Chapter 3 #2
“It wasn’t easy, darling. I simply got on with life.
What choice did I have? Once I accepted the reality you and your father were a closed steel door I could never open, I was free to move on.
As much as I grieved it all, I allowed myself to believe I’d love again.
Of course, I had to marry. Produce an heir.
And I was determined not to live a life devoid of romance.
The human heart was made for intimate love.
Edric was the first man after your father to make my heart flip-flop. Here we are thirty-seven years later.”
“Do you think there’s hope for me?”
“Darling, of course. You are a beautiful, accomplished, talented, and kind woman. This Cap fellow just happened to give his heart to another first. Tell me, did you really, really love him with all your heart? Did you daydream about him? Was he first on your mind upon awakening? Did you surrender hours of the workday to be with him? Or rearrange an event to accommodate his schedule?”
Kate read between Scottie’s emotional lines with precision. “No, never. Even after two years of dating, sometimes when we got together, the first fifteen minutes were awkward, like we were just getting to know one another.”
“Then he was not your true love. Work through this sadness and open your heart again.”
“You’re right, Kate. Thank you. This helps a lot.”
“Good. Now, while I have you on the line, darling, feeling bold from my sage motherly advice, might you fancy a long holiday?” Kate’s regal and royal accent wavered a bit.
“You see, everyone is leaving me this spring. Edric is off to Scotland for fishing with a mate he’s known since boyhood.
Afterward, he’s taking my place for a technology tour in England and the States.
This ridiculous GBS makes travel terribly difficult for me, but I am eager to keep Lauchtenland on the leading edge of technological developments.
John is off to a trade conference in Sweden then a holiday in Corfu with Gemma, Imani, and the baby—whom I will miss terribly.
He’s such a jolly little chap. Gus, Daffy, and sweet little Mathilde are spending the month in Manhattan with their friends Coral and Chuck and their new baby.
We all bemoaned how our bookings clashed terribly this year.
John and Gus offered to cancel their holidays, but I couldn’t see it.
They’ve worked so hard, and after some terrorist shenanigans over at Titus Stadium and an incident with John in Brighton Kingdom—”
“What happened in Brighton Kingdom?” Scottie was read in on the attempted terror attack last year that put Princess Gemma and Princess Imani in danger, but nothing about her brother John.
“I’d tell you, but it’s classified, and I don’t want you to worry about accidentally slipping up.
Rest assured, all is well. A smashing protection officer saved the crown prince.
As I was saying, they’re all leaving me save for Mum, who’s not doing well.
Arabella and Rachel will be taking on duties at Perrigwynn Palace, but I’m at Hadsby Castle beginning in May until the Rose Ball in June. ”
“Are you asking me to visit, Kate?” Scottie rose to her feet. From the corner of her eye, she saw Officer Mynheir stand.
“Yes, but more than visit. A stay. Roughly eight weeks. ’Tis all. Help me get through the events on my diary.”
“What’s on your diary? And Kate, I’m hardly a substitute for the king consort and the princes.”
“We kick things off with the Garden Party. Everyone will be here for that, but wouldn’t it be lovely for us to be together? As a family.”
“I guess.” Kate’s appeal stirred a strange warmth. Scottie’s family tree had always been so one-sided. Just the O’Shay’s.
“Then everyone skedaddles while I go on walkabouts and make presentations. May and June at Hadsby is a long-standing House of Blue tradition. The Dalholmites have been loyal to the Crown since the Hundred Years’ War.”
“You want me to come for two months?” Scottie leaned forward, intrigue swirling with the yearn of being wanted, no, needed by her mother.
“If it’s too much to ask, how about a month? The truth is, love, I’m not sure I can manage on my own. I’ve not let on how weak I am to the family. I know I cannot do it all on my own. In fact, if you’re comfortable with it, you’d go to some events in my place.”
Scottie laughed. “You cannot be serious. The people will not accept your illegitimate daughter as your emissary.”
She hated the term illegitimate daughter, true as it were, and it’d become a tagline in the press. Did she want to endure two months of it along with complaints that “yet another American has infiltrated the House of Blue”?
Prince John had taken Gemma’s adopted daughter, Imani, as his own when they married. Instantly there were two Americans in the House of Blue. Then the discovery of Scottie as the queen’s secret daughter stirred trouble from the small but loud RECO party.
