Chapter Twenty-two: Connection
"So how's it going, baby doll?" Maxie's rough and scratchy voice took Mary by surprise. But her freckled face and cheeky grin brought a smile to the princess' wan visage.
"It's going splendidly, but it's so hot!" Princess Mary had been toiling in the hot sun all morning. It was hard work, greeting each and every visitor to the Royal Gardens with a gracious smile. But it was more than that. Mary had to give every stooped, wrinkled, elderly woman a personal greeting, and a word or two of thanks, even though the long line stretched far beyond the garden gates.
"Bless you, dearie. Your mother was a true lady, a true queen!"
Mary missed her mother. Hearing about Katherine's goodness over and over again brought a lump to her throat and tears to her eyes. That and the hot sun made it seem like a very long morning.
"Let's get out of here!" Maxie didn't care about royal protocol. She wasn't wearing a long dress and a big picture hat like Mary. All the grinning girl photographer had on was a ragged pair of cut-off shorts and a sleeveless silk top.
"Where are we going?" Mary was very excited about seeing Maxie again. But her breathless laugh betrayed how nervous she was as well. It was very risky, dating a commoner like this. Even though she'd made prior arrangements to take the afternoon off, Mary couldn't help feeling a bit like a frightened and hunted fugitive as she slipped out the back gate and jumped in a cab. Maxie's naughty jokes about snooping photographers and scandalous royals underlined the risk they were taking, serious Mary and carefree Maxie. The two of them were running away together!
"Welcome to my palace," Maxie said grandly. The sloppy, lived-in little flat was in a quiet and rather sleepy corner of London. Mary noticed last night's dishes in the sink and the big, unmade bed.
"I love all the photographs!" Turning away from the rumpled bed, Mary tried to focus on the framed artwork. She was enchanted by the way Maxie had brightened the walls of her bedroom with pictures of flowers and laughing children and playful puppies. But she was surprised to see several photographs of her as well. Mary saw herself looking very grown up, solemnly going about her royal duties. Maxie brought out her dignity and royal bearing. Then there were the informal snapshots, where Maxie caught Mary between functions, having a laugh or a drink with Queen Jane. In one photo Mary was just sitting alone, looking thoughtful.
"Hey. Come here." Maxie patted the spot beside her on the bed.
"This is all new to me," Mary confessed, sounding breathless as she sat down in a clumsy heap and tried to laugh. "I mean, visiting someone's apartment. Not having to look over my shoulder or worry about being a proper royal."
"Don't be a royal," Maxie instructed. "Just be you. I've been watching you for a long time, Mary. I get it. You play the game, but there's a whole other person under all that royal elegance."
"You can see that?" Mary's heart was beating fast.
"Sure. Maybe it's because I'm an orphan, without a family. I get how it feels to be alone in a crowd of people." Maxie made a little shrug, sort of exuding an air of sadness and great mystery.
"Oh!" Mary felt it then, a true connection of souls. Maxie was kissing her and undressing her before she even knew what was happening. And then they fell backwards on the bed.