A Magical Evening (Chapter 19)
A day later, as Sofia and Lucinda were in Sofia's bedroom finishing up a school assignment, Baileywick walked in.
"Ah, I was told the two of you were up here" Baileywick smiled. "I wanted to bring the two of you some peppermint tea".
"Thank you, Baileywick" Sofia smiled.
"Yes, thank you" Lucinda added with a smile.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to discuss something with the two of you" Baileywick said.
"Go ahead" Sofia invited.
Baileywick walked back to Sofia's bedroom door, and closed it. He then walked back over to Sofia and Lucinda. "I have something to tell you" Baileywick started. "I was the one who saw the two of you being intimate. I saw your light on late that night, Princess Sofia, and I simply wanted to see if everything was alright. When I peeked in and saw you and Lucinda, I quietly left before you would see me".
Sofia and Lucinda were taken aback by Baileywick's admission.
"I never meant to invade your privacy" Baileywick continued. "But once I knew what I knew, I felt I had a duty to inform your father so your security could be looked after. I was doing what I thought was best for the two of you".
"I don't mean this to sound as if I'm cross, but you could have just kept silent about what you saw" Sofia pointed out.
"I understand your viewpoint, Princess Sofia" Baileywick acknowledged. "But as I said, I was looking out for yours and Lucinda's security. Better that I tell your father than somebody who wouldn't understand or tolerate what the two of you have. You see, I have something to confide to the two of you. The simple fact of the matter is that, like the two of you, I'm gay".
Baileywick's admission took Sofia and Lucinda off guard.
"I never would have guessed" Sofia said.
"I don't think anybody would have" Lucinda added.
"I should tell you that King Roland knows what I am" Baileywick admitted. "He found out by accident about me when he was a young man. I was expecting him to be angry with me. Instead, he accepted me for what I was, and promised to keep my secret. He was very understanding, and that is how I knew I could safely tell him about the two of you".
Sofia and Lucinda walked over to Baileywick, and hugged him. They had always liked and respected him. Now they liked and respected him even more.
"What happens now?" Sofia wanted to know.
"Your father has put me in charge of looking out for your well being" Baileywick answered. "Times will be arranged when the two of you may be in private. During those times, nobody will disturb the two of you. To that effect, I have arranged for a special guard to be present outside of your door during your private times. The guard will totally respect your privacy, and will keep your secret. You can totally trust her".
"Her?" Sofia and Lucinda asked.
"Lieutenant Katie Hudson" Baileywick answered.
"I've heard of her" Sofia remarked. "She's an exceptional woman who has risen through the ranks of the castle guard force. She's very well respected among the guards".
"Would you like to meet her?" Baileywick asked. "She's waiting outside".
"Yes" Sofia and Lucinda answered.
Baileywick walked out into the hall, then brought in Lieutenant Hudson.
"Lieutenant Hudson, this is Princess Sofia and Miss Lucinda" Baileywick started. "Princess Sofia and Miss Lucinda, this is Lieutenant Hudson".
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Hudson" Sofia smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Hudson" Lucinda greeted.
"It's a pleasure to meet the two of you" Lieutenant Hudson greeted back with a smile.
"I'll leave the three of you alone to get better acquainted" Baileywick said as he left Sofia's bedroom and shut the door.
"Please, have a seat" Sofia offered.
Lieutenant Hudson, Sofia, and Lucinda sat down at a table in Sofia's bedroom, while Sofia poured peppermint tea for the three of them.
"Princess Sofia, Miss Lucinda" Lieutenant Hudson started, "it is an honor to serve the two of you. I would like the two of you to know that I understand your situation completely. You see, my parents died when I was young. My Aunt Trudy took me in, and raised me as her own. My Aunt Trudy is gay, like the two of you. She's a kind, caring woman, and she and her companion took very good care of me. I saw the love they have for each other, and I quickly came to the conclusion that as long as they were in love, and weren't hurting anybody in the process, what was the harm?".
Sofia and Lucinda smiled hearing this.
"The sad thing is that not everybody is as open minded" Lieutenant Hudson continued. "Therefore, my Aunt Trudy and her companion have to keep their love a secret from the public. I understand the fear they have of being publically outed. And I can only imagine that the two of you have the same fear. Therefore, I promise the two of you that I shall not only keep your secret, but I will also provide you with discreet security during those times you want to be with each other. The two of you may be intimate with each other, and I will make sure nobody bothers you during those times".
Lieutenant Hudson was true to her word. When Sofia and Lucinda wanted to be alone with each other, Lieutenant Hudson would sit in the sitting room that connected to Sofia's bedroom, and discreetly guarded the door to Sofia's bedroom. If anybody did try to see Sofia during those times, Lieutenant Hudson would simply say that Sofia was occupied with important business, and to please come back later. It was not unusual for a member of the royal family to have a personal guard, so nobody thought anything of Lieutenant Hudson occasionally guarding Sofia's bedroom.
A few years passed, and Sofia and Lucinda were now eighteen. The two had recently graduated from Royal Prep, and were now officially considered adults. As adults, new responsibilities awaited Sofia and Lucinda. As the two walked down a hallway in the castle, they soon found themselves at the door of King Roland's office. A meeting had been arranged to discuss Sofia and Lucinda's future. Sofia knocked on Roland's office door. In a few moments, Roland answered the door.
"Good morning, ladies" Roland smiled. "Please, come in".
To be continued in Chapter 20.