Chapter 8
Eight
The following day, my father’s private secretary exits the study and holds the door open for me. “The king is ready for you, Your Highness.”
I straighten my skirt and stand on shaking legs. My pulse is racing wildly in my chest. “Thanks,” I manage.
When I enter, Papa is sitting at his desk, scribbling his name on an important-looking document.
“Just one more moment . . . and done.” He taps the papers together, sets them in the red box to his right, and removes his glasses.
As he sees me, a wide smile crosses his face.
“Alice.” He points to his cheek. I walk around the desk and give him a peck.
His beard is scratchy. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, sir. I have a few important things I need to discuss with you.” I tuck my hands behind my back, proud of how steady my voice sounds.
“As long as I don’t have to do any more writing, I’m all ears.” He stands and shakes out his hand.
“No, sir, it doesn’t involve writing.” He takes a seat on the sofa. I remain standing and take a deep breath. “It involves a property.”
“Alice, I’ll be the first to admit that the trio of listings Amanda found has been by far the best I’ve seen, but your mum felt you could do better. And I’m inclined to agree with her. It’s not a question of location this time. It’s the condition of the overall buildings.”
“I agree with you, Papa, but the thing is . . . I already bought the one in Queen’s Park,” I say, my voice squeaky. I brace myself.
Papa sits taller. It takes him a moment to process the words he’s just heard. He blinks a few times, then furrows his brows. “Explain yourself.”
My father is not a man for excuses. He appreciates when a person sticks to the cold hard facts. That’s exactly what I plan to do.
“Last fall, when I first lay eyes on the Queen’s Park flat, I immediately fell in love with it.
It was one of the few properties I’d seen in my budget that still had most of its original features, like the crown molding, beautiful hardwood floors, and sash windows.
I know it’s not the prettiest property to look at, but that didn’t matter to me.
I could see the potential in what the flat could become.
“In hindsight, I should’ve known the photos might be misleading.
” My voice quivers, and my body burns with shame.
My gaze travels to the ground. “I realized last week when the sale officially went through that I’d made a huge mistake.
I never went to go and see it in person, nor did I bother to read the surveyor’s report.
If I had, I would’ve realized there were substantial issues purposely omitted from the photos. The flat is in awful shape, Papa.”
“Alice, I’m extremely disappointed in you.
” The disheartened sound of his voice weighs heavy on me.
It’s worse than anger. He’s the person whose opinion matters most to me.
We’ve always shared a special father-daughter bond, and now it feels like I’ve betrayed him.
Guilt swells up in my stomach, squeezing me as tightly as a boa constrictor.
“You made an immensely foolish and irresponsible decision. This is something I can see Edmund doing, but not you. You’re supposed to be the levelheaded child.”
Papa stands. I risk a glance at him, watching as he walks over to the window, looking out at the gardens with his back to me.
“If you’d come to your mum and me and told us this was what you’d wanted, all this could have been avoided.
We would’ve ensured the property was properly vetted.
Remember, if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. ”
He turns and meets my eyes, and I make myself smaller. There is a tightness around his mouth and deep creases on his forehead. His eyes, usually warm and inviting, are now shadowed, like clouds passing over the sun. “What exactly did you see at the viewing?”
“Nothing but problems. Everything needs repairs and updates to be habitable.” My shoulders hunch. “I’ve spent some time trying to get some quotes from different electricians, carpenters, and roofers. All in, it’s likely going to be an additional one to two hundred thousand pounds worth of repairs.”
“Do you have the budget for this?”
“Not right now, but if I do things in stages, and learn how to do some of the repairs myself to cut costs, I think I’ll be able to get by.
My plan is to address the most immediate problems first, all the structural repairs, and go from there.
That alone will probably run me about fifty to seventy-five thousand pounds. ”
Papa closes the gap between us. I feel the weight of his gaze on me. “And how do you intend to secure the remaining funds for the other projects? What if there are unforeseen problems that arise?”
