“About what?” Elsie asked.
“I said no” Gwen answered looking out the window.
Sir Windsbury breathed a sigh of relief. “You know of course what the old hag’s plan is? She won’t stop trying. I saw the magazine.”
“You don’t strike me as somebody that reads the tabloids” Gwen laughed.
“I saw it on the King’s desk. I didn’t even bother to read. I knew immediately it was nonsense.”
“At least there’s one person that believed in me from the start” Gwen said and Elsie felt that familiar jab of guilt in her ribs.
“Is there something I need to know?” Elsie asked.
“The less you know at this time, Elsie, the better. I will tell you everything in due course.”
Sir Windsbury laughed. “I see. You have a few plans of your own, don’t you?”
Gwen winked at him.
Sir Windsbury excused himself when their parents arrived to have a word with the Countess’ servants.
He then returned to first open the doors for the King and Queen and then for the princesses.
A row of chairs was reserved for them in the front and as soon as they were seated, the Countess and her two daughters entered, holding each other, crying. The minister started the ceremony with a text from the Bible and then read from his notes a short biography of the Earl. His wife and daughters gave the occasional wail and the sounds of sniffs drifted through the other mourners. When it all was done, they got up out of respect and watched the family walk towards the house.
“That’s us one of these days” Gwen said barely audible and the King gave small nod, tenderly taking the Queen’s hand in his.
Inside Seventh Manor only a few people remained to comfort the Countess. The royal family was among them.
“My Lady?” Gwen knelt in front of the grieving widow and placed her hands sympathetically on her knees.
“Princess Guinevere” the Countess tried very hard to smile. “Where’s the hat?” she joked.
“Where it belongs. Hidden in the deepest corner of my wardrobe” Gwen said. “Please know that my deepest sympathies are with you in this time and if there’s anything, anything at all, do not hesitate to call on me?”
“Thank you” the Lady mouthed.
“And the same goes for you Muriel and Francesca. We should have lunch some time. I’ll have my assistant, Grace, contact you for arrangements.”
Gwen got up and joined the rest of her family.
“Shall we go? Your mother is tired” the King asked.
“Alright with me” Gwen said and they left the house.
“Could I borrow some of your time once we’re back at the palace, Father?” Gwen asked as he got into the car.
“I’m just going to attend to the Queen then I’ll meet you in my office.”
Dame Margaret directed Sir Windsbury to the Kings car and invited herself to the princesses’ company.
“Kneeling in front of a lesser royal?” she reprimanded Gwen as they drove off.
“She’s a woman in mourning. Have a heart” Gwen looked astounded at Dame Margaret.
“It’s unheard of even in death” the dame continued.
Gwen gave Elsie the look she usually would before saying ‘Cover your ears, Princess’ but she looked back at Dame Margaret and said: “Could we continue this discussion once we’re back at the palace? Maybe in the presence of His Majesty so that I can get both of your scolding’s at the same time?”
“Sounds perfect.” The dame grimaced.
The Lady stepped from the car first and hurried up the steps of the palace. Sir Windsbury greeted her as she passed him at the door.
“Whatever you’re planning, think it through twice” he whispered to Gwen.
“I have this. Don’t worry. She’ll be gone as soon as today” Gwen whispered back to him.
Sir Windsbury watched Gwen follow Dame Margaret up the stairs with a worried expression.
“Sir Windsbury, I don’t like being left in the dark especially if I know something big is going down” Elsie said as soon as they were alone.
“Just know this, Your Highness. Whatever your sister is planning on doing, she’ll be doing it in your best interest.”
“I’m surprised to see that you are still here in spite all that has happened.” Dame Margaret helped herself to some of the King’s whiskey. She offered some to Gwen as well.
“No thank you. I have decided that my father might have called on me for a reason after all. He might not admit but my support in this time is extremely important to him.”
Dame Margaret laughed. “Your ignorance astounds me.”
“Ignorance? As his eldest daughter I see my presence as irreplaceable.”
The dame moved closer to Gwen and whispered: “You should’ve taken the deal and ran. The King has enough confidants to see him through this time. I am the King’s closest confidant. “
“And in the end, it was the snake Cleopatra kept closest to her bosom that killed her” Gwen whispered back to her.
Dame Margaret stood back, amused. “Are you comparing me with a snake, Your Highness? “
“Oh no, Margaret, comparing you to a snake would be an insult to the specie.”
The timing was perfect. Gwen felt the back of the dame’s hand burning on her cheek just as the door opened.
“Dame Margaret!” The King shouted in shock.
Dame Margaret stood back a few paces and looked from the King to Gwen, unable to explain her action. “Your Majesty, I…”
“Leave the palace immediately and spare yourself the humiliation” the King ordered.
