Page 40 of Scandal Queen

“Oh.”

The Queen smiled while her daughter propped herself up straight and then flopped her head back down—hungover by my reckoning—or drunk, I couldn’t quite decide. “You see, Leia. This is all new. A new start for all of us.” Her gaze sharpened. “And we don’t plan to make any mistakes a second time.”

Ten

“One must never talk with food in their mouth.” Norma sat ramrod straight at the luncheon table; luncheon not lunch. I shot a look at Mrs Hurst who slipped her own gaze to the side. Traitor.

“Yes, yes. Even Daisy knows that.”

In front of me sat a bone china plate that held a chicken breast, one piece of broccoli, and some tiny shreds of carrot. I didn’t care though; my stomach had grumbled for an hour.

“Never begin to eat until the King has taken his first mouthful. Also, you must never leave a room before the King.”

“Okaaaay.” I mulled this over, watching the gravy cool into a congealed gel on my plate. “So I have to watch the King all the time? I don’t want him to think I’m staring.”

Norma ignored me but Isabella snorted.

“At the end of the meal if you wish to leave the table to use the bathroom you must pick your handbag up and place it to the left of your plate. Staff will know then that you wish to leave your seat.”

What the hell had Oliver been telling them about my balance?

“I think I can manage that by myself.”

Norma’s smile grew tighter. “I’m sure you can; but can you do it in such a manner that doesn’t flash your underwear or knock a chair over?”

I paused for a moment. Actually, I couldn’t guarantee that.

“I don’t even use handbags. I don’t think I own one that isn’t a giant holdall full of cr—” I cut off my words, throwing a meek glance towards the Queen.

“You’ll have plenty, don’t worry.” Isabella took a sip of her wine. I hadn’t even managed to put my fingers on my glass yet.

“What exactly do you think I will be doing to need all these social cues?” I turned my attention for the Queen and voiced my very real concern.

She sent me a soft smile. “Leia, I know this is a lot. But Oliver will be King one day. It’s very important that you are seen to behave in a queenly manner.”

“Is that what Charlotte Macclesfield did, because if that’s how future queens are expected to behave then I don’t think I’m down with it.”

Norma let out a hissed gasp.

“I’m sorry,” I waved my hands in front of my face, part fan, part shield. “I hate to be rude, but I don’t want to sit here learning how to behave in public if you are expecting me to be something else behind closed doors. I can only be who I am.”

The Queen inclined her head.

“Your Majesty,” I began but she held up her hand.

“Margi.”

I scrunched my face. “I don’t think I can call you that.”

The Queen grinned widely. “Miss Macclesfield didn’t have a problem with it.”

“And I just told you, I’m not her.”

Taking me by surprise, the Queen leant forward and clutched my hand. “And that my dear is exactly why I can’t contain my excitement.”

“Excitement?” My voice wobbled despite my defiance.

“Everybody out.” She clapped her hands and it reminded me all too much of Oliver when I first met him. Every whim of his requests were met without any hesitation.