“I’ll deal with things as they come. Right now, I think the most logical course of action is to take out a mortgage or a loan. There would be interest to worry about, but in time, I could pay it back.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “You will not take out any loans or a mortgage. You’re a university student with a part-time job that pays eleven pounds an hour.
No bank in their right mind would be willing to take a risk on you even if you’re a member of the royal family.
” He runs a hand along his jaw. “No, Mum and I will lend you the money and we’ll figure out how you can repay us later. However, I have several stipulations.”
I listen carefully. Papa lays out his lists of demands.
One, they will purchase the neighboring flat, so we own the entire building.
Two, they will have final say over all the work that’s done.
Three, in addition to Angela and Art, there will be another security officer on duty at all times to watch the CCTV cameras and conduct bag checks. The garage will be converted into a hidden security office.
Four, a safe room will be installed in case there is a breach of security.
And five, a six-foot-tall gate will be installed in front of the house.
Those are just the ones that pertain to the building.
Papa also mentions stipulations like not being able to go anywhere unescorted.
In short, living in my flat will mirror my life in the palace.
It’s like I’m a zoo animal that’s being given an upgraded exhibit.
It may be shiny and new, but it’s still living a life in captivity.
There are no ways around it. I have no leg to stand on since this mess is my own making. Papa’s decisions are final. He won’t change his mind about any of these demands. He’ll likely add to them. So all I can do now is accept them.
“Yes, sir.” I nod. “I understand.”
“Good. Now that that’s been sorted, you can also expect to start having some more official engagements added to your diary. If you’re going to be an adult living on her own, you can expect to work like one too.”
“But what about school?”
“We’ll work around it. Your studies will always be a top priority.”
I squeeze my hands together tightly and chew on my lip.
I’d hoped that with the start of uni, I’d be able to slowly begin stepping away from public duties.
Not beginning the transition to life as a working royal.
My gap year travels helped me realize that I want a quiet life.
I’m not delusional enough to think I’ll ever be completely left alone, but I’d like to at least try and give it a go.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
I open my mouth to argue, but I’ve used up the allotment of courage I’ve brought with me. Papa’s stern facial expression tells me that for now, this discussion has to be tabled. “No, sir.”
“Good.” He nods curtly.
“I just want to apologize again.”
Papa offers me a grunt and walks over to the intercom, calling his secretary inside.
I take this as a signal that my time with my father is over.
I mutter a quick goodbye, then make my escape.
It hurts that he doesn’t ask for his customary kiss on the cheek, but I know he needs some time to calm down.
As I disappear out of his office, his words echo loudly in my mind. “I’m extremely disappointed in you.” A stray tear escapes the corner of my eye. I know I have no one to blame but myself. I’ll learn from this mistake and hope I can prove to Papa I can make something out of this.
By Saturday, my mood has improved, but I’m still holding massive waves of guilt inside me.
The weather is bright and sunny on this late June afternoon.
I’m inside an open-top carriage, seated opposite Amanda and Clara.
As we pull out of Buckingham Palace, there’s a deafening roar.
The streets are brimming with tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of us as we leave the palace for Horse Guard’s Parade.
Waving to the crowd, I do my best to place a pleasant smile on my face, despite wishing I could be anywhere else.
“I’d give anything to be on a horse like Papa, Eddie, and David.
They’re so lucky. They don’t have to smile.
They can focus on their horses. Not to mention, they won’t be criticized for what they’re wearing.
” I glance down at my light-blue chiffon gown.
Amanda chuckles. “Now that you’re almost twenty-one, I’m sure your dad will give you some type of honorary military appointment. Then you can ride out with the boys in uniform. But if you ask me, events like this are much more fun when you’re with people. Not riding solo.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I can tell you that David was not looking forward to being on horseback today,” Clara says.
“Neither was Eddie,” Amanda adds.
Clara fans herself. “In heat like this, we’re lucky we don’t have to wear those woolen tunics and tall bearskin hats too.”
“I suppose you’re right.” My gaze travels to the members of the guardsmen lining the Mall who salute us as our carriage moves past them. They’re wearing the traditional summer-order scarlet tunic uniforms.