Chapter Eight

Queen Helena and the majority of the Palace staff slept less than four hours that night, but it was worth it. The garden party seemed to be a great success. The King and the Queen were walking among the guests to greet them properly and to talk a few words with everyone. They were about to say some welcoming words to an injured lieutenant, when they heard a female voice behind their back:

"Helena!" – cried the woman.

They both turned around to see the owner of the voice.

"Emma Kensington! Finally! When was the last time?" – asked Helena as she hugged her friend.

"Your Majesty!" – bowed Emma before the King.

"Emma, please." – said Simon and kissed her on the cheek. – "Helena is right. We haven't seen you since your wedding. Where have you been?"

"Three months honeymoon, two months travelling on my own… I made amazing shots in Kenya." – replied Emma proudly as she waved her professional camera before them. This gesture left her body unprotected and revealed her rounded belly under her tight gown. It didn't escape the Queen's attention.

"You are pregnant!" – she cried joyfully.

Emma Kensington smiled at her secretively.

The Queen looked at her husband, then she looked back to her friend happily.

"Congratulations! How far along are you? You have to tell me everything." – she demanded.

"Four months… It is a girl… and we will call her Gemma." – answered Emma giggling and she put her hand on her stomach.

King Simon looked at his wife teasingly and he said:

"See? Someone could choose a name five months in advance."

Helena playfully punched him in the shoulder, then she turned to her friend.

"You must see the twins. Will you excuse us, darling?"

"Of course. Have fun!" – said the King and he let them go.


"This is Liam…" – started the Queen as she leaned over his son's crib. – "He is sleeping… as always. I actually called the doctor yesterday and I said to him that this can't be normal for a baby to sleep all day… But he told me that it's all right, so…"

She didn't finish her sentence, she stepped to the other crib.

The little Princess smiled at her and clapped her tiny hands together in joy. Helena smiled back at the baby and picked her up.

"I'm glad to see you too, Eleanor." – she said happily and she kissed her daughter.

Emma quickly pulled out her camera and shouted at the Queen.

"Don't move!"

Helena obeyed and waited patiently with the little Princess in her arms until Emma took the picture.

"Perfect!" – stated Lady Kensington contentedly. – "Would you mind if I used it in my exhibition?"

"Not at all." – replied the Queen and she sighed with joy. – "I can't wait that they can play together with your daughter."

"Me too." – agreed Emma. – "It was so silly of me to be jealous of you when Simon chose you. I just wanted him so much. But why…?"

Helena didn't want to talk about that and she wasn't sure what to say.

"Every girl on that list wanted to get him… It was a cruel game." – she said quietly lost in thoughts as she gently put Eleanor back into her crib and walked toward the window.

She had to return to reality soon as Rachel entered the nursery.

"Your Majesty, General Gladwyn has arrived."

"Thank you, Rachel." – nodded the Queen, then turned back to her friend. – "I'm sorry. Duty calls. Rachel will escort you back."

Of course, there was no General Gladwyn on the guest list, which could only mean one thing. Alistair decided to come to the party. As she hurried out from the room, Rachel slipped unnoticedly a piece of paper into her hand. When the door was closed behind her, she quickly read the message. It was only one word.

"Stables."


Helena's heart started to beat faster as she reached her destination and sneaked into the stables. Alistair had his back to her when she entered as he was stroking her horse's head.

"I see you got acquainted with Hyppolita." – said the Queen to draw his attention to her.

Alistair turned to her as he replied:

"She seems very placid, not like Bonnie. She won't throw you off. She is a good girl."

"She is." – agreed Helena and she smiled at the reassuring thought that he still cared about her.

Alistair looked at the Queen expectantly. She looked back at him, but she wasn't sure how to begin. She knew, however, that there was not much time to lose.

From the distance they heard the sound of the military parade in the garden.

"Are you going to leave with them?" – Helena finally asked.

Captain Lacey expected this question and it confirmed his suspicion regarding the purpose of the Queen's invitation.

"Yes." – he answered coldly. – "They are my unit. I thought this is what you are celebrating today."

Helena saw the hatred in his eyes, just like the last time and it frightened her.

"I wanted to see you." – she said quietly.

"I bet you did." – snorted her ex-lover. – "It's always about you. You want to see me, then you don't. Then it starts again. What do you want, Helena?"

The Queen looked around nervously worrying that someone might hear them.

"I don't want you to leave." – she sighed. – "I saw what the war did to you the last time and I don't think that it would be good for you to go back to another one."

It seemed that Alistair softened towards her.

"Maybe you are right, but this is my job, Hellie, my career, my life… I don't have anything else. If I stay… what can you offer?"

"Me." – Helena answered without realizing what her words really meant.

"What if it's not enough?" – he asked back.

It was the Queen's turn to be angry.

