IX
GRACE
"I am sorry to pull you from your daily schedule," Queen Susan apologized, a cup of tea cradled gingerly in her fingertips, "I know you must be busy."
Lucy shifted in her seat; eyes trained purposefully on her cucumber sandwich. Clearly, no one had told Queen Susan of her predicament.
"Not at all," Grace replied politely, "You caught me during a break."
Queen Susan smiled and gently replaced her cup on its saucer, "I'm glad. I want to commend your efforts in the kitchen. My royal siblings and I have not had such superb bread since Mrs Beaver left our service."
Lucy nodded fervently beside her. Somehow, she was still the picture of decorum with her mouth stuffed with sandwich.
Grace hesitated; she wasn't sure what the protocol was when one was complimented. On their walk to the terrace, Grace had pestered Lucy on suitable manners at court. Most of her questions had been waved off as unimportant, but Lucy did advise her of the three major rules.
"The first time you address a King or Queen, you must call them "Your Majesty" and curtsy appropriately."
She'd still not managed to perfect her curtsy, but Queen Susan seemed pleased with her show of respect. One point for Grace.
"You must speak only when spoken to and always speak politely."
If one must speak politely, she was sure that she'd disrespected King Edmund a significant amount of times by this point.
"Lastly, don't turn your back when speaking to royalty. It's considered disrespectful."
Easily done, as long as she did not run into anything while exiting a room.
In the end, she decided that it would do no good to accept unwarranted compliments. Grace kept her tone light and humble in an attempt not to offend the Queen, "Thank you for the compliment, your Majesty but I'm sure my work is not worthy of such praise."
Queen Susan looked up from her tea, "Oh?" she exclaimed, her expression mildly affronted.
Grace's stomach fell in an uncomfortable woosh. The panic of the moment knocked the wind out of her lungs.
"Is my knowledge of bread so unvaried? Or are you questioning my knowledge of household chores?" Queen Susan asked severely.
Grace spluttered, lost for words to dig herself out of this hole, "Oh, I am so sorry, your Majesty. I didn't mean-"
She was cut off when Queen Susan's serious face dissolved into a lively smile. Beside her, Lucy was smiling into her cup. She locked eyes with Grace and gave her a sly wink.
It seemed the mischievous streak ran in the family.
Grace let out a sigh of relief and Queen Susan took her hands comfortingly.
"Do not trouble yourself," She said, "I'm sure the compliment might feel forced, but I assure you it was meant with the utmost sincerity."
Grace let herself be comforted and the nerves buzzing in her fingertips dissipated at the touch. "Thank you," She whispered.
"You are welcome, Grace." Queen Susan replied, patting her hand gently.
A moment of silence passed where a gentle salty breeze grazed their faces and ruffled their skirts. Queen Susan and Lucy sipped their tea slowly, in no rush to finish. Grace took the opportunity to stuff a sandwich into her mouth, she had not eaten since breakfast and was starving.
Lucy replaced her cup on its saucer delicately, "It's good to know that the funds in the kitchen are being put to good use. Don't you think, Susan?"
Queen Susan agreed, "Yes it is, there was some concern when Mrs Badger took over the kitchens but it all seems to have worked itself out."
She turned to Grace with a contemplative expression, "You've been working in there for over a week, if I'm correct, Grace?"
Grace sipped her tea thoughtfully before responding, "I'm not sure, actually. The days have been blurring together."
Lucy gave her a discreet sympathetic look over her cup of tea.
"I'm sure that you arrived on Dies Veneris, just six days ago." Queen Susan said, her eyes glassed over in memory.
Dies Veneris? Grace looked to Lucy for help, who just stared back innocently. Clearly whatever this term meant; it should have been obvious to Grace. Was it some kind of holiday? Had the Narnians named the day she had washed into the world already?
"Of course, if you've been here for almost a week then our housekeeper will need to see you to organise your pay." Queen Susan added.
"I'm paid?" Grace asked.
"Of course!" Lucy exclaimed, "All staff at Cair Paravel are paid for their work. We hold no slaves here."
