Royal Court

by Jenny Frame

  Quincy felt a strange sensation in her stomach. Like it had been tied in a knot. “Let’s hope that Story St. John is everything Ms. Weaver wants her to be,” Quincy lied.

  ***

  George leaned over into Princess Edwina’s cot and gave her a kiss. “Have sweet dreams, little Teddy bear.”

  Teddy was sound asleep, her arms wrapped around Bea’s Rupert Bear. It had belonged to Bea’s deceased sister and never left Teddy’s side.

  The nursery room door opened and Bea came in with her ballgown on. “Is she asleep?” Bea whispered.

  “Sound asleep, and as adorable as ever,” George said.

  Bea leaned in and stroked Teddy’s forehead. “I hate to leave her, Georgie. She’ll be all grown up before we know it.”

  “She’s happy, safe, and warm here, my darling. Tomorrow we’re travelling to Washington, but then we have a family day. Tonight she won’t even realize we’re away.” George took her wife’s hand and kissed it. “You’re ready awfully early, Mrs. Buckingham. I usually have to hurry you along.”

  “Holls got me ready early, so she could get ready for tonight. She’s so excited.”

  George sighed. “I can’t imagine what is so exciting about that annoyingly smarmy actor.”

  Bea play hit George’s shoulder. “Stop pouting. It’s all about Holly tonight. It’s a dream come true for her to meet Story.”

  “I thought Holly went for men,” George said.

  Bea leaned her head on George, who put her arms around Bea in turn. “Not quite. She’s always had crushes on women. She thinks that we haven’t noticed, but I know she’s never been in love with any of the men she meets. I think one day the right woman might make her fall in love.”

  “You don’t mean Story St. John,” George said with disdain.

  “Oh no. I don’t think Story is the one-woman kind of girl,” Bea said. Teddy kicked her covers off and turned onto her side. “She’s definitely your daughter, George. You always wake up with no covers.”

  Bea pulled the blankets back over Teddy.

  “Only because you steal them away from me,” George joked.

  Bea sighed contentedly as she gazed at her daughter. “It’s amazing to think our little girl will be Queen one day. A little girl that can’t sleep without her bear—a Queen.”

  “She’ll grow up to be good and kind just like you, Bea. She’ll be a perfect Queen,” George said.

  “I hope she gets your height, Georgie. I wouldn’t wish my small stature on anyone,” Bea joked.

  “I love your height, my little smout.”

  Chapter Four

  Holly literally skipped down the hall of the hotel. She was going to meet Story St. John, and she couldn’t wait. She hoped she would fit in amongst all the rich and famous.

  There was only one dress she’d brought that would fit the evening-dress brief—a short black velvet dress with sequins around the neck and long sheer sleeves.

  Bea had told her that she would be travelling in the car following them, and she went along to the Queens’ room, singing one of the latest popular love songs as she went. She spotted Clayton and Quincy standing guard by the door in dinner suits. As she got closer she smiled and said, “Don’t you two look dashing and handsome.”

  Holly got a look and a smile from Clayton, but Quincy continued staring forward.

  “Thanks, Holly. Captain Quincy helped me with the bow tie thing. You look beautiful, by the way.”

  Even though Clayton was speaking to her, Holly’s gaze stayed on Quincy. She was intrigued by the woman. She was a statue.

  “Thanks, Clayton. Good evening to you, Quincy,” Holly said, forcing Quincy to respond.

  “Good evening, Ms. Weaver,” Quincy replied but didn’t look at her.

  This aggravated her no end. She walked up to Quincy and said, “Listen, Quin. You could at least have the decency to look at me. What’s your problem?”

  Quincy barely moved a muscle but lowered her eyes to look at Holly and repeated, “Good evening.”

  Holly wasn’t going to waste any more time on her special night trying to get an ignorant upper-class twit to talk.

  “Does she ever say more than two words, Clay?” Holly said. Clayton looked up at her commanding officer nervously, not sure what to say, so Holly rescued her. “I can’t wait to go tonight and see all those film stars. Do you think there’ll be dancing?” Holly grasped Clayton’s hands and twirled and danced with her.

