Touch of Hellfire (Pocket's Version)

🎬18🎬

I poked my green beans around on my plate with the tips of the prongs of my fork. "Everyone is too quiet," Grandma pointed out. "Tired," Mom muttered sleepily.

"School," Rory added.

"Life," I murmured.

"Four intelligent women sitting here in complete silence," Grandma shook her head in disbelief. "There must be something to talk about. Do you know that every night at dinner, the Kennedy clan would sit around the table having lively debates about everything under the sun? They would quiz each other about current events, historical facts, intellectual trivia. Now, the Gilmore clan is just as smart and worldly as the Kennedy's so come on, somebody, say something!"

"Did you know butt models make ten grand per day?" Mom told us. "You're kidding, ten grand?" I widened my eyes.

"Sorry, I'm late," Grandpa walked into the dining room. "I come bearing wonderful news. I just got off the phone, long distance call..."

"To God?" Mom asked him.

"No, London," Grandpa corrected her.

"God lives in London?"

"My mother lives in London."

"Your mother is God?"

"Oh, wow, God is a woman," I grinned. "And a relative."

"Rory make them stop, please," Grandpa begged her. "Sorry," Rory just shrugged.

"You spoke to your mother?" Grandma looked stunned. "Whoa really?" Mom looked shocked.

"We're going to meet our great grandmother?" Rory got excited. "Lorelai the First," Grandpa told her. "That makes you Lorelai the Third," I nudged Rory with my elbow.

"When is she coming Richard?" Grandma asked him but she was ignored.

"Rory, Heather, you're going to love her, she's brilliant," Grandpa told us. "When is she coming Richard?!" Grandma demanded. "A week from today," Grandpa answered her.

"Excuse me," Grandma abruptly stood up and left the room. Mom went after her and we were left alone.

"Tell us more about Lorelai the First," I asked Mom on the way home. "I don't know much," Mom admitted. "She moved to London when my grandfather died, my parents usually visited her once a year, left me behind."

"I hope she likes us," Rory spoke up. "She'll love you two," Mom reassured us.

***

I think that the basic structure of the Elizabethan government is relatively sound," Paris said to us as we all sat in a circle, working. "The division of power between the monarchy, the privy council and the parliament all seem to work. Agreed?"

I just nodded, twirling my pen in my hand.

"Okay," Paris continued so in establishing our own government. "I think duplicating a similar structure would be good, with a few alterations. Queen Elizabeth chose to remain unwed. She took on the burden of leadership all by herself at a time when possibly marrying the Prince of France or the King of Spain would solidify her thrown while expanding her empire. And though it obviously worked for her, and the concept of a woman ruling without man is certainly politically correct these days, I think we need to take a different tact. I think we need to devise a nation with a truly solidified royal alliance. So in addition to political branches, we need a King and Queen. Rory? Tristan?"

"Us?" Tristan turned white and I frowned in confusion.

"No," Rory shook her head. "I don't want to be Queen."