by John Simpson
Michael and Darren bowed and left. They walked out of the palace chattering away about the meeting.
“I’ll drop you off at Winfield House,” Michael said. “I suggest you talk to your uncles as soon as possible.”
“I will,” Darren said. “Also, I need to let Mom know that our wedding will be at St. Paul’s Cathedral. There are a lot of details to be ironed out before then.”
They kissed in the car as the door of Winfield House opened, and a footman came out to open the car door.
“Call me later, will you?” Michael asked.
“Of course! Love you.”
Michael waited until Darren went into the house before he drove off.
David was on the phone, so Darren went to the kitchen to get something to drink. The meeting had made him dry in the mouth from nerves. It was all so much to take in at once. As he left the kitchen, he ran into David on the hunt for the same thing.
“Hello, Darren, having a good day?” David asked.
“You could say that. We need to sit down and talk, and I need to call my mother.”
“Oh, I see. Well, go to the living room, and I’ll be right there. In fact, call your mother while I’m getting some iced tea.”
Darren walked into the living room, picked up the secure line, and asked the Marine to connect him to the White House.
After a two-minute wait, his mother came on the phone.
“Hello, darling, I only have about five minutes. How are you?”
“Fine, Mom, thanks. I’ll be quick since you’re short on time. The wedding will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral here in London and will be attended by the king, his brother, Prince Harry, and other royals, as well as the prime minister and other civilian dignitaries. The guest list must be drawn up by November first.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear the wedding venue is befitting of the occasion.”
“Another matter has been settled. Michael and I will live at Buckingham Palace under protection of the king. Michael will perform duties for the Crown, and I’ll work for the palace. We’ll have our own three-room apartment in the palace and access to all palace services. Also, my title is to be Prince Consort Darren, which usually refers to the husband of the queen, but William’s changing it to also mean the same-sex spouse of a royal person. Sound good?”
“I think I like it all! I want to think for a bit more about you living there, but I’m very happy, honey. Oh, they’re calling me already. I have to go, sweetie. I love you!”
“I love you too, Mom.”
Darren hung up the phone and turned to find David sitting on the couch.
“Did you hear most of it?”
“Yes, and I must say it sounds like my cousin has come up with the answers to a lot of problems. Are you happy?” David asked.
“Yes, I’m very happy.”
“One question. What ring are you going to give to your husband?”
“What the hell can I possibly give to a prince who gave me a royal jewel as an engagement ring?”
“I’ll not have my adopted nephew looked down on by the snooty members of the Windsor family for giving Michael an inferior ring. We’re going shopping this very afternoon, and I’m paying for it, no argument. After all, Michael didn’t pay for your ring.”
Darren jumped up and threw his arms around David.
“Thank you, Uncle David. I love you so much, you have no idea. And I love Uncle Shane just as much, the handsome dude!”
“You have your own handsome dude now, and I couldn’t be happier. Would you let security know that you and I are going shopping and that we’ll need a detail. Let me make a phone call and get the name of the finest jewelry shop in London.”
Darren came back and told David all was ready.
“Okay, let’s go shopping!” David said with a warm smile.
“You’re getting into this, aren’t you, Uncle David?”
“You bet I am.”
A total of five bodyguards plus the driver accompanied the ambassador and Darren. They got into the two-vehicle convoy and gave the driver the address of Heming Jewelers.
“Yes, sir,” replied the driver.
“This jewelry store has been in business since 1745. So I would trust that they have their craft down to a T by now.”
“Sounds expensive,” Darren replied.
“Quality is always expensive.”
A few minutes later and they pulled up in front of the store in a no parking zone. Security got out and stood by the car as two men went into the shop. The shop owner was asked to close the store while the two VIPs were there, and he complied, as well as insisting on waiting on the VIPs himself.
Security opened the car doors, and David and Darren entered the store with three men.
“How may I help you, sir?” the owner asked.
“We need to buy an engagement ring for a man. It has to be top quality,” David said.
“For a man? I’m afraid we don’t have much call for male engagement rings.”
David and Darren turned their noses up at the men’s selection.
“Show me the women’s case,” David requested.
As they looked through the case, Darren spotted a beautiful diamond ring.
“That one! Let me look at that one, please.”
“You have good taste, sir,” the owner said as he pulled out the ring Darren had pointed to.
The ring had an emerald-cut two-point-one-carat diamond in the center. Down each side of the band were baguette cut diamonds, weighing just over two carats. All the stones were mounted in platinum. “It is beautiful!” Darren said. “It’s not what his family members are used to, but I’m sure he’ll be knocked off his feet!”
“Can you make this into a man’s ring?” David asked.
“Sir, we can, but it will be terribly expensive. I feel I must tell you the cost of the ring, before remounting expenses, is thirty-nine thousand eight hundred and ninety-five pounds.”
“Fine, and how much will it cost after it’s converted to a man’s ring?”
The owner took out a calculator and figured up the additional platinum and labor costs.
