Royal Court

by Jenny Frame

  She thought about how excited Holly had been after they returned to the hotel. She and Bea had talked for ages.

  “You know what I don’t understand?” George said.

  “What don’t you understand?” Bea said as she walked over to George. Bea turned her back to her and said, “Unzip me, Bully?”

  George stroked her fingers over her wife’s bare shoulders. “Why did you buy that auction lot for Holly? I know you said you suspected Holly was bi”—George unzipped Bea’s gown—“but surely a Lothario like Story St. John isn’t who you want for your friend.”

  Bea chuckled as her dress pooled at her feet. “Lothario? You really are old-fashioned, Bully.” Bea stepped out of her dress and lifted a clothes hanger from the bed to hang it on. “Story does tend to go through women like there’s no tomorrow, but it’s just stage one in my matchmaking. Hang this up for me, will you, sweetheart?”

  George barely heard her. Her gaze was glued to Bea’s breasts encased in her silk lingerie. She never noticed much when her wife’s breasts were in front of her. She adored them so.

  Bea gave her a gentle poke in the stomach. “Eyes up, Your Majesty. Will you hang up my dress?”

  “Sorry, of course I will, my darling.” George carried the dress over to the large walk-in wardrobe and hung it up, ready for Holly to attend to in the morning.

  When she turned around, Bea crooked her finger and bade her come back to her quickly. George’s heart began to thud…amongst other things. She simply loved her wife’s body, and to think Bea had worried that she wouldn’t be as turned on by her after the baby…well, it was the complete opposite. George loved her body more, and as she had said before, Bea had carried their baby, and that was even more exciting.

  She put her hands around her wife’s waist, and Bea said, “To answer your question—”

  “What question?” George pulled Bea close and nuzzled her neck.

  Bea pushed her back gently. “Why I paid for Holly’s auction prize?”

  “Oh…that.” George sounded as if she’d wished she’d never asked. “Tell me in the morning.”

  “Nuh-uh.” Bea put both hands on George’s chest to hold her back. It was funny but oh-so satisfying that George still wanted her as badly as their first night together. “It’s important. Lali, Greta, and I have suspected that Holly was bi over the years, but in the last year it has seemed like something she really wants to explore. She went gaga over Captain Quincy at the polo, and she’s always been gaga over Story St. John.”

  George looked confused. “What? She likes Quincy?”

  “No…well she did at the polo match, but she certainly doesn’t now.”

  “Why? What’s wrong with Quincy? She’s a fine officer. Decorated for bravery. She’s a real action hero, not a pretend one like bloody Story St. John. I don’t think you’d find a better—”

  Bea put a finger over George’s lips. “Yes, she’s very nice, but there was a mix-up, and well, it’s too much to explain to you, Bully, but Quincy doesn’t exactly engage anyone in conversation. She’s a little quiet.”

  “Quincy has been through an awful lot for this country, Bea,” George said seriously.

  That stopped Bea in her tracks. “Is that the reason why she won her Victoria Cross?”

  George nodded. “It was a classified operation. I know what happened, and I could tell you but—”

  “That’s all right,” Bea said quickly. “You can keep Quincy’s confidence. She has more going on beneath the surface than I thought. Anyway, you’ve distracted me. The first stage of Holly’s matchmaking?”

  “Oh yes, of course. Do tell,” George said, smiling.

  “I want Holly to find love like the rest of us have, and she has tried and tried to find the right man over the years, but I have the feeling she should have been looking for the right woman. Just a hunch.”

  Bea traced her fingernail down George’s chest and over the surface of her sports bra, making George’s nipples rock hard.

  George pulled off her shirt and bra, obviously hoping that would hurry Bea along. “And? Where does Story fit in?” George said breathily.

  “Story is fun, full of life, extremely confident in her sexuality—the perfect person to help Holly explore that side of herself.”

  Bea unclipped her bra and dropped it on the floor. George’s hands immediately went to cup her breasts.

  “Then stage two swings into action.” Bea didn’t think George heard her any more, as George had dropped to her knees and started to kiss her stomach.

  She stroked her fingers through George’s hair. The feeling she had when she looked at George was what she wanted for Holly. Stage two was for Holly to find the one who would love her completely and with unwavering loyalty.

  Bea felt George inch down her underwear, kissing her flesh as she went. She stepped out of her panties and said to George, “Bed, Bully.”

  George stood with the biggest smile on her face. She picked Bea up and carried her over to the bed. Bea pulled George to her and kissed her deeply.

  She ran her hands over George’s shoulders, back, and upper arms. Bea loved the strong muscles she always found there. She didn’t need to fantasize about action heroes like Story St. John because she had her own real soldier ready to make love to her whenever she wanted.

  George kissed down to her breasts and spent time licking and sucking all around her nipples. That was always her partner’s favourite place to be, and that suited Bea since she loved any attention there.

  Bea was throbbing, wet, and desperate for George’s touch. She took George’s hand and pushed it down to her hot centre.

  “Georgie? Make me come while you suck me here.” Bea squeezed her own breast.

  George grinned and slipped her fingers into her hot, wet folds. “My pleasure. Watch me?”

  She groaned at George’s touch. This was going to be quick. George licked all around her nipple while she repeated the motion with her fingers around her clit.

  Bea’s hips started to move as she watched George’s wet tongue tease and tantalize her. “Oh God, yes.”

  From slow stokes George changed her pace to fast by flicking her tongue on the tip of Bea’s nipple, her finger matching the speed and barely touching her clit. It was so good, but frustrating at the same time.

  “Please go inside. I need you,” Bea pleaded.

  “Anything for you,” George replied.

  George sucked her nipple right in her wet mouth and slid two fingers deep inside her at the same time. Bea threaded her fingers through George’s hair and thrust her hips in time with the fingers inside of her. She could feel her orgasm building deep inside of her as an electric current of pleasure ran from her nipple down to her clit with every suck and roll of George’s tongue.

  “Just like that, Bully. Going to come,” she gasped.

  Bea reached down and placed her hand on top of George’s. She wanted to feel every sensation as George fucked her. The ball of heat building inside her reached a peak and tumbled over into an intense orgasm.

  “God,” Bea shouted as her hips thrust, trying to get George as deeply inside her as possible.

  Then she slammed her thighs shut, trapping and stilling George’s hand. “Enough.”

  George let go of her nipple, gave a few final kisses to her breast, then came up to kiss Bea.

  “That was so good, Georgie.”

  George smiled and placed little kisses all over her face. “I love to make you come.”

  Bea stroked the dark hair from George’s eyes. “You’re welcome to do it whenever you want, Bully.”

  George eased her fingers out and pulled her on top of her. Bea looked into George’s blue eyes and sighed with happiness. “You have no idea how gorgeous you are, George. Every part of you makes me want you, but especially this.” Bea put her hand on George’s chest. “Your heart, the love that you have for Teddy and me, makes me the luckiest woman on the planet.”

  George smiled. “Most of the people at the event
tonight wished they were taking you home, so I think I’m the luckiest.”

  Bea reached down and felt how wet George was. “I’m going to make you feel lucky, Your Majesty. You need to come.”

  “Oh yes, I do,” George said.

  As Bea started to kiss her way down to George’s sex, the computer monitor on the bedside table lit up, and they heard Teddy crying.

  “Mum, Mum! Want Mum!”

  George sighed with frustration. Bea rested her head on George’s stomach and giggled. “The joys of parenthood.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” George said, “I’ll go.” She sat up and pulled on some boxers and a T-shirt.

  Bea pulled the covers over herself. “I won’t forget where we were.”

  George smiled. “I’m counting on it.”

  ***

  Inspector Lang gathered the protection squad in the lounge room. They all sat around on the couches while Lang went over the night’s events, all except Quincy who remained standing with her hands clasped behind her back.

  “Tonight went like clockwork, everyone. Well done. Next up is Washington, DC, where the royal party will be met by the president and her husband on the White House lawn. Again, we are only there for two days before moving off to the main tour. We’ll be working in concert with the American secret service, so be cooperative.

  “Quincy, you will lead a team with Clayton when Queen Beatrice and Princess Edwina have a private day at the natural history museum, while the rest of us will accompany Queen Georgina to the marine base. On the security front, everything is quiet, apart from the usual throwaway threats. There’s been nothing substantive.”

  Garrett didn’t like what she was hearing. She should be on point, and Queen Beatrice should be her principal, with that child Clayton under her, looking after the royal brat. It had been her job, she was told, until the bloody Queen stepped in.

  No matter how much things moved on, there was still a culture of the upper-class old boys’ network in Britain, and Garrett hated it. From what she’d heard, Quincy should have been discharged out of the marines, but her mother’s influence swept her assault on her comrade under the carpet. Now she was given the prize of being Queen Beatrice’s protection officer, just because she was the Queen’s old friend.

  Her cold gaze moved onto Quincy, standing there as if she was on parade. Everything about Quincy was aggravating. The way she stood as if she had a stick up her ass, the way those around fawned on her just because she had the Victoria Cross, no doubt given for nothing, but because of her friends in high places.

  Garrett’s phone beeped with a text message: I heard someone took the job you were promised.

  Unknown number. Who could be texting her out of nowhere, and how did they know about her job?

  She typed out a reply: Who is this?

  About thirty seconds later a response came: Someone who shares your hatred. Call me when you get to Washington if you want to help me and get rid of the war hero, and don’t bother trying to trace this phone. I’m fifty steps ahead of you.

  Garrett looked up nervously, and the meeting was over. Everyone was filing out to go to bed. Her heart was hammering in her chest. She should report this, she really should.

  Garrett watched Inspector Lang walk up to Quincy and pat her on the shoulder. Why did everyone think she was so bloody wonderful?

  She looked at her phone. She should report it, Garrett told herself, but then simply put her phone in her top pocket and walked out of the room.

  Chapter Five

  Queen Georgina and Queen Beatrice were making their way to the White House for the official welcoming ceremony. The line of armoured cars containing the royal party and their staff drove slowly, flanked by police outriders.

  Bea took a handkerchief out of her bag and wiped Princess Edwina’s mouth. “We shouldn’t be taking Teddy, George. She’ll be so bored.”

  George was sitting on the other side of the car reading over her speech. “I know it’s not ideal, but both the British and American officials were quite eager to have Teddy with us. The American officials are keen to emphasize the easy-going family element that President Watson has brought to the White House, and our beloved prime minister wants the good publicity that we, as a family unit, bring Britain PLC. Basically, they all want the photo op of us all together. The president’s son and daughter will be there too.”

  “I don’t like the idea of our daughter being a photo opportunity, Georgie,” Bea said with an annoyed tone to her voice.

  George put her papers to the side and leaned over to take Bea’s hand. “I know that, and I want to protect you both on this trip as much as possible. Bo Dixon was insistent, so I negotiated. Teddy attends with us for this ceremony, and I get to do some of the visits on my own when we get to Chicago, and you and Teddy get to stay at the hotel and rest.”

  “If we must, we must then,” Bea said. “I’m looking forward to meeting President Watson. She’s quite a reformer.”

  George smiled. “Like someone else I know and love.”

  The window to the front of the car opened and Quincy said, “We’re just pulling in to the White House now, ma’am.”

  “Thank you, Quincy,” George said, then turned back to Bea. “So I’ll get out and lift Teddy from her seat. You get out the other side and walk around to meet us.”

  Bea nodded. “And you’ll pass Teddy to me once we go up onto the podium?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry—everything will go swimmingly,” George said.

