Seven: Prince Marlowe
1717 Words
Seven
Prince Marlowe
After Cecelia had stormed out, I could feel Delilah’s eyes probing me with a giant grin.
“So,” she said, “you’re in love with my sister.”
“Please, don’t look at me like that,” I told her. “We’re not conspirators.”
Delilah frowned. “Look, I know why you don’t like me.”
“I don’t not like you,” I said.
“You don’t like me,” she said, “because I broke up The Three Musketeers.”
“Well, I mean…..”
“But I want what’s best for all of you,” she said, “and that includes my sister. And I know this world is complicated, and scary. And I’m not saying that Cecelia has to be part of it if she doesn’t want to. I won’t force her into anything. But I love her, and I think that she could be an amazing addition to this family if she chose it. So, if you want to help make that happen, I’m behind you one hundred percent.”
“Do you sincerely mean that?” I asked.
“Yes,” she nodded, “also I suspect that you don’t know anything about The Broken Heart series or how to track down an unknown artist or anything about art history in general.”
“I was going to use the royal art historian,” I said.
Delilah shook her head. “No, you can’t use that. If you use that, Cecelia won’t respect that. That’s the easiest way to lose her. So, we’ve got to find the truth about the paintings together.”
I sighed, looking at her warily. While I didn’t relish the idea of working with her, I knew that she was going to be my future Queen. As such, I knew that it was more than likely in my best interest to gain her favor. Especially if I wanted to convince Cecelia that we were meant to be.
“Alright,” I said, “fine. You can help me. But if you are in this, you’ve got to be #TeamMarlowe all of the way.”
“I’ll get t-shirts made,” she said with a smile.
I would give one thing to Delilah---she had an infectious joy that I couldn’t help but take part in.
“Oh! I’ll do you one better,” she said, “I’ll get the shipping started.”
She took out a cell phone and revealed a picture that she had taken of the two of us waltzing while no one was looking at the two of us. I almost wanted to be annoyed with her, but I couldn’t find it in my heart to.
“Can you send that to me?” I asked.
“Of course,” she said, “but let me tweet it first.”
She did, and I heard the alert go off on my phone as she posted it. I pulled it up, to see what she had written for the tweet. Watching my baby sister learn to waltz with @hrhpmarloweofficial #teammarcelia for the win.
I tried, very hard, not to smile at her. Gruffly, I replied, “Yep. Yes. That’ll work. Great tweeting. I’ve got to go….do something royal and official now.”
“Right,” said Delilah, still not taking off her delighted grin. She patted me on the shoulder. “Thank you for helping with the waltzing.”
“Of course,” I said, and I brusquely exited the ball room.
I badly wanted to go find Cecelia again, but I knew that one round with me was enough to annoy her. Besides, the first of the Queens summer garden parties was coming, and I would see her soon enough.
In the mean time, I wanted to go and see my Grandmother. If she had time for me. I went up the large staircase, in the direction of her study. I could hear the barking of one of her Corgis, which was how I knew she was around. A footman stood outside of the office, like always.
“Is the Queen inside?” I asked.
He smiled. “Ah, young Prince Marlowe. She had an inkling that she’d be seeing you today. Yes, go on in, straight ahead.”
I winced, not knowing what to make of that. But I nodded politely at the footman and I knocked on the door of the Queen’s study.
“Who is it?” her voice was raspy, older and tired now. She was our longest reigning sovereign, well into her 90’s, and I constantly worried about her state. When she passed on, the throne would go to Derek’s father, Prince Cedric. Then, Derek would inherit the throne.
“It’s me, Gran,” I said.
I was one of the few people that could get away with calling her that. Even Derek couldn’t most of the time, and he was the one who was going to inherit. I wasn’t important enough for her to worry about getting close to.
“Marlowe, is that you? Come on inside. I suspected you might show up.”
I opened the door, and I walked inside. Gran was sitting there wearing a brightly colored pink outfit. Off to the side was a pink hat, and her gloves. The bright colors were to make her easy to spot in the crowd, for security purposes.
“Hello, Gran,” I said as I came inside and took a seat.
She looked up at me, with a smile.”I wondered how long it would be before you showed up, boy. What is it you’ve come to see me about?”
I hesitated. “It’s about Cecelia.”
She looked at me knowingly, and she took out a newspaper with a headline that read: PRINCE MARLOWE TAKES PORT WITH PORTER AT NIGHTCLUB. There was a picture of us dancing together, and it was from when we had gone out a few days ago. I had hoped that we had gotten the pictures from the pap at the club, but there must have been another one that we didn’t manage to get.
I frowned. “How did you manage to get that? I thought we grabbed all of the cameras from the paps.”
“Not all,” she said, “and to be frank, I wanted it that way.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You wanted it that way?”
She nodded. “You see, when you get old my dear grandson, people start to think that you aren’t paying attention. But the thing is, is that I see everything. The monarchy is an old institution. There are some kind of changes that are not conducive to change within it. However, loving who you want is one of those changes that I always want to be a champion of if I am able. You’re in love with this girl, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “From the moment that I saw her at Derek’s party.”
“Are you certain that she’ll love you?”
I nodded. “We’re true love, Gran. I’m going to make her fall in love with me, one way or another.”
She sighed. “I’ve worried about bringing in a sixteen year-old girl who does not know this world into our lives without a connection. I don’t want someone to use her for the wrong reasons, or for her to get her heartbroken. If you feel that you are the best thing for her, I will give you the permission that you seek to court her. But the minute it becomes clear that you aren’t what she wants, or that this life isn’t what she wants, you have to give her up my dear boy. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Gran,” I said, “I’m going to make her feel loved, and I’m going to make her love our world.”
“Will she love you?”
“I think she does,” I said, “I think she just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Then, you’ve got my permission to court her. Although, you should know that Jude Elliot has been hinting that he’s in love with her too. You might have some competition.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, “I can handle him.”
“That’s what I wanted to here,” she said, “you’re exactly what that girl needs to make an easy entrance into our world. You’re what’s best for her, and I suspect she’ll open her eyes to that sooner or later.”
‘Thank you, Gran.”
“You’re quite welcome, my dear boy. You’ve not been this enthusiastic about anyone since your dear mother died, and I must say, I’m quite pleased to see you smiling again.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Am I smiling again?”
“You’ve not stopped since the moment that you walked in and started talking about her,” she said, giving me a cheeky look.
I found myself blushing, which was something that I never did. I left the castle after, feeling lighter than I had in a really long time. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually longed for something or someone. Cecelia Porter was the first. And I wanted her, the way people longed for wishes to come true. If I had anything to say about it, she would be the wish of mine that came true.
- Writer
