Little Peach Lies by J Nell Brown

Author:J Nell Brown [Brown, J. Nell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J Nell Brown
Published: 2020-12-02T00:56:59+00:00

4—Holyroodhouse

May 1967

Edinburg, Scotland

At the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Davina McDonald chatted up the butler as he oversaw the service of the last course of tea.

Charlotte’s mother was an expert at the intricacies of mindless conversation, especially when British royals were watching. Painting with strokes of goodwill, Davina said, “Your Majesty, when will you rest from your duties as queen?”

“I must continue . . . for the sake of England.” Did that mean the queen did not trust her heir? Charlotte’s mother smiled with admiration. “England needs you.”

Charlotte shifted in her seat, thankful that her mother had focused on Queen Elizabeth instead of inspecting her daughter’s flushed complexion. As a precaution, the eager bride had applied a pale foundation to her entire face and décolleté. Did she appear vampire-pale like Queen Victoria, powdered to a chalky white?

“I couldn’t bear to eat another cucumber sandwich.” Charles leaned toward Charlotte and whispered, “Explore the castle with me?” His request brought to Charlotte’s mind odors of stale ale, rotting teeth, and blood. The memory churned English breakfast tea, egg salad sandwiches, and scones inside her stomach.

“Why?” Charlotte protested.

“You’re green.”

“I am?” Nervously, Charlotte touched her face, thinking the foundation had failed her.

“Even greener . . . shall we have a bit of fun? Parenthood will be upon us soon enough.”

“Parenthood?” Davina’s shoulders straightened, and she pasted a hint of a smile across her lips as she glanced at the queen. “Charles and Charlotte are to be busy about giving an heir to our families soon after their nuptials.”

“You must be proud of your daughter’s choice for marriage.” The queen slipped into her mouth another piece of crumpet coated with clotted cream and a speck of marmalade.

“I am.” Davina’s cheeks reddened as if splashed with a bouquet of freshly picked pink roses.

“Mother, may we be excused?”

“Your Majesty, may the children be excused?”

The queen nodded. “Good day.”

Charlotte’s fingers remained intertwined with Charles’s. He pulled her toward the door, and her foot caught under a rug. Falling, she collapsed onto his shoulder.

Her mother cleared her throat. “Your Majesty, I mean to instruct Charlotte as to how she should walk before the wedding.”

Steam rolled into Charlotte’s neck, and then her face. Clenching her hand into a fist, she marched toward the door. The attendant opened it, and they exited. Stopping outside the door, she gripped her chest.

“I’m sorry,” Charles whispered. “I couldn’t bear it any longer.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Charlotte crossed her lips with her finger, signaling him to be quiet as though ghosts from the past were lurking near. The palace creaked with age beneath the weight of secrets. She rested until her breathing slowed. “Let’s go.”

“Are you okay?”

“I am.”

“And our princess?”

“Just fine.” Her broad smile dismissed her worries.

“Should we go to Mary Stuart’s bedchamber?”

“We’re already walking on thin ice.”

“No. Not for that. To exorcise Mary Stuart’s demons from haunting your soul.”

“An atheist performing an exorcism?”

“Shh. The queen doesn’t know my religious convictions.”

“It doesn’t make sense to me, imagining that chirping birds, roaring lions, and whispering leaves all appeared from nowhere and no one.

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