Chapter 24
Barely into relaxed mode, Meredith’s cell phone jangled. It was Prince Spencer, according to her caller ID. “Hello?”
“I need you to come down here,” he said in an urgent tone. “Right now.”
“Is something wrong?” She scrambled for her shoes.
“Perhaps. Queen Katerina wishes to speak to you. Come at once.”
“Can I put on my shoes?”
“Yes, of course. Just hurry. The queen’s aid will meet you and escort you to her.”
“I’m on my way.” She slid her feet into her shoes and rushed for the door.
As she went down, she played various scenarios through her head.
Why was the queen so eager for her presence?
Probably nothing good. Instead of fretting over it, she prayed as she scurried down the stairs.
At the very least, this might be interesting.
The aid met her in the hallway outside the queen’s quarters. “This way, come,” she said with her thick Slavic accent. And just like that, Meredith was standing before a scowling queen who looked like she was ready to utter “Off with her head!”
“Your Majesty.” Meredith tipped her head in a quick bow. “What can I do for you?”
“Explain what you’ve done to the princess.”
“Done?” Meredith said. “I’m not sure what you mean.” She noticed a shadow move in the corner of the room, and Kat stepped out.
“She means the makeup,” Kat said sullenly. “She doesn’t like it.”
“You are a child,” the queen told her.
“Kat is an adolescent,” Meredith challenged. “Almost thirteen.”
“Yes, next month,” Kat chimed in, standing next to Meredith.
The queen glared at Meredith. “You will address the child as Princess Katerina.”
“I am not a child.” Kat folded her arms in front of her, brow creased.
“I only helped Princess Katerina to experiment with some new facial products,” Meredith explained.
“And she did ask her father for permission to come to dinner like this.” She slid an arm around Kat’s shoulders.
“I think she looks respectable as well as pretty.” She turned to the queen.
“Is there anything wrong with that? You are a queen, so you must understand the need for royalty to feel confident. If a bit of makeup increases the princess’s self-confidence, I do not see what harm can come from it.
Most girls her age are experimenting with similar products.
Some to a much more extravagant degree.”
The queen looked somewhat speechless, but her eyes narrowed. “The princess shall gain her confidence from being a member the royal family.”
“Perhaps.” Meredith tipped her head to one side.
“But does it hurt to install a bit of confidence through additional measures? For instance, proper education is important to validate self-worth, and adept social skills are a necessity for diplomacy. But did you know that social skills are directly linked directly to one’s self-awareness and personal confidence?
Where does an adolescent find such things? Doesn’t appearance count for anything?”
Meredith motioned toward the queen. “For example, you are quite well-groomed and beautifully dressed too for your formal dinner tonight, but what if you were unkempt and wearing some old wrinkled and worn clothes? Would you feel self-assured to greet your elegant guests?”
The queen glowered, drumming her fingers on the desktop.
“Speaking of your guests, I should think you would not want to keep them waiting.” Meredith smiled, dipping her head again. “I don’t want to keep you from them.”
The queen’s dark eyes bore into Meredith, and then she smiled. Or almost smiled. Or maybe it was a catty smile. “You are such an expert on confidence and self-assurance, Miss Cardwell, perhaps you would care to join us for dinner.”
Meredith was speechless.
“Oh, please do, Meri.” Kat grabbed her hand. “Please.”
“Well, I’m honored to be asked, Your Majesty, but as you can see, I’m hardly dressed for a formal meal. I wouldn’t want to—”
“What about your speech? Self-assurance and confidence?” the queen challenged.
Meredith didn’t appreciate being intimidated. “As I mentioned, those qualities can be linked to a person’s appearance. In my case, I’m afraid I would offend your guests by my casual apparel. But if you don’t mind, I don’t mind.” She smiled.
“Yes, I wouldn’t want to offend my guests.” The queen’s smile looked forced. “Go, Miss Cardwell. Make yourself appropriate and return at once.”
“But I—”
“Do not argue with the queen.” Her dark eyes grew darker.
“Come on, Meri.” Kat tugged her hand. “I’ll help you.”
“But I—”
“You are excused,” the queen declared with a wave of her hand.
As Kat dragged her down the hallway and toward the stairs, Meredith knew she was a fish out of water. What had her facade of confidence gotten her into? “I don’t have proper clothes,” she quietly told Kat. “Why don’t you let me just go back up, and you can send my apologies to the queen.”
“No.” Kat shook her head. “She’ll think she’s won. You need to go down and stand up to her.”
“Stand up to her?”
“She’s challenging you. Don’t let up, Meri. Show her you know what you’re talking about.”
“What if I don’t know what I’m talking about?” Meredith laughed at the irony. She’d just given a lecture on personal confidence, yet she felt like she was floundering.
“I think there’s something more at stake here, Meri.”
“What do you mean?”
“I overheard Papa on his phone with her earlier.” Kat paused at the foot of the stairs, glancing around, then continued. “He was speaking with Grandmama—and he was defending you.”
“Defending me?”
“That’s what it sounded like.”
“I appreciate your concern, Kat, but you really shouldn’t repeat an overheard conversation.”
“But Grandmama wants to get rid of you. I know it.”
Meredith couldn’t argue with her there.
“I’ve never seen her act like she did tonight. I think she’s intimidated by you, Meri.”
“The queen is intimidated by me?” She laughed. “I think you’re imagining things.”
“I think Grandmama is worried about Papa…”
“Worried how?”
“Grandmama thinks he’s too interested in you, Meri.”
She remembered the kiss and wondered if the room had security cameras watching? After all, Spencer had mentioned the tightened security. What if that little exchange had been observed?
“Well, that is ridiculous.” Meredith wanted to change the subject. “I’m curious, Kat, what did your grandmother actually say about you wearing makeup? I didn’t think she’d even notice.”
“She didn’t notice.” Kat made a growling sound. “It was my brat of a brother. He squealed.”
“Oh, dear.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“No, you aren’t, Kat. Murder is not becoming to a princess.” She forced a laugh then changed topic again. “If I’m going down to dine with royalty, what am I to wear?”
“That blue gown you got in Vienna. You looked so beautiful in it.”
“Is it too formal?”
“No, I saw how the guests were dressed. To the nines, Papa would say, although I’m not sure what that means exactly. But it’s definitely a formal dinner.”
They went into the room, and with Kat’s help, Meredith managed to pull off a quick-change act and even pinned her hair into a loose french twist that Kat proclaimed looked perfect.
Then they hurried back down to where the queen was playing hostess as drinks were being served.
Chatting with her was a regal looking older couple and a dignified middle-aged couple.
Gathered around Spencer was a handsome pair.
A dark-haired man in evening wear, and an attractive blonde woman who looked like a glamorous Hollywood actress in a form-fitting glittering silver gown with a rather high slit.
The blonde was engaged in what seemed a lively conversation with Spencer, but the man next to her looked bored.
The woman’s laugh had a light tinkling quality, and she seemed as sparkling as her attire.
Despite herself, Meredith felt a wave of jealousy and to her dismay, she once again recalled that solitary kiss from the other night. Her cheeks warmed to the memory, and she wondered, for the umpteenth time, if it had meant anything. Perhaps she would never know.
Determined not to show vulnerability or reveal her true feelings, she squared her shoulders, pasted on a socially appropriate smile, and with her arm linked with Kat’s, entered the room as if she too were royalty.
Meredith might be a nobody from a small town in Oregon, but she reminded herself she was the daughter of the King of the Universe.
She would hold her head high. And if Kat were right—if the queen wanted this to be her chance to be rid of the unwanted nanny—well, bring it.