Yet what did it matter to Scottie? She had no intention of taking a title or a crown. Her kingdom was O’Shay Shirts.
“I’ve thought about it and want to issue a Letters Patent to bring you into the Family. I’ve already spoken to the prime minister about your title, and he’s—”
“You want to give me a title? Like Her Royal Highness? Kate, I don’t think—”
“No, no, love, that would require you to be a working royal. And to be blunt, an HRH Princess styling would need government approval.” There was a guttural echo in her sigh. “Unless, of course, you married into the family like Gemma and Daffodil or were adopted like Imani.”
“Kate, you don’t have to make excuses. I’m not looking to have a title or win some kind of crown.”
“It’s just, you see, the rule of such things, over the years, has changed.
And while I can call you my daughter, because you are, all day long, my great-grandfather and one of his prime ministers restricted the royal Letters Patent for fear of foreign enemies sneaking into the Family.
However, I can give you a House of Blue styling, which in my mind, carries as much cachet and rank as an HRH. ”
Her speech was rushed with a soft passion, as if she’d been storing the words for a long time.
“What sort of title?” Scottie was curious. That’s all.
“There’s an ancient title—Lady Royal Blue—someone brought to my attention recently, and I thought it perfect for you.
It’s only been used a few times in our long history and won’t require approval or ruffle the small but loud contingent demanding a reduced royal family.
Nevertheless, the title gives you rank and respect.
I just can’t see you being my daughter without some indication your mum is the queen.
The House of Blue is too distinguished, too ancient, too established to leave off. ”
Kate’s speech was punctuated with one big exhale.
“I see.” The invitation to visit for a few weeks was starting to feel complicated. “Should I expect to be eviscerated by the press?”
“No more than usual,” Kate said. “Since you’re not in the line of succession or earning taxpayer dollars, the people will see the title as one given to a relative in the House of Blue.
You’re in the fashion industry, Scottie.
Surely you’re used to a bit of criticism. ” There was a smile in Kate’s voice.
“Yes, but for our clothes, not my person.” Scottie paced, her mental wheels turning. “Okay… Can I think about it? I’ll have to talk to Dad. We’re working on the winter line and—”
“Really?” Kate’s soft passion rose to a soft excitement.
“You’ll consider it? Marvelous. Yes, yes, of course talk to Trent.
The Hadsby Garden Party is May eighth. We’ll have a bit of a family reunion and then the others will be off.
You and I will get to know one another over afternoon teas.
Still, Scottie, love, feel free to answer honestly.
A denial will not be the end of us. I’m still your mum and always will be. ”
“Kate, are you sure about this?” Scottie started toward her car with a wave to Officer Mynheir. “I don’t want to be some sort of stir stick that creates trouble while you’re dealing with Guillain-Barré and your support system is away.”
“Nonsense. I’m used to stir sticks and with everyone gone, you’ll be my support system. You’re the tonic my tired, weak body needs. Besides, it’s high time I owned up to my past and showed the world how proud I am of you.”
After their goodbyes, Scottie glanced down First Avenue, so empty and peaceful sleeping under the amber streetlamps and the glow of shop signs.
She’d told Kate she’d think about it. Talk to Dad. But she already knew the answer. Now she just needed to understand why.
* * *
Michael
Monday morning Gunner met him at the security entrance of Perrigwynn Palace. But instead of walking with him to the Operations Room, he said, “Come with me.”
“Where are we going, mate?”
“Her Majesty would like to speak with you.”
“Her Majesty?” Michael looked down at his blue security uniform and black boots. “Dressed like this?” He caught Gunner’s arm as he started up the scuffed gray steps of the basement. “What’s this about? Prince John? I won’t be blindsided.”
“She’s requested you for a special project when she moves residence to Dalholm and Hadsby Castle.”
Michael stepped back with a short laugh. “You’re having me on. Why would the queen request me for her summer in County Northton?”
It was well known the royal family held the first garden party of the spring season at Hadsby Castle, a stone and concrete fortress and first royal residence.
Michael had been to Hadsby on several occasions—starting as a boy when his father traveled north to see the queen.
But at the moment, he was more than content below stairs, manning the HMSD Operations Room.
He felt close to Purnell in that place, which didn’t make a lot of sense, but there you go.