Sorry for the wait, I was *insert excuses here*.
Anyway, Hi. How are y'all doing?
Let's just get on with it, shall we?
The American Princess
Chapter 16
EPOV
"Edward, Darling. I'm so happy to see you," Mum says in that sincere way of hers. I lean down and kiss her cheek.
"Edward."
"Your Highness." My tone matches his.
This is the way it has been for close to a month. Monosyllabic sentences or messages passed through our staff.
"You two. Really," Mum huffs. Father and I both frown. We do hate making her unhappy, but this can't be helped.
"Esme."
"Mum."
Wje both plead for her favor.
"Both of you sit and listen." We do, though as far away from each other we can get. Childish? Maybe. "As both of you should know, my birthday is coming up. My fiftieth. It will be a grand affair."
Okay?
She shakes her head at our bewildered expressions. "For the love of God, I want you both to be on your best behavior. So, you have two months to work this out or at least learn to pretend to not be at odds."
"Is he bringing her?"
"Yes, he is," I bite back, in third person no less.
"Doesn't she have a job?"
"Yes, she does but that's the beauty of being an actress. Flexibility."
"Oh, I just bet she's flexible."
"Carlisle! Do not demean another woman in front of me. Especially one that your son is courting."
"Courting? Esme, he's shacking up with her. That behavior is only becoming of a prostitute. She obviously doesn't care what people think of her if she's doing it publicly."
"It's not like we're having sex on the palace grounds."
"That is not what it looked like in the rags the day after the garden party."
"Edward, you could be a little more subtle, Dear," my mum reprimands.
"Mum, I really like Bella and I think I deserve to be able to follow where this leads. Prince or no prince, I deserve that much, don't I?"
"Oh, don't you dare try to manipulate your mother. She's a commoner."
"Technically, so was Alice," I point out.
"Alice was raised by proper parents, in the proper schools and the church."
"You mean, Alice was rich."
"Her parents are divorced, she dropped out of high school to pursue her 'job' and she probably worships Satan."
"Only on Thursdays," I quip.
"You may not like me, but you will respect me, Edward. You can carry on with this charade as long as you like but when it is time to step up, you will send her packing and take your rightful place. You're excused."
"Carlisle!"
I rise. "Don't worry, Mum. Bella and I will be on our best behavior at your party." I kiss her cheek goodbye and say nothing to my father as I take my leave.
He's not the only one who can be a child.
***TAP***
"So, what's on today's agenda, Charming?"
I smirk at her abbreviated nickname for me.
"A children's orphanage in Sussex."
Her smile falters slightly then she looks down at her outfit. She looks more like herself in her ensemble taking my words from the garden party to heart. A pair of tight fitting skinny jeans with a blue and white striped top with a fitted blue blazer over it. Her hair is down and shiny and she has wedges on.
I think that is what Alice calls them.
She's beautifully… Bella.
"You look stunning."
Her smile reaches her eyes again.
Our car stops, and the door opens. Marcus and his scowl has joined us for the second half of our journey.
"Your Highness."
He ignores Bella.
"Hello, Miss Swan. So nice to see you this lovely day. How are you?" Bella mocks in a dead on accurate impersonation of Marcus.
His scowl deepens.
I snort.
"Today we are visiting the new children's home which opened its door two weeks ago. There are currently forty-five children in occupancy. They have been instructed to be quiet and keep to themselves during your visit."
"But they're kids," Bella protests, interrupting Marcus.
"Your point being?" Marcus' tone is bored.
"Kids are noisy, and they touch things."
Marcus huffs. "Can you not do something with her?" He asks me.
My eyes widen, and I scoot over slightly. I do not want to get caught in this crossfire.
"Why are you asking him?" Bella spats. "If you have something to say, say it to me."
"You are meddling in business that is not yours, Miss Swan, and I thank you kindly to butt out. This is royal business and you are not royal, so it is not your business."
"You are also a commoner, Marcus, so don't for one-minute think you are better than me. Just because you are paid to kiss ass, doesn't mean that I am. By the way, I think you have a little something there in the corner of your mouth." She points to where it would be on herself.
"Why I never!" Marcus gasps. And he would be right. I am positive no one has ever spoken to him like that.
"Your Highness…"
I hold up my hand. "Don't you dare bring me into this. You started it by disrespecting my companion. But I ask the both of you to please put your differences aside, so we can get on with it."
"You're right. This isn't the time or place." She looks to Marcus. "I apologize. My mouth gets the better of me sometimes."
He just nods, his nose ever in the air.
I gently grasp Bella's hand and squeeze it in thanks.
The car stops once again. Marcus gets out with one last barb. "Royal women do not normally wear trousers."
"Well, as you have so kindly pointed out, I am not royal."
With one last dirty look to the both of us, he slams the door.
Trust Bella to have the last word.
I smile as I climb out then offer my hand to Bella, who takes it to join me in front of the two-story brick building.
It's a busy street and I can see Bella looking at the surroundings of the orphanage. She frowns ever so slightly but as she is always mindful of the cameras, she plants her smile on as I accompany her into the building.
A widely smiling woman is standing next to the ever-grumpy Marcus.