"It should be more than bombs… and dead bodies… and a constant reminder of your lost friend…" – she hissed.

Their eyes locked for a while and she was about to kiss him when he suddenly began to speak.

"I saw you with Lady Kensington. You laughed and held each other's hand as you walked into the Palace together…"

Queen Helena didn't know where he was getting to and she willingly walked into his trap.

"She is a good friend of mine. I showed her the children."

Alistair smiled at him bitterly.

"Can you offer me this? Kissing me, holding my hand, introducing me to your children…"

"My children?" – asked back Helena in shock and she gulped before she continued. – "What dou you want with them?"

"Nothing." – came the simple answer. – "It's just… Your family, your friends, they are a part of your life in a way I never will be."

The Queen stepped closer to her ex-lover and gently caressed his cheek.

"I know it's not fair. I can only promise you lies and hiding, but we are used to it. In my father's house… It wasn't ideal, but you were happy with me. You can be happy again."

"Prove it." – demanded Alistair.

Helena hesitated for a moment. She looked around again, this time more thoroughly than before. She wrapped her arms around his neck and she started to sing. It almost sounded like she was whispering.

"Take… my… hand… Take my whole… life… too… For I… can't… help… falling in love… with… you."

"That was terrible." – remarked Captain Lacey and he laughed at her.

"I have a terrible voice, I know, but thank you." – said the Queen in mock hurt. – "My voice is not the point. Do you remember when my mother used to listen to this song?"

"I remember." – he replied with a big smile.

"She was always drunk and cursed the men in her life… And we were standing under her window and…"

Helena let him finish her sentence.

"… and I said that I should marry you before you turn into her. Then you picked the 'rings' and I proposed."

With these last words Alistair leaned to her and finally kissed her. It was nothing like the last time he kissed her with his lips shaking and wet from tears, it was much like their first kiss: long and passionate.

"I want my ring back." – said Helena after she composed herself.

"You can get it back the next time we wil see each other." – Alistair replied and kissed her again.

This time however, they were interrupted by Rachel's arrival.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. Prince Cyrus's journalist friend wants to leave. I couldn't convince him to wait a little longer. If you want to talk to him, you should come now."

Helena looked at her, then back to her lover.

"We have to be very careful. Even more careful than in my father's house. Let me call you when it's safe. I know what you think, but I will call you, I promise." – she said and left him alone in the barn.


"Mr. Stanton! I'm sorry to keep you waiting." – started the Queen as she saw the journalist friend of her brother-in-law at the bar.

The journalist hated the unnecessary politeness circles so he cut straight to the chase.

"What can I do for you, Your Majesty?"

"Walk with me!" – answered the Queen.

When they got far enough from the crowd, she continued.

"My request is simple. You are a journalist, I'm the Queen of England. Write an article about me."

The man nodded knowingly.

"I suppose you have some ideas about the content of this article."

"Just a few." – replied Helena jauntily. – "You see, being the Queen of England puts a lot of pressure on the person who bears that title. For an older woman who celebrates her sixtieth birthday next month, it must be a tiring burden. Don't we agree?"

"We do, but I don't understand what is your point. The Queen Mother is no longer queen." – answered the confused Mr. Stanton.

"Exactly. I just want you to write this down. Well, of course it wouldn't be a very exciting article, would it?" – remarked Queen Helena. – "You may need some colourful details. Let's say that the Queen Mother trusted me to take over some of her charities. For example... the Fashion Week."

The journalist looked surprised at the Queen.

"Is this true?"

"Not yet." – she replied. – "But you help me make it true. There is something else. Obviously, I would never tell you this, but in front of a good journalist nothing can remain hidden: as the opening of the Fashion Week I will host a fashion show in the Palace."

"That would certainly be enough for the front page, but… what do I get in return?" – asked the reporter eagerly.

Helena was prepared for this situation.

"You wouldn't be a friend of Cyrus if you didn't want something. I can give you an insight into the preparations of my fashion show. Exclusive interviews with the designers, photos of the dresses…"

"I need more." – said the journalist firmly.

"More?" – asked Queen Helena in shock because she felt that her offer was more than generous.

"If my calculation is correct, Prince Robert starts kindergarten in the fall." – started Mr. Stanton. – "I want to be there on his first day. From the moment he gets up in the morning, until he comes home and goes to bed."

Helena let out a nervous sigh before she answered.

"I don't think that it would be very interesting to you. He is an ordinary three year old child, spending the whole day with him would must be boring for you and your readers."

The reporter laughed at her mischievously.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, you are lying. You know that my readers would kill for an article like this. You just don't feel comfortable selling your own son."

"There must be something else you want…" – she protested weakly.

The man next to her shook his head.

"This is my price. This is the price of becoming a Queen. Cheers!" – he said, raising his glass at her and he emptied his drink.