  Clayton laughed. “You’ll be the prettiest one there, Holly.”

  Holly stopped dead and said in a breathy voice, “Do you think Story will speak to me? I think I might faint on the spot.”

  “If she has eyes in her head, she’ll think you’re beautiful,” Clayton said.

  Holly gave Quincy a quick wink, but she still looked forward impassively. Was she angered or appalled by her? She couldn’t tell.

  Holly turned around when she heard laughter and footsteps from the other end of the corridor. It was Captain Cameron and Lali, holding hands and walking towards them.

  Holly had a few moments of envy that her friend had someone to love and appreciate her, but then all she was concerned with was Lali’s dress.

  As they got closer Holly said, “Lali you look absolutely gorgeous.”

  “I told you,” Cammy said to Lali, then kissed her hand and went to talk to Clayton and Quincy.

  “So are you ready to meet your crush? You look wonderful, by the way,” Lali said.

  “Thanks, but Story won’t even look my way,” Holly said.

  Lali gave her a knowing smile. “Oh, I don’t know.”

  Just as Holly was about to ask what she meant by that, the Queens came out of their room looking, well, regal. Bea was wearing a fabulous silver ballgown with a tiara and the most sumptuous diamond jewellery.

  Bea said, “Right, girls. Let’s go and wow the stars.”

  ***

  Quincy prowled the perimeter of the black-tie event, never straying far from her principal, Queen Beatrice. It was a charity dinner hosted jointly by the Canadian and UK film industries, to raise money for an arts scholarship fund. She watched as the working-class girl from London charmed and wowed film stars, directors, and producers.

  Beatrice had a natural star quality that left the film stars awed, which was not a normal state of affairs. Queen Georgina had chosen well.

  She had known George from school, although George was a couple of years above her. And thanks to the Quincy family’s position, she had mixed with her at horse events and the many polo events in the year.

  They were then thrown together when Quincy’s regiment was stationed aboard George’s Royal Navy ship. It was then that she’d met Captain Cameron. It amazed Quincy that Queen Georgina managed to pluck up the courage to talk to Beatrice, never mind romance her. George was like her—during shore leave they would both stay aboard ship, or at most visit the educational tourist sights. Captain Cameron on the other hand eagerly sampled the sights, sounds, drink, and women of each local culture.

  When she’d heard the rumours about the Queen’s romance, Quincy was surprised but delighted for her, and then when she finally met Queen Beatrice, she could quite understand why George fell for her.

  When she wasn’t focused on Queen Beatrice, there was one other direction Quincy’s eyes flitted tonight, and that was towards Holly. Despite Holly Weaver’s annoyingly irreverent attitude and flagrant disregard for rules, Quincy couldn’t help but admire her beauty. Holly’s black dress was simple but beautiful. Amongst all the glitzy ballgowns and bling on show, she was the one who shone in the room. The low back made Quincy imagine softly stroking her fingers down Holly’s spine, while kissing her shoulder.

  The thought made every part of her ache and she forced herself to shake off the feeling. Thoughts like that distracted her and were ultimately pointless. Holly quite obviously couldn’t stand her, as their conversation before coming here was testament to, and some part of her was saddened by that reality. But that pain
was a warning as to why she couldn’t afford to engage with anyone, not even on a friendly basis. When she cared and showed her feelings, it caused problems.

  It was hard to simply be polite to Holly. Most were put off by her brusque attitude, but Holly kept coming back and trying, and trying again. In a way she envied Holly. Everywhere Holly went, she was upbeat—she sang, danced, talked to everyone, and kept everything fun.

  That was totally alien and tantalizing to her.

  ***

  After a drinks reception, everyone sat down to a dinner. She was sitting beside Lali, who told her the meal was ten thousand dollars a plate, and that George had paid for them. They were incredibly lucky to be living the life they were now. It was just the two of them at a table of actors and a couple of directors, since George and Bea were at the head table, and Cammy patrolled the perimeter of the room with Inspector Lang and his team.

