Chapter Twelve
The Queen Mother didn't return from her journey for months. At first, she was the guest of her old friend, the Belgian Queen for a couple of weeks. She was the one who advised her to visit some third world countries and draw attention to the problems there and that way to herself too. Thanks to that good advice Queen Gloria could be almost certain that she would become the next United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. She seemed so satisfied with this new career opportunity that her son, the King had a very hard time to convince her to come back at least for the baptism of the twins.
The next morning, after a long time, the whole family gathered for a brunch. Since everyone else pretended to be too busy with the food to speak, Simon decided to break the ice.
"Thank you for the comic books, Mum. Robert loves them so much, you should see it." – he said kindly.
Helena snorted as she heard her husband's weak lie, but Simon's pleading eyes made her change her attitude.
"And the Brussels lace you sent is so beautiful. I know a young designer who could make wonderful dresses from it for both of us." – she said with ease trying her best to be sickeningly sweet to her mother-in-law.
"You're welcome." – mumbled the Queen Mother with a forced smile.
The King gently put a hand on his mother's arm. His voice was full of amazement as he spoke:
"You became quite a world traveller in the past few months."
"Yes, indeed." – remarked Prince Cyrus who decided to join the conversation. – "You have visited so many places that we almost lost track of you. We are lucky that the media were always there to keep the rest of the world updated about your whereabouts."
Helena softly chuckled and gave his brother-in-law a knowing glance.
"Which was the last country you visit? Kenya?" – she asked in an innocent voice.
"Congo." – replied Queen Gloria scornfully. – "The other side of Africa. It's all right, Helena. We know that geography is not your strong suit. A defect which I hope will not be passed on to my grandchildren."
"And yet I'm the only one with a driver licence in the family." – hissed Queen Helena and sneered at her mother-in-law.
Before the older queen could have replied, Helena turned to her husband:
"I decided to take Robert to the Children's Hospice next week as his first official charity."
"Out of the question." – cried out the King.
The Queen shook her head and prepared for an argument, but her mother-in-law intervened.
"I think it's a really good idea." – she said to everybody's surprise, then she continued. – "Think about it Eric, my dear, our son is the next king of England."
Helena frowned blankly while Cyrus and Simon looked equally puzzled at each other.
"Mum?! What did you say?" – Simon asked quickly, hoping that he misheard her mother.
"What do you think?" – asked back Queen Gloria in a sarcastic tone. – "I said that your son is the heir to the throne. You should pay attention when your mother is talking to you, Simon."
They didn't have more time to think about that because Prince Robert stormed into the room.
"Mummy! Daddy! The playground is ready. I want to try it."
Simon quickly caught him before he would have bumped into a giant porcelain vase and lift him onto his lap.
"What do you say when you ask something from us?" – he asked kindly.
"Please!" – came the right answer from the Prince.
The King looked at his wife who nodded in agreement. The brunch was a disaster and they were all happy to have an excuse to leave the table.
The playground was a gift from the Duchess of Oxford for her three grandchildren on the occasion of the twins' christening. Therefore, the King and the Queen decided that it was only fair if they inaugurated it all together. The place was loosely based on Prince Robert's plans – perks of being a three-year-old royalty – and consisted of a large sand box, a wooden castle which was connected to a slide by a bridge and three swings bearing the name of the two Princes and the Princess.
The Queen was amazed by her son's achievement and like a true mother she didn't care about the fact that the real work was done by an architect.
"I'm so proud of you!" – she cried and she leaned over her son to cover him with her kisses.
Robert quickly escaped from her arms and ran into his castle. His parents followed him and stopped in front of the little castle's tower. Helena took the twins out of the stroller and carefully put them in the swings while Simon played with Robert in the castle.
Little Eleanor seemed to have a very good time. Her satisfied babbling told the world of her happiness when her mother started to rock her in the swing.
"Go away, Eleanor… Come back, Eleanor… Go away… Come back to Mummy…" – cried Helena in a playful tone as she pushed her daughter back and forth.
However, Liam wasn't so fond of this game and burst into tears as soon as the swing moved. The Queen had no choice but to take him out and hold him in her arms. Suddenly, she heard that Robert cried out for her.
"Mummy, help me! He wants to take my castle!"
Apparently Simon launched a full offensive with a stick on Robert's fortress and now he stuck helplessly in his tower.
"How can I help?" – Helena shouted back to her son.
Robert seemed to consider his options, then he made his decision:
"I need more men. Give me Liam… please!"
The Queen was about to obey his command, but at that moment her husband snatched the baby out of her hands.
"Oh, oh, it seems like we lost a soldier." – she cried in mock despair. – "Our only hope is Eleanor now. What do you think?"
"Lenny can't fight, she is a girl. Girls can't fight, don't you know that, Mummy?"
Queen Helena shook her head as she took her daughter out of the swing and kissed her cheek.
"Girls are the best fighters, especially your sister."
Prince Robert didn't share her views, but the next attack of his brother and father made him change his mind. Simon even managed to bring baby Liam to let out a terrible battle cry with him.
"Okay. Come up here, Mum." – cried Robert, then he shouted in great excitement. – "Watch out! Don't let him take away Lenny!"
After a short chase, Helena managed to get rid of her pursuer and climbed up to the tower with the Princess.
"We are never going to win!" – whined Prince Robert after a little while.
His mother gave him a reassuring look.
"Just watch me!" – she said and with a gesture of her hand, she beckoned her husband.
The King stepped closer just enough so that the Queen could reach him. She used this opportunity to lean over the wooden railing and give him a long kiss.
Simon began to stagger and pretended to receive a severe wound. He didn't forget about Liam in his arms so he fell onto his knees very slowly and carefully, then he lay on the ground with the baby on his stomach.
