by Jenny Frame
When she reached Bea, Roza curtsied. “Thank you for seeing me at short notice, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t be silly. You can pop in anytime.” Bea hugged her and gave her a kiss on each cheek.
That was yet another thing that was different about George and Bea, Roza mused. They were happy to see family whenever they asked, as long as they had no previous appointments. At home she even had to make an appointment to see her father.
“Let’s talk while we walk. We’re on our way to check the banquet preparations in the ballroom,” Bea said.
Roza fell into step beside Bea, with Rex leading the way and Lali following behind.
“How was the foundation launch?” Bea asked.
“It went really well, apart from a couple of awkward questions from one reporter.” Roza sighed.
“There’s always one, I’ve found. You’ve done well, Roza. The Queen and I are so proud of you.”
Roza had to gulp down the emotion she felt welling up in her. This was the first time in her life people were actually praising her. Perri, Lex, George, and Bea. Her brother loved her unreservedly and had always been on her side, but he was usually trying to get her out of whatever scrapes she had gotten into, not praising her.
“That means a lot. Thanks, Bea, but I could never have gotten this off the ground without Lex. She’s been so strong for me, giving me confidence and helping me in any way possible.”
Bea slowed and stopped as they got near the ballroom. Bea had seen the adoration Roza had for Lex at the polo, but she had also seen wariness in Lex’s eyes, as if there was part of her she was holding back. “How are things going with Lex?”
“We are very close, but she won’t give a name to what we are together. She thinks my family won’t accept her past, and I’ll leave.”
Bea remembered that fear that George would leave her eventually. “I can understand that fear, Roza. I felt I would lose George, that a more suitable woman would be found, but George made me believe. You have to do the same. Why don’t you take control and tell your brother about Lex, gauge his reaction?”
“Yes, I think I will. Would you mind telling George how serious this is?” Roza asked.
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is,” Roza said. “I want to show Lex that we can be together, and that brings me to the favour I need to ask you. Would it be possible to bring Lex with me tonight, as my date? I know it’s short notice but…”
“It’s all right by me. Lali? Could we fit her in?” Bea looked to her friend who was checking through her computer pad.
“There were a few cancellations. It’s just a matter of rejigging the seating plan, and Sir Hugh may be a bit testy about that.”
Bea rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. I can persuade him.” Bea looped her arm through Roza’s and said, “Come help me look over the ballroom.”
Two footmen bowed and opened the large ballroom doors. The first glimpse was spectacular. The light from the large chandeliers made the gold plates and glasses sparkle with radiance.
There was a collective gasp from the three women, and Bea said, “It’s beautiful.”
They walked in and all the staff bowed or curtsied to Bea and Roza. There was Air Marshal Sir Hugh Blair, Master of the Household, Simpson the senior page, and the royal florists.
“This looks wonderful. Well done, everyone.”
Sir Hugh inclined his head in a bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“I wanted to show Princess Rozala how wonderful everything looked.”
Bea saw Roza barely restrain a chuckle, knowing the bombshell she was about to drop, messing up the entire table plan.
“It’s spectacular, Sir Hugh,” Roza said animatedly.
“You’re too kind, Your Royal Highness.” Then turning to Bea he said, “May I talk you through the seating arrangements first, ma’am?”
Bea walked to her and George’s seats at the head of the table and gripped a chair. “Before we do that, Sir Hugh, I have a tiny little adjustment in the seating plan.”
Sir Hugh and Simpson looked at each other nervously. Bea knew it had taken days of planning to get this table looking as incredible as it did. The lighting, the groaning dishes of fruit, the sparkling gold cutlery and plates, and now she was about to shake it all up.
“Princess Rozala would like to bring a guest, and Lali tells me there have been cancellations in the days running up to the dinner, so can you add one more place?”
Sir Hugh and Simpson gulped hard, and were just about to protest when Bea said, “Princess Rozala thought it would be impossible at this late hour, but I said no, our Master of the Household and senior page are the best in the business, consummate professionals who’ll have no trouble fitting your guest in.”
Bea gave him her biggest smile, and watched the panic in his eyes as he knew she had boxed him into a corner.
He put on his best fake smile and said, “Of course, ma’am. No trouble at all.”
Yes! I’m good. Bea turned to give Lali and Roza a sly wink when a wave of dizziness turned her world upside down, her knees turned to jelly, and the last thing she heard were voices shouting, “Your Majesty!” Then her world went black.
*
George ran down the corridors of Buckingham Palace, closely followed by Cammy, hurrying towards her private rooms. She had been talking with the Yeoman of the Cellars about the drinks for tonight’s banquet, when Cammy came to tell her Bea had taken ill.
As soon as she heard, she ran. Nothing else mattered but getting to her wife.
Footmen and women looked startled and bowed quickly as she tore down the hall to her rooms.
“George, calm down, man,” Cammy shouted from behind, but nothing could calm her until she had Bea safe in her arms.
She burst into their drawing room to find Bea sitting on the couch, with Dr. Chris Brown, the Head of the Medical Household and Physician to the Queen, checking her vitals, and Lali standing behind her.