  As the dinner things were being cleared away, Holly looked over to a table she’d had her eye on the whole evening, where Story St. John was sitting. She didn’t disappoint in the flesh—she was utterly gorgeous, especially so in her dinner suit. She wore it so differently to George, Cammy, and ever-so-boring Captain Quincy. Story wore it almost ironically. It was a little too big for her in a sweet, awkward way, and she wore trainers with it instead of dress shoes.

  Story wasn’t tall and had a lanky boyish figure, but she had muscles in all the right places, a fact she loved to show off on her social media accounts that Holly followed religiously. Her hair was delicious as always, short back and sides, but long on top, choppy and flopping all over the place. Story was so gorgeous.

  She sighed out loud.

  “I can guess who that sigh is for,” Lali said.

  Holly smiled. “No one else could make me sigh. You have to admit she’s delicious, Lali.”

  Lali looked over to Story’s table. “She is, but you don’t look at someone all day in a relationship—you need so many more ingredients to really lose your heart to someone.”

  “This from the woman who fell for the dashing Captain Cameron.”

  Lali lifted her wine glass and sipped. “But Cammy did more than simply look good—she romanced me and showed me that she had all the wonderful loyal characteristics that I needed. She chased me for a long time. I needed to be sure it was real. I think your Story is probably loyal for the space of a night, then moves on to pastures new.”

  “Maybe,” Holly said smiling, “but what a night.”

  Lali laughed and shook her head. “Get ready, they’re starting the auction.”

  The organizers had some fantastic prizes donated, and the auction would make a fortune for the film foundation.

  “Look at lot six,” Lali said.

  Holly looked down at the booklet and scanned the prizes. Then she saw it. A dinner date with Story St. John.

  “Wow! If only I was rich,” Holly said.

  Lali laughed. “Remember, you’re supposed to be the straight girl in our group, Holls.”

  “Yes, I remember, but…It doesn’t matter anyway. Some rich bitch is going to bid for this.”

  Lali squeezed her hand. “Let’s bid as high as we can, just to make sure the rich bitch pays top dollar.”

  Holly laughed. “Yes, great idea, Lali.”

  George gave a speech to begin the evening. And as George talked, Holly had the strange sensation someone was watching her. She turned around and saw Captain Quincy looking. As soon as Holly caught her glance, Quincy looked away quickly.

  Strange, thought Holly.

  After the speeches, Holly eagerly awaited the auction. They got to lot six, and Story St. John swaggered up on stage. The master of ceremonies gave her the microphone and she said, “Hello, ladies. Let’s make lots of money for the foundation, and I’ll give you the time of your life.” Story ended her introduction with a wink.

  Some women in the audience squealed, while Holly laid her head on Lali’s shoulder. “Oh God! I think I’m melting.”

  Lali laughed and pushed her upright. “Pull yourself together, Holls, or Ms. Rich Bitch is going to win Story.”

  “Lali, there’s no way we can even compete.”

  “Don’t be so defeatist. Come on,” Lali said firmly.

  The flamboyant master of ceremonies started the auction. “Shall we start bids for the gorgeous Story St. John at one thousand?”

  Holly had a rush of excitement. She wasn’t rich but she had some savings, and one thousand she could bid. Her initial excitement was dashed when nearly every woman in the room’s hand shot up.

  “My, my, Story is popular, ladies,” the master of ceremonies said. “Shall we get serious? Five thousand?”

  This time half the bidding hands went down, including Holly’s. “That’s me out.”

  Lali’s hand remained up.

  “What are you doing, Lali? I don’t think Cammy will be pleased at you spending your life savings on another woman.”

  Lali just smiled. “You’ll see.”

  She watched the auction with interest and couldn’t understand why Lali kept bidding, or where she was getting the money from. It finally came down to Lali and one other woman.

  Holly couldn’t believe her eyes. “Lali, this is serious. You’re going to be left owing a fortune.”

  The master of ceremonies said, “The bid is with you at the back, ma’am. Can you top ten thousand?”

  Lali giggled and shouted, “Fifteen thousand.”

