“Emmanuel?”Scottie said.
“Yes, the name means God with us,” Michael said.“There’s a legend about the woodsman who comes down from the twin peaks of the Highcrest Mountains every blue or red moon to visit the people.We Lauchtens love our legends and lore, our fairy tales.”Michael moved to another window to scan the castle grounds where a field of lavender bloomed wild on the edges of Whistlecrag Bluff.“I daresay it was one of the gardeners disappearing in the sunlight.”
The sunwasunusually high and bright on this spring day.
Scottie stared at the golden swaths falling in long drapes over the flowers and lavender, then glanced over at Michael, as if testing his story.
“You look exhausted,” he said as a maid arrived with her turkey sandwich and cherry drink.Beautiful but exhausted.Perhaps more from the magnitude of her trip than the travel itself.“Let’s go over your diary later.”He pointed to the end table phone then regarded her for a moment before collecting himself.“Ring down to the Operations Room when you’re ready.”
Once in the gallery, he gave himself a proper reprimand.“Get a hold of yourself, mate.”
He’d been utterly gobsmacked by her—this lovely being from the House of Blue and the House of O’Shay.Hardly the sort of reaction listed in his job description.He wasn’t ready for the flutter that came from standing too near a stranger.And it was too soon to let Purnell go.She deserved his loyalty still—and he’d give it to her in death if not in life.
* * *
“The king consort is off on a fishing trip with his mates.Prince John and his family are traveling, and I just heard Prince Gus and Princess Daffodil are in New York.Princess Arabella and her husband, Sir William, and Princess Rachel are at Perrigwynn.Which Blues will be at the Hadsby Garden Party?!I finally got an invitation!”
— @StefwithanF on IG
* * *
“@StefwithanF.Us too!We got an invite to the Garden Party!We can’t believe it!#whattowear”
— @LoyalRoyalBlog
* * *
“I’m quite looking forward to seeing the queen’s daughter and the newly styled Lady Royal Blue at the Garden Party.I know some will disagree with me, but I think she brings such a refreshing sensibility to the House of Blue, and though she’s Creative Director for a men’s fashion house, her taste is impeccable.She turned heads at Christmas last year, walking to Clouver Abbey with the Family.Utterly elegant.The American women really are bringing their A-game these days, aren’t they?There’s something so wonderfully genuine about Scottie O’Shay.The queen inviting her to serve as companion during the spring is rather touching.”
— Tuppence Corbyn & Friends
Chapter Five
Scottie
There wasn’t one formal bone in her body.How could there be when she grew up running in and out of Dad’s office or Shug’s kitchen for a cookie before jumping back in the pool or rolling down a hill of fall leaves.Never mind four years of running up and down the basketball court of Rock Mill High with a fierce competitiveness.
Formalities weren’t at play in her childhood when the neighbors left their back doors unlocked for the after-school crowd to run inside for a drink and snack.
If she was out to dinner with Dad and friends walked by, they’d just sit down at their table for a chat or even the whole meal.
Welcome to the South.
However, at Hadsby Castle, Scottie waited to be invited by a footman to Monarch One, the suite of her mother.She dined in the Grand Dining Hall.Walked the Grand Gallery under the stare of her ancestors to descend the Grand Staircase into the Grand Foyer.She wandered through the Grand Drawing Room.Everything about Hadsby Castle bore the title of “Grand.”
Choko brought her breakfast and laid out her clothes—some of which did not come from her suitcases.
Since her arrival, she’d slept in.Something she’d not done since, well, she couldn’t remember.She easily fell into a routine of a light breakfast, touring the castle, or reading in Queen’s Library with an old first edition book until afternoon tea with Kate, who was not feeling well, and barely lasted an hour before wilting.
Yesterday the doctor again expressed his concern about infections, so in order to keep Kate healthy until the Garden Party—which sheinsistedon attending—she remained isolated except for afternoon tea with Scottie.Which the queen also insisted upon.
However, at the moment, Scottie perched on a sofa cushion and processed her conversation with Dad.She called to say hi and see how O’Shay fared without her.She’d expected some frantic“Help!”calls.An inbox of emails.But so far, nothing.It was like she didn’t matter.
“How’s Kate?”he’d said.She may be a European queen and highly respected world leader, but Queen Catherine the Second would always be Kate to Trent and Scottie O’Shay.
“Weak.I don’t get to see her much.The Garden Party is coming up, then the start of her spring schedule.”
“Scotto, have fun.Forget being an O’Shay and the job.Be Lady Royal Blue.”He sounded like a game show host.“Little girls dream of being you.”
