by Jenny Frame
George wrapped her arms around Bea. “You’re right. Is Teddy still sleeping?”
“Nanny Baker is just getting her out of bed. Do you still want to have breakfast together, or are you too busy?”
“I always want to have breakfast with you two. I’ll make time,” George said.
Bea sat back up. “Do you remember these trips with your parents?”
George smiled. “Yes, as far back as I can remember. One of my first memories was a visit to Australia. I remember being inside a car that was parading through the streets. Mama kept telling me to wave at the crowds. It was the noise I remember the most. It was so loud, that I put my hands over my ears. But then we met a kangaroo, and I thought it was the best thing that had ever happened to me.”
Bea kissed her cheek. “That’s sweet. I think these trips will be better for Teddy when she has a little brother or sister to play with.”
“Yes, when Theo came along it was much more fun, although I spent most of my time trying to keep him behaving, I remember. He was more free-spirited than I.”
“Teddy is extremely free-spirited,” Bea said with a smile.
George squeezed her wife more tightly. Although Teddy was the spitting image of George, she had a lot of Bea’s spirit in her.
“That’s true. I think she might be a challenge as she grows older,” George said.
Bea laughed softly. “I think that’s putting it very politely, Georgie.”
She took George’s computer and called up an entertainment website. “Now that you’ve dealt with all your stuffy news, look at this.”
George raised a questioning eyebrow. “What? You don’t normally look at tabloid news stories—if you can call them that.”
“This isn’t about us this time. Look.” Bea grinned.
George looked at the pad and saw pictures of Holly, taken through a restaurant window. Some showed her sitting normally at the table with Story St. John, and some showed them holding hands. The headline said: Queen Beatrice’s Royal Dresser caught having an intimate dinner with Story St. John in New York.
“Why do they have to say caught? It was a charity auction date,” George said.
Bea shrugged and shook her head. “You know what the media is like. Everything has to be sensational or lurid. The point is, she obviously had a great time, and I heard through the grapevine that she didn’t get back here till two thirty. She must have gone on somewhere with Story afterwards. A good first start at exploring this side of herself.”
“But Story St. John? I wouldn’t trust my friend with someone who has a haircut like that,” George said.
Bea gave George a kiss on the lips. “Don’t be so old-fashioned, George.” Then she added cryptically, “Besides, I think it will be someone else who will win Holly’s heart. Sometimes the most quiet, unassuming people are the ones who will love you the fiercest.”
***
The plane trip to Chicago was a short hop, but the plane had been forced to circle the airport because of a security alert on the ground. Luckily for Captain Quincy and the rest of the royal party, it didn’t appear to be connected to their arrival.
Everyone was quietly reading or talking amongst themselves as they waited for the all-clear to land. Quincy spent her time going over the itinerary and the hotel plans, making sure she was familiar with everything before they landed.
She saw someone sit across from her out of the corner of her eye. She looked up and sighed inwardly. “Can I help you, Garrett?”
Garrett leaned forward on the table and said, “A little birdy told me you disappeared into Holly Weaver’s room last night.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I was helping her to her room, not disappearing into it. You shouldn’t listen to gossip from our little royal court.”
Garrett leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs. “You need to be careful fucking around with the consort’s best friend, Quincy. That’s a friendly warning.”
Quincy gave her a pointed look. “I would thank you to keep a civil tongue in your mouth. Especially with a young child toddling around.”
Garrett laughed. “God, you sound like an actor in those old black-and-white films. I know you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but you’re a big girl now. You can take it out, you know.”
Quincy balled her fists, swallowed the anger she was feeling. “What exactly is it you want, Garrett?” Quincy said.
Garrett leaned forward and said quietly, “Your job. It was mine until you had your temper tantrum and beat your fellow officer senseless. Then of course the old boys’ network cracked into action, and you were saved and given my job.”
“You think you know it all, but you know nothing of my life,” Quincy said firmly.
Garrett raised her eyebrows. “That mask is going to slip one day, Captain, and Mummy or the Queen won’t be able to save you”—Garrett got up and adjusted her suit jacket—“and I’ll be there waiting to step in. I wonder what Holly would think of your…transgressions?”
Quincy’s anger was simmering. She knew she was being played with and she was never going to let someone like Garrett goad her into a display of anger.
She watched Garrett stop by Holly as she passed her seat, lean over and say something, then leave. That made her feel more anger than anything. She didn’t want Holly to have a bad impression of her. It was bad enough Holly seemed to be avoiding her all morning. Perhaps she felt a bit embarrassed or awkward after last night.
Quincy returned to her work, and five minutes later someone sat down again. Her heart sank, as she thought it might be Garrett returning, but this time when she looked up she saw Holly sitting across from her, smiling. Her stomach did some kind of unusual flip.
“Hi, Quin,” Holly said.
“Good afternoon, Holly,” Quincy replied.
“I wanted to say thanks for last night, for helping me back to my room. I’m not usually a big drinker when I go out, but I was nervous. You don’t normally go out with a film star every day,” Holly said.
Quincy couldn’t help but see the pictures of Story and Holly this morning. Clay had shown her them all. She envied how much Story and Holly could let go and have fun.
