Happy holidays to everyone!
August 24, 1924 P.D.
Ten minutes into the flight, the pinnace control panel's comm panel illuminated amber. Honor pressed a green button and spoke.
"Palace control, this is hotel papa one-three-two, on approach from two-four-three by three-zero-zero. Seven aboard, add three treecats. Over."
There was a pause as palace flight control confirmed the pinnace bonafides.
"Copy that, hotel papa one-three-two. We have you on approach and you are cleared to land at beacon three. Control, out."
"I trust you can do all this when we return to Harrington House?" Honor asked Rachel.
"Can't wait."
"Good to hear."
The palace came into view and Honor circled a landing pad with green lights blinking at each corner. Two Palace personnel waited at the pad as Honor made descent; and of course, it was the smoothest landing the two younger women had ever seen. Angela was going to have a story for her family that night over dinner for sure! There was a shudder when the landing struts settled, and the hatch opened to extend the passenger ramp. All four armsmen rose and stepped toward the hatch at the same time. Spencer cleared his throat and gestured to the hatch.
"Lieutenant, you have the honor."
"Thank you, sir," Nate said.
He stood at the hatch and looked out, scanning the area for any threats.
"All clear m'lady," he said.
"Thank you," Rachel replied, and Robert followed him from the pinnace.
Spencer and Clifford followed; they too automatically scanned the area for threats. When all the passengers disembarked, the group followed the Palace guards among pristinely manicured gardens, green belts, and gaily bubbling fountains. When they reached a set of large wooden double doors, one of the guards turned to the group.
"Her Majesty will be receiving you in King Michael's Tower, Your Grace, m'lady."
"Thank you, major."
The doors opened and the group strolled along a wide corridor decorated with paintings, potted plants, and antique drapes hanging on large bay windows. Guards that were placed at every one hundred paces nodded at Honor when she walked by and they arrived at a door frame painted dark blue. The head of the Captain guarding the door turned his head their way, his hand fell to his holster, and the other raised his wrist comm to his mouth.
"Duchess Harrington and party for Her Majesty," he intoned.
Seconds later, he resumed his position of attention. "Her Majesty will receive you now," he said and turned to open the door. "Enjoy your afternoon."
When they stepped into the room, Elizabeth stepped away from a bay window and walked towards the group with a smile and her hands held out for Honor. Nimitz, Hipper, and Athena scampered to Ariel lounging in the bay window. Honor bent and kissed Elizabeth's cheeks and squeezed her hands. When Elizabeth stepped back to look at her other guests, Rachel performed a deep curtsey, all the armsmen bowed, and Angela lowered to one knee.
"I'm pleased to have you all here," Elizabeth said, and everyone stood.
"Thank you for having us, your majesty," Rachel replied.
Angela was glad Rachel seemed at ease, because her tongue was tied, and she wasn't sure what to do.
"Well, let's all have a seat," Elizabeth said, gesturing to what was the sitting area of the room. The other side of the room was taken up by a dining table. They all sat, and a server wheeled a serving cart into the room.
"I've taken the liberty of guessing what we would all like… iced tea, Miss Mayhew?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Mrs. Truman?"
"Tea sounds good, thank you."
The servant handed Honor an Old Tilman's and a glass of juice for Elizabeth.
"We can chat while Cook finishes lunch," Elizabeth suggested.
"How are the kids? And my namesake?" she asked Honor.
"Active, noisy, and Hamish was putting them down for a nap as we were leaving the house."
"Did you get that duchy tax matter settled? Am I going to have to send the Exchequer in?"
"It's finally settled."
She turned her attention to Rachel and Angela. "I understand that you're starting your fourth form next week?"
"Yes, your majesty," they replied.
"Rachel, I heard from your father that you were engaged over the summer, congratulations!"
"Thank you."
"Although your father already asked, it's your wedding, so might I receive an invitation from you?" Elizabeth asked.
"I would be very honored for you to attend the wedding, and you're right about my dad. He already has a list of people I don't even know, but as a matter of courtesy, they must receive an invitation. A wedding with a side of diplomacy, he says."
"It was the same for Roger's wedding," Elizabeth said. "However, he was so caught up with his new bride, I doubt he even noticed the audience. I'm sure it will be the same for you."
Honor leaned forward a bit. "Miss Truman was recently engaged as well. A fellow midshipman."
"My goodness, is there something in the water at the academy?" Elizabeth asked. "I offer my congratulations to you as well."
"Thank you, your majesty."
"You've probably been told this your entire life, but the resemblance to your sister is remarkable," Elizabeth said to Angela.
"So I've been told."
A back door to the room opened and a server announced, "Your Majesty, lunch is served."
"Good."
Elizabeth rose, prompting the others to stand. "I had planned the meal be ready for your arrival, but we have some new dining staff. Please pardon the delay."
Honor glanced at the server and raised an eyebrow. Rachel and Angela were glad they weren't on the receiving end of that look.
#
Lunch was an interesting affair.
