Chapter Fifteen: Mary's Gal Pal
"She's a scientist – her name is Daphne Dumont. Don't you know her?"
"Of course I know her!" Mary's eyes flew open wide. A moment ago she had been bored, close to dozing as one fashion model after another went gliding by on the runway, all of them wearing the exact same smile or the same old sexy pout. But now she felt wide awake. In fact she was tingling with excitement!
"Well, I'm more than just a fashion photographer," said the grinning girl with the short, spiky black hair. Maxie was her name, and she had been snapping pictures throughout the fashion show. "I've done a ton of nature photography, including some really challenging underwater work with Dr. Dumont. I'm flying over to France next week to shoot her latest dive. Care to come?"
"Could I? I mean I'd love to! I mean, yes, thank you very much." Mary felt so grateful that her eyes filled up with big, gushing tears. And sharp-eyed Maxie seemed to guess what she was feeling.
"Think nothing of it, baby doll." The cheeky girl photographer actually leaned over and kissed Mary very quickly on the cheek. "Girls like us have got to stick together!"
Back at the royal hotel suite, Mary was too excited to sleep. All night long, she kept tossing from side to side in her huge bed, picturing herself on a deep dive with Daphne Dumont. The fight to save the ocean was a cause she desperately wanted to support. She wanted to stand right by Dr. Dumont's side!
The only worry Mary had was whether her stepmother, Queen Jane, would approve of her taking a side trip to France. The two of them were supposed to be visiting several schools in Scotland. But so far Jane had been more interested in sight-seeing, shopping and other pleasurable activities.
It must have been long past midnight when Mary heard her stepmother enter the hotel suite. There was a bit of conversation, and then the sound of the bedroom door closing softly. Mary reckoned that Queen Jane had invited her tall and rugged bodyguard Rory to spend the night. She moaned and pulled a pillow over her head to muffle the sounds from the royal bedroom.
"Don't be ridiculous, darling!" Jane was glossing her lips in front of the mirror when Mary stumbled into her bedroom the next morning. "We have our hands full with all our public appearances here in Scotland. I'm scheduled to appear at a brand-new children's hospital this afternoon. I certainly don't have time to take you to France."
"You don't have to come with me. I can take care of myself."
"Yes, I can see that." Queen Jane looked her stepdaughter up and down, and Mary squirmed with embarrassment. Jane was looking lovely after her night of love. She was perfectly made up and wearing her best jewels, all dressed up for her hospital visit. Mary had barely slept, and she was still in her pajamas.
"You know I've been working hard and on my best behavior." Mary felt ill-tempered and irritable, grouchy as well as sleepy. She had to fight the urge to stamp her bare foot on the carpet. "Yesterday I covered for you at the arts council meeting and at that stupid fashion show. Can't you cover for me this one time?"
"I cover for you all the time," Jane said sweetly. "Take a look at the morning paper."
"But it's not true!" Mary tossed the glossy tabloid to the floor. "Maxie is not my 'gal pal.' I don't even know what that means!"
"It means the two of you were spotted kissing at the fashion show. Mary darling, when will you get it through your head that being a royal means one is always being watched?"
"I didn't kiss her! She kissed me! I don't even like kissing girls!"
"Or boys either, hmm?" Jane made a final perfect pout, and then put away her lip gloss. "I know it wasn't your fault, dear. But the two of us had better stick together for the next few days, until the rumors die down. Because I really can't imagine defying your father, my husband and our king, just so you can sneak away to France and go collecting seashells with some lady scientist!"
"She's not a lady scientist, she's a scientist! You think you know all about Daphne Dumont, but you don't know anything about her. She's not my gal pal. I admire her because she's educated and talented and brave. I want to be just like her!"
"That's not going to be easy," Queen Jane said quietly. "Your father expects you to be a poised and regal queen. You have it in you to be like me, Mary. Prove that to your father and perhaps you can have your other dream as well."
"Where do I start?" Mary hated being told what to do like a child.
"Well, for today you can start by getting dressed." Jane waved her slim jeweled fingers, as though Mary were a baby going bye-bye.
"I hate you!" Mary stomped back to her room, threw herself on the bed, and burst into tears.