Royal Court

by Jenny Frame

  “Good to meet you, Clayton.”

  Lang said, “Clayton, why don’t you take Captain Quincy along to the Queen’s private apartments? We leave for the airport in an hour. We can go over the itinerary on the plane.”

  “Yes, sir,” Clayton said.

  Quincy stood to attention before nodding to Lang and walking out the door. As soon as they were out of earshot, Clayton said, “I’m really excited to work with you, ma’am.”

  Clayton was so much younger than the rest of the team. A good thing if she was to fit in with the princess in years to come. Clay had warm black skin, short shaved hair at the back and sides, and tight brown-tinged curls on top. Unlike the other members of the team who could be mistaken for bankers in their suits and tailored clothes, Clayton wore a much more fashionable blue suit, with an open-necked white shirt and studs in her earlobes.

  “Not everyone on the team seems to be,” Quincy said.

  Clayton glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. “You mean Garrett? Don’t worry about her. She’s hardly said two words to me since I started my assignment here.”

  “So what’s her problem?” Quincy asked.

  Clayton smiled. “Your job. She thought it was hers since your predecessor handed in her notice.”

  Great. Jealousy and disappointment. From Quincy’s experience, that was exactly what a good team didn’t need.

  Just then the sound of a child’s laughter came from behind them. They both stopped and turned to see what was going on, and Quincy saw a woman with Princess Edwina in her arms, and a honey-coloured dog walking beside them. Princess Edwina had a Rupert Bear in her arms and was hugging it tightly.

  The woman’s thick reddish-brown hair was obscuring her face, until she looked up, smiling at them both.

  It was her. The woman from the polo match, whom her security files had identified as Holly Weaver. She got the same strange sensation looking into her eyes as she had that day when she pulled off her polo helmet. An excitement in her chest and a shortness of breath.

  Holly held her gaze silently for a few seconds before giving Clayton a smile. “Morning, Clay.”

  “Morning, Holly, and good morning Princess Edwina, and Rex.” Clayton waved.

  Holly moved Princess Edwina around to hold her in her arms. “Say hi to Clay, Teddy.”

  The one year-old smiled, and waved vigorously. “Hi.”

  It was the first time Quincy had seen Princess Edwina up close, but she was so like George with that dark brown hair and blue eyes.

  “Who’s your friend, Clay?” Holly asked.

  “This is Captain Quincy, Queen Beatrice’s new protection officer.”

  Quincy was sure Holly was giving her a forced smile. “Another captain? We are well stocked up with captains, then. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get Teddy back to her mummy.”

  “Walk, Holl,” Princess Edwina said.

  Holly put her down and took her Rupert Bear from her. Princess Edwina toddled back along the corridor, one hand in Holly’s and the other on the back of Rex.

  “See you, Holly,” Clayton said.

  Holly picked up her pace and soon she disappeared the way she’d come.

  Clayton let out a long breath. “Gorgeous, isn’t she? She’s exactly the kind of woman I’ll be looking for someday. And that hair…don’t you just want to run your hands through—”

  Clayton stopped midsentence when Quincy gave her a pointed look. “I don’t think that’s appropriate while we are working, Clayton.” Obviously things were very lax here.

  “Sorry, ma’am,” Clayton said quickly.

  “I know that Queen Beatrice has probably fostered this easy-going attitude, with good intentions, but we must be professional.”

  “Got it, Captain. Yes, she does. Her Majesty is so nice, and everyone on staff is a little bit in love with Queen Beatrice.”

  “I can imagine. Just remember she and her personal staff deserve respect,” Quincy said.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll take you to her now.”

  ***

  George sat at her desk, going through her paperwork as quickly as possible, so she could spend a quiet evening with Bea and Teddy before the madness of their royal tour ensued. Her dogs, Shadow and Baxter, lay on the rug beside her.

  She gazed at the moving picture of Bea and Teddy in a silver photo frame. She wondered for the millionth time how she could have been so lucky. In those dark days after her father died, George never could have imagined such happiness was around the corner.

