Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Oh, okay, I see you are taking sides with my mother?”
I looked down at the dog, now sniffing at my heels. “Hi, boy.”
“It’s a she,” Eliza said as I glanced back up to find her arms crossed over her body and her head held high. “And both she and I are wondering what changed your mind so quickly? Yesterday, you were all high-and-mighty about how you would not be here, and yet here you are. So, were you messing with me yesterday? Or did you just want to see the palace before leaving him?”
“Eliza—”
“I am definitely here for the palace,” I said, interrupting Gale before he spoke up. “Will you be giving me the tour?”
Again, a few eyes fell on me in shock. And I really wished I would stop talking so I could figure out what I should be saying, but I guessed it was still the adrenaline pumping through me. Eliza’s eyes narrowed on me.
“I will give you a tour if you sing for me.”
Gale tried to cut in again. “Eliza, she is not your personal—”
“My voice is worth more than a tour, so we will have to come to some new arrangement. But if you are in, I am in.” I held out my hand to her.
She looked at it and then me.
“I knew you would be cool.” She shook it once and bent down to pick up the dog. “Persephone, say hi to our new sister.”
“Eliza, that is enough. They both have things they must do,” her mother said as she walked up to me, her hands clasped together. She looked me up and down. “You are very pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“I was not trying to compliment you. I was stating a fact,” the queen replied, her voice unnerving. “More facts, your jewelry and clothing choice was appropriate enough, though very flashy and the color a little bright for a first introduction. Nevertheless, it will do. It has to. You did well under the circumstances. However, today is the easiest day you shall have for quite some time. Being pretty is not enough. Many people are pretty. You need to be smart and decisive. I do know the circumstances which caused today, but they cannot happen again. We have order and protocol here. And now that you have crossed those gates and entered this threshold, you are beholden to them as we all are. Am I understood?”
“Yes...” I nodded. “Your Highness?”
“Majesty,” she corrected. “You will be given tutors. You must learn quickly. Now you must both go see the king and take more photos with the press with your ring.” Her eyes shot down to my hand. “Where is the ring?”
“Here, Mother,” Gale stated, opening the box for her to see.
“Ambrose, explain everything to her while I change from this ridiculous outfit,” she said, turning away from me and going up the stairs with Eliza. The welcoming party that had come to see me all went with her or disappeared through some door or down a hallway.
In her place, a hefty but tall man with white hair and a mustache so thick it looked like fur on his lips stood in front of me.
“Odette,” Gale said when he returned to my side. “This is Thomas Ambrose, whom we call Ambrose or Mr. Ambrose, whichever you prefer. He is the Head Secretary of Palace Affairs. He chooses every personal secretary for the royal family and acts as the secretary to the king.”
“Miss Wyntor.” He nodded at me. “I have a list of personal secretaries for you to choose from. Until that moment, however, I shall be guiding you through this afternoon’s itinerary.”
He gave me a tablet to look at, and there was everything, time stamped.
12:00 p.m. Miss Wyntor arrives.
12:01 – 12:10 p.m. Miss Wyntor in the company of Her Majesty, the queen.
12:11 – 12:16 p.m. Audience with the king.
12:20 – 12:30 p.m. Audience with the press.
12:35 – 1:55 p.m. Official palace engagement photos
2:00 p.m. Tea and lunch with the queen.
I glanced over at Gale, and he just nodded as if he knew what I wanted to say.
“We must get going to be on time,” Ambrose said, making space for Gale and me to walk forward. “The crown handpicks the reporters who will be present. Normally, there is more time, and you would have received questions ahead of time. But they are simple. How do you feel? Are you happy? Is the wedding date set yet? The answer to that question is no. Then Prince Galahad will say, ‘When we set a date, we will inform the public.’ You are advised to smile widely like this is all a fairy tale. When it is over, you will go to the gardens for photos. Gowns were brought in and are waiting for you. After that, you shall rejoin the queen for further instructions on your day.”