Secrets of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway

Author:Cassidy Calloway
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Mom and I took an unmarked car to the Houses of Parliament to meet Prime Minister Eckley for the first round of Anglo-American forums. Parliament’s Gothic spires stabbed the murky gray morning sky. I’d seen my share of majestic architecture, but when the motorcade rolled past Westminster Abbey I was blown away. Sure, we Americans could be proud of our historical monuments, but the Brits had that centuries-old thing going on, so advantage Brittania.

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Mom had donned a houndstooth blazer over a pair of tan slacks. She’d been up all night reading EU economic-recovery plans but looked fresh and ready to go. I, however, was still jet-laggy, carbo-loaded, and annoyed over my altercation with Brittany. “The city of London is amazing.”

“It sure is.” I couldn’t wait to explore the trendy shops, happening hot spots, and more of that traditional British cuisine. I hoped I could ditch the meetings later so I could do just that.

The car swung into the New Palace Yard, swarming with Secret Service and MI6 security. Tourists and Londoners gawked as George and Parker quickly bundled us out of the car and through the Member’s Entrance.

My jaw dropped once we were escorted into the Central Lobby. Intricate paneling inset with life-size carvings of medieval kings and queens lined the octagonal room. A stunning display of windows with tiny window panes soared up to a cone-shaped spire, which threw light down on red, white, and blue ceramic tiles on the floor painted with medieval stuff like British lions and heraldic symbols.

Prime Minister Owen Eckley and his toothy grin greeted us in front of a life-size statue of William Gladstone. “Welcome to Westminster, President Abbott. Morgan.” Genially he shook Mom’s hand, then mine.

“President Abbott.” Trevor Eckley bounded out from behind his father and wrung Mom’s hand.

Trevor? What the heck?

“I thought it was a brilliant idea bringing your daughter along to spend the day immersing in international politics,” Owen Eckley told Mom after they exchanged greetings under a fusillade of snapping cell phone cameras from onlookers and low-level staff members. “So brilliant, in fact, I’ve brought along Trevor for the same experience.”

Trevor smiled smarmily at me, and his weird eyes swiped my boobs again.

“I thought my son could keep Morgan company if our discussions on international climate treaties got too dull for her,” Prime Minister Eckley continued. “Maybe Trevor could take her on a tour of Portcullis House and Big Ben, properly accompanied by Morgan’s security team, of course.”

Oh yeah, George would love an unauthorized trip to a tourist site without sweeping it eighty million times for security threats. I was gagging over the thought of spending the afternoon with Trevor Eckley.

“I’m sure we can find something to do,” Trevor said.

Barf.

“I’ll let Morgan decide when she’s ready,” Mom said, reading my pleading face not to throw me to the Trevor-wolf. “Shall we get started? We have a full agenda today.”

Now I’m all about restricting greenhouse emissions and saving the polar bears and keeping the Arctic Circle from melting into the sea.

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