  Bea had fallen into her life and become not only the perfect wife, but also the perfect consort. The country adored her as she did, and Bea was making the role of consort her own, bringing her skills as a former charity director to organize and design targeted campaigns, in conjunction with the other members of the family, to put important social issues on the national and world agendas. She worked so hard, George found it difficult to keep up.

  Only last week Bea and Theo were campaigning together for a child bereavement charity. Her brother Theo had really knuckled down to his role as prince, and they were a powerful threesome in support of lots of causes.

  Then there was her little princess, Edwina. They had started to call her Teddy, not long after she came home from hospital. Although Edwina was a fine strong name for a future Queen, it was quite serious for a little girl. Not only was Teddy short for Edwina, but seeing how close she was to her teddy, Rupert Bear, George started to call her that and it stuck.

  George prayed that Teddy’s namesake, her father Edward, was proud of the family she had made. Nothing made her happier, and every day she felt so blessed.

  George signed one of the documents from Number Ten and placed it in the last red box of the morning. She lifted the final file out and saw it was some amendments to her speech for the first stop in their North American tour, Toronto.

  This tour was going to be so exhausting for Bea and Teddy—that was the only thing that worried her. When Prime Minister Bo Dixon and her team were putting together this tour, they seemed to forget that they were a family and not robots, although George had managed to negotiate a number of solo engagements for herself, while Bea and Teddy would stay behind and rest.

  George felt like Bo Dixon used her and Bea as Britain’s own diplomatic corps. Anywhere Bo needed support in the world, or to mend fences with unfriendly countries or their leaders, she would deploy them like an army. It was their role to be Britain’s goodwill ambassadors, but to her mind, Bo was cynical about it. The moment after the United States elected their first African American woman commander-in-chief, Bo began organizing this tour. She wanted Britain to be the first to visit President Virginia Watson.

  New trade and manufacturing deals were up for grabs, and it was George’s job to make sure the US felt a strong bond of friendship with the UK.

  George was interrupted by a knocking at her office door. A footman walked in and said, “Captain Quincy to see you, ma’am.”

  George smiled and stood. “Yes, of course. Bring her in.”

  Quincy came in, bowed her head at the door, then walked forward when George extended her hand. Quincy bowed again when she arrived in front of her, then shook her hand.

  “Good to see you, Quincy.”

  “Good to see you, Your Majesty. You asked to see me?” Quincy said.

  “Yes, let’s sit down.” George indicated the couch at the window.

  The dogs jumped up and wagged their tails excitedly. Quincy patted them as she passed.

  “Calm down, you two,” George said.

  “They are still very excitable then, ma’am,” Quincy said. She had met the Queen’s dogs many times at polo and horse events. They were always bouncing and following close behind her.

  “You could say that,” George said as she sat.

  Quincy followed suit and patted Baxter the boxer’s head. Shadow had already gone to lie down.

  “What about Rex, ma’am? I know he was very close to King Edward,” Quincy asked.

  George
crossed her legs and smiled. “He’s Queen Beatrice’s dog now. He adores her, although Teddy runs her pretty close. Rex has been stuck to her like glue from the start. Never lets her wander too far and guards her from all foes,” George joked.

  Quincy smiled, but she felt a tightness in her chest. How was she going to cope in this close kind of family environment? She just wasn’t equipped for it.

  “So how are you doing, Quincy? Are you well recovered?” George asked.

  “Quite recovered, ma’am.” What a liar she was. She had a scarred body and a scarred heart and soul. She would never recover.

  George narrowed her eyes. “Really? You know you can speak to me or Cammy anytime, in the strictest of confidence.”

  “I know that, and I am quite well and ready to serve, ma’am.” She didn’t even talk to her mother. She would never talk—it was her burden to carry this pain inside of her.

  George patted her on the shoulder. “It’s George in private, remember? And the admiral? Is she well?”

  “Yes, she is.” Quincy would never know what her mother was feeling. Feeling was weakness to her.

  “Well that’s the ticket then, isn’t it? I hope you will enjoy working with us, Quincy.”

  “It’s an honour, George. I promise, Queen Beatrice will always be safe with me.”

  “I know that, Quincy. That’s why I asked for you. I trust you implicitly. Bea is my life, and her safety and Teddy’s safety are my top priority.”

  “I promise you, I would die to protect her, ma’am.”

  Never again would she let her friends down. Never again.

  Chapter Two

  Beatrice smiled broadly when she saw George walking through the plane with their daughter hanging by her ankles, giggling, but still managing to hold on to her Rupert Bear.

  They had been in the air for only twenty minutes, and Teddy was restless already. Luckily, their private plane was big enough for her to toddle around and use up energy under the supervision of her other mum.

  Bea was sitting in the lounge area of the plane that had comfortable upholstered seats, a coffee table, and a drinks fridge. The back of the plane featured an office and private bedroom, while the front of the plane had seats and tables where the staff generally did their work and planning.

  “George, you’ll make her sick,” Bea said.

  George turned Teddy the right way around. “Not at all. You’re quite all right, aren’t you, Teddy?”

  “Uh-huh,” Teddy said, “’orsey, please?”

  George gave her a big kiss and said, “In a little while, Teddy bear. Mum has to go and practise her speech.”

  Bea held out her arms. “Come to Mummy.” George handed her over and gave Bea a lingering kiss. “Don’t kiss me like that when you have a speech to practise, and I have your daughter in my arms.”

  George grinned, apparently pleased she still had the capacity to excite her wife with the merest kiss.

  George leaned over and whispered, “Do you remember how we used to spend our time on these long-haul flights before?”

  Bea remembered. Despite the speeches to be rehearsing, and the red boxes to be done, they’d always found time for each other and some fun in the plane’s private bedroom.

  “I remember only too well, Bully. That was before we became responsible and had a baby. Now we have neither the time nor the energy.”

  “Oh, I’ve always got energy for you, Mrs. Buckingham.”

  Right on cue Teddy said, “Juice, Mummy.”

  “You see?” Bea said.

  George smiled and reached into the fridge for a bottle of Teddy’s favourite juice. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Bea sighed contentedly. “Me either. Now go and play with your papers. The people of Canada are waiting to be stunned by your speech,” Bea joked.

  George raised her eyebrow and said, “They might be out of luck since our beloved prime minister wrote it.”

  Bea chuckled. George had said that with huge dose of sarcasm. Bo Dixon’s popularity had plummeted with the public ever since she’d invited President Loka of Vospya to the UK, despite his appalling civil rights record. The only thing in Bo’s favour was a really weak and unelectable opposition.

  “Well, do your best,” Bea said.

  “I’ll try.” George kissed both Teddy and her on their foreheads and made her way to her office.

  As soon as George walked away, Holly slipped in to sit beside them.

  “Hi, Holls.”

  “Hi. Your outfit is steam pressed, and good to go,” Holly said.

  “The blue dress?” Bea said.

  “Yes, and Teddy’s to match,” Holly said.

  “Thanks, Holls. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I never pictured myself being a clothes horse, and yet here I am.”

  Holly sat back and smiled. “It’s easy to pick things out when you’re dressing someone with your figure.”

  “Hardly, Holls. It’s taken hard work to shift the baby weight after this little one right here.”

  Holly laughed. She absolutely loved her job, having worked as a make-up artist in the TV and film industry, where generally she didn’t get much of a chance to be creative, because she was always working to someone else’s vision. Now she was working for her best friend, and she had the complete control of Bea’s wardrobe, and the responsibility to cater exactly for each public event she attended.

  Holly knew Bea’s likes and dislikes, and without any budget concerns, she could really go to town and express herself. It wasn’t always easy. This North American tour had taken six months to plan. Once the destinations and activities were decided upon, it was her job to plan, source, and buy an entire wardrobe. It had been stressful at times, but they got everything done.