  Bea smoothed down her dress. “I’m actually quite nervous, even after all the events and speeches I’ve made before. Maybe it’s because we’re taking Teddy. How many will be there?”

  “There’ll be seven thousand there on the south lawn, plus photographers,” George said.

  Bea glanced nervously at Teddy who was chewing on the ear of her bear. “That’s an awful lot of people for Teddy.”

  The car rolled up to the reception area on the south lawn of the White House. They could hear the loud noise of the military band playing, and the chatter of people eagerly awaiting their arrival.

  George straightened her tie and gave Bea a reassuring smile. “It’s only for a couple of speeches, a few handshakes, then we’ll go inside for lunch. Nanny Baker will help look after her.”

  Bea quickly checked her make-up in the mirror, and the car stopped.

  “I love you, Bea.”

  George’s reassuring strength always calmed her down. But then she knew that her presence did the same for George. Bea could only thank God they’d met.

  She leaned over and gave Teddy a kiss. “You be a good girl, okay, sweetheart?”

  Quincy opened her door and she got out. Bea was immediately hit by the noise that seemed to travel everywhere they did. She walked around the car and joined George who was already shaking hands with the president, along with Teddy.

  Bea smiled as she watched President Laura Watson shake hands with Teddy and make a big fuss over her. She did come across as a very easy-going woman.

  Her husband was a handsome, warm man who, along with their two teenage children, welcomed George and Teddy just as happily.

  Bea approached the president who shook her hand and said, “I’m so pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. Your daughter is adorable.”

  “Thank you very much. We’re delighted to be here.”

  The president leaned over and said in a conspiratorial low voice, “How about we get all this show over with so we can go back in, kick off our heels, and have lunch?”

  Bea laughed softly. “Sounds perfect.”

  The president was greeted by her husband and children, then they led Bea, George, and Teddy across the south lawn. The sounds of the cameras and the spectators filled the air.

  Before they ascended the platform, they all stood as a group, facing the press pack, to give the world the perfect photo op. The two most well-known families in the world, standing side by side in friendship. The royal tour had truly begun.


  ***

  The next day Queen Beatrice and Princess Edwina were having a private day, while Queen Georgina went to tour the local United States Marine Corps base. Quincy wished she was going there instead of accompanying Queen Beatrice to the natural history museum. The museum had been recommended to them as an excellent choice for a day out. It was indoors and, after the reconnaissance Quincy had done the evening before, easy to make secure.

  She and Clayton were standing guard as usual, while they waited on the royal party getting ready, which usually took some time.

  Just like clockwork, she heard Holly before she saw her, as she sang her way towards them. Her voice was full of energy and happiness. Everyone said that Holly set the tone of the day. This kind of unrestrained, easy-going attitude was so alien to Quincy and worried her. Yes, that feeling when she was in Holly’s company, deep in the pit of her stomach was worry…she was sure.

  Holly approached holding her make-up kit. “Good morning, Clay.”

  “Morning, ma’am,” Clay said with a huge smile.

  “It’s Holly, Clay. What a lovely morning it is.”

  Throughout the whole exchange Quincy kept her steady gaze forward. She then heard Holly say to her, “Good morning, Grumpy, do you ever smile?”

  Grumpy? Quincy was immediately aggravated. She kept looking forward and didn’t show her aggravation one bit.

  “Good morning, Ms. Weaver.”

  Holly gave an exasperated sigh and said to Clayton, “Does she ever smile? My God, Quincy, you are hard work.”

  Luckily for Quincy she then went in to the Queen. Grumpy? I’m not grumpy. I’m professional.

  Quincy felt her anger rising and her heart started to beat fast. The anger made her panic. She couldn’t afford to let that out. She closed her eyes, took a breath, and she was back in control.

  About ten minutes later Queen Beatrice asked her to join them. When she went into the lounge area of the suite she found Queen Beatrice and Holly on the floor, playing with Princess Edwina and her toys. Nanny Baker was sitting on the couch.