The Downton Princess | A Downton Abbey Fanfiction

Chapter Four

     Sir Charlie Ringer sat at his desk in his study, going through a pile of documents and letters. He had to determine which events he should recommend to the Princess of Wales to attend. As well as which ones she should attend with Lord Tobias Dankworth.
    It had been a few months since Sir Charlie became Darrel's private secretary. While it had its challenges (such as dealing with Lord Stamfordham, His Majesty's private secretary), he enjoyed his work. It was not the first time that Sir Charlie worked for a member of the Royal Family, and he appreciated the fact that Darrel was less aloof than her family members.

    There was a knock on the door, and Sir Charlie looked up from his work, "Come in."
    Paul entered the study.
    "Ah, my favourite son," Sir Charlie commented.
    "Your only son," Paul responded, as he tossed a paper bag onto his father's desk then sprawled out on the couch.
    "I have a sinking suspicion that your intrusion is going to be even less pleasant than the work that I have to get done today."
    "You may be right, Father. Which is why I brought along a bribe so that you have to hear me out."
    Sir Charlie rolled his eyes but humoured his son and glanced into the bag. Paul had gone to his father's favourite bakery in London and bought him an assortment of pastries.
    "Oh, very well," Sir Charlie sighed, taking a pastry out of the bag. "Go on."   
    "I need some advice," Paul announced.
    "About what?"
    "Do you think that Darrel would ever forgive me if I were to throw Sebastian out of the house?"
    "Absolutely not."
    Paul groaned, "I was afraid that you would say that."
    "I certainly hope that you did not go out of your way to come and ask me that question," Sir Charlie replied. "You are smart enough to know the answer."
    "I suspected the answer. But I thought that since Sebastian ended their engagement practically a year ago at this point, she would care less and let me get rid of him."
    "From what I can gather, Her Highness will always care a tremendous amount for Mr Carlos."
    "I do not understand why; he was the one who broke her heart."
    "Paul, you know that it is a very complicated situation. And I thought that you understood his reasoning. Is that not why you invited him to move in with you?"   
    "Absolutely not. He is an idiot, and I only put up with him for Darrel's sake."
    "Well, then. You have your answer. As long as Her Highness still cares for Mr Carlos, you must continue to put up with him."
    Paul let out another groan, got up from the couch and began to pace around the study. As he did, Sir Charlie glanced back down at another letter. Knowing his son, he might sulk for a few more minutes before speaking again, and he had work to do.

    "I just do not understand how someone who was raised in a bloody palace can be so terrible to live with," Paul complained.
    "Why is he so terrible to live with?" Sir Charlie responded, not looking up from his work. He had a feeling that Paul wanted to complain more than he wanted advice on the matter.
    "He is rude, ungrateful, and at some times; he can be a complete ass. I often suspect that he does not remember that he is no longer the bloody Prince of Spain. He orders me about and expects me to put up with him. Even though it is my house."
    "It is my house that I am allowing you and Mr Carlos to live in."
    "Does that mean that you are willing to toss Sebastian out?"
    "Certainly not. Not only do I not agree with your decision to kick Mr Carlos out, but I very much value my job. And I do not believe it would end well for me if I told Her Highness that Mr Carlos is back at a hotel."
    Paul groaned again, "But is not fair, Father!"
    "What is not fair?" Sir Charlie asked.
    "I was excited to have my own place. And while I do not regret helping Darrel, I feel as if all this was pointless. I am in a worse living situation than when I lived with you. My kindness is repaid by living with an ungrateful, pompous ass."
    "Based on what you have told me, Paul, I doubt that you are making life easy for Mr Carlos. Have you considered extending your kindness beyond simply allowing him to have a place to sleep?"

    Paul scowled at his father as he sunk back into the couch. He knew that he was not always overly nice to Sebastian. However, Paul did not believe that it mattered, since he was the reason that Sebastian was out of a hotel. On top of which, since he knew all the details about Sebastian's engagement, he did not think that Sebastian deserved any kindness.
    "Based on your face, I am guessing that you are not always kind to Mr Carlos," Sir Charlie Ringer assumed.
    "Well, after everything he has done, he does not deserve kindness," Paul snapped.
    "Paul, you must not be so harsh on Mr Carlos. You know why he ended his engagement with Her Highness. He wants to return to Spain once his cousin becomes King so that he can be there to support him. Surely you cannot hold family loyalty against him?"
    "No offence, Father, but it seems that Darrel has influenced you too much."
    "That is not true. As much as she loved Mr Carlos, Her Highness respected his decision to end their engagement."
    "That is because she is the kindest human than I know. Who else would gladly accept such a proposition?"
    "Sometimes people who care about each other, show how much they care by letting them go. It is not unlike your mother and me."
    Many years ago, Sir Charlie Ringer met Helen; the daughter of a farmer who lived on the Downton Estate. They courted, got married, and eventually, had Paul. However, when Paul was young, the couple decided that while they cared for each other, they no longer loved each other. Not wanting to cause a scandal by divorcing, the couple agreed to live apart. Sir Charlie claimed he had to return to London for his work, but Helen loved Downton too much to leave. They did not plan on letting Paul know the truth about their marriage, but he overheard them arguing when he was 9-years-old.
    "That is different," Paul replied. "Sebastian and Darrel were in love."
    "Your mother and I were in love at one point," Sir Charlie insisted. "But regardless of that, we decided it would be for the best that we go our separate ways."
    "But Sebastian and Darrel were not in agreement. He was the one who ended it; it was not mutual."
    "Her Highness told me that in the end, she agreed with Mr Carlos' decision.
    "Only because she did not want him to be filled with guilt for the rest of his life. If it were up to her, they would still be together. Which is why I cannot stand to live with Sebastian; because he always finds a way to make himself the victim."
    "What are you talking about?" Sir Charlie sighed.
    "Sebastian found an article this morning about Darrel and Lord Dankworth," Paul explained. "And he lost his mind. He acts as if Darrel betrayed him by courting Lord Dankworth so quickly. He went on and on about how their relationship must have meant nothing if she is in a new relationship. He is such an idiot!"
    "Paul, does Mr Carlos know about the arrangement between Her Highness and Lord Dankworth?"

    Paul shook his head. Originally, Darrel had not planned on telling anyone outside of the Royal Family about her deal with Lord Dankworth. However, when Paul caught wind that Darrel had a new suitor, he immediately began to question her. After all, Darrel declared to Paul months ago that she would never love another man if Sebastian left her. So, Darrel decided to tell Paul the truth since he already knