“I’m so stupid.”She slapped her palm to her forehead.“The quintessential southern fool.To let myself get caught up in all this Lady Royal business.Don’t you see?I dropped the ball, Michael, and everything I was raised to believe was mine has been sold out from under me.But, oh, wasn’t I high and mighty when I confronted Hamish Fickle, when I trekked up to Wenthelen Chapel to dig around in a musty cellar.Just stick me on the back shelf with the portrait of another illegitimate royal baby.I should’ve never come back when I went home four weeks ago.I could’ve stopped this thing.”Back in the bedroom, she dragged her suitcase from the dressing room.“Getting caught in a RECO riot was a cakewalk compared to this.”Michael watched from the doorway, arms folded, his jaw set.“I need a flight home today, Michael.Please.”
“Wheels up on Royal One in an hour,” he said, turning to go.“Her Majesty will want to say goodbye.”
“Michael, wait.I’m sorry but I have to go or I’ll explode.My mind is a train wreck.My heart is thumping so loud in my ears—” She took his hand into hers.“You understand, don’t you?You’d do the same, Michael, I know you would.I must fight this.”
She turned back to her packing, dumping clothes from the dresser into her suitcase.
“I know this is terrible for you, Scottie, and I’m here to listen, but fight for what?”He crossed over to her.“The legal work is done.Your Trade Commission approved the deal.The only thing you must decide is where to bank your share of the money.”
“I’d like to tell them what to do with their money.”She shook a pair of jeans at him.“Did you arrange last night?Have some tech company fake the Eye of God?”
“Are you mad?”He stood rigid.“How?Do you not know me?Even if I could strike such a deal, I would not.I’m not Emmanuel, Scottie.Emmanuel is Emmanuel.”
“You’re right.See, I’m looney.I know the light came from the Wenthelen Chapel spire.I have to go home, see Dad, talk this out.”Scottie dumped another drawer into the suitcase and smashed down the clothes, braced for Michael to lash back.To tell her to act her age.Instead, he squeezed her hand, drew her into his arms.
“Whatever the circumstances may be at home, Lady Royal, last night was very, very real.This sale doesn’t change any of the love and beauty from last night.”
She fell against him, weeping.“Then why did I wake up from an amazing dream into this nightmare?”
He held her until the last shivering tear, then dried her eyes with his handkerchief.“The dream will be here, waiting.For now, the motor will be at the front entrance.Ring for Cranston when you’re ready to carry down your luggage.”His voice was calm as he headed out still carrying the leather book.“Please say goodbye to Her Majesty.You have twenty minutes.”
“Michael, wait, what’s in your hand—”
“Something for Her Majesty.”He glanced down at the book, flipping the pages.“I want you to stay, but I understand.I’d offer to go with you if I thought I’d be of service—” He backed toward the door.“I’ll be in the Grand Foyer.”
Choko arrived with the gown and cape from last night neatly bagged and folded over her arm.“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, there’s an emergency at home.”
“Then let me help.”She removed Scottie’s wadded up clothes from her luggage and began refolding them.Soto entered to help
“Don’t pack the gown,” Scottie said.“Leave it here.Princess Rachel can wear it.Or you, Choko.You’re my size.Take the cape too.”
“Your gown and cape?Where would I wear them?To the Belly of the Beast?”She laughed.“No, I’ll store them in your dressing room for when you return.”
The cacophony of her emotions began to settle as she sensed some of the warm embers from last night… But she’d taken her eye offherball.And lost her future.
“Wear the gown to the Beast, Choko.Give Ernst and Stella a good laugh.”
“Ernst.Laugh.Out.Door.”She tapped her chest in rhythm with a broken Dalholm dialect.
After a quick shower, Scottie dressed and wrapped her wet hair into a sloppy topknot and rang for Cranston and Miles.
When they carried out her luggage, she stood alone in the Princess Charlotte suite.Alone with her memories, her churning emotions, and what felt like an empty life.Exhaling, she dropped to the couch to take in the walls, the carpets, the simple elegance of the suite, thinking back to the first time she walked into Hadsby Castle and how much it’d overwhelmed her.Now the place felt like home.
There was no time to linger.She must say goodbye to Kate.Out of the Princess Charlotte with the click of the closed door vibrating through her, Scottie made her way to Monarch One.
“Love, I’m so sorry.”Kate,Mom, embraced her.“Surely you’ll sort this out with Trent and find yourself on right footing again.”
Scottie stepped back feeling the resolve of the situation.Michael was right.The sale was signed and sealed.
“I don’t think so.It’s done.”The waning fury and angst made her weary and weak.“Thank you for everything.”
“Come back soon,” Kate said, her eyes glistening.“We shall miss you.”
“I’ll miss you.”With a final hug, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out, meeting Michael in the Grand Foyer.
Out of Monarch One and down the corridor, Scottie found Michael waiting for her on the Grand Gallery
