We descend the stairs as quietly as we can. The light breaths of the young boys in the room next door assuring me that they are deeply lost in slumber. Bella attempts to touch down onto the first step but cannot get the right angle due to her injuries. I offer her my shoulders to allow her to lean forward as I descend the stairs infront of her. She hisses with every step but continues on. At the bottom step, I turn and help her the rest of the way. She smiles up at me sweetly as she elegantly makes it onto the stone flooring of our hallway.

I can only stare at her. She stuns me with every look.

I blink once.

Then twice.

"Pssst!" Alice hisses following Bella off of the stairs.

I hadn't realised I was arching over Her Majesty until then. I snap back up straight. I risk a look at Bella. She looks just as bewildered as I felt. Almost like she didn't know we had been lost in our own little world together.

I clear my throat and skirt towards the front door. I opened the creaky wood carefully and peaked a glance out. The street seems quiet. There was distant noise from the pub down the road and other locals taking advantage of the early working hours due to the coronation. As casually as I could, I stepped out into the street. I breathed in the cool, smoggy air and leaned against the door frame. Everything seemed calm. I reached over to the front door and pushed it open slightly to reveal Alice's questioning face. I gave a small nod. The Queen followed Alice out with the hood of the black cloak pulled up over her head. I take my place on the other side of Bella and we began to make our way towards the cart.

The soft taps of our shoes hitting the cobbles was like drums in my ears. A door opened on the other side of the road and my head snapped towards it. A dog began to bark which started the other strays off but I kept my pace next to Bella and Alice. Bella kept her head down and pulled her cloak tightly around her. Walking this was up the street, there are far less cess puddles than the other way, towards market. We only had to make little jumps and hops to avoid the foul mess of the streets. The cart got closer and closer and just as we were steps from the cart, we were stopped by a whistle.

"Oi!" Shouted a drunk patron of the pub. "Which of you ladies am I gonna take home tonight?"

Bella's eyes went wide as she took a glance at the staggering man from under the shadows of her cloak. She looked back at me, terrified. I placed a hand onto her shoulder to hold her to her spot. I looked back to the man to see if I recognised him.

I didn't.

He carried on staggering towards us, making his lewd comments.

I begin to prepare myself.

If we draw attention to ourselves, or he looks too closely at what Her Majesty is wearing...it's over. If I take him on or engage him in a conversation, who's to say he won't remember it sober. What would it look like as we boarded a rickety old cart with a woman dressed in a large, covered gown when the Queen's whereabouts is probably on everyone's minds.

I take a step towards him. "Alice, why don't you two get into the cart." I requested. She began to protest but I just wave her off. I approached the man to talk to him, when I'm interrupted.

"Well, hello there Ben," Rose crooned into him ear as she sauntered past him. "Long time no see, handsome." She stroked his chin.

"Alright, Rose? Where you been?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and cradles his head into her neck. She rolled her eyes before answering.

"Oh, you know, around." She brushed off. "I'm on the rag tonight, baby, but I should be good for tomorrow?" She whispered into his ear. He was nodding before she finished. She turned him and pushed him in the way we just came. But he quickly turned back again.

"Where you all going?" He hiccupped. As I tried to come up with a plausible explanation, Rose answered swiftly.

"We're goin' to sort out a little accident." She whispered as she made a gesture of a protruding stomach and nodded at Bella.

"Ah, well, good luck. See you tomorrow, Rose." Ben slurred out as he turned back around and carried on his way, whistling God Save The Queen. Rose sauntered to us and approached Royce in the driver's position on the cart. I look back to Bella and Alice as the both continue to stare at me. I herd them over to the back of the cart where Jasper and Emmett are arranging the boxes to allow us entry. The cart was a standard farmers wagon with a cloth canopy erected over head. The guys helped Alice in before aiding me in lifting the Queen into the carriage.

She was a bit hesitant to take their hands. Not surprising after the crap they've put her through today but we needed to be quick. Those skirts really do get in the way. As I jump into the carriage and shut the curtain behind me, I see Bella's face contorted in pain and I rush to her side.

"Are you alright?" I ask hurriedly. She nods and reassures me. I suggested she lie down to ensure her safety and comfort on the journey. She didn't put up any argument. Once tucked into a gap of boxes and in a lot less pain, Royce tucked his head into the canopy from his driver's seat.

"Where to?" He questioned into the nearly pitch black tent. Rose joins us in the back of the cart as we all look at Bella. She returned my gaze as she answered.

"To the palace, please."

They're out of the house!

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