“I understand, and don’t mention it. I’ll always make sure you get home safely. If you ever need me, just call. You have my number.”
Holly sat forward. That statement was said with such sincerity that it touched her deeply. Story had sent her home in a cab. She could look after herself, but still, she was in a strange town, with strangers around her. Holly didn’t think Quincy would ever do that.
Holly’s gaze dropped to Quincy’s collar, and she thought of the scars she had seen the previous night. As with Quincy’s personality, what might seem very ordinary and boring hid so much beneath the surface.
“How are you feeling now?” Quincy asked.
“Tired but okay. A night out like that used to be no problem for me to handle, but maybe I’m just getting old.”
“I doubt that,” Quincy said.
“So this is where the tour really heats up? Lots of visits, lots of travelling,” Holly said.
“Yes,” Quincy said flatly.
If she didn’t know better, there was something worrying Quincy, despite how neutral she was trying to sound. “What’s wrong?” Holly said.
“Excuse me?” Quincy replied, looking confused.
“I can tell you’re worried about something. Your jaw flexes when you’re worried.” Holly didn’t mention about the shaking hands. That would be exposing too much, and she didn’t want to embarrass her.
“My jaw does not flex,” Quincy said with a hint of anger.
Great, Stompy was back again. She decided to change the subject. “I’ve come up with a few places for Bea and Teddy to visit in Chicago, especially when Queen Georgina goes on her solo day visits.” They had a busy schedule in Chicago and surrounding cities, and they were going to use the hotel as a base for the family, while Queen Georgina made some solo trips out
of town. Holly continued, “I did promise you I’d keep you in the loop, so you could prepare.”
“Email me the list and I’ll let you know which ones are suitable.” Quincy looked down at her computer pad and effectively dismissed Holly.
Stompy was definitely back. Holly couldn’t understand how she could show such care and kindness like last night, and then go back to this stoic crap.
“What do you mean which ones are suitable? What could be unsuitable about a zoo or an aquarium?” Holly said.
Quincy didn’t look up. “I need to contact the places you wish to visit and see if it’s feasible to close to the public for the duration of the visit.”
“Are you insane? If you do that every time they go somewhere, Teddy will think that it’s normal for places to be devoid of people. Part of the fun is being around other people. I know you don’t understand that, and you only like the company of your toy soldiers, but that’s not what normal people do.”
Quincy raised her gaze and said, “At least Princess Edwina will grow up safely. That is my job and only concern.”
Holly gave a frustrated groan. “Listen, Stompy—”
That second Clayton interrupted them. “We have the all-clear, ma’am. We’re to prepare to land.”
Holly wasn’t going to waste her breath any more. She got up and totally ignored Quincy by saying, “Thanks, Clay.”
***
While the staff set up at their new base of operations, Quincy and the protection squad accompanied the two Queens to a Chicago rehabilitation hospital. Queen Georgina and Queen Beatrice talked to former military personnel and members of the public who had suffered in terrible accidents but were trying to get their health and their lives back, by the use of pioneering medical procedures.
For Quincy looking on, it was all a little too close to home. Especially when Beatrice sat with the wife of one of the patients who explained the effects of her partner’s rehabilitation on the family. She began to cry, and Queen Beatrice pulled the woman into a hug, as she wiped away her own tears.
That picture would make the front pages of the news media worldwide. Quincy could only think of Helen, and her own guilt that she couldn’t suffer in Jacob’s place.
She used every ounce of her control to keep her mind on the job. Once they returned from the hospital, Inspector Lang asked to speak with her. Quincy walked into the room deemed the security operations room. Team members were setting up the equipment just recently delivered from the plane.
Lang saw her and said to the others, “Could you give us five minutes?”
They filed past her, and Garrett winked at her as she walked out. Quincy walked over to him and stood at attention.
“I just wanted a quiet word with you, Quincy. I understand Ms. Weaver has set out a few places she’d like to visit with the Queen Consort and Princess Edwina, while Queen Georgina is away.”
Holly must have gone above her head. She couldn’t believe it. “Yes, I’m going to make enquiries to see if they can accommodate us.”
“Loosen up a little, eh?” Lang said.
“Excuse me, sir? I don’t understand,” Quincy said.
“There’s no need to clear out the general public for the duration of the visit. This is, after all, a goodwill tour, a chance for Queen Georgina to cement the good relations between the United States and Britain. The Queen’s PR officer agrees it makes for great publicity in the media, for the public to see pictures of the Queen Consort and Princess Edwina amongst the crowds.”
“If you’ll forgive me, Inspector, I’m thinking of their safety, not of publicity. You know I’ve had more threats—”
“Yes, to you, Captain. It sounds to me more like a threat to you than the royal party. Our best people back home are constantly monitoring the internet and found nothing. I know you know that, because you’ve been checking the files.”
It was beginning to sound as if Lang thought she was being a bit hysterical. Quincy had never been thought of as anything other than level-headed and the thought of being labelled in such an emotional way was horrifying to her.
“Sir, I’m just trying to do my job,” Quincy insisted.