“I would put the price at just over forty-two thousand pounds.”
“If you make it an even forty thousand pounds, including the value-added tax, I’ll take it… providing that you can have it ready within two weeks.”
The owner thought about the offer and asked a question.
“May I ask your name and who this ring is for?”
David looked at Darren, and Darren nodded.
“I’m United States Ambassador David Windsor. The ring is for a British prince who my nephew is going to marry.”
“Oh I see! So this is for a member of the royal family?” the owner sought to clarify.
“That’s correct. I’m the son of the US president, and I’m marrying one of your princes, which will make me a member of the royal family,” Darren answered.
“May I ask which prince?”
“No, I’m sorry. There will be a joint announcement from Washington and from Buckingham Palace sometime this month. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until then. Now can you make the ring?”
“I shall be honored to make this ring for an even forty thousand pounds.”
David shook the man’s hand and gave him a Black American Express card, paying for the ring in full before leaving the store. He left a business card so he could be contacted when the ring was ready.
“Uncle, is this an engagement ring or a wedding band? I mean what do we exchange during the ceremony?” Darren asked as they drove off.
“Well, that’s something you and he need to discuss. You said you weren’t going to wear your ring all the time for fear of damaging or losing it. So what do you wear when that ring is in a safe? You can wear a plain, gold wedding band, or you can decide to wear only these rings. By the way, except for the historical significance of the ring Michael gave you, I imagine they’re about equal in value.”
“I almost die
d when he named the price of the ring. Are you sure, Uncle David? That’s a lot of loot!”
David chuckled. “I’ve got a lot of loot, and I’m not having you marrying a prince without giving him a princely ring, especially since he’s given you a kingly ring. I’d be willing to bet there aren’t two other rings in the world like the ones you two will wear.”
“Wow, you’re probably right.” Darren sat back and was quiet until they returned to the sanctuary of Winfield House.
When they were inside, Darren went to his room in a contemplative mood, and David joined Shane in the study.
“Security said you and Darren were out shopping?” Shane said.
“Yes. We went to one of London’s oldest jewelers, and I bought Darren an engagement ring to give to Michael. It’s gorgeous, and when the jeweler found out that it was for a member of the royal family, he lowered the price a bit.”
“How much was it?”
“Only forty thousand pounds.”
Shane coughed. “Only? That’s a lot of loot!”
“Funny, that’s the same comment Darren made. Look, we have more money than you, I, and even Jack can ever spend. I make money off my investments sitting on my ass. What else can I spend it on? It brings me great pleasure to give Darren a ring worthy of his prince. And there won’t be any noses turning up at an inferior ring at the first Windsor family gathering after the wedding.”
Chapter 17
TWO WEEKS after buying the ring, a call came into the embassy from Heming Jewelers. Mary put the call right through to David.
“Ambassador Windsor.”
“Good morning, sir, I’m calling from Heming Jewelers. The ring you ordered is ready, and if I say so myself, it is breathtaking. The recipient should be well pleased. May I send it over by secure courier service?”
“Only if you’re sure it will be delivered safely. It’s too close to the wedding to find a replacement ring.”
“It will be sent to the embassy by armored car. Will that be sufficient?”
“Yes, sir. If I’m pleased with your work, you may count on further business from me. My anniversary is coming up, and I’d like to give my husband a new ring, not quite as elaborate as this one, but of comparable quality.”
“I should be honored, sir.”
“Good day.”
David ended the call and punched the intercom button.
“Yes, David,” Mary answered.
“Tell security that an armored car is coming from the jeweler’s.”
“Oh good. Do I get to see the ring?”
“Yes, of course you do, my dear.”
Twenty-five minutes later, the armored car was checked and cleared to enter. Mary went down to the Marine-staffed entry point and waited for the driver to deliver the small package.
“Is that for the ambassador?” Mary asked.
“Yes indeed, love!”
“I’ll take it, thank you.”
As she started to walk away, the sergeant of the guard stopped her.
“Ma’am, did I hear that package is for the ambassador?”
“Yes, Sergeant Gibbons, that’s correct. He’s expecting it.”
“Ma’am, I can’t allow that to go through without going through X-ray first. Sorry. Regulations,” he said with a no-nonsense face.
“All right. Who am I to argue with the US Marine Corps?” she said with a smile.
“Come this way, ma’am,” he said as he walked to a side office.
When Mary entered, the guards were processing the mail. The sergeant put the package on the belt and was about to give the nod, when another Marine entered the room.
“Sarge, a call from the gate. An armored car just came through with a package for the ambassador?”
The sergeant nodded.
“No one touch that package, and clear out now.”
Mary scooted out and went to the far side of the entrance area.
“Does the vehicle check out?” the sergeant of the guard asked the Marine sentry on the phone.
“Yes, Sergeant, it does.”
“Hold the vehicle there, and clear the area of nonessential personnel.” The sergeant turned to Mary. “Ma’am, can you make a call to the jeweler’s and ask them why two armored cars were sent to deliver one package?”