  Bea went to settle Teddy down for a nap, and Holly flagged down one of the airplane staff and ordered coffee for them both. While she waited, Holly looked over to the other seats where Lali and Captain Cameron were supposedly going over the plans for the visit, but Holly smiled when she saw their hands clasped together.

  They were so perfect for each other. Bea had told her that Cammy had been a bit of a lady’s woman in her past, but that had all ended when she clapped eyes on Lali Ramesh.

  Would she ever be that lucky?

  Holly then shifted her gaze to the seats behind Lali, and to her surprise found Captain Quincy’s eyes already on her, the captain’s face set in what she thought was a scowl. When Holly had found out the dishy polo player was joining the staff as Bea’s protection officer, she had been both excited and scared. Excited because she couldn’t wait to find out if Quincy lived up to her good looks, and scared because—just like with Story St. John—Quincy reminded her how much she was attracted to women, and that she was denying a whole part of herself that was screaming to get out. Because she didn’t ever want to have her heart broken again.

  Since her first love broke her heart, she had sought out flings with men who didn’t want an emotional connection. That suited her and had given her the reputation as a man-eater.

  But Holly needn’t have worried and shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover. So far Captain Quincy had been as dull as dishwater. She stood guarding Bea like a statue, never breaking into a smile, and only speaking to bark orders to those staff around her.

  Even though Quincy screamed butch lesbian, everything else about her was straight and boring. Plain grey suit, slightly darker grey tie, white shirt. Her short dark hair, simply combed to the side. There was nothing about Quincy that showed any sort of individuality.

  Holly longed to go over there and ruffle up her hair and maybe give her a red tie, something to liven up the ordered grey appearance.

  Quincy had ignored Holly, and she supposed that suited her, but the cold stares and scowls were annoying.

  She looked right at Quincy and said pointedly, “Can I help you?”

  Quincy looked back down to her computer pad quickly and never replied.

  “What am I? Invisible?” Holly
said.

  “Who’s invisible?” Bea said sitting back down.

  “Nothing. Teddy go down okay?” Holly asked.

  Their coffee was delivered, and Bea took a sip and sighed. “Yes, all the excitement has gotten to her. I left Nanny Baker with her.”

  “I think Nanny Baker will want to join Teddy in a nap. It’s all too much excitement for her too.”

  Bea laughed. “I know. I promised her that as soon as we come back from this trip I’ll hire a new nanny.” When she was a young woman, Nanny Baker had looked after George and Theo, and when Bea was reluctant to choose from the candidates offered for Teddy, George had persuaded her own nanny to come out of retirement. However, the pace of royal life and Teddy’s energy were a little too much for the older lady. “I hate having to have a nanny in the first place, but I know we can’t take Teddy everywhere.”

  Holly saw the guilt in Bea’s face every time she had to leave her daughter, and it made her more determined to keep things fun for them both.

  “This trip is going to be such hard work,” Bea said. “I don’t want Teddy to feel the stress of manically going from one venue to another, and I don’t want her to be pushed aside.”

  “Don’t worry, Your Maj. I promised I’d organize some fun stuff for the personal days you had scheduled into the trip, and if you and George want some space, I’ll take Teddy out.”

  “Thanks, Holls. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Lali. I need my own support system inside this royal bubble. Do you know, some of the older royal courtiers wanted Teddy and me to travel separately from George?”

  “Why?” Holly asked.

  Bea scowled. “Some outdated nonsense about the monarch and the heir to the throne travelling together. If the plane goes down, so does the heir.”

  “That’s bloody morbid, and hardly likely these days,” Holly replied.

  “I know,” Bea said. “George and I soon shot that idea in flames. We’re a family and we travel together.”

  “I doubt you were that polite,” Holly said. She was well aware Bea had little tolerance from the stiff older courtiers who still populated the palace staff.