When a server brought bowls of soup, he sloshed a bit out of Honor's bowl when he placed it on the table. They all took a taste of the soup and nodded. Elizabeth sighed quietly and set her spoon aside.
"It's delicious, your majesty," Rachel offered, but noted that it was cooled.
"Miss Truman, could you please pass that napkin from the setting beside you?"
"Of course, your majesty."
Angela snagged the handkerchief and walked around the table to give it to her. She wouldn't dare just pass it to the Queen, and how could the staff have overlooked it? Elizabeth draped it across her lap and continued her soup. The server next brought in a platter of sandwiches and placed it in the middle of the table. This time, Rachel couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, as the platter was supposed to be placed closer to the Queen. When Elizabeth made to rise in her chair and reach for the platter, Rachel quickly stood and held the platter closer, so she wouldn't have to stretch for it.
"Your majesty," she murmured.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
She set the platter down just above the Queen's plate and resumed her meal, but she couldn't help but give the server a brief fulminating look.
"Now, Rachel, I wanted to get your take on the Masadan cadets entering the academy this year. You can speak freely."
Rachel wiped her mouth and spoke. "Honestly, I was appalled when dad first told me, but in his incredibly pragmatic way he explained how it came to be. They were born on Masada, but they arrived on Grayson when they were babies. They grew up on Grayson, and their families have been working and paying taxes long enough gain full citizenship. They grew up in the Church and were baptized in the Church. As far as anyone is concerned, they're Graysons, and they want to give back to the world that gave them a chance at a normal life, compared to the harsh life they would have endured on Masada. There's only three coming here, but 28 are starting at the academy back home."
Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you."
They were all startled by the crashing of dishes from behind the closed back door. The front door flew open and the Captain guarding the door hurried across the room to see what was going at the back door.
Elizabeth massaged her temples and sighed. "I truly apologize for the meal service. I realize there's new staff, but this has been ridiculous."
Princess Joanna came into the room from the back door, stepping around the mess. Honor, Rachel, and Angela stood.
"Mom, what in the world's going on?" she asked and waved them back to their seats. "There's broken plates and cake all over the floor! One of the servers is crying!"
"I'm sure, or I hope, that Mrs. Barrowman has matters in hand… although it's a bit late now."
#
Back at the pinnace after lunch, Honor observed Rachel conduct the pre-flight inspections.
"That was… interesting," Honor stated.
Rachel chuckled. "That's one way of putting it," she said as she ran a hand over the avionics panel.
Angela poked her head out from the passenger compartment. "How could they have forgotten the Queen's napkin?"
"I've been here more times than I can count, and I can tell you that what happened in there never happens," Honor stated.
"So, it was a fluke just for us?" Angela asked.
Honor shrugged in response.
"Exterior good," Rachel said and began the interior inspection. The group boarded the pinnace and Rachel slipped on the headset. "Everyone strapped in?"
She started the engines and waited until all indicators on the flight panel were in the green. "Palace control, this is hotel papa one-three-two, seven aboard, add three treecats. I am green for departure. Over."
"Hotel papa one-three-two, you are cleared for departure. Have a safe flight. Palace control, out."
On the way back to Harrington House, they chatted and laughed about life, and Honor told them of some her more amusing academy experiences. When the bay came into view, Rachel performed arrival procedures.
"Harrington control, this is hotel papa one-three-two, on approach from four-eight-six by three-zero-zero. Seven aboard, add three treecats. Over."
There was a pause as Hamish's voice confirmed the pinnace bonafides.
"Copy that, hotel papa one-three-two. We have you on approach and you are cleared to land at beacon one. Control, out."
#
"Why did Zach leave?" Rachel asked as Angela steered toward the Landing City bypass.
"He may be Uncle Hamish to you, but to the rest of us he's Earl White Haven, First Lord of the Admiralty," Angela replied. "Zach wasn't about to hang around that huge home waiting for us. What in the world would they talk about?"
"Point."
"What did Duchess Harrington tell you right before we left?"
"Train hard, be safe, and try to have some fun. She said I could continue to use Harrington House on weekends again this year too."
"Good advice. Think I'll take some of that too, although we'll have fewer free weekends this year."
Rachel shrugged. "It is what it is."
When they arrived back at the Truman home, Rachel was told that she had some mail waiting for her. She went to Angela's room and activated the comm console. A video message from Max was waiting for her.
"Hello princess!"
She rolled her eyes.
"Welcome back to Manticore, I'm sorry I didn't meet you when you arrived. Anyway, if you can make some time tonight, I'd like to touch base with you and Angie. Spring Street Kitchen for dinner? Call me soon!"
She poked her head from the bedroom door. "Angie!"
"Yeah?"
"Supper tonight, Spring Street Kitchen?"
"Sounds great! Max?"
"Yep. Is seven good?"
"Sure thing!"
She got a message off to Max and rejoined the group in the living room.
"Angie was telling us about your interesting lunch," Beverly said.
"Interesting is one way to put it, I was embarrassed for the Queen," Rachel said and accepted a glass of juice.
#