Chapter 56
fifty-six
ASTRID
Niall invited us to his family’s box at the theatre for a fun weekend. We would see the biggest hit on the West End— Victoria the Great —which featured a distant cousin, Natalie Roughy, in the lead role. Natalie—known to everyone as “Leah”—was no average girl. She was the daughter of the Queen’s twin brother, Prince George. Amara nearly tripped over herself at the invitation to join us. Amara, obsessed with Leah, was bursting. We took the train to Victoria Station.
“It was nice of Niall to invite all of us,” I said to Parker. “Even Amara.”
“He fancies Amara,” Parker said, “so he’s enduring a night at the theatre for her. And if Leah is as good a friend as I lead her to believe, I think she’ll wing woman for him.”
“It’s a brilliant plan.”
“Better than I could do. Which is why—despite us both being awkward fucks—I have no game. I have no pseudo-princesses to invoke.”
“Not, just a gaggle of actual princesses. Can you please explain why she isn’t a princess? Why? ”
“If you listen to mother tell it, her father left the monarchy—and Niall’s mother—to marry Leah’s father.”
“Wait, he was with Niall’s mum?”
Parker nodded. “They were almost engaged. Niall’s mum responded by running off with Prince George’s second cousin and best friend—Niall’s dad. And, about a year later, Mac—Niall’s older brother—was born.”
“Fuck. That is juicy . Such drama with the Brits!”
“Prince George was Prince of Wales kicked off to America to marry a footballer. Leah’s Dad is American, but he played for the Spurs and then for Man City.”
“So, proper football? Not weird American footie?”
“An important distinction, not that I give a flying fuck about sport.”
I snickered.
He didn’t.
“So that is how Queen Natalie became Princess of Wales?”
“She was a pilot. Per Mum, things were rough for her at the beginning. She wasn’t good at princess-ing,” Niall explained.
Amara added, “She’s brilliant—not a shrinking violet.”
“Darling, there are few people I know who could hold their own against Her Majesty, but I’d give you my vote of confidence.”
It was perhaps the most excellent thing he could have said. I kissed Parker hard. Yes, I was a shit-stirrer. I knew that. I lived for it. But Parker saw it as a feature, not a bug.
“I love that you love me, angry and unwilling to back down,” I said.
Parker played with my collarbone, sending a tingle down my spine. “Well, as long as you aren’t angry with me , yes. It is quite entertaining to watch you come for other people.”
He kissed my neck in a way that made me ache. He could be simultaneously sweet and altogether sexy.
The train pulled into the station and we settled into looking proper. We climbed into cars waiting—brought forth by the Ferguson Family. At the theatre, Niall’s older—and taller—brother, Mac, flagged us down. He was with his tiny, almost plain blond girlfriend, Mary. Their lack of sexual chemistry confused me. Amara and Niall already had them beat with in-jokes. Parker and Niall were close, so we shared the same fishbowl. It was expected Amara and Niall might hit it off. The problem? Amara was the daughter of a politician—a hard sell in this aristocratic inner circle.
“And I don’t think we’ve met formally,” Mac said. “You are Queen Alexandra’s sister, yes?”
He extended a hand.
“Yes,” I said, surprised.
“You look so much like her. My mother hosted her when she was here last—for tea—and I was obligated to join.”
“Ah. I must have been in class,” I said.
“Parker, how are you?” Mac asked. “About to finish your thesis?”
“Let’s not talk about it, Mac,” Parker groaned.
“He defends in a month,” Niall proudly said.
“I know better. I’ll leave it,” Mac chuckled.
“Mac is getting a PhD in economics,” Parker explained. “He should know better.”
Mac smirked. “Sure, sure. I should. And you are on the same course as Parker, Astrid?”
“She is in the accelerated MSc but about to transition into the doc program.”
Parker brimmed with pride like a one-man-hype-machine.
I blushed. “I sign my letter of intent next week. I’m stuck here in England a bit longer.”
“She loves it. Don’t listen to her,” Amara laughed.
The lights flickered.
“We should take our seats,” Mary said. “Come along.”
The performance was a chaotic trip through a history full of unexpected easter eggs. The indomitable Leah Roughy and her fabulous vocal range carried the production, but the supporting actors were notable. The crowd went wild anytime Lourdes Lennon, the actress playing Princess Alexandra, came on stage. She had an “it” factor.
After the show, we met up with the cast backstage. Amara nearly fainted. Once Leah, Lourdes, and Clive—Prince Albert—were packed and ready, we headed to a club. The Lyons kids were wild . Prince Duncan turned up at some point, mainly giving his older cousin shit. He looked like he’d come from an even wilder party.