She curtsies to me and nods at Bella.
"I'm Amelia Davies and I am the headmistress here at The Sussex Children's Home. We currently have forty-five children with more on the waiting list. This home can occupy at least ninety children, so we are at half capacity at the moment."
"If you are only at half capacity, then why is there a waiting list?" Bella asks. Seeing Ms. Davies confused look, she hastens to add, "I'm sorry but I am new to how things might work here in the UK as opposed to the United States."
"Oh, no problem at all. We have to wait on funding and there is a lot of obstacles sometimes to getting that."
"So, not that different at all," Bella murmurs.
Ms. Davies nods then starts to lead us down the hallway to begin our tour.
"How much?"
We halt at Bella's question.
"Pardon me?" Ms. Davies asks.
"How much to fund the other forty-five?"
"Oh, well, I don't have the exact figure, but I can get it to you if you wish."
"That would be lovely, thank you."
I look to Bella in question, but she just smiles and takes my arm as a now flustered Ms. Davies begins her tour.
We leisurely walk around. Marcus tries to rush but Bella has questions- lots of questions. How much food is used here? How much are the utilities? Do they have enough bedding and clothing for the children?
By this time, I am amused, and Marcus has metaphorical steam coming out of his ears.
"There is a schedule for a reason!" He hisses at me.
"Well, what is next?"
"Theatre tonight at six. Its half past three now."
"Reschedule for tomorrow night with my apologies."
"Your Highness…"
"That will be all, Marcus."
"As you wish," he bites off as he turns on his heel, phone already to ear.
I focus back on Bella and Ms. Davies.
"-I would really like to meet them."
"Of course, Ms. Swan. Right this way."
"Oh, please, call me Bella," she smiles as this time she puts her arm through Ms. Davies' like they are long lost friends.
I follow behind silently as I couldn't get a word in edgewise if I wanted to. We come to a halt behind a set of double doors. I can hear a din behind them that only children can make- excited voices and laughter.
Ms. Davies opens the door and…. Silence.
They range in age, from four to seventeen, I've been told. All are clean and seem to be well taken care of. At least I am hoping Ms. Davies isn't Delores Umbridge in disguise.
"Children, this is Prince Edward and his companion, Ms. Bella Swan." The older children light up when Bella is introduced. Maybe the younger children will like me more but looking at Bella beaming at them, I highly doubt it. She exudes a warmth I definitely lack.
We are invited for a late tea and I accept to Bella's delight.
"I thought we had another engagement?" She asks.
"I rescheduled for tomorrow evening," I whisper back with a wink.
Now she is beaming at me. Be still my beating heart.
We have tea and Bella is hardly ever at my side as she flits from child to child- giving them one on one time and learning about them. I can see her making mental notes about each of them and occasionally typing something in her phone.
She has rejoined me and Ms. Davies.
"They are delightful. What do you all usually do now?"
"Well, it looks like high tea is on tonight's schedule. Then baths and bed."
"What do they do for fun?"
"At the moment, we do board games in here because our play room is not complete just yet."
"There's a play room?"
"Yes, through those doors there."
"Can I see?"
"Sure, but it's just an empty room at the moment."
Bella shrugs and we head to this empty room.
And it's empty with the exception of various paint cans, tools, plastic sheeting and ladders. It's obvious we are all underwhelmed.
Except Bella. Her eyes light up as she walks around the room. Then they land on me.
"Feel like getting dirty?"
She's being cheeky, and I narrow my eyes at her making her laugh.
"I'm not exactly dressed for that."
"Neither am I, but they are just clothes." She turns to Ms. Davies. "Think some of the older children would want to help?"
"Help?"
"Paint this room. I figure with at least ten of us, we could have it done by midnight."
"Are you mad?" Ms. Davies asks.
"Do I seem mad?" Bella asks, hesitantly.
"Is this instance, mad means crazy," I tell Bella.
"Oh! In that case, always. So, what do you say?"
Ms. Davies grins.
"We will be right back."
Marcus groans once she is gone.
"Princes don't paint."
"Then you can take his place."
"I don't paint."
"Then go find somewhere to sit or better yet, send someone to pick me back up around midnight." She turns to me and kisses my cheek. "I'll see you later?"
"Hell no." I take off my suit coat and roll up my sleeves. "I want to paint."
"Bloody hell!" Marcus rages as he storms out of the room.
But I don't notice because she is beaming at me again.
Be still my beating heart.
Okay, so a couple of things. I tried to do research on UK children's homes but kept going around in circles so unless I made a glaring mistake, I will say it's fiction cause... I don't know. But any help my lovely UK friends can give me, would be awesome. PM me if you are willing to be my little research buddies.
I am one of 91 talented authors in the babies at the border compilation. For those who are interested, there is a facebook group and I will be donating a WTHI futuretake and four chapters of my next fic, Scars to Your Beautiful. So if you want, check it out. Oh did I mention that there are several authors who do not write fic anymore who are part of this? I am talking jadalulu, tallulahbelle, Rochelle Allison, MrsSpaceCowboy, Lissa Bryan, Morgan and Jennifer Locklear, Sebastian Robichaud and more. Should make for some great reading!