Enduring the ridiculous portion where she tapped me on either shoulder with a sword, I wondered what I did for this. I considered how pleased my mother would be to stand back with the onlookers taking this in as the press snapped photos. I made eye contact with Betty, who watched on with a shit-eating grin.
After the ridiculous ceremony concluded, I approached the band and Betty who hung out near the tea and coffee station in back.
“Look at you!” Betty said excitedly. “Should I pin the badge on.”
“God, no,” I laughed. “But if you wanted to put it in your bag, I won’t complain. I need some coffee.”
“It’sfikao’clock,” Alicia teased, noting my desire for the Swedish coffee break that I never quite quit.
Betty slid the award in her handbag and shook her head. “If you ever carried a bag?—”
“Then you’d have no practical reason to buy a new handbag every five minutes. Look at the glass half full,” I said. “Take your own advice, älskling.”
She rolled her eyes. “I do itmaybeonce a month. And it’s convenient. See.”
“So are pockets,” I gestured to my trousers.
“Good lord, you argue like old married people!”
A man approached. It was Betty’s somewhat-cousin, The Prince of Wales.
“We’re practically old married people,” Betty joked, hugging and kissing him. “I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“Dad laid on the damn guilt trip. And I still hadn’t met Mary.”
Betty proceeded to introduce us like she ran into a friend while out shopping. I mostly adjusted to things being normal between us when we were safe and out of the public eye—which was rarely. I forgot who her family was most times. They were just sonormalwhen at home. But in cases like this where the future king spoke to me like I was anyone else while in full military uniform, I struggled to separate our lives.
“You didn’t put on the hardware?” Duncan asked. “All that and you didn’t wear it?”
“It’s a lot of pomp for her,” Betty said. “She’s appreciative, but shy.”
“I am not shy,” I laughed. “I just… I cannot imagine wearing all this flair.”
He chuckled. “You get used to it. The good news? If you ever get honors in Sweden or Norway, it’s much chiller than here. We keep it antiquated.”
Alicia and I exchanged surprised glances over him taking the piss. It wasn’t what we expected from the man the press often described as an entitled bad boy.
“Anyhow, I should leave you,” Duncan said. “I am obligated to circulate.”
“It was nice meeting you,” Clarice said.
“And you all as well,” Duncan nodded.
As he turned, Alicia slapped Clarice’s arm, “Put your tongue back in your mouth.”
“I have no chance in hell,” Clarice said. “But your cousin is hot, Betty.”
“He’s a head case. Trust me,” Betty said. “Now what?”
“Now what?” I asked.
“Where now? I figured we’d go out,” Betty said. “What do you fancy?”
The band looked to me.
“C’mon, it’s your choice,” Barry nudged.
“The Bookstore for a pint?” I asked. “I sincerely doubt anyone will follow us there. Unless that’s too low brow for you, princess?”
