding. I can’t wait to see you walk down that aisle.” She nudged my ribs with her elbow. “Want to give me any hints about the gown? Your mother tells me that it’s a closely-guarded secret.”

  “It is.” I grinned broadly. “And it’s staying that way. I brought along Sophie when I met with the designer I’d chosen—she’s the same one who did my engagement dress and coat, and she’s a friend of Daisy’s—and I only took Sophie because I wanted another set of impartial eyes. Plus, I wanted to hear how it might play to the press.”

  Honey sniffed. “Not that it’s any of their business.”

  “True, but it’s a fine line, Honey. I have to play the game sometimes, even if it feels ridiculous.” I shivered as the water rushed up to cover our feet again. “I do it for Nicky. Wouldn’t you have done the same for Handsome?”

  “Every time, and then some,” she admitted. “It’s just that I don’t want to see you twist yourself inside out over pleasing a bunch of vultures who’ll turn on you as soon as they don’t get what they want.”

  “You are talking about the press and not about the Palace staff, aren’t you?” I joked. “Because some days, it feels more as though they’re the ones out to get me.”

  “Ah, the interview.” Honey nodded sagely. “Your grandfather was unhappy about the way that was handled. If you want to know the truth, he wanted to fly over to the UK, and in his words, give some of those morons what-for.” Her lips curved slightly. “There may have been some expletives in there, too.”

  My heart constricted. “You don’t think the stress of the interview—the fact that I did it—that didn’t cause Handsome to . . .” I couldn’t say the words out loud.

  “Oh, sweetheart, no.” Honey hugged me to her swiftly. “Not at all. He was mad, but after all those years in business, believe me, Handsome knew how to handle aggravation. He vented and railed to me, and then he let it go, because he knew you were handling it and so was Nicky.”

  “I hope it didn’t upset him that I sort of used Honey Bee as a way around the Palace brigade.” I still felt slightly guilty.

  “Not a bit. Kyra, that interview was beautifully done, and it focused on the things that our company has always espoused. It’s the kind of piece that I’d hope any of our people would be able to present. You represented us exactly as we’d hoped.”

  We began walking again, our steps plodding and careful as the sand was softer here. Every now and again, Honey would find a shell and tuck it away.

  “I wish I could find the right way to channel my passion for sustainability and food security into a viable platform,” I mused, pausing to allow a couple of sand pipers the space to run across my path. “Alex is the patron of this amazing charity that helps military families cope with grief and loss. She took something horrible and turned it into a beautiful way to help others. But I haven’t come up with a way to do the same with something I love without alienating people or turning them off.”

  “It’s not an easy balance,” Honey agreed. “Once upon a time, I told your grandfather that I was giving up socializing, because I was so excited about what we were doing with Honey Bee that I’d corner people at cocktail parties and make them listen to me proselytize.”

  I could totally see that happening. “And what did Handsome say to that?”

  A glint of humor shone in Honey’s eyes. “He said I wouldn’t have to give it up . . . if I didn’t tone things down, people were going to stop inviting me, anyway.”

  We laughed, both of us enjoying the happy memory, even if it was still tinged with the recent loss.

  “That sounds like him.” I looped my arm through Honey’s. “We should probably turn back now. We’re nearly at the edge of the beach that belongs to Nicky’s family, and then we’ll be fair game for any reporters.”

  “Ah, true.” We reversed course, and I shivered a little. The wind was blowing against us walking this way.

  “You know, Kyra, maybe we’re both coming at this the wrong way,” Honey said thoughtfully. “I wonder if there might be another route to the same destination.”

  “Okay.” I wasn’t sure I understood where my grandmother was going with this line of thought.

  “As Handsome often said, people are more likely to drink anything sweet than they are something bitter. What if you found a way to deliver the same message, but in a gentler way, to reach those folks who might otherwise take offense?”

  I nodded. “I see what you mean, but I’m not sure I know how to do that.”

  “The right opportunity will present itself at the right time.” Honey bumped against me. “Just be patient.”

  “Patience is not my strong suit,” I observed.

  “Something else you inherited from me, I’m afraid.” Honey paused again, lifting her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun. “But when I’m most at my wit’s end and feel like I might explode—when all the troubles in the world seem like they’ll never be solved, or at least not in the timely way I prefer—then I like to come out here and stare at the ocean. It reminds me that this world is finite, and so am I. We take one step at a time, and we do our best.”

  “Over the last months, I’ve begun to think I’m constantly running to catch up. I have so much to learn, and then it seems they throw me into the deep end and expect me to do the breast stroke like a champ. Things that seem natural to me turn out to be no-no’s—like taking a picture with a woman and her baby when we’re on an official visit. Who would think there’d be something wrong with that?”

  “You’ll figure it out, darling.” Honey brushed sand from her leg. “Eventually, you’ll learn where the booby traps are and how to avoid them. And you’ll also learn when to stick up for yourself and take a stand on an issue. For instance, the picture incident? That’s ridiculous. Ignore it. Figure out where to draw your lines and then stick with it.”

