Christmas at the Palace

by Jeevani Charika

  ‘Delighted,’ he said. And he really did look delighted. ‘Glad to meet the woman who’s finally made an honest man of Benedict.’

  Kumari smiled. ‘Thank you. I do like a challenge.’

  Rhodri laughed. ‘I’m sure you do.’ He gestured to the barman. ‘What can I get you?’ he asked Kumari.

  ‘Diet Coke, please,’ she said.

  ‘No ice,’ said Benedict.

  Rhodri raised an eyebrow. ‘You know the little lady’s tastes already.’

  Benedict winced.

  ‘I’m not a “little lady”, I’m a doctor,’ Kumari said. ‘But yes, no ice. Thanks.’

  Rhodri’s eyes moved from one to the other. The tips of his ears went pink. ‘Er . . . right.’

  The barman placed the drink on the bar. Kumari took it and thanked Rhodri again. He nodded. There was an awkwardness in the air now that hadn’t been there before. Kumari felt it was her fault.

  ‘Shall we sit down?’ said Ben.

  They moved to a table that had worn baize armchairs around it.

  Rhodri coughed. ‘Look . . . er . . . I didn’t mean to be patronising there . . .’

  Kumari looked at him, surprised to hear him apologise.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m sorry I snapped at you like that. I’ve just had a day of being patronised by a consultant at work. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.’

  ‘Truce?’ said Rhodri.

  ‘Truce.’ They shook on it.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ben relax.

  ‘So,’ she said. ‘This place . . . ?’

  ‘Home from home,’ said Ben. ‘Nice, quiet place to come and socialise without any risk of being caught by an errant mobile phone.’

  ‘I stay here whenever I’m in London for business,’ said Rhodri. ‘It’s nice to have somewhere where the staff know you, if you see what I mean.’

  ‘I imagine it is.’ Kumari sat back in her chair and let the stress of the day drain out of her shoulders.

  Ben and Rhodri resumed their conversation about cricket. She tuned out and let the tranquil atmosphere wrap around her instead. A few other people came in and the bar gradually got busier, but it wasn’t exactly noisy or bustling. She could see why Ben liked it. It wasn’t as empty as his apartment, but not so busy that he needed to put his guard up.

  Every so often someone would come by to say hello. Most of them called him ‘sir’, but a few seemed to know him well enough to call him Ben.

  Eventually, a waiter came in and whispered something to Ben, who nodded. Ben stood up and offered Kumari his arm. ‘Dinner?’

  The waiter rang a bell to say that dinner would be served. Since they had a head start, Ben and Kumari were first into the dining room.

  ‘Is Rhodri eating alone?’ said Kumari. ‘Should we ask him to join us?’

  Ben looked back to the door where people were filing in, caught Rhodri’s eye and pointed to a table.

  ‘Are you sure you two don’t want to eat alone?’ said Rhodri. ‘Since you said you didn’t get to go out often . . .’

  ‘No, we eat alone all the time,’ said Kumari, even though they only met a few times a week. ‘It’s nice to meet one of Ben’s friends.’

  ‘Well in that case.’ He sat down.

  Kumari grinned. ‘Maybe you should tell me all about what Ben was like at university.’

  ‘Hang on,’ said Ben. ‘I’m not sure I like this idea so much now.’

  Rhodri laughed. ‘All the more reason, eh, Kumari?’

  It was a surprisingly enjoyable evening. Kumari wasn’t sure what she’d expected – something more old-boy network maybe. The club had a relaxed atmosphere and Rhodri was genuinely good company. More than anything, she liked how Ben seemed relaxed and happy. She was starting to realise how much of himself he held in reserve when he was out in public. Always smiling, never a misplaced phrase, never a scowl. The perfect mask of civility at all times. It was a bit like . . . well, a bit like being a doctor. She always thought of her professional manner as a cloak that fell into place as soon as she saw a patient. It was like a switch was flicked in her head and the internal monologue of Kumari was replaced by the calmer, more sensible voice of Dr Senavaka. How else could she face the blood and tears in A & E?

