Expectant switched to troubled as she fully entered the room, the reflection of light off her glossy hair almost blinding me. “I’m afraid that will be impossible, sir.”
“Then make it possible.” I all but stalked to the liquor trolly and then changed my mind. Stone-cold sobriety would be to my advantage on this little mission.
“You have dinner with the king and queen, Princess Clara, and members of the Belgian royal family this evening. It’s Duchess Vera’s fiftieth birthday.”
“We’ll have to reschedule.”
“Reschedule her birthday?”
My pacing resumed as I formed a plan in my mind and waved a dismissive hand at my assistant. “I have every confidence in you. Now let’s get that bag packed and the jet fueled.” Andrew and his team would accompany me; there was no arguing that. But I’d need to invent a reason for Victoria to remain here. I could tell her my closet needed urgent rearranging. Or she could write my coronation speech. Or perhaps letting her go now would be the kindest thing since Alice would be reclaiming her position and there would be no need for Victoria’s services any longer. I was confident someone in this place could find her a new position—or it was conceivable Mother would adopt her if nothing else.
Victoria inexplicably erupted into a riot of giggling that set my teeth on edge. “You almost had me there, sir.” She pointed a finger at me. “I admit it’s taken a bit to become accustomed to your sense of humor, but that one was quite funny. Canceling dinner with the queen, indeed.” Her head shook at the hilarity of it all.
What was wrong with this woman? She found no humor in Zach Galifianakis’s genius performance in Masterminds but my instructions to fuel the jet had her utterly tickled. She’d have me wearing a bare spot on this heirloom rug before long with all the pacing.
“I’m being perfectly serious, Victoria. Bag and jet. Let’s get cracking, shall we?”
“Oh.” All mirth ceased as I made another mental note to request a Galifianakis movie marathon on the flight. “My apologies, sir, but the jet is in Belgium retrieving the royal family.”
I turned on my heel to face Victoria. “Bloody hell. It’s not as if I can take the helicopter to America, now can I?”
“America? Why on earth would you need to go there? Prince Leo departed just this afternoon for Washington D.C. I’m certain he could address this issue if it’s so urgent.” Her voice was almost pleading as she held her phone before her, thumbs poised over its screen. “Just tell me what’s wrong and I’ll see to it.”
“You can’t.”
“Please, sir. It can’t be that difficult. Now, what is it?”
I shoved my hands in my trouser pockets and scanned Victoria’s face. Why wasn’t she wearing glasses? Assistants should wear glasses. “I’ve forgotten something in North Carolina, and I must go and retrieve it. It’s of the utmost importance.”
“Is that all?” she responded with a relieved smile.
Ignoring her comment, I pulled my own phone from my back pocket and pressed Andrew’s contact before bringing the device to my ear. I’d have to take care of this myself.
“Sir?” Andrew’s clipped greeting made me want to mess with him, but there’d be plenty of time for that on the way to America.
“Yes, Andrew. Tell me, did you help arrange my brother’s trip this afternoon? I’m assuming the do-gooder flew commercial.”
“I did, sir. And, yes, we booked the entire first-class section of a Feldish Airlines flight due to land soon at Washington-Dulles airport. We sent Natalie and her team on his detail.”
“Excellent. Cancel your evening plans, Andrew. We’re going to America.”
Victoria’s sputtering disbelief followed me down the hall toward my bedroom. It was time I made peace with her. After all, I’d likely never see her again after today.
“Come on, Victoria. Let’s get packing! What are your thoughts on driving gloves? Do you think I should bring a pair or give them a pass?”
“I’m sure it’s a simple cold, Mother, but I’d be devastated if I sickened Vera on her birthday of all days. You will give her my best wishes, won’t you?” I pulled the phone from my ear just long enough to whisper my drink order to the flight attendant. “Sparkling water, please.”
She responded with a quick nod and a wide smile before hurrying back to the galley and away from a frowning Andrew. I watched her hips sway in her tight skirt and felt a momentary pang of regret at the need to pass on discovering the color of her knickers.
“A cold, Malcolm? Is that what we’re calling your dalliances now?” The queen’s tone did little to hide her irritation.
A gasp fell from my lips. “You wound me.” I mustered up a small cough for authenticity.
“We’ve already spoken about this. If you require ‘companionship,’ have Victoria work with Trevor to arrange something. Discretion is key with the coronation so near.”
I huffed out an incredulous laugh. “Trevor is the last person I’d allow to set me up on a date. He’d be liable to arrange dinner with Lizzie Borden’s ghost. And, as I said, I have the sniffles. It’s nothing to do with a woman.” Well, Alice was a woman, but not in the sense the queen meant.
My mother sighed on the other end of the line, telling me I’d won. “I’ll give Vera and her family your best, but I beg of you, whatever you’re up to, let’s not allow it to appear on the front page of the newspapers tomorrow, yes? Or I’ll find a way to alter the succession bill to allow Clara to take the crown in your place.”
I barely refrained from asking her to do just that. Everyone knew I wasn’t suited for the job, yet here I was, poised to fuck everything up. “Not that she wouldn’t make an excellent queen…” In truth, my little sister would likely be the best candidate of the three Baxter children. “But I hardly think my nasal passages warrant a front page story. Section B, perhaps, but not the front page.”
The shapely flight attendant returned, a naughty lift of her brow catching my eye as she handed me my Perrier and brushed her fingers over my wrist in the process. How deliciously tempting.
“Goodbye, Malcolm.” Mother’s voice sounded in my ear, and I refocused for a moment, giving one more cough for good measure.
“Goodbye, Mother. If I should succumb to my illness, please scatter my ashes in the West Garden so I can properly haunt my loved ones.”
A click was her only response, and I couldn’t help my small chuckle as I lowered my phone to the seat beside me and threw a wink at the attendant as I caught a peek at her name badge.
“Thank you, Janine.”
She lingered for only a split second before realizing this flirtation had run its course and moved on to take drink orders from my security staff. Such a pity.
“Her Majesty give you an earful?” Matthias, one of the younger guards, inquired with a smile from his spot across the aisle, his eyes following Janine’s tight skirt. I got on well with Matthias, as we shared an affinity for surfing and an appreciation for beautiful women in very small dresses.
“All sorted. She thinks I’m in bed with a cold. What she doesn’t know can’t hurt her.”