“Bea? What happened?” George rushed to her side and knelt in front of her.
“I’m fine, Georgie. No need to panic. I just had a little dizzy spell.”
George cupped her cheek with her hand. “Fainting is not nothing. Cammy said you collapsed in the banqueting hall. Dr. Brown? What is the Queen Consort’s condition?”
Dr. Brown looked too conflicted and struggled with her words. “Her Majesty is settled and is in good health.”
“Well? Why did she faint?” George saw the doctor and Lali look nervously at their shoes. “There’s something I’m not being told, and I want to know what it is, now.”
Bea said to Dr. Brown and Lali, “Could I have a minute alone with the Queen?”
“Of course, ma’am,” Dr. Brown said, and Lali led her out.
When they were alone, George kissed Bea’s palm and said, “Tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring me, Bea.”
Bea smiled at her and stroked her hair tenderly. “There’s nothing to be scared about, I don’t think anyway. It was meant to be a surprise. I wanted this to be special, magical, but I didn’t expect to keel over and feel sick as much as I have.”
George felt all the blood drain from her head to her toes, and her mouth dry up. Somewhere inside she knew what this meant, but her brain was too full of cotton wool to process it.
“You have been feeling sick a lot,” George said in a monotone.
Bea sighed. “I didn’t know for certain until this week and I was going to tell you at Windsor, at the weekend, in our family home.”
George’s heart was beating out of her chest. “Our family home?”
Bea laughed gently. “Kiss me, Bully?”
She was confused but leaned forward to kiss her wife on the lips. Just before their lips met Bea whispered, “I’m pregnant.”
She heard the words but somehow they didn’t make sense. “You’re…you’re pregnant?”
Bea grasped George’s hair and nodded her head. Her partner wasn’t slow by any means but Bea suspected tha
t George had wanted this for so long, that she couldn’t quite comprehend it was real.
“I know what you’ve wanted for us, and I know that I was a bit reluctant so early in our life together, but I listened to what you said about making a family from our love and I was certain I wanted it too.”
“You’re having a baby?” George said with a squeak.
Bea nodded. “I’m having your baby. I hope you don’t mind that I went to the clinic myself, but I wanted to give you a surprise—”
Bea was engulfed in a hug. “Oh my God, you’re having our baby. I love you, I love you.”
George kissed her deep and hard, then pulled back with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, my darling. You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.”
Bea joined her partner in shedding tears. The moment was overwhelmingly emotional. To share such joy with George—in this moment she wondered why on earth she had waited so long to share children with her.
She took George’s hand and placed it on her stomach. “I can’t wait to share this experience with you, and watch you holding our baby.”
“I promise you both that I will always take care of you.”
“Kiss me,” Bea said.
*
Bo studied the file on her computer silently, while her private secretary, Felix, waited on her response.
“I was contacted by the royal correspondent at the Daily Speaker,” Felix said. “They had a tip-off from someone inside Timmy’s that Princess Rozala and the director, Lennox King, are having an affair. Due to the rumour that Number Ten isn’t in favour of having the princess in the country, they wanted a nonattributable quote on this new development.”
“What does intelligence say about Brandt’s current activities?” Bo said.
“We don’t have a location, but the internet chatter is that her group are slowly building their caches of weapons. As soon as targets are found, they will be taken out.”
“You know as well as I do how embarrassing this could be for us. The Queen insisted Princess Rozala’s presence was a family matter, and refused to think about the damage to Britain’s reputation. All we need is for a terrorist action to be linked to the deaths of any UN military personnel and we are up to our necks in the shit.”
“You’re not wrong, Bo,” Felix said.
Bo sighed with frustration. “Roza is getting too much good publicity with all this charity work. The more popular she is, the less pressure I can bring to bear on the Queen about getting rid of her. There is going to be a shitstorm when Thea Brandt is caught, and the princess is going to be the first port of call for the world’s media. I don’t want Denbourg sharing this scandal with us. This is their problem. I want that spoiled brat out of my country.”
Bo sat back in her chair and crossed her legs nonchalantly. “Wouldn’t it be unfortunate for this file on Lennox King to fall into the hands of an irresponsible journalist?”
“Or several irresponsible journalists?” Felix said, feigning innocence.
“Quite.” Bo smirked.
“If you’ll excuse me, Prime Minister, I have some work to do.”
*
George sat in a comfortable armchair enjoying a predinner drink and a quick look through the evening news, while Holly put the finishing touches to Bea’s make-up. As usual on a formal occasion, the dogs were banished so as to not leave their marks on the Queen’s and Queen Consort’s fine clothes.
“I think that’s everything, apart from your jewellery. Do you want me to…?”
“It’s okay, Holls. I’ll be fine from here,” Bea said.
Holly smiled and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Good luck, Your Majesty.”
George stood as Holly curtsied to her on the way by. “Congratulations again, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Holly.”
Bea walked to her full-length dressing mirror and placed her jewellery case on a side table.