I'm to be paid, Grace noted. Though she wasn't sure what she would use the money for. She supposed it was a comfort to know that her work was not for free - however little she was actually doing.
"If I may speak, your Majesties?" Grace began.
Queen Susan gestured for her to continue.
"My work only takes up half of my day," Grace explained, "I would not feel right in taking a full days wage from the Castle. Is this something I should notify the housekeeper of?"
Queen Susan looked up from her cup of tea, taken aback at the news, "Your work does not take up the whole day?"
Grace shook her head, "Cair Paravel uses approximately 20 loafs of bread per day. I'm usually finished with the prep work by lunch time. After that, Mrs Badger sees to their baking in between preparation of other meals."
"Only half of the day," Queen Susan mused, "What do you do with the rest of your time?"
Grace opened her mouth to speak but faltered.
"I found her in her room this afternoon," Lucy stated, "Sir Casys has been dismissed promptly at lunch every day since the ambassadors arrival."
Queen Susan sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose, "No doubt, this is Edmunds doing."
"No," Grace interjected, completely forgetting herself, "Please, I chose to stay in my rooms. Casys is troubled with small spaces and we'd already exhausted all the areas I was allowed to explore. It didn't seem right to detain him."
Lucy stared at her with wide blue eyes, a warning clear within them. However, Queen Susan did not seem bothered by the lack of respect; she merely grimaced at Grace and said, "I won't blame you for this."
Grace's brow furrowed. Who else was there to blame for her own decision?
"I apologize for the lack of communication you have suffered during this time," She continued sombrely, "As a ward of Narnia you are afforded the right to know your situation in its entirety."
"A ward?" Grace asked.
"It means you are under Our care." Lucy explained, gesturing between herself and her sister.
Queen Susan placed her empty cup and saucer on the table; behind her, a faun leapt to attention and began to fill the cup, "With the arrival of the ambassador, my Siblings and I have been unable to make a formal decision based on your evidence. Thus, as head of security, the decisions have been left to our brother, King Edmund."
Her evidence? The Queen must be speaking of her conversation with Lucy aboard the Splendour Hyaline.
"However, as head of the household, it is my duty to oversee your comfort. I'm sorry to hear that we have neglected your entertainment," Queen Susan said, her blue eyes shining with genuine apology.
Grace shook her head, "Please, don't trouble yourself. Casys has kept me entertained with exploring the guest wing and with his stories. I have only kept to my rooms for half the week."
Queen Susan eyed her knowingly, but did not press her, "Very well. If we are to remedy the issue then I will need some information from you."
Grace nodded obediently.
"Good," Queen Susan's face relaxed into a kind smile, "We understand that you come from Spare Oom."
Grace foggily recalled Lucy saying the same aboard the Splendour Hyaline when they had first met, "Yes."
"How about we begin with where you come from?"
"Australia," Grace answered without hesitation.
"Australia," Queen Susan repeated the name slowly, testing it on her tongue. Her eyes glazed over in thought as she focused on the word, "It sounds familiar. Though, I am unsure if I am as familiar with it as you are."
"How do you mean?" Lucy asked, blue eyes curious and clearly not having the same remembrance that her sister did.
Queen Susan looked to Lucy, "We've never been there but I believe I read about it once. It's an island country, is that right?" She returned to Grace in askance.
Grace nodded, "We're known for our humidly hot weather and deadly animals."
"Deadly animals?" Lucy asked.
"Mostly spiders and snakes," Grace waved her hand dismissively, "You won't see them often unless you go looking for them."
Queen Susan looked pale at the thought of insects, Lucy however, was fascinated, "Do they speak in your world? Here the talking beasts mostly consist of animals, the insects are dumb."
"Talking beasts don't exist in that other place, Lu," Queen Susan reminded her.
Grace shook her head, in agreeance with Queen Susan, "The only beings that talk are humans, and maybe a few birds."
Lucy's eyes widened in wonder, "Birds can speak in Spare Oom?"
Grace paused in thought, "Well, not speak per se. Rather, they can be taught to mimic words."
"How interesting!" Lucy exclaimed.