“Your Highness, forgive me.” The dame tried to save the situation by pretending she was remorseful. She tried to touch the place where her hand left a red impression but Gwen grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. “Take the deal and run. In the old times they hanged a lesser royal for the treachery you just committed.” she whispered before pushing her away with a smile.
“Sir, I was provoked” she turned her plea to the King.
“LEAVE!” he hollered. Dame Margaret looked almost pathetic as she left the room with hunched shoulders.
“Are you alright, Gwen?” the King asked concerned.
“She hits like a girl” Gwen laughed rubbing her cheek. “Excuse me, Father. I would like a minute to compose myself.”
“Certainly” he said but held her arm as she passed him to go to her room. “Did you provoke her?” he asked.
“Does it matter if I did?” she replied with a mysterious smile and kissed him on the cheek.
Chapter 15
The sweet smell of roses floated in through the balcony doors. Gwen and Elsie sat cross legged on the bed, bits of pink card board strewn about.
“How does this sound?” Elsie showed Gwen her notepad.
“Dear Sir or Madam, you are cordially invited to a celebration of the life and work Her Royal Majesty, Queen Marie the Third on blah, blah, blah. It’s perfect” Gwen said.
“We can still get somebody to do this, you know?” Elsie said.
“It will mean much more if we do it ourselves. Google for a few pictures of roses, would you?”
It took Gwen a few days to give Elsie a crash course on everything about the Internet. The King formally dismissed Dame Margaret in a letter the same day she lifted her hand to Gwen and with her departure a whole lot of her rules left too. It didn’t take much for Gwen to convince the King to purchase a computer for the palace but once the machine arrived they couldn’t get him away from it. So, he ordered them each a laptop instead.
There were only three days to go before the living funeral and with everything that had happened they didn’t get around to much planning.
“Your Highnesses?” Grace peeked into the room.
“Morning Grace” they chimed.
“We have a few things on the agenda for today. May I read you your schedule?”
“Please do” Gwen said without looking up, cutting out squares from woven hand
made paper.
“There’s a dental appointment for Princess Elsie at 10. The dentist will come to see you in your chamber and then there’s your weekly tea with the Duchess of Nat…”
“Could you cancel the tea, Grace?” Elsie asked.
“Don’t” Gwen stopped her.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea after last week’s…”
“I know this is a bit short notice Grace, but can you please sent a flower arrangement over to the Duchess with a card telling her something like, ‘I feel deeply regretted by my behavior during our previous meeting. Looking forward to our tea this afternoon.’ Any other responsibilities?”
Grace blushed. “The Duke of Doorn has invited Princess Guinevere to dinner.”
“Who the hell is that?” Gwen asked Elsie.
“He's only the most handsome nobleman in the country. He wants to court you” Elsie said excited.
“Court me? Please send him a pair of my panties and a card saying that I would regrettably have to decline his invitation and that he is more than welcome to dream on.”
“Seriously?” Grace asked carefully.
“No, damn it” Gwen laughed. “Just decline. Tell him I am currently too busy with an important project.”
“It’s the Duke of Doorn, Gwen” Elsie sneered through her teeth when Grace had left.
“Elsie, I don’t know the guy.”
“Then get to know him.”
Gwen sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “Oh, alright, I’ll arrange a date after the ball. I need to get this done first. So, we have the flowers, the food, invites should be ready by tomorrow. We still need to see the stylist about our gowns…”
Sir Windsbury entered carrying a tray with a pot of tea and two cups.
“You’ll make sure the staff’s all set on Saturday” Gwen asked him as he placed the tray on the table next to the bed.
“I can’t” he said and poured them tea.
“What do you mean you can’t?”
“It’s my night off” he answered.
“You can’t have Saturday night off. I need all hands on deck for this” Gwen said horrified.
“I arranged it with the King some time ago already. I have an important event to attend.”
“Argh, I don’t believe this. Probably the most important event of my life and the one person I absolutely need to be here has something more important to do.”
“I’m sure the staff will be more than capable of controlling themselves” he shrugged. “You’re just stressed. Drink your tea and relax.”
“Gee, thanks doc. Will you at least be available to help with the preparations during the day?”
“I only took the night off, so yes” he left the room cursing under his breath.
“It’s almost ten. Mind if I close the door while the dentist is here?” Elsie emptied her cup in one gulp.
“Scared I’ll hear you cry like a baby” Gwen mocked her sister.
“No, I’m scared you’ll distract him” Elsie joked. “I’ll see you at tea then.”
Elsie felt horrible at tea. She had to get a filling and her mouth was left a bit swollen. To make matters worse she kept worrying about what other part of the Duchess’s physique Gwen was going to insult this time.