  Perhaps it was the same with Ben. When he was in front of the public, he was Prince Benedict. Bastion of royal etiquette. With her, in private, he was Ben – charming, slightly goofy and adorable. Here, he was somewhere in between. Closer to Ben than to Benedict. It was nice to see. He laughed at something Rhodri said and Kumari fell in love with him just a tiny bit more.

  After dinner there was tea in another room, where the leather in the armchairs was worn down to butter softness. There was a fire in the grate – a gas one, judging by the lack of smoke. Warmth, good food and the aftermath of a day at work made Kumari’s eyelids droop. She sank into the cushions of her armchair and let it soothe her.

  She must have fallen asleep because she was woken up by Ben touching her arm. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered, forcing her eyes open.

  ‘Come on, let’s get you home,’ he said.

  She was given her coat and her mobile phone, which she gratefully pocketed. ‘It did not ring, madam,’ the concierge solemnly informed her.

  Ben shrugged on his big coat. ‘The usual exit please,’ he told the concierge.

  A few minutes later, they were escorted down a corridor to a side door. Kumari was fast learning that celebrities had access to all sorts of secret side entrances. Dave was waiting by the door. Ben opened the car door for Kumari and smiled. As she slid inside there was a flash of light. Someone took a photograph. Everything sped up. She dived into the car. Dave bustled Ben in and shut the door. The car was already moving when Dave jumped into the front. Shapes ran past the windows.

  Dave looked into the back. ‘Are you OK, sir? Madam?’

  ‘Yes. We’re fine. What the bloody hell happened there, Dave? I thought the club was secure.’

  ‘So did I, sir,’ said Dave grimly. ‘I checked everything. They must have been lying in wait outside.’

  ‘But how would they know we were here?’ said Kumari.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Ben. ‘They could have been waiting on the off-chance. I’ll get Anton to look into it.’

  Anton, Ben’s private secretary, was another person that Kumari was getting to know quite well. He kept Ben’s diary and made sure that Ben was fully briefed on whatever event he was attending that day. He was sharp and efficient and had a sense of humour that he kept well hidden most of the time. Kumari liked him immensely, but could see that an angry Anton would be a very frightening creature.

  ‘It may be advisable to return to your apartment, sir, rather than Dr Senavaka’s place. We are being followed.’

  Kumari looked out of the back window and couldn’t tell which of the cars was following them. It looked like normal traffic to her.

  Ben looked at Kumari. ‘Is that OK? You don’t want people finding out where you live. Lucy won’t get any peace once they know.’

  She sighed and nodded. She had a change of clothes at Ben’s place. ‘I’ll text Lucy and let her know.’

  The feeling of warmth and well-being was gone. She felt alert and on edge. She texted Lucy and told her she couldn’t come back that evening.

  The response came: I haven’t seen you in ages. I only get to see you at work.

  Kumari texted back. I’m sorry. Something happened. Paparazzi moment. Can’t come home in case they follow me

  There was a long pause before Lucy said: OK. See you when I see you, then. Night.

  She turned her phone off and settled back in her seat. Ben’s warm hand found hers. She looked across at his face, painted in moving shades of light and dark as they drove through the city. He looked worried.

  ‘You OK?’ she asked him. He nodded slowly.

  ‘Sure?’

  Ben rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘My mother was popular with the press. We
were always being photographed, but mostly at a respectful distance. We went about our business, and if we were in public, they took photos and wrote about us. That was OK. But once my mother was ill, they were everywhere. One even tried to sneak into the hospital to see her. Even for us, it was too much. She wanted to die at home, quietly. She didn’t want any pictures of her looking ill to get into the press. We had to smuggle her home in the middle of the night, like we were fugitives. They couldn’t let her have her last journey with dignity.’ He sighed. ‘I can’t stop the press being interested in what my sisters and I do, but I don’t have to like it.’

  She tried to imagine what it must have felt like to be a thirteen-year-old boy, dealing with his mother’s mortality and trying to keep some semblance of privacy. ‘Oh, Ben.’

  He gave her a small smile that broke her heart. ‘I had hoped to protect you from this a bit, but I think our period of peace and quiet is at an end.’

  *

  Since she wasn’t working the next morning, Kumari joined Ben in his morning meeting with Anton.

