Just as he closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against her hair, a loud, piercing ring blasted from his jacket pocket.Scottie bolted upright, eyes wide, and pulled her hand from his.Andpoof, the magic between them was gone.
* * *
“Friday afternoon the Midlands Faire was met with a horde of RECO activists and other protestors over the American Scottie O’Shay.‘It was like at the quay,’ a man from Midlands Garden said.‘I tell you, that girl is a menace.Lady Royal, ha!’Eloise Bright of Eloise Ltd.claimed she was talking business with Lady Royal in her shop when a mob of reporters and troublemakers barged in.‘It’s a disgrace how the RECO party fires people up.My shop was a mess when everyone left, chanting their madness.Lady Royal is a welcomed addition to the House of Blue and Lauchtenland.’We reached out to the Chamber Office for a response but there’s been no comment from the queen or the Family.”
— Melissa Faris, Royal Reporter, the Morning Show
* * *
“I can’t believe I once posted I thought Hamish Fickle was hot.What a louse.Why is he going after Lady Royal?I just saw him onTuppence Corbyn & Friendsmaking an excuse for the RECO riot at the Midlands Faire.He claims he had nothing to do with it, but there’s video evidence proving he’s a liar.Midlands Garden, do not reelect him to parliament.Anyone else with me on that?Lady Royal, I’m so sorry!”
— @StefwithanF on Instagram
* * *
“I had a blast at the Midlands Faire.It’s a tradition in my family.Our own holiday.I missed the hullabaloo.What happened?I’m sorry I missed seeing Lady Royal.I think she’s beautiful and amazing.”
— GretchenGreen on Facebook
Chapter Fourteen
Scottie
It wasn’t often Scottie regretted her decisions, but the moment she dropped her bag Sunday afternoon on the floor of her Hearts Bend living room, she wished she were back at Hadsby Castle.
Falling face-first onto her sofa—the glorious, custom-designed B & B Italian Bellini with its post-World War II design—jet lag, along with the weight of her decision, pushed her deep into the cushions.But she was here now.Time to resolve the regret.
Kate had been shocked by the Midlands Faire uprising, but also remarkably pragmatic.
“What did you think, love?You’d join the House of Blue without controversy?Well, I carry much of the blame.I didn’t prepare you.I selfishly thought only of myself.”
Yes, she had thought she could join the Family without controversy.
“Why do the people hate me?”
“They don’t hate you,” Kate had said in that loving-queen-yet-motherly way.“They hate anyone who’s not them.They see you as a threat to their plans of toppling the monarchy.We’ve endured such threats for centuries.Trust me, love.More people love you than hate you.”
Kate supported Scottie’s wish to go home and arranged for her to fly on Royal One.But she’d made one last plea.
“Will you return for the ball?Please, Scottie.”
“Of course.And thank you, Kate.”
They’d shared a loving, slightly teary goodbye, and Scottie had flown home Saturday evening.
Still sprawled on the couch, she waited for the relief to wash over her.Instead, she wondered how Kate was feeling and whether Michael had stayed at Hadsby or gone back to the palace.When he helped her onto the plane, he’d bent toward her as if to kiss her cheek.She’d lifted her face to meet him, but he caught himself and stepped back.
“Hello?”Shug’s voice echoed from the back door.
“In here.”
Scottie sat up as her grandmother appeared through the sunlit kitchen, looking as if she’d just left Sunday lunch with the after-church crowd, and set two grocery bags on the island.
“I thought we’d make cookies.”Shug joined her on the couch and gave her an affectionate tap on the leg.“I’ve seen the news.Are you running away?”
“You’ve seen the news and that’s your question?”Scottie shoved to her feet, fighting a fog of jet lag.“I was caught in a crazed frenzy, Shug.It was terrifying.No, I’m not running away, but I am taking a break.”
“I’m sure it was terrifying, but that’s no reason to run.You only fuel their engines.”