Lang patted her on the arm. “I know you are, Captain.” His tone was softer now. “You may be a hugely experienced and decorated military officer, but you’re new to protection. You have to let them breathe or they become suffocated. They might be the royal family, but at the end of the day they are a family.”
“What do you want me to do, sir?” Quincy said through clenched teeth.
“Just remember they are a family and let loose your tethers slightly.”
Quincy had no choice. She had to obey orders. “Yes, sir.”
***
The corridors of the hotel were full of royal staff and hotel staff, trying to set up the rooms and organize the equipment and luggage the royal court would need during their stay. It was organized chaos, to put it kindly.
Quincy spotted Lali orchestrating everything. She was still furious at Holly for going over her head, and she determined to show her that was just not the way things were done.
“No, the monogrammed luggage to the dressing rooms, not the bedrooms,” Lali said to the hotel staff.
As they moved away Quincy said to Lali, “Ms. Ramesh, do you know where Ms. Weaver is situated?”
Lali gave a small smile and said, “Of course, she’s in the Queen Consort’s dressing room. Let me get you the number.”
She looked down at the computer pad. “Yes, it’s room 1967. Two doors along from the presidential suite.”
“Thank you,” Quincy said.
As she marched along the corridor, she saw Nanny Baker walking with Princess Edwina. Just a few yards behind was Clayton. At least Clay knew the importance of her task. As she passed Clay, she said, “Keep alert. We haven’t swept the rooms and corridors since this morning.”
Clayton nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
This hotel was a lot bigger than the previous one in New York. She finally arrived at the room number and knocked.
“Come in,” Holly replied.
Quincy walked in and found Holly surrounded by open suitcases and trunks. She was in the middle of hanging some dresses on big sturdy clothes rails that ran the perimeter of the room.
Holly hung up the dress she was holding and turned to face her. She sighed immediately. “Oh, this can’t be good. Your jaw is clenching again.”
Quincy’s anger intensified. Holly had this uncanny knack of reading her emotions, even when Quincy was sure she was showing none. “I thought we had an understanding, Ms. Weaver,” Quincy said.
Holly rolled her eyes. “My God, it must be bad. We’re back to Ms. bloody Weaver again. What understanding?”
“Our understanding that you would come to me with your ideas for the Queen and the consort’s free time.”
“And I did on the plane, then you didn’t listen to me. You want to cut Bea and Teddy off from normal life. Meeting people on official royal events can’t be the only time they meet the public. The public don’t behave normally then. I remember the first time I met Queen Georgina. I was nearly—well you know what I mean, kacking my pants.” Holly smirked.
“I did listen to you, and I compromised the best way I could, but you had to go over my head and speak to Lang, didn’t you?”
“What?” Holly was confused for a second, then remembered asking Inspector Lang if he saw any problems with her ideas. “Oh, that? I just asked him—”
Quincy took a step to her and cut her off. “You broke the chain of command. I’m your liaison for the Queen Consort’s movements.”
Holly couldn’t believe this change in Quincy. She was actually showing anger. Holly flicked her gaze down to Quincy’s hands, and there it was, the tremor she had seen before.
Holly took a step closer. “Chain of command? I’m not a marine. I’m a civilian and I don’t follow your rules or your orders. Got that, Stompy?”
Quincy didn’t say anything, but she saw a t
orrent in her eyes. There was so much under that hard surface.
Quincy turned and walked out without saying another word.
As she shut the door behind Quincy, a memory stirred in her mind. The previous night, Quincy left her bedroom but stopped and said, You didn’t look smart. You were stunningly beautiful, and I did notice you at the polo match. I saw you.
She saw her.
***
Bea carried a bag full of Teddy’s toys from one of the luggage trunks and set out a small play area beside one of the couches. All the furniture looked like it could have come from Buckingham Palace it was so grand.
Lali walked in with her ever-present computer pad and gave a quick curtsey.
Bea smiled and shook her head. “Will you ever stop doing that in private, Lali? You’re my bloody friend.”
Lali smiled. “I should hope not. You know how I love to follow rules, and at least I don’t call you Your Maj like Holls.”
“True. Did you organize the staff rooms as I asked?” Bea said.
“Yes. Why did you want Holls across the corridor from Captain Quincy?” Lali asked.
“Just a feeling. I saw her eyes glued to Holly when she was choosing her clothes for the big date.”
Lali sat down on the end of the couch next to Bea. “Really? Now that is interesting. I’ve never seen an interest from Quincy in anyone, or about anything, since she joined us. Cammy can’t talk highly enough about her, though.”
Bea set out Teddy’s toys on her play mat and joined Lali on the couch.
“Yes, George too. She seems to have qualities that those who serve with her really appreciate. Loyal, hardworking, and brave,” Bea said. “Besides it’s not just the shopping trip.”
“Oh, do tell.” Lali smiled.
Bea edged closer in a conspiratorial fashion. “Well, a little birdy told me Quincy escorted Holly back to her room last night, after she got back a little drunk and a little late.”
“Really?”
Bea nodded. “Now anyone else, apart from Quincy, you would have expected something a bit naughty went on, but this is Captain Quincy. And Holly didn’t tell me about it this morning. That tells me that at least she felt it was too personal to share.”