Elsie tried to keep the wind from blowing into her sensitive mouth and altogether avoided conversation. There they sat in an awkward silence. Elsie, the Duchess of Nat and Stephanie, who wore a hat with a piece of netting that tactfully, covered the bridge of her nose.
There was a scuffling behind them and Elsie couldn’t help but have respect for Gwen’s sense of plotting. On her arm, leaning on a cane, she led the Queen into the garden.
“Such a wonderful day isn’t it” the Queen said in a hoarse voice.
“Your Majesty.” the Duchess and Stephanie got up and bowed.
“Good Morning, Tillie, Stephanie” she greeted. “I was just telling Gwen how excited I am about this weekend’s ball. Will I see you there?”
The duchess opened and closed her mouth as though expecting words to just fly from it. “Well…uh…sure…if we’re invited of course?” she stuttered.
“Of course you are” Gwen said and helped herself to a scone. “I will have your invite delivered to you by tomorrow morning. Dress code will be ball formal and black tie in pastel colors if possible so you can get started on planning those outfits. And Stephanie, leave the hat at home. Your nose looks great.”
“Have you decided on your colors yet? The duchess inquired. “I don’t want us to show up stealing the show, you know?” she joked.
“I think we’ll be going for shades of pink. Gwen?” Elsie looked at Gwen for confirmation but she was looking peculiarly at something between the roses.
“You know what my relationship with pink is, Elsie…” Gwen said.
“Well, Princess Elsie and I will be wearing pink then. As for Princess Gwen…she sure loves to be the element of surprise” the Queen watched Gwen nervously.
“I sure do, Mother” Gwen said, her mind obviously made up that her gown will have to be the talk of the evening, once again.
Chapter 16
Elsie thought she had imagined Gwen yelling at somebody earlier that morning but when she exited the room, she could still hear her sister going off on the landing below.
“This is ridiculous!” Gwen yelled at the Queen who looked like she was boiling over with amusement. “I thought we had already gone through this. Am I not able to find someone myself?”
“What’s with all the yelling?” Elsie yawned.
“Father dearest, HAS ARRANGED A BLOODY DATE FOR ME THIS MORNING!” Gwen screamed, her arms folded over her chest.
“Ask father to cancel it. We’ll be too busy with the finishing touches for tomorrow in any case.”
“I would love to but he and Sir Windsbury HAS LEFT FOR A DAMN MEETING WITH THE HERITAGE COMITEE! I can’t even cancel it myself as he made the arrangements!!”
Elsie couldn’t help but laugh too.
“It’s not funny” Gwen yelled. “It’s damn oppressing!”
“Who’s the date with?” Elsie sat down and helped herself to some toast.
“Oh, you won’t believe it. That darn Duke of Doorn. Argh, what the hell is his problem?’
“Your return has caused quite I stir among the noble bachelors” the Queen said stirring her tea.
“THERE’S MORE TO COME?”
“A whole waiting list apparently.”
“This is…is…ARGH!” Gwen fell down on her chair and stabbed her breakfast sausage with her knife. “I hope he hasn’t chosen a favorite yet. I will shoot down every last one of them.”
“He has hinted that he is in favor of a certain one but he would like to give you your options and decide for yourself.”
Gwen breathed heavily in disbelief. “If it wasn’t for the fact that she’s gone, I would have thought this insanity came from Margaret.”
“Now, calm yourself, Gwen and have some breakfast. Just be yourself” the Queen said with a giggle.
“Oh, I damn well will be myself, alright.” she said disgusted.
“You keep me insight the whole time, okay? Gwen went back to her old style dressed in her favorite boots and jeans.
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry.” Elsie had a hard time not laughing at Gwen.
“I’ll give you the signal when I’ve had enough of this clown.”
“Black Sabbath. Got it. And if things are going well and you need me to disappear?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Your Highness. The Duke of Doorn” Grace announced from the steps that lead out to the garden. She looked dreamily at the hunk as he walked away from her towards Gwen.
Elsie sighed and Gwen snorted.
“Princess Guinevere. Princess Elsabeth” he greeted in a deep, rich voice and bowed. He handed Gwen a bouquet of white lilies which she shoved into Elsie’s arms. He was tall, with straight blonde hair that seemed to have a way of its own and hypnotic blue eye
s. His brought shoulders and arms looked like they could crack a watermelon into pieces with a light squeeze.
“I’ll leave you two then” Elsie said, her voice dripping with suggestion.
Elsie didn’t go far just as promised. She sat down on a bench just out of sight to where her sister and the Duke took a seat at the bench in the rose garden, pretending to read a very thick novel.
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