"How did you do that? How did you do that?" – Robert asked his mother in astonishment.
Helena gave him an enigmatic smile.
"I used my secret weapon."
It was late afternoon by the time they got back. The Queen put the children to nap and joined her husband for a tea in the conservatory.
"Listen, we have to talk about Robert." – she started. – "You can't forbid me to take him with me if I want to because..."
"Because you are the Queen of England, is that it?" – Simon snapped at her.
"…because I'm his mother." – Helena finished her sentence. – "This Children's Hospice is not what you think. It's my charity for years. Those little boys and girls are like any other children. We don't talk about sickness or death, that's the last thing they want. We usually draw pictures or read storybooks… Obviously you never see the same faces again, which is sad of course, but... Robert can do these things… It's not bad for him to meet other children and also learn some responsibility as the future king of England."
While she was speaking, she let the maid pour the tea, then she sent her away. Simon was lost in his own thoughts, he barely listened to his wife's speech.
"Okay." – he said after he realized that his wife stopped talking.
"Okay? That's it?" – asked Helena in shock. It was way too easy. She leaned to him and stroked his face. – "What is it, Simon? If you are so against it, I won't take him with me…"
"It's not that." – replied the King and shook his head. – "I was thinking about my mother. Did you hear what she said? She mistook me for my father. I'm worried about her."
Queen Helena sighed and pulled closer to her husband.
"I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue, nothing serious." – she said in a comforting tone and kissed him on the cheek.
Simon didn't want to burden her with the disturbing thoughts that raced in his head so he returned to their previous topic instead.
"If you think that Robert is old enough to carry out some charity work, take him with you. I mean it."
Helena was still surprised and unsure what to say.
"It's not just about the charity." – she finally said. – "Since the twins were born and I became the Queen I couldn't spend as much time with him as I'd like to. I know it's selfish, but the last time he asked me to take him with me, it suddenly seemed the perfect solution. And the other thing is... he is nearly four years old and he has almost never been outside this Palace. He is so curious and clever… I know it's silly, but sometimes I look at him and I can see the king he will become one day."
Simon looked at his wife's face while she was speaking about Robert. He always liked to watch her closely whenever she talked about their son.
Their marriage started as an arranged marriage, they hardly knew each other and they were certainly not in love. Or they were, but not with each other. Helena was a kind, but moderate woman who didn't like the public display of emotions, sometimes even when they were alone. But after Robert was born, Simon heard her talking like she never talked before: with undisguised and uncensored maternal pride in her voice. That was the moment he fell in love with her.
"It's not silly." – he said with affection. – "Just don't forget to talk to Ted Pryce about safety measures."
"Ted Pryce?" – the Queen asked back, confused.
"Yes. Avery Marshall retired last month, so I appointed Ted head of security." – he said and looked at his wife, only to see the troubled expression on her face.
Helena was able to put aside her personal feelings about her husband's bodyguard, but couldn't hide her concerns about his professional skills.
"Don't you think that he is too young for this?" – she asked carefully.
Simon burst out laughing.
"He is the same age as I am, that's true, but he has enough experience for a lifetime, trust me."
Prince Robert was beyond excited to go outside the Palace and finally see the city of London.
"Will we see the Thames?" – he asked his mother bouncing up and down in the room.
"Probably." – replied Helena with a smile.
"Can Mr. Tiger come with us?" – he asked again after he finally stopped for a moment.
The Queen looked at the cuddly toy in his son's arm and answered very seriously.
"Only if he is a good tiger, but he must stay in the car while we meet the children."
"It's a she." – Robert corrected her mother, then he added. – "Mr. Tiger is the queen of the tigers."
Helena adjusted his clothes for the last time before taking his hand and escorting him out to the car which was waiting for them.
Fifteen minutes later they all sat in the car: the Queen, her son, their security detail and Rachel. Robert was looking out the window, silently admiring the parks and buildings they passed by. On the other side the bodyguard did the same thing. Between the two of them, the Queen was putting the final touches on her makeup.
The beeping sound of Rachel's mobile phone broke the silence.
"What is it?" – asked Queen Helena and she looked expectantly at her assistant who sat opposite her.
Rachel hesitated before she answered because she knew that the text message she got would upset the Queen.
"It's from Susan, Princess Eleanor's nanny. The Princess just stood up in her crib. It's on video."
Helena leaned back, her head resting against the seat and rolled her eyes.
"Wonderful. I missed this one too. I just miss everything." – she sighed. – "Next time, don't even tell me. Have it on video and I watch it later, but I don't want to know about it. What is the point when…"
"Mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy...!" – cried Robert to draw his mother's attention.
"What?" – the Queen snapped at him.
"Is this the Tower Bridge?" – he asked curiously.
Helena leaned forward to be able to see out the window.
"No, it's just one of the railway bridges… I show you the Tower Bridge on our way back, I promise. We can even stop there for a minute."
They almost arrived at the Children's Hospice when the car suddenly stopped. The Queen looked nervously at her watch.
"What is going on?" – she cried forward to the driver, but she didn't get an answer. A few moments later they heard two gunshots.
The bodyguard pressed his face against the window to see what happened. He carefully opened the car door and crouched behind it. The others watched him breathlessly.
"Undo your seat belt and stay inside." – he whispered finally, then he shut the door and left them.
Rachel and the Queen did as he ordered. Helena then unfastened Robert's seat belt as well and took him into her lap.
A few moments later they heard another gunshot and the same car door opened again. But it wasn't their security detail who came back. The man wore a black ski mask and his gun pointed straight to the Queen.
"Give me the Prince and leave the car!"