  Anton showed them a photograph taken in the dark. It showed her bending forward to get into the car. Her face was partially obscured by her hair. Benedict, standing beside her, was clearly visible and the way he was looking at her made it obvious that they were together.

  She looked at Ben. ‘What do we do?’

  Ben chewed his lip and glanced at Anton. ‘Well . . . it had to come out sometime. We’ve had six months of relative quiet.’

  ‘We could let the thing run its course,’ said Anton. ‘It’s not the first time you’ve been linked to mystery young women, sir. I dare say this will blow over.’

  ‘Except the normal photographs are of me talking to some woman at an event. In broad daylight. With very little evidence of anything,’ Ben pointed out. ‘This is us leaving a private club that I’m known to be a member of and . . .’ He gestured at the paper.

  ‘And your face says it all,’ Kumari finished for him.

  ‘Are you ready for this?’ he said. ‘You have no idea the crapstorm that’s going to be unleashed when the press works out who you are.’

  ‘I’ll have to face it some time.’

  Ben sighed. ‘I’ve got to go on this tour of Scotland for the next few days. That should keep the press off your case for a bit, but after that . . .’ He rubbed his hands over his face. ‘I’m sorry, Kumari. This is not how I expected to ask you to move in with me, but would you consider moving in with me, or, at least, close to me?’

  She stared at him. ‘I’m not scared of some reporter. They can’t force us to take our relationship at a different pace.’ She put her hand over his. ‘Let’s see how this pans out, shall we? If they find out who I am and start showing up at my flat, I’ll have you guys on speed-dial anyway.’

  ‘We can let the local police know,’ said Anton cautiously. ‘So that they know to respond immediately if anything is reported in the building.’

  ‘There,’ said Kumari. ‘It’ll be fine.’

  Ben brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles, but he didn’t look convinced.

  * * *

  The Daily Flash

  Who is Prince Benedict’s mysterious girlfriend?

  Sources close to the prince claim that he has not been seen at many social functions lately. Could this be because he has a new love interest keeping him closer to home? Who is the mystery woman who was seen leaving his private members’ club with him last night? The dark-haired beauty does not appear to be anyone known in the prince’s usual circles. Yet, the look on the prince’s face suggests that she’s someone very special indeed. The prince’s office declined to comment.

  Inside: Prince Benedict’s ex-girlfriends, where are they now?

  ‘Sources close to the prince?’ Lucy put down the newspaper. For the first time in ages, they were both in the flat at the same time, having a leisurely morning off.

  ‘Ben has no idea who they are. He thinks they were probably making that bit up.’ Kumari was sitting on the sofa, her legs curled up underneath her. ‘Hopefully, he’s right.’

  Lucy peered at the photograph again. ‘They’re right about the way he’s looking at you, though. That’s the look of a smitten man.’

  Kumari’s cheeks warmed at the thought. She loved that he looked at her like that. Did she look at him the same? She didn’t, did she? She asked Lucy.

  ‘I’ve not exactly seen the two of you together, have I?’ Lucy said pointedly. ‘But you do go all moony when you talk about him.’

  ‘I will take you to see him one day, honest. I was going to check with Ben and Anton to arrange a date, but then this happened and put the kybosh on everything.’

  Lucy put the newspaper down and sat back. ‘What’s it like?’ she said. ‘Are his sisters nice?’

  ‘Ophelia’s lovely. Helena is . . . more formal. Very nice, though.’

  ‘Oh, come on, you’ve got to give me more than that! You guys have been together for months now and you haven’t given me any gossip. You know I won’t tell anyone.’

  ‘OK, OK!” Kumari laughed. ‘What do you want to know?’

  ‘His sisters,’ Lucy said firmly.

  She ordered her thoughts. ‘They really are nice. But they have this . . . self-control thing going on. It’s like they’ve been trained to have a pleasant, smiling face. They can listen like nobody’s business. When it first happens you think, oh yes, they’re interested in what I’m saying, but after a while you start to wonder whether they really are, or whether they’re actually thinking about what’s for dinner.’

  ‘Which is it?’