Beside her, Queen Susan's skin had regained some colour, now that the talk of insects had dissipated. There was something more behind her eyes, however, a spark of memory that lit a lantern of thought.
"Yes, I remember those," Queen Susan reminisced, "They were called Parrots, I believe?"
Grace smiled, remembering the colourful little birds, "Yes. There are others, like the Cockatoo and the Macaw. When I was little, my Aunt would take me to nurseries to look at the plants, places like that always have a bird to talk to."
"What would they say?" Lucy asked.
"Mostly things like, 'hello' and 'food'. Kids would come up to their cage to talk and feed them."
Lucy visually deflated with disappointment, "Oh."
Grace grimaced, "It's a bit sad, to cage an animal like that. Especially one that was meant to fly."
Queen Susan agreed, "Yes. Thank Aslan that beasts roam free in Narnia, talking or otherwise."
Lucy did not release her anger as easily, "If I ever see a caged beast…" She began angrily.
Queen Susan calmed her with a gentle pat on the arm, "You won't," She assured Lucy, "Not in this lifetime."
Grace looked to Lucy in honest reassurance, "I've yet to see a caged beast while staying here. Your subjects are kind and caring. I doubt I will see anything close to it until I leave."
Queen Susan straightened then, returning to Grace with a questioning look, "That is truly your wish then, to leave?" She asked.
Grace nodded earnestly, "Yes."
Lucy expression grew sad and Grace regretted her blunt answer immediately.
"It's nothing against yourselves or your beautiful kingdom," Grace added hastily, "but I have some unfinished business and.. well, this isn't my home."
Queen Susan nodded sympathetically, "We understand."
She paused for a moment, her cool blue eyes holding Grace's with a knowing that made her shift uncomfortably in her seat. "It might not be my place," Queen Susan began humbly, her hands clasped diplomatically in her lap, "But could I offer you some advice?"
"Yes?" Grace consented.
"I know it is difficult to accept the situation for what it is," She started softly, her voice gaining strength as she spoke her mind, "However, it does no good to wallow in pain and forget to live your life."
Queen Susan continued gently, "We will do what we can to make your stay here comfortable. It would help if you could point us in the right direction. Especially if you are feeling at a loss at what to do."
Grace's eyes were stinging; she didn't know when it had begun, but there were tears welling at their corners. She rubbed at them hurriedly with the heel of her palm and said in soft blubbers, "I will."
How embarrassing, at twenty-two years old she was crying at being scolded. Queen Susan hadn't even been that harsh.
Grace knew she should have spoken to someone sooner about her confinement but underneath all the layers of grief and longing she found it difficult to even begin leaving the room.
She looked up and her eyes met the two Queens concerned gazes. There was the great similarity between the two, apart from their fair skin and face shape, their eyes were the same multilayered blue.
"I'm ok," Grace sniffled while continuing to rub her eyes.
Lucy came to sit beside Grace and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," Queen Susan consoled her, "I only meant that it might be good for you to enjoy yourself whilst you're here."
"I know," Grace replied, "I understood you."
Queen Susan continued to look concerned as Lucy smoothed small comforting circles into her back.
"My royal siblings and I will do our best to get you home," Queen Susan promised, "And while you remain here, We hope that you will come to Us or an appropriate staff member of Cair Paravel if ever you need anything."
Grace stopped rubbing her itchy eyelids and nodded to the Queen dutifully. It was a simple enough request and Grace was determined to take the advice to heart.
If she couldn't go home, she wouldn't wallow in grief forever. She knew grief was an important part of life, but she also knew that if you lived in it for too long, it would slowly eat away at your life until there was nothing left.
The Elder Queen seated herself at Grace's other side, her warmth radiating as her hand joined Lucy's upon Grace's back, "It's been a long week. No one would blame you for feeling unhappy in the current circumstances."
Grace nodded as she breathed deeply, feeling slightly comforted between the two but also a little awkward.
There was a beat silence before Queen Susan tactfully added, "Perhaps Lucy might show you the bath's in the lower level of the Cair. The hot water should soothe you."
Grace realised she'd never wanted anything more.