After the awesome ride, I sent Grace to pack for the long trip to the country, while Cornell and I headed to the dining room for lunch. I was not looking forward to going to the country. It sounded a lot like prison, but it could be a good thing, I guess. I almost stopped when I saw the queen sitting at the lunch table.
She usually ate lunch in her room. It was a very unpleasant surprise since I hadn't seen her since the ball and we hadn't really talked since I was in trouble. She didn't even look up as I stood in the entrance, truly debating on leaving. She wouldn't even know. Slowly, I backed away, but a gentle nudge on my back stopped my progress.
"I didn't know she would be here," I whispered to Cornell, who felt like a brick wall at my back.
"It's her palace in case you forgot, and I think this is a lunch you don't want to miss."
That made me stiffen even more. "What do you know, Lancelot?" He chuckled, so close I could feel his breath on my neck. I barely suppressed the shiver that crept down my spine.
"Let's just say there are perks to being highly favored by the Queen, not to mention her favorite Godchild. Go in and sit, greet her majesty. Touch nothing until she does, it's customary for the Queen to signal the start to dinner and when she covers her plate with her napkin, lunch is over. Same thing with dinner."
Back ramrod straight, I walked into the large dining room and stopped at my chair to her right. She didn't look up even as I pasted on a smile, dropped to a curtsy, and murmured, "Your majesty."
She waved me towards the chair with an irritated huff. Cornell swept into a bow and was given a wave as well. His was definitely less irritated. Like clockwork, servants came in carrying plates and platters. Looking at Cornell, I saw he was already engaged in conversation with her. She had his undivided attention, and I felt like an outsider. I remember Sadie telling me that the queen talked to one person at a time and during a meal and she only ever talked to people on her left and her right.
I guess she talked to the left first. Lunch was salmon and asparagus. The other platters were full of bread, fruit, and sauces. I waited patiently as they talked about a lot of nothing. I picked at the salmon and cut up the asparagus. It looked good, but not edible. It was too neat, too pretty. Like my grandmother.
Finally, she turned to me, her face stern as she stared down her nose at me. Her voice reeked of authority, "because of recent events, the trip to the country is therefore canceled. We will not be going this evening. You can thank Prince Cornell for that. Also, you will only shadow me once a week. The rest of your training will be done by Prince Cornell as well. He has assured me you both have agreed to do what is best for our people and that you will prosper under his care. I may have been rash in my decisions. Malcolm was a distraction and with him gone, I am sure you will reach your full potential and prosper under the care of your fiance."
I glanced at Cornell, only for a second to see him grinning from ear to ear as he dug into his salmon. Well played, I thought.
"Still, you have a mess to clean up. You will publicly apologize to the young meant you brawled with. You will present a check to the owner of the nightclub you ruined. You will visit our Sargent at arms and give a large donation to them as well and you will for the first time, hold a press conference. It is time for the people to meet their princess and get a better look at you, than from the back of a police car."
I visibly gulped and reached for my glass of water to wash all the questions down. That was a lot. Like a lot. Still, after clearing my throat, I managed a 'yes name'. Then I reached for my fork at the exact moment the queen tossed her napkin over her plate.
Our eyes met, and I knew she was waiting for me to eat. Instead, I placed my hands in my lap and bit my cheek. She huffed and stood, taking my queue from Cornell I stood as well.
She walked past me, stopping long enough to whisper, "Don't fuck this up."