Monday morning Gunner met him at the security entrance of Perrigwynn Palace.But instead of walking with him to the Operations Room, he said, “Come with me.”
“Where are we going, mate?”
“Her Majesty would like to speak with you.”
“Her Majesty?”Michael looked down at his blue security uniform and black boots.“Dressed like this?”He caught Gunner’s arm as he started up the scuffed gray steps of the basement.“What’s this about?Prince John?I won’t be blindsided.”
“She’s requested you for a special project when she moves residence to Dalholm and Hadsby Castle.”
Michael stepped back with a short laugh.“You’re having me on.Why would the queen request me for her summer in County Northton?”
It was well known the royal family held the first garden party of the spring season at Hadsby Castle, a stone and concrete fortress and first royal residence.Michael had been to Hadsby on several occasions—starting as a boy when his father traveled north to see the queen.But at the moment, he was more than content below stairs, manning the HMSD Operations Room.
He felt close to Purnell in that place, which didn’t make a lot of sense, but there you go.
“I’m not sure,” Gunner said, pressing through the door at the top of the stairs, exiting the shadowed utilitarian “below stairs” into the grandeur of “above stairs.”“Good morning, Nigel.”
The footman nodded, waiting to escort them.“Mr.Ferguson.”
It’d been a decade or so, but Michael was not unfamiliar with the palace opulence and hushed reverence.As a member of the Cross family, he’d attended receptions and garden parties with his parents in his youth.Even kicked around the football with Princes John and Gus.Then his parents divorced, and Dad accepted a different position within the government.Michael grew up, attended uni, joined Her Majesty’s Special Forces, then her security detail unit.Whatever privileges he had as a child in the Cross family were long revoked.
He was out of place with his black tactical boots sinking into the blue and gold carpet of the Queen’s Corridor.
Over his head, the high arched ceiling with coffered panels was painted with medallions of Lauchtenland flora—edelweiss, lavender, and the soft pink and white Linnaea—twinflower—which were part of the legend.As they bloomed, so did love.
Michael wanted to duck as he walked under the colorful, artful images and the golden glow of the crystal chandeliers.He’d become used to the darkness.As for love… He no longer believed it could be his.
“I don’t have to tell you how this goes.”Gunner looked back at Michael as they approached the Queen’s Quarters of Perrigwynn Palace.“We’re meeting her in the Audience Room.”
He held his reply.What was going on?The Audience Room was for official government briefings, receiving government officials, international guests, and leaders, meetings with her privy council.
“She’s waiting for you.”The queen’s secretary, Mason, opened the ornate and gilded door and stood aside.“You’ll notice your chairs are distanced from hers.Please do not approach her.If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth.”The curt and formal secretary handed Gunner, then Michael, a fresh, disposable handkerchief.
“She’s been feeling poorly, but keep that to yourself,” Gunner said as they approached a second interior door, intricately carved with the queen’s cypher.“But she demanded this audience with you.”
Gunner and Michael entered the room, stood at attention by their chairs, clicked their heels, and bowed.
“Thank you for agreeing to this meeting, Michael.Please, have a seat.”Queen Catherine motioned to the tea trolly and the waiting footman.“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No thank you, Your Majesty.I’m too full of coffee.”Which now burned inside Michael’s belly.
“Princess Rachel tells me coffee is all the rage with the young.”The queen, in a blue dress and matching shoes, stirred cream in her cup before sitting in her chair, a replica of the first royal throne used by her famous ancestor King Titus.“They prefer it over tea.Do you think one day we’ll have completely exchanged our tea leaves for coffee beans?”
“I don’t think so, ma’am.”Michael sat in the tall, wide-with-thick-arms-and-molded-legs plush seat.Gunner took the chair next to him, reaching for the cup of tea and plate of fragrant cinnamon puffs from the footman.“We may be trending toward coffee, but tea is in our DNA.Our comfort on a cold, wintery afternoon.”
“Quite right.You’ve eased my concern.”Queen Catherine’s famous smile couldn’t hide the weariness in her eyes.She appeared thinner than Michael remembered, with a pale gauntness in her cheeks.Battling Guillain-Barré syndrome was no small feat, yet according to the last Chamber Office update, Her Majesty was overcoming.
“How are you?”she asked, her attention fixed on him.“Not about the incident with the prince and subsequent investigation, but your fiancée.”
She knew about Purnell?“Faring, ma’am.Thank you.”
“Your grandmother, Odessa, used to join my mother and I for tea now and then.She informed me of the unfortunate circumstances.I am so sorry.I know a bit about losing someone you love, not to death, but I’d like to believe you’ll find your way again, Michael.”The queen sipped her tea, glancing toward the spring light coming through the windows.“Look at Prince John.He was a grieving widower when I sent him on a mission to Tennessee to woo Scottie into our family.Who could’ve imagined he’d meet his next great love in Hearts Bend?”
“Yes, ma’am.Prince John was blessed to meet Princess Gemma.”But Michael didn’t want anextgreat love.He wanted hisfirstgreat love.
It’d become his practice to avoid talk of Purnell Lindholm, the delicate beauty with large brown eyes, bow lips, and big laugh, who’d captured his heart.He knew he’d marry her the moment she slipped her hand into his on their first date—a move that saidI trust you.
He’d have done anything for her, including dying.But that was one feat a Cross man, one who’d earned commendation and respect as an officer in Her Majesty’s Special Forces, a man of might, and her lover, could not do.