“Right away, but I have to go to my office.”
“Please, and quickly. Private, evacuate this floor of all personnel.”
As Marines moved quickly throughout the first floor of the embassy, Mary arrived at her desk out of breath. She picked up the phone and called the jeweler’s as David was coming out of his office.
“What’s wrong, Mary?”
“Two armored cars showed up, with only one package. The package is on the conveyor belt waiting to be screened.” Someone at the jewelry shop came on the line. “Yes, hello? This is Mary, the ambassador’s secretary at the American Embassy. Is this the owner? Yes, I’ll wait, but hurry please.”
“Where is the second armored car?” David asked.
“It’s being held at the gate.” Mary spoke into the phone again. “Yes, hello, is this the owner? Good, how many armored cars did you send to the American Embassy with the package for the ambassador?”
“I sent only one, why?”
Mary put a hand over the mouthpiece. “David, they only sent one car!”
David punched in the direct line to security.
“This is Ambassador Windsor. There should only be one armored car from the jeweler’s. Take appropriate action now!”
“Yes, sir!” the duty sentry replied. “Sergeant, only one car should be here,” he reported.
“Okay, you four men, grab your weapons and head down to the gate. Pull the driver out and question him. Do not move anything in the vehicle.”
“Yes, Sergeant!”
As the Marines ran to the main gate, Sergeant Gibbons went back into the X-ray room. He cleared the mail on the conveyor belt, stepped behind the machine, and turned the belt on. When the package came into view, he stopped it. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw nothing in the box but a ring with a large diamond.
He gave the package to another Marine with instructions to take it to Mary. He then picked up the phone and told the gate sentry the legitimate package had already been delivered, and he was on his way down.
By the time he got there, the driver was spread-eagle on the ground with four weapons pointed at his head.
“What have you found out?” the sergeant asked.
“He says he was dispatched here to pick up a package from the ambassador,” one of the Marines answered.
“Have you checked him over?”
“Yes, Sergeant.”
“Get up, driver,” Sergeant Gibbons ordered.
The man slowly got up, keeping his hands where they could be seen.
“I got a radio call to come here and pick up a valuable package for transport to a jewelry shop. That’s all I know. I’m not a terrorist. There are no bombs or guns in the vehicle. Look for yourself!”
The sergeant did exactly that. He climbed into the armored vehicle and looked around. He took the undercarriage mirror and checked the underside of the vehicle carefully. No matter how hard he searched, he found nothing suspicious.
“Okay, at ease, Marines. Mister, I want you to get on your radio right now and ask your dispatcher what you’re doing here.”
“At once!” the driver said.
As the sergeant and the other Marines listened, the driver called in.
“What’s going on? I’m here at the American Embassy and under threat of being shot by the Marines. You sent me here to get a package from the ambassador, isn’t that right?”
“Hold on, six two four. Let me check the call log,” the dispatcher answered.
A minute later, the dispatcher came back on the line.
“Six two four, disregard. The call from the jeweler somehow got screwed up. One dispatcher sent a car to the jeweler to pick up a package for the embassy, while a second dispatc
her sent you directly to the embassy to pick up a package from the ambassador for the jeweler. You can disregard and return to the garage.”
“You ass, you almost got me killed! I’ve had it! I quit! I’ll park this vehicle in front of the office, and I want to be paid at once!” The driver hung up and turned to the Marines. “I’m terribly sorry, but as you heard, the wankers at the office cocked it up!”
“Okay, sir, I hope you understand why we reacted as we did. Just back out and leave.”
The sergeant watched the armored car leave, and then put the embassy back to normal security level.
When the sergeant and other Marines went back inside the embassy, Gibbons called Mary and explained what happened.
“Thank God, that’s all it was,” David said.
“Well, now I really should get to see the ring, after all this!” Mary said.
David carefully unwrapped the package and found a letter and ring box inside. He read the thank you note and promise of a discount off the ambassador’s next order before he opened the ring box.
Mary let out a yelp somewhere between a fox caught in a trap and a blue jay screaming.
“My God, David, that is gorgeous! You picked this out?”
“Actually, Darren picked it out of a case full of diamonds, and I okayed it. The jeweler took all the stones from a woman’s ring and set them in a man’s ring. I think the prince will appreciate this, don’t you?”
“He’d better, or he’s an idiot and doesn’t deserve our Darren!”
David was pleased with the ring and the exquisite craftsmanship and couldn’t wait to see Darren’s face when he gave it to him.
“Well, it’s getting late, and there’s been enough action around here for today, so I’m going home. If something kicks up before you come home, call me.”
“Fine, I’ll have your car readied,” Mary said as she picked up the phone and called the motor pool.
David walked into Winfield House and found Shane, who had taken a rare day off due to not feeling well. Shane was waking up from a nap when David came in.
“Hello, hon, you’re home early,” Shane said.
“We had some action at the embassy, and since Darren’s ring came in, I decided to come home early. How are you feeling?”