  ‘I think – and I could be wrong – they actually are listening. It’s part of the job.’ She leant her head against the back of the sofa. ‘Ben certainly sees it as a job. A role that needs filling.’ She rolled her head sideways to look at her friend. ‘You should see the amount of reading they do before they go to anything. If Ben goes to see someone from a charity, you can bet that Anton will have given him notes on what they do, where they do it, how the prince can help. He doesn’t need to tell them he knows, but he does know. It’s a special skill knowing everything about something for an afternoon and then forgetting it.’

  Lucy absorbed this. ‘Wow.’ She blinked and gave Kumari a strange look.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Are you and Ben serious?’

  ‘I’ve told my parents about him. He’s told his sisters . . . so yes, I guess we are.’

  ‘But how is this even going to work?’

  Everyone wanted to know that. Including her. She thought of her argument with Ben about her career. About Helena’s frostiness. About the huge, rambling set of apartments where you could go for hours without seeing anyone but staff who scurried about being busy. Without warning, tears threatened. Could she live a life like that? Without her job and her friends, what was left?

  Kumari looked down at her hands. Ben had not tried to sugarcoat the truth. These evenings of sitting in her own flat with her friend, sharing a tub of cookie dough ice cream, were a luxury she would soon long for. Her hands blurred.

  ‘Kumari?’ Lucy moved to sit next to her and put an arm around her. ‘Oh. Hey. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

  Kumari wrapped her own arm around her friend. ‘But it’s true. If I move in with Ben . . . all this is gone. I won’t be able to work. I won’t be able to see you. It’ll be awful.’

  ‘But you love him.’

  ‘I do, but—’

  ‘Then it’s worth it.’

  ‘Is it? It’s a gilded cage. You have to follow the rules. Maintain protocol at all times. You can’t just go out if you fancy a takeaway, you need to check with security.’

  ‘But you could have whatever you wanted.’

  ‘No. I couldn’t.’ Kumari’s tears fell hot and fast now. ‘I can’t have this. I can’t slob around in tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt with you. I can’t just go where I want. And I can’t do my job. I worked my arse off to qualify and
get a job, and now it turns out I have to give it up to marry the man I want. It’s so unfair I could scream.’

  ‘At least you can do more stuff for the charity?’

  Kumari’s lip wobbled. ‘I’m not sure I can. In the short term, maybe, but, apparently, it could be seen as being partisan to support a single charity above all others. Anton – that’s Ben’s private secretary – said it would be an argument to have with palace officials. It will be such a fight. Everything will be. It’s already exhausting.’

  ‘Oh, honey.’ Lucy’s arms tightened around her. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘The worst bit . . . the worst bit is that it’s so seductive. I can sit in Ben’s apartment with its lovely high ceilings and sometimes it feels pretty good. At those times I hate myself for what I’m turning into.’

  Lucy let her cry for a bit then left her to find some tissues.

  ‘OK. Tough love time,’ she said solemnly. ‘I understand where you’re coming from, but you can’t have it both ways. You’re going to have to choose between him and your career at some point.’

  Kumari sniffed. ‘I know.’

  ‘And given that you were fed up enough to take a year out to work in a vaccination clinic, I’d have thought it was a no-brainer that the job is the thing to go.’

  ‘Yes, but it wasn’t a year out from being a doctor. I was doing work, treating people. Plus, I’m not cut out for public life. I hate being in front of cameras. I need to be doing stuff. Making a difference in the world.’

  ‘Maybe you still can. Have you had this conversation with Ben?’

  ‘I’ve tried. We end up arguing.’

  There was a short silence. Kumari could almost hear Lucy trying hard to avoid saying something.

  ‘What?’ she said. When Lucy didn’t respond, Kumari said, ‘You may as well tell me.’

  Lucy sighed. ‘Don’t hate me, but are you sure you and Ben are right for each other?’

  ‘Yes. We are. I know what you’re saying. If there was some way I could remove Ben from the trappings of his birth, he would be just perfect. But I can’t.’

  Lucy giggled. ‘So, you’re saying that . . . if your handsome prince was less of a prince, you’d be happy?’ She smiled. ‘You are such a weirdo.’