Chapter Five

Buckingham Palace, London, Thursday 30th June 2016, 8.30pm

Queen Catherine I of the United Kingdom never usually waited for dinner to be served. People normally waited for her. Since her husband died, she often dined alone but today she waited for her daughter. Princess Anna had finished her studies for the summer. Normally they would have been getting ready to travel up to Balmoral, but this year was different. The revelation of her daughter's pregnancy had come as a shock. Anna was no longer a child.

Her son had taken charge of the situation and was preparing the statement with his press secretary. The Queen was glad. She was too raw to be able to deal with it appropriately.

Every mother hoped their children would one day marry and have a family of their own, but this was not what she wanted for her daughter. She worried about the press response. Over the years, the Queen had developed a thick skin, but her daughter was young, a quite frankly, innocent. Since her birth, Princess Anna had been the nation's pet doll. She had been held on a pedestal, and now they would topple her over.

" Watson," The Queen called

" Yes Ma'am," The butler replied

" Can you see what is taking Her Royal Highness so long, this is unacceptable," The Queen answered growing agitated and turned to take a sip of her water.

The butler disappeared and the Queen continued to wait. Within moments, her Private Secretary ran into her dining room.

" Your Majesty, Princess Anna is, has taken ill. Professor Thomas has been summoned,"

The Queen immediately rose to her feet, sensing the nature of her Private Secretary's tone.

" Notify His Royal Highness immediately," The Queen instructed and walked out of the room.

Guardian Offices, London, Friday 1st July 2016, 5pm

Elizabeth was packing up her laptop trying to leave the office as quickly as possible. Her train was leaving London St. Pancras in less the hour.

" I'm off," Elizabeth explained

" Have fun. Send our love to Grannie Maud and thank her for the delicious biscuits," Elinor Ferrars replied

" Ooh yes," Charlotte added, " She can bake those for us anytime,"

" I'll tell her," Elizabeth laughed just as her phone started to ring.

" Leave it, I'll pick it up," Charlotte instructed

" It's fine," Elizabeth answered and picked it up, " Hello Jack, what can I do for you on this beautiful friday evening?"

" Can you come and see me please?" Jack Gardiner asked

" Sure,"

Elizabeth took her bag and walked towards her boss's office. She knocked on the glass door and Jack Gardiner beckoned her in.

" Going somewhere?"

" The Peak District. My Gran lives there," Elizabeth explained

" The one who baked those incredible biscuits?" Jack quizzed and Elizabeth nodded, " Wonderful,"

" My train leaves quite soon, is this going to take long?"

" Not really, I just wondered if you had heard anything about Princess Anna? Apparently she was admitted into hospital last night,"

Elizabeth didn't say anything. She didn't know anything, but suddenly some pieces were coming together.

" You know I hate the crap your friend writes, but do you know if she has picked up anything?"

" Not as far as I know," Elizabeth lied. For some reason she began to feel some concern for the Prince and his sister.

" Well, if you hear anything, let me know,"

" I will," She lied again. Suddenly, Elizabeth felt conflicted, " But if the Palace haven't released a statement, surely it is a private matter,"

" I agree, but unfortunately that is not how the relationship works with the press and the monarchy, not anymore," Jack explained and started responding to an email. That was always the sign to leave his office.

Elizabeth left and began to exit the building. Her mind was racing. She wanted to text Lydia. She wanted to text Jane. But instead, she put her phone back into her bag and took a deep breath. No, it this wasn't her business and definitely not the sort of journalism she was interested in.

Bakewell, Derbyshire, Sunday 3rd July 2016, 8am

The Peak District was one of Elizabeth's favourite places in the world. She wasn't naturally patriotic, but the hills and fields of the Peaks made her feel like England was the greatest nation in the world.

It was early and she was out for a run. Grannie Maud had promised her a full English breakfast upon her return. The promise of bacon was keeping her running.

Halfway into her run, Elizabeth stopped for a drink and to take in the views. She was close to the Pemberley royal estate. As children, her grandmother had taken her and her sisters to Pemberley when they stayed with her in the summer holidays to play in the beautiful grounds. It was the biggest tourist attraction in the area. She remembered the time her youngest sister Florence had got lost in the maze. They had spent ages trying to find her only to discover that she had made her own way out.

Elizabeth began running again and found her thoughts thinking over the Princess Anna rumours. There had been nothing released from the Palace to say Anna had been in hospital, but rumours were circulating. The Queen had also cancelled her engagement the previous evening which was almost unheard of.

Elizabeth let out a scream. Why was this fixating her so much. She considered the monarchy to be irrelevant. It was outdated. Undemocratic. An institution of the past. But since her encounter with the Prince the other week, she began to see them as people. When his hand had touched hers… No she wouldn't allow this to happen.

" Focus Lizzy," she found herself saying outloud. She heard a dog bark and turned.

" We really must stop bumping into each other like this," The owner commented and threw a stick for his black labrador to chase.

" Your Royal Highness," She began, but no longer knew what to say.

He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, something she had never seen before. He almost looked normal. His hair was messy and he hadn't shaven. It was the most attractive Elizabeth had ever found him. Within a few moments, he was standing next to her.

" It would seem I cannot escape the revolutionary journalist," He teased, " What on earth are you doing at Pemberley?"

" My Gran lives in Bakewell," Elizabeth explained, becoming more and more aware that she had no makeup on and was incredibly sweaty from her run, " I'm sorry, I genuinely didn't think your family ever stayed at Pemberley. I thought it was just a tourist attraction. Had I known, I would never have…"

" We don't normally, but my sister, well, it is her favourite place in the world and a trip here is just what she needed," He replied

" Is she feeling better?" Elizabeth asked without thinking. She wished she could retract her words. But it was too late.

" Are you here on a story?" He asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

" My boss…" Elizabeth began to defend herself.

" I knew it. You journalists are all the same. Can't we have some privacy on anything!" He replied

" I'm sorry I asked. My boss mentioned that the Princess had been in hospital. I know nothing more, " Elizabeth tried to explain

" Can't you leave her alone?"

And with that Elizabeth was done holding back.

" I understand that you have a mistrust for the press, but we are not all the same. Yes, I do not believe in the monarchy. Yes, for me it should be abolished, but I would never seek to write anything beyond that. My question about Her Royal Highness's health was solely to see how she was. Who do you think you are to make me feel inferior. The first time we met, you launched into attack me, without even knowing me. The second time, halfway through our journey home, you decide to give me the silent treatment over nothing, and today, today you attack me again for simply asking after your sister's health. You may be the future King, but you cannot treat people like the way you have treated me. I won't allow it," Elizabeth retorted. Their faces were inches apart. Elizabeth could hear him breathing.

" Forgive me for being protective of my family around journalists. I do not trust them,"

" I am a journalist. If you cannot trust me, why are you talking to me?" Elizabeth asked

The Prince did not know what to say. Truth be told. He didn't know. She fascinated him.

" Goodbye Your Royal Highness," Elizabeth quipped but he took her hand and gently kissed her lips. Elizabeth pulled back, " What are you doing?"

" I'm sorry, please forgive me," He answered and walked away with his dog, leaving Elizabeth alone. She pursed her lips. She had not expected that.

To be continued...