She turns on the signal light, then shoulder checks and I do the same. Oh God, please tell me she’s not waiting for that speck of a car coming in the distance.
Shit. She is.
Come on, come on, just pull out already, Peggy. You can do this.
“So, it says you want to go to Valcourt Palace. Isn’t there a gala there tonight?” she asks, the signal light still ticking away while she doesn’t pull out.
“Yes, there is, in fact.”
“If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t look like you’re dressed for a fancy ball.”
I glance down at my outfit—white tee, army green puffy vest and navy track pants. “Well, it’s a bit of a last-minute decision to go there.”
“I see.” She finally pulls out into the exit lane and slowly accelerates, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “You look awfully familiar. Have I picked you up before?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely positive. I’d remember you,” I say, bouncing my leg with nervous energy.
Oh bollocks, she’s driving ten clicks under the speed limit. I’m pretty sure I could walk faster than this. Well, obviously that’s not true, but I am filled with regret for not getting in one of those yellow cabs parked out front.
“So, what brings you to the palace?”
I try to find a way to tell her I’d rather not talk about it, but instead, for some reason, I find myself launching into the entire story, telling her about the promise I made to Arabella about never going to a ball alone again, and how I’d inadvertently treated her like a child after going off with Kenneth Abernathy in search of fame and fortune. When I’m finished, I feel like a total arse and yet somehow slightly unburdened of my fears. “So, what do you think? Do you think she’ll take me back?”
“She’d be a fool not to,” Peggy says with a firm nod. “I’m sure as soon as she sees you, she’ll change her mind and the two of you will live happily-ever-after.” She pauses for a second, then yells, “Yes! I just knew if I started driving an Uber that I’d be part of something thrilling someday! You know what? Speed limits be damned. This is a time for breaking the rules!”
With that, she hits the pedal hard, causing the car to accelerate at a pace so slow, it’s almost impossible to tell. She makes a whooping sound, then yells, “Andiamo!I’ve always wanted to say that.”
I grin, glad that I told her everything because now that she’s hit top speed, Peggy is weaving in and out of traffic like her life depends on it.
“Now, my only question is, how are we going to get past the front gates?”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” I say, my heart dropping into my stomach.
“I’ve got a few ideas for how to get us past the guards. Number one: I could put my coat under my shirt and pretend I’m about to have a baby. Men never know what to do in that situation, and they pretty much let you have whatever you want. Also, I’m a part-time doula, so I can do a pretty good imitation of a woman in advanced labour.” With that, she starts breathing loudly and bending forward, screwing up her face as though she’s in a great deal of pain. She stops suddenly and glances back at me with a grin. “Pretty good, right?”
“Brilliant, yes,” I say, now wishing I had not told her anything. “But, perhaps we’ll just keep it simple and see if I’m on the list.”
“Oh, okay then,” she says, looking disappointed. “But if you’re not, we’re totally going with the labour thing, yes?”
“By that time, they might be on to us.”
“Righto…” she says, turning left onto the Langdon Bridge.
There’s a long line-up of cars moving slowly down the road and it takes several minutes to get to the guard house. She rolls down the window and says in a very posh accent, “I have a Mr. William Banks here for Princess Arabella.”
The guard bends down and gives me a dirty look.
I smile at him through the open window and give him a small wave. “Remember me?”
“Cheap cognac,” he says. “I’ll check and see if you’re on tonight’s list.”
“I’m probably not, to be honest,” I say, “But that’s only because I was meant to be going out of the country tonight. But I do know Princess Arabella will want to—”
“You’re on the list,” he says. “But as the Princess Dowager’s guest. Go on ahead.”