  “You sound like Nicky.” We trudged up the beach, away from the ocean and toward the house. “He says very much the same thing. But I don’t want to make anyone unhappy.”

  “That, my dear, is an impossibility. There are some people in the world who are absolutely determined to be upset about one thing or another. When you meet those people, the best thing to do is to ignore them and go on your own way. They’ll find something else to be unhappy about sooner and later, and they’ll forget all about you once they realize their opinion doesn’t matter to you.”

  I thought about her advice for a few minutes. “That works, unless it’s the Queen who’s unhappy with me.”

  Honey chuckled. “True, but from everything Nicky has told me, his grandmother likes you very much. So as long as you and Nicky are happy with each other, and the Queen isn’t raising objections, then—what is it that your sisters say? Oh, you do you.” She winked at me.

  “Oh,
Honey.” I giggled as we climbed the steps to the deck. “Are you sure that you don’t want to live with us in England? You’re good for my soul.”

  “Sweet girl, I plan to visit so much that it’ll be as though I live there,” she promised. “But as much as I enjoy Great Britain, I think I’m better off in the good old US of A.” She hooked her thumb to her chest. “With all this spunk, I’d end up getting you into more trouble than you do on your own.”

  “But think of the fun we’d have.” Kicking off my shoes, I washed off my feet in the small foot shower.

  “We would, indeed. But the truth is, I’m not sure England’s ready for two Duncan women living there.”

  I snorted. “England’s not sure it’s ready for one Duncan woman living there.” A wicked smile curved my lips. “But they all better get used to it . . . because as long as the man I love is on that island, I’m not going anywhere.”

  17

  It took me a solid week of being back in London before I began to recover from our trip to Florida. I allowed myself that long to rest, hibernating at the cottage and not seeing anyone except for Nicky. I didn’t take calls from work or from the Palace. I needed the time to adjust to going on with life after losing Handsome.

  Three days after we’d returned home, I had a message from Aline, the head of the Press Office at Kensington Palace.

  Ms. Duncan, I’ve tried to telephone you, but Sophie informed me that you are staying in seclusion this week. However, I did want to inform you without delay that while you were in the states, it came to the attention of the Palace that a member of our staff was sharing information with several reporters. The leaker, in fact, worked for me, in my office. I had no inkling of his betrayal until it came to light. Of course, his employment was terminated immediately. Please accept my apology for any inconvenience or discomfort his indiscretion might have caused you. I’ll look forward to discussing this with you further once you return to the Palace for your regular sessions next week.

  “I can’t tell if she really feels badly about the situation or if she’s just trying to save face,” I mused to Nicky that night. “If anyone is owed an apology, it’s the staff at Honey Bee, since she accused them of being the problem.”

  “I think you’d wait a long time for that, Kyra.” Nicky shook his head. “My suggestion is that you accept what she said with good grace and move on. Trust me when I say that she won’t forget her mistake. But she might actually be a bit easier on you, thanks to that memory.”

  I decided that Nicky was right. I could afford to extend some grace, particularly as I’d be working with these people for a long time to come.

  At the end of my week in hiding, Daisy came over to visit.

  “Nicky told me not to come,” she announced when I opened the front door to her insistent knocking. “He said you’re not ready to see anyone, and that you just need time and space.”

  “But you decided that didn’t apply to you,” I guessed, smiling at her in spite of myself.

  “Of course, it doesn’t.” She dropped her colorful patchwork purse onto the bench near the front door and sank down on the sofa. “You always want to see me. Besides, I figured after the way we left everything before . . . well, before we heard the news, I owed you an explanation and an update.”

  “I’ve heard some of it from Nicky.” I sat down across from her and folded my arms over my chest. “The annulment is in the works, he said.”

  “It is.” She inclined her head. “And after a few days of sulking, I had to admit that maybe what I did was slightly impulsive.”

  “Slightly,” I snorted. “So what’s happening with, uh, Roc? Are you still dating? Nicky told me who he really is.”

  “Oh, did he?” Daisy’s lips tightened. “That’s surprising, as I’m not sure even I know that. But no. We’re not dating. I haven’t seen him since the day after we got back from Scotland.”

  “I’m sorry.” I reached over to touch her hand. “Are you okay?”

  Daisy lifted her eyes to meet mine, and for one brief moment, I had a glimpse of bleak pain. Then she blinked, and it was gone.

  “Of course, I’m fine.” She pulled back her hand and straightened up. “It was a lark, you know? Just something fun, something outrageous to do. Something to relieve the boredom of life.”