“Come, come,” Leah grabbed my hand. “We’re moving along down the way!”
“Where the fuck are we going now?” Duncan groaned.
“You need to hold your liquor better, Duncan. We’re off to that Jazz place. Lourdes is dying to go! Come, come, Astrid, darling.”
I didn’t know how I made it to the front of the pack as we marched.
“You’re going to cause a scandal,” Duncan shouted. “If people see the two of you running around like that.”
“Let them talk!” Leah shouted.
I didn’t quite understand why this would be scandalous other than I was wearing a dress cut well above my knee. Living in the UK, I’d given up many clothing hang-ups, gladly donning short skirts and low-cut blouses. I didn’t care anymore. I liked feeling sexy when I went out.
“What was the best part of the show?” Leah asked. “You look like you had fun?”
“I had a wonderful time,” I agreed. “Honestly, it was so strange. You sound like… your aunt. At least with the accent. It was so uncanny valley.”
Leah giggled. “I’m sure it’s why they hired me.”
“No, they hired you because you are so talented. My younger sister—Odette—is a huge fan of musicals—and you. She’d have died to see your pipes are as ‘legit’ as she always swears they are. You’re amazing, Leah.”
“You’re too kind, sweetie. Lou!” Leah called back to Lourdes. “My pipes are legit!”
“Fuck you!” Lourdes giggled. “Fuck you both!”
I snickered. They had such a good rapport.
“You’re fabulous,” Leah said. “I’m so happy to see you out and about. You’ll have to drop by more often. Niall says Parker never leaves the house. I was surprised he agreed to come out, but then I met you.”
“You know Parker?”
“Ish,” Leah laughed. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s a small fishbowl. I know more about the legend of Parker than the man you know. He’s awkward and aloof, and his mother is desperate to send him across the land with a glass slipper to find the right girl. Maybe he already found her, though?”
I blushed. Unfortunately, in this scenario, I might have been Parker’s Cinderella, but the real evil stepmother was instead his mother. No matter what I did, she clarified that she would prefer him to settle down with a quiet English girl who popped out babies.
We made it to the next club, and I finally put together what Niall said about the press wagging their tongues.
As we watched the live show, Leah was more interested in something else. I looked over at one point to see her making out with Lourdes. It took me by surprise. It wasn’t that queerness was illegal in Neandia. It was just that someone related to Alexandra making out openly with someone of the same sex would have caused a press meltdown. Leah was still a member of the family, and she had no shame about her sexuality. Of course, I now knew her father had been a gay pioneer and icon. I realised I’d just assumed Leah was straight, and that was probably a backwards, conservative assumption.
“I thought she was with Clive?” I asked
Niall snickered. “She is. But also with Lourdes. Polyamory or some such. It’s a drama fest with this cast. Everyone shags everyone. And no one here will complain about that.”
“Get a fucking room, Leah!” Duncan shouted, returning to the table with another drink.
Leah pulled back, flicked him off and sat on Clive’s lap.
“I cannot fathom it,” I said. “Part of me wants to be her, but all of me knows I couldn’t take the heat in the kitchen.”
“She’s drunk,” Niall said. “She’s on a high after a great show. I wish I were this talented at anything.”
“Dance! Come dance! Amara!” Lourdes shouted. “Come, come! ”
Amara hopped up and was happy to be invited. I was glad to take a moment off.
Parker squeezed my leg. “I can’t keep up.”
I kissed him slowly. “Not our scene, Westfall.”
“I’m hanging on by a thread,” he whispered.
“I know this isn’t for you, but I am having the best time.”
“You missed out on so much, love. I couldn’t hold you back.”
I cradled his face in my hands. I loved him for how much he adored me. He put up with this only for me.
“So, you’re glad to be along on my trek around London, and the news is that I’m now Leah’s next conquest? I should be so lucky!”
Parker chuckled. “Look at everyone out there.”
We watched everyone dance like idiots, wholly unaware or unconcerned about their appearance. It was pure joy.
“Unimaginably lively, but it’s wonderful. They just are . I’m sad Alexandra and I never were able to spread our wings—or legs—so openly,” I snickered. “I swear Duncan dipped into the loo with that girl he’s been with.”
Parker snickered. “It’s good to be the future king, I guess?”
“Parker, you’d never fuck me in the loo, would you?”
“Fuck no! Darling, I like clean spaces.”
I giggled. “I love you, Parker Westfall. Your desire for hygienic places to shag only endears me more to you.”
“It’s the little things, Asti,” Parker slowly kissed me.