Page 53 of Scandal Queen

“Thousands.”

“Do you know how many homeless shelters there are, old people’s homes, children’s care homes?” She met my eyes at this one. I’d been lucky to escape the fate of a children’s home all because Janine had found my nana at the thirteenth hour.

“Yes.”

“Do they have royal support? Remember what we were like only a couple of months ago before Oliver walked in here and changed everything?”

“I’m not a royal.”

Molly slammed her hand down on the desk. “Dear Lord, Leia. If you don’t start to realise the position you are in here, I’m going to proposition the heir to the throne myself. He loves you. Like crazy loves you.”

I nodded, wincing a little. He didn’t look like he loved me when he left me here. He looked worried and stressed. “I’m making things hard for him because I can’t settle down and just get on with it.”

Janine shook her head. “I doubt he’s thinking that at all.”

“I wish I could explain to you guys how different it is there, at the palace. They really aren’t that different to any other family.”

“And…” Janine rolled her hand towards me.

“I wish other people could see it.”

“Do you think they can change?”

I grimaced in response.

“Can you change?” she asked.

“I still want to be me.”

“Who is you?”

“I help people whose life has turned to shit.”

Janine leant down and pulled out a thick heavy book. The telephone directory landed on her desk with a loud thud. “Here you go then. This should keep you busy for a little while.”

Thirteen

I couldn’t find Dixon as I walked through the main palace hallways, or Freya or Norma. I knocked on the library door and pushed it open.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I began to backtrack as soon as I saw the King. He sat on the satin striped sofa Isabella had laid on that first afternoon I’d spent here when she’d pretended to be wasted; or when she’d pretended not to be wasted when she actually was. I still couldn’t work it out.

“Leia, come in.”

“Uh.” I hesitated. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

He waved me in and short of other choices I walked in and curtsied. “Your Majesty.”

“Oh, please. Call me Henry.”

I think my face said it all. It said enough at any rate because he chuckled. “I hear you’ve been busy.” He motioned for the sofa opposite him and I sat down trying to smooth my skirt the way I’d noticed the Queen did. All I managed to do was look like I stroked my thighs.

“Trying. It seems right that I should continue to keep supporting Bright Futures and other charities that help substance abuse victims. The charity Oliver set up when he first came to meet us is a solid platform.”

“That’s true. It should keep you busy in this city; even more so if you go up North.”

I nodded but didn’t really know what else to say. He didn’t seem to be that interested in the issues of dependency. It was hard to tell what the King was passionate about apart from his horses.

“Daisy’s beautiful. She does you a massive credit.”