  Her voice was flippant, with an edge of cynicism I hadn’t heard before. As long as I’d known Nicky’s younger sister, she’d been filled with joy, a happy and buoyant girl. Nicky and Alex often remarked that she was the wild child, the one who didn’t seem to care about royal rules or protocol. She’d chosen not to live at Kensington Palace with the rest of us; instead, she kept a two bedroom flat in a chic London neighborhood. I’d been to visit her frequently since moving to England, and I loved the more relaxed vibe in her home. It was always a welcome respite from the other royal apartments.

  “Daisy.” I spoke tentatively. “If you need to talk to anyone, or if you want to talk about this now. . .”

  “I don’t.” Her tone was sharp, and when I winced, she sighed. “I’m sorry, Kyra, but I really don’t. I want to forget this ever happened, and that’s going to be hard enough with the newspapers writing about it every other minute. When you’re a part of this family, nothing is ever forgotten. No memory ever dies.”

  I was quiet, not sure how to answer that. Daisy’s face flushed red, and she covered her mouth. “Oh, God, Kyra, I’m so sorry. That was horribly insensitive of me, when you’ve just lost your grandfather. I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

  “It’s all right, Daisy. Seriously, I didn’t even think anything of it.” An idea occurred to me, and I leaned forward. “You know, now that you’re here, would you like to do me a favor? Cassa’s been messaging me since I got back home, wanting me to come in for a fitting for my wedding gown. I haven’t been ready to leave the house yet, but I really should go see her. Would you go over there with me today?”

  She brightened. “Are you serious? Really? But I thought no one in the family was going to see the gown until the day of the wedding.”

  I shrugged. “I was thinking that, but you know, given everything that’s happened over the past few weeks, maybe I need to relax that rule a little.” I stood up and offered Daisy my hand to pull her up, too. “And who better to take the first peek than my soon-to-be little sister? You can give me your honest opinion of it.”

  “Oh!” She gave me the only genuine smile I’d seen since she’d arrived on my doorstep. “I would love to see your gown! Can we go right now?”

  “Sure,” I laughed. “Let me get changed and call Cassa to let her know we’re on our way.”

  Daisy pointed to the steps. “You go get dressed, and I’ll text Cassa. The sooner you’re ready, the sooner I get to see the dress!”

  “Nicky, wait until you see Kyra in this gown—she’s going to be so beautiful, so breathtakingly gorgeous, that you’re going to be speechless at the altar on your wedding day.” Daisy reached for another piece of fish and took a healthy bite.

  “Kyra is always breathtakingly gorgeous.” From his spot at the table, Nicky smiled at me, his eyes warm. “Whether she’s wearing a fancy designer gown or . . . nothing at all.”

  “Ewwww.” Daisy wrinkled her nose. “I don’t need to hear about your disgusting sex games. Mind your manners.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who wrangled a dinner invitation and who is currently devouring the food I brought home specifically for my lovely fiancée.” He mock glared at his sister. “If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can put down the fish and go home.”

  “Nicky.” I laid my fingers on his arm. “Don’t be mean. Daisy and I had such a nice time today. I actually left the cottage and had real human interaction. You should probably be thanking her.”

  “Maybe.” He picked up a chip and pointed it at Daisy. “Don’t drag Ky into any trouble, do you understand?”

  “Because I’m completely capable of finding enough of that on my own?” I finished his unspoken though
t.

  “I didn’t say that.” Nicky hitched his chair closer to mine and slung an arm around me. “And I wasn’t even thinking it. But I know my sister, and she’s always had a talent for turning up mischief, as our nanny used to say. Even when she’s not looking for it.”

  “I think you mean that I’m much more fun than you and Alex.” Daisy smiled and batted her eyes at her brother. “And that’s certainly true. Kyra needs more fun in her life just now.” She turned to me. “What are you doing . . . oh, Friday? I have the afternoon completely free.”

  “Kyra does not.” Nicky leaned back. “Or at least, that’s something we have to discuss.” He wrapped a strand of my hair around his finger and gave a teasing tug. “Do you remember that we were supposed to visit the community gardens in Tottenham with the Queen before we had to fly to Florida?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I was looking forward to it before everything broke with the interview, and then . . . not so much. I was dreading facing the Queen, knowing I’d embarrassed her.” I lifted one shoulder. “And then with everything else, I just forgot about it.”

  “First of all, you didn’t embarrass Granny. If you had, we’d have heard something about it. Don’t worry about that.” Nicky brushed a kiss over my cheek. “She carried out the engagement without us, but my secretary spoke to the director of the gardens today, and they’d love for us to make a quick visit Friday afternoon, if we could work it out. They’re having a picnic that day to celebrate the opening of a new field, and we could make a fairly low-key time.”

  “Will there be press there?” I was pretty sure I already knew the answer, but hope sprang eternal.

  “Of course, there will be,” Daisy answered for him. “There always are.”

  “Yes, she’s right,” Nicky conceded. “The reporters will be there, I’m sure. But not too many, I’d think. And it will be pretty relaxed.” He cocked an eyebrow at me. “You can even wear jeans.”