"May I escort you to your office?" John asks as he finally catches up with me.
"Best not to just in case Benjamin does have a crush on me. He'll be upset if he sees the two of us together like this; he's very sensitive." I say. I stand on my tiptoes and kiss John on the cheek. I smile as I walk down the hall. I hope Benjamin is in a good mood. I hate dealing with grumpy politicians. I know I'm late and so I quickly enter my office. "Good morning, Prime Minister. I hope you're enjoying your morning." I say as I walk towards him.
"Good morning, Your Majesty. My morning has just gotten infinitely better for seeing you. You look radiant this morning and I noticed that you're wearing colour! It's wonderful to see you so happy again, ma'am." Benjamin says as he bows to me.
"Well, I finally decided that the way I was living my life wasn't healthy. I've decided to live and love life as much as I did when Albert was alive. I'm going to enjoy my life the way Albert would have wanted me to. When Albert died I stopped believing I was lovable, but I've given up on being pessimistic. Shall we get started?" I ask as I sit behind my desk.
"You look infinitely happier, ma'am. May I ask, if it's not too forward, are you in a new relationship? You seem to be radiating femininity this morning unlike ever before. I wish you were like this more often." Benjamin says as he sits in the chair in front of my desk.
"I am happier, but whether or not I am in a new relationship is none of you business, Mr. Disraeli, and it is too forward of you to ask. The air of femininity could be due to the face that I'm no longer wearing black. I decided that wearing black makes me look older and too domineering. I'm glad you like the change. I even did my hair myself this morning because I got up so late, but enough about me. What is the government doing right now? It's important that I know everything so I can make the right decisions for the Empire." I say as I take the papers from Benjamin.
"Well, most of it you can read yourself. The Empire is fairly calm and peaceful right now, except for Canada which is asking for self-government. There're some documents there for you to read on the subject. It's important that we think very carefully about this. It may not be such a bad idea to grant their request. They're not wanting to get rid of the monarch as their head of state. They just want the right to make their own laws. It makes sense to me." Benjamin says as he shows me the documents.
"Alright, I'll read these carefully and let you know what I think. In the mean time you need to talk to parliament. I need to know everything about this country before I make a proper, official decision. Is there anything else you need to discuss with me before we adjourn this meeting?" I ask as I open a folder to begin reading.
"I was asked to request, once again, most cordially, that you end your mourning period and start coming out into society and visit your people. I can see from how you look and what you've said today that we needn't have pushed. You've come a long way recently and I'm very impressed." Benjamin says. "I should go. I have other meetings today and you look like you've got everything under control. Enjoy the rest of your day ma'am."
"Thank you, Prime Minister, I'm sure I will. After I read these briefs I have no other meetings or events until this evening when I'm attending a dinner party. It will be a lovely evening with the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk." I say as I stand up, shake the Prime Minister's hand and walk him down to his waiting carriage. I then walk back up to my office, sit down, cross my ankles beneath me and begin to read the briefs Benjamin has left for me. As I continue to read the briefs my head begins to ache. The work is dull and I am becoming less and less interested in finishing my work before lunch. Suddenly there is a knock at my office door. "Come in." I call as I rub my hand across my forehead. I smile as I look up and see John enter my office.