favor?”
“Well, I wasn’t even aware of that so, no. I got the message that my mother was ill and I decided to come and see her.”
“And what did you expect in return?”
Gwen sensed the trick in the lady’s question. “Nothing.”
Dame Margaret frowned. “Has the King discussed his abdication with you yet?”
“We brushed the subject, yes.”
“Then you must know that it’s of great importance that you give your title to your sister. Look at yourself, Guinevere. You’re not a queen” she said sympathetically.
Alarms were going off in Gwen’s head.
“My title is my birth right. You can’t expect me to just give it away like an old piece of junk.”
“Then don’t just give it away.”
Gwen didn’t like the direction the conversation was going. “My title isn’t for sale either.”
“500 million” the dame declared and whipped out a cheque from her file.
Gwen was speechless and looked at Dame Margaret, searching for her nerve.
“Wow, just like that?” she looked at the valuable piece of paper in disbelief.
“As soon as you denounce the throne and leave the country, I’ll clear the transfer.”
“What do you get out of this?” Gwen asked pushing the cheque back to the lady.
“The perfect monarchy and a whole lot of praise” she shrugged. “Sleep on it. You’ve had quite an eventful day but I’m sure you should have an answer for me in the morning. Unfortunately this is a limited time offer.”
Gwen looked out of the doors into the gardens. “I’ll sleep on it.”
Sir Windsbury stood under the stairs out of view, listening intently to the conversation that took place in the living room.
“What are you doing?” he asked as the dame passed him on her way to the kitchen.
“Sir Windsbury, you gave me a fright.”
“What is this?” he stepped closer to her.
“This is none of your business” She answered.
“This family is the only family I’ve ever known. This is my business.”
“You’re a glorified chamber maid. Keep to the King’s underwear” she threw her nose in the air and entered the kitchen just as Gwen exited the lounge.
“Gwen!” he called after her.
“Oh, thanks for the coffee” she said trance like.
“Don’t even sleep on it. Don’t.” he urged.
“Did you eavesdrop?” she asked irritated.
“I’m just begging you not to do it, that’s all. Please.” Sir Windsbury turned and punched the kitchen door with his fist and disappeared inside.
“I don’t belong here” Gwen said to herself and ran up the stairs. She entered her room, bolted the bathroom door for privacy and fell down on her bed. On her nightstand stood a hot mug of coffee and a small vase of fresh roses but she didn’t care. She flung the covers over her head and cried herself to sleep.
Elsie felt lonely without the usual open portal to Gwen’s room. It was difficult to leave her sister in peace after that morning’s incident but she respected her privacy. Gwen had probably drowned her sorrows in a barrel of whiskey anyway and was passed out by now. She lay awake the whole night thinking up nonsense and reminiscing about the past, waiting for Gwen to use the bathroom so she would at least know she was alright.
At seven she tried the bathroom door again, but it was still locked.
“I’m going to check what’s for breakfast. Remember to unlock your door so they can bring you your tray” she called through the door.
Elsie took a detour pass her parent’s room. The door was open and her mother was alone in bed, staring down at the garden again.
“Morning mother. Where’s the King?”
“Morning, Elsie. Dame Margaret requested an urgent audience with him. What are you doing out of bed? It’s Saturday, you know.”
“Just stretching my legs.”
“Enjoy it” the Queen
“Well, I wasn’t even aware of that so, no. I got the message that my mother was ill and I decided to come and see her.”
“And what did you expect in return?”
Gwen sensed the trick in the lady’s question. “Nothing.”
Dame Margaret frowned. “Has the King discussed his abdication with you yet?”
“We brushed the subject, yes.”
“Then you must know that it’s of great importance that you give your title to your sister. Look at yourself, Guinevere. You’re not a queen” she said sympathetically.
Alarms were going off in Gwen’s head.
“My title is my birth right. You can’t expect me to just give it away like an old piece of junk.”
“Then don’t just give it away.”
Gwen didn’t like the direction the conversation was going. “My title isn’t for sale either.”
“500 million” the dame declared and whipped out a cheque from her file.
Gwen was speechless and looked at Dame Margaret, searching for her nerve.
“Wow, just like that?” she looked at the valuable piece of paper in disbelief.
“As soon as you denounce the throne and leave the country, I’ll clear the transfer.”
“What do you get out of this?” Gwen asked pushing the cheque back to the lady.
“The perfect monarchy and a whole lot of praise” she shrugged. “Sleep on it. You’ve had quite an eventful day but I’m sure you should have an answer for me in the morning. Unfortunately this is a limited time offer.”
Gwen looked out of the doors into the gardens. “I’ll sleep on it.”
Sir Windsbury stood under the stairs out of view, listening intently to the conversation that took place in the living room.
“What are you doing?” he asked as the dame passed him on her way to the kitchen.
“Sir Windsbury, you gave me a fright.”
“What is this?” he stepped closer to her.
“This is none of your business” She answered.
“This family is the only family I’ve ever known. This is my business.”
“You’re a glorified chamber maid. Keep to the King’s underwear” she threw her nose in the air and entered the kitchen just as Gwen exited the lounge.
“Gwen!” he called after her.
“Oh, thanks for the coffee” she said trance like.
“Don’t even sleep on it. Don’t.” he urged.
“Did you eavesdrop?” she asked irritated.
“I’m just begging you not to do it, that’s all. Please.” Sir Windsbury turned and punched the kitchen door with his fist and disappeared inside.
“I don’t belong here” Gwen said to herself and ran up the stairs. She entered her room, bolted the bathroom door for privacy and fell down on her bed. On her nightstand stood a hot mug of coffee and a small vase of fresh roses but she didn’t care. She flung the covers over her head and cried herself to sleep.
Elsie felt lonely without the usual open portal to Gwen’s room. It was difficult to leave her sister in peace after that morning’s incident but she respected her privacy. Gwen had probably drowned her sorrows in a barrel of whiskey anyway and was passed out by now. She lay awake the whole night thinking up nonsense and reminiscing about the past, waiting for Gwen to use the bathroom so she would at least know she was alright.
At seven she tried the bathroom door again, but it was still locked.
“I’m going to check what’s for breakfast. Remember to unlock your door so they can bring you your tray” she called through the door.
Elsie took a detour pass her parent’s room. The door was open and her mother was alone in bed, staring down at the garden again.
“Morning mother. Where’s the King?”
“Morning, Elsie. Dame Margaret requested an urgent audience with him. What are you doing out of bed? It’s Saturday, you know.”
“Just stretching my legs.”
“Enjoy it” the Queen
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