“But by afternoon, it’ll be hot and stuffy,” Kat told her.
“I won’t be in here during the daytime,” she said. “Since I’m supposed to be looking after you two. Really, it’ll be okay. It’s only a place to sleep at night.” She thanked the guard and asked for the key. “And now I know where it is.”
With the key in hand, she and the children went out, and she locked the door. Certainly, it was an odd place to keep a governess, but she suspected the queen was hoping she’d hate it so much that she’d leave. Well, the queen didn’t know Meredith. If this was the game, she was willing to play.
The children still seemed upset about the horrible room after they went back down, but Meredith managed to reassure them it was going to be just fine. “I’ve stayed in worse places,” she told them. “I’m a lot tougher than you think.” She winked at Kat. “Maybe this is my chance just to show how tough I am.” She didn’t want to mention anything about the queen’s possible motives, but she could tell by Kat’s expression she got it. “And since it seems we have the day to ourselves for a change, we should have some fun. Let’s make it a good day.”
And that is exactly what they did. By the end of the day, she and the children were tired and happy as they went down to dine with the queen. Although Meredith hadn’t been officially invited to join them, the children insisted it was her duty as governess to accompany them, and she decided she’d play along, just to see the queen’s face. It was no surprise that the table only had three places, but the queen wore a good poker face as she instructed a server to add one more.
“We had a lovely day,” Meredith said cheerfully as they waited for the queen to take her place at the head of the table.The children chimed in, telling about what they’d done and how much fun they’d had.
“I assume you are settled into your new quarters.” The queen’s eyes were fixed on Meredith.
“I am. Thank you for having my bags moved up there for me.” Meredith smiled.
The queen cleared her throat then turned her attention to Kat. “I have considered your request to have a classmate come for your birthday, but since I am inviting a few other young people for you to socialize with, I do not think it’s necessary to add one more.”
“But Grandmama.” Kat’s brow creased. “I already told Kalina about it, and she was excited to come.”
“No doubt. But don’t you think it was premature to extend an invitation without my consent?”
“I thought it wasmybirthday party.” Kat’s lower lip extended, and her eyes looked bright with tears.
“Yes, but I am the host,” the queen sternly reminded her.
“Then have a birthday party without me.” Kat scooted back her chair. “Excuse me, Your Majesty.” She ran from the room.
“Excuse me too.” Meredith stood, pausing to lock eyes with the queen. “Enjoy your dinner.”
“Excuse me too.” Mishka jumped up and grabbed Meredith’s hand in solidarity. As they went up the stairs, not far behind Kat, Meredith felt fed up with the queen’s power trip game. In fact, she decided since Spencer wasn’t even in the castle, let alone the country, she would move back down to the family’s quarters to be near the children. After all, Nanny Bosko was a heavy sleeper, and for the most part not terribly attuned to the children overnight. Anyway, hadn’t Spencer hired her to be with his children? That is just what she planned to do, and when she told Kat and Mishka this news, they both cheered.
27
For the next couple of days, Meredith made sure the children dined with their grandmother for breakfast and dinner, but she remained absent—mostly because she didn’t trust her self-control and didn’t want to tell off the queen in front of the children. But the evening that Spencer came home, after the children were in bed, she made her position clear to him.
“I am sorry to tell you that it’s time for me to give you my notice,” she told him.
“What? Why?” He looked stricken.
“It’s what the queen wishes.” She moved over to her bags, which were by the door.
“You’re leaving now?” he demanded. “What do you plan to use for transportation?”
She smiled stiffly. “I’m not leaving right now. I just need to go back to my room.”
“Your room?”
She nodded upward. “The queen had me moved up to the servants’ floor.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I haven’t actually slept there yet. While you were away, I thought I should be near the children. But now that you’re back, I should go up there.”
“To the servants’ quarters?” His gray eyes sparked. “That is ludicrous.”
“It’s only temporary. I want to tell the children a proper goodbye, but I do think I should be on my way in a day or two. I am sorry to leave them.” A lump formed in her throat to imagine this was really it.
“You can’t leave us—I meanthem—Meredith. They need you.”