  Holly clasped her hand over Lali’s mouth. “Lali—”

  Lali shook her head and held up her bidding card.

  “Congratulations, ma’am. You are the highest bidder. Come up and meet your date.”

  “Off you go then,” Lali said, pointing first to Holly and then to the stage.

  Holly had no idea what was going on. This was crazy. “What do you mean?”

  “You won. A present from your friend and your Queen,” Lali said.

  Holly could hardly speak. “Bea?” She looked up to the head table, where Bea was smiling broadly at her, and then blew her a kiss and pointed up to the stage.

  “I’m going to kill her, but not before I kiss her.”

  “Up you come, miss,” the master of ceremonies said.

  Lali gave her a push and Holly finally stood. She felt every eye in the room on her as she walked up to the stage. She couldn’t meet Story’s gaze when she stepped up.

  The host asked her name, then said, “Holly Weaver, you have won a dinner date with Story St. John.”

  Story walked over to her with a huge smile and kissed her on her cheek. As she did she whispered, “I’m so glad you won, babe.”

  Holly placed her palm on the cheek that Story kissed and was led off the stage by her. She still hadn’t said a word.

  “Let’s get a drink at the bar and swap details,” Story said.

  Holly could only reply, “Okay.”

  The film star Story St. John was leading her by the hand to the bar to have a drink. This must be a dream.

  ***

  Quincy walked around the room, keeping an eye on any new people coming in and out. She had watched the auction with interest and surprise. What these women saw in that young butch actor who didn’t know how to wear a suit, she had no idea.

  She got even more of a shock when Holly walked onto the stage as the winner. The gossip from the personal staff was that the Queen had paid the winning bid for her friend. The excitement on Holly’s face when she met Story confirmed she must at least be interested in women and was not as straight as she presented. Why Holly would waste her energy on Story, Quincy couldn’t understand.

  Quincy found herself walking around the perimeter of the room, towards the bar. As she did she heard Holly’s unrestrained laughter, and that was exactly how she would describe Holly. Unrestrained in all she did. Quincy hadn’t known her long, but she had never met someone who appeared to enjoy life and express emotion like Ms. Weaver.

  Every day Holly sang joyously as she walked to Queen Beatrice’s
room, lifting the mood of everyone who came in contact with her. It was intriguing to be around someone so polar opposite to her. Quincy didn’t want to feel, tried to stop herself from recognizing the tortured emotions, because she wished to keep her sanity and her job. But Holly felt every moment of every day, it seemed.

  She stood a few yards away from the end of the bar and heard Story give Holly every line in the book. Quincy contemplated for a moment what it would feel like to be Story St. John and enjoy an active sex life with lots of different women, in and out of her life and her bed. The very thought made Quincy panic.

  Yet it was funny to think that Holly Weaver had a more active lesbian sex life than she did, when Quincy was the one who was openly gay.

  Sex and relationships were something that tantalized but terrified her. Quincy wasn’t someone who could just have sex with someone for its own sake. In one way it was the old-fashioned side of her. She thought sex was something that came with commitment, like the bond her friends Jacob and Helen shared. This was just the way she saw the world. But at the core of her decision not to explore the sexual side of herself was self-protection. Deep down, Quincy knew that she was a person who felt deeply and was frightened that she wouldn’t keep those feelings out of any romantic encounter she might have. It was safer to keep things uncomplicated, ordered, controlled—the way the admiral had brought her up.

  Then she noticed Holly looking at her with furrowed eyebrows, and Story gone. Quincy quickly looked the other way and walked off.

  ***

  George hung up her bow tie and unbuttoned her shirt. Bea walked into the bedroom area of the hotel suite from the adjoining nursery.

  “How is my little Teddy bear?” George asked.

  Bea smiled and said, “She and Nanny Baker are sound asleep.”

  George watched as Bea went to her dressing table and took off her jewellery. It always made George’s heart ache to watch Bea take off her finery after an evening engagement. She had done countless events like these on her own, and it had been exceptionally lonely to come back and get ready for bed on her own. Now she was never alone.