George couldn’t get over to her quickly enough. Bea looked absolutely beautiful. She was wearing a cream-coloured evening gown, with her hair swept up, allowing a tantalizing glimpse of Bea’s neck and shoulders. The feminine look was in contrast to George’s white tie and tails, but they both wore the blue sash and diamond badges of royal authority.
After all the many lonely nights in the past and getting ready for these sorts of events alone, George adored these times, and now that Bea was pregnant, it was even more special. She slipped her hands around Bea’s waist and rested her hands on her abdomen. “You look radiant, Mrs. Buckingham.”
“And you look handsome, Georgie.”
George sighed with utter contentment. “You’ve made me so happy, you know that?”
Bea turned her head so she could look at George. “You’re not upset I went to the clinic without you?”
George held open the velvet box and let Bea put on the diamond and sapphire earrings that matched the necklace beside it. The set had been given to Bea by the Dowager Queen and remodelled in a more modern setting.
“Not at all. It made finding out all the more special. That’s why I gave my stem cell donation as soon as we were married, so that no matter what we could have a child.”
Once the earrings were on, George took out the necklace and stood behind her to fasten it. George secured the necklace and placed delicate kisses along her shoulders and neck, inhaling her gorgeous perfume as she went. “You smell wonderful.”
Bea sighed in pleasure. “So? Would you like a little prince or princess?”
“I don’t care. As long as it and Mama are healthy and happy.”
Bea turned into George’s arms. “Oh, I feel our first baby disagreement looming.”
George looked puzzled. “Why?”
“I’ve made lots of compromises in becoming your wife, entering the royal family, and leaving my republican roots behind me—I think you’ll agree.”
George nodded. “I know. You made a monumental decision to enter this gilded cage with me.”
“But after all that, if you think I’m going to let our little child call me”—Bea put on her poshest accent and said each syllable slowly—“Mama like a posh kid, you’ve got another thing coming. I’ll be Mummy. You can be Mama.”
George laughed. “We won’t argue over that. You can be called whatever you wish, my darling, but I must also say I am not a mama either. It doesn’t fit who I am inside. I’m more of a papa but people won’t see me as a papa. It’s hard to explain.”
“I understand, sweetheart. Don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”
George kissed Bea on the forehead so as not to smudge her wife’s lipstick. “You always understand.”
“And I always will. This baby is going to have some crazy life.” Bea sighed and smoothed her hands over George’s lapels.
“I know the world will go loopy when we announce this, and the baby will be followed by cameras every day of its life just like I was, but I promise I will do everything in my power to control the media storm.”
Bea nodded. She knew that was true. George always fought to keep their lives as private as possible. “When should we tell Theo and the family? I hope you don’t mind Lali and Holly knowing. It was hard to keep it from them.”
“Of course not. Why don’t we tell them after our first scan, just to make sure everything is okay first? It’s only a few weeks.”
“Sounds perfect. Speaking of family, Roza popped in today,” Bea said, “out of the blue.”
“Oh? How was she?”
“Great, her charity event at Windsor went without a hitch, but she had a few awkward questions about a mystery suitor the press think she has.”
“I take it you mean Lennox King. I thought they were just casually dating.”
Bea turned around and took her hands. “Come and sit with me.”
George was led over to the couch and they both sat. “What’s wrong?”
“They have become lovers, and Roza cares for her very much,” Bea told her.
George rolled her eyes. This was the
last thing Roza needed, more romantic problems. “And what does Lennox say about it? Are her intentions to have a relationship?”
“I don’t know what her long-term intentions might be, or if they would ever get the chance. Lex has some past issues that she believes would hamper Roza if the press found out about her.”
Now George was worried. “What past issues?”
Bea took her hand and said, “Now don’t get worked up and worried.”
“Tell me,” George said flatly.
Bea gave her a potted history of Lex’s past and tried to reassure her that her addiction issues were all behind her.
“Cocaine and alcohol? You knew and you didn’t tell me?” George couldn’t hide the fact that she was angry.
“I was told in confidence about it—besides it didn’t affect her work.”
“I should have known.” George got up and started to pace. “If the press get ahold of this, it could cause yet more embarrassment for King Christian, not to mention the kind of influence Lex could have on her if she goes back to her addiction.”
“Don’t be such a hypocrite, George,” Bea said angrily. “How many drug and alcohol charities are you patron of?”
George was taken aback by Bea’s anger. “Many, I—”
Bea got up and faced her. “Exactly, and you have given countless speeches about giving people second chances, and third and fourth chances if need be, but if it touches your family it’s different?”
She couldn’t answer against that. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I’m simply worried because Roza has just come out of a dreadful relationship, and she is extremely vulnerable.”
“I know that, but Lex has been clean for six years and is utterly devoted to her health and well-being. Besides, her strength is exactly what Roza needs.”
“Of course you’re right. So what does Lex say on the matter?”
“She believes King Christian and Prince Augustus will not allow a former drug addict in the family.”
“She may be right. Uncle Christian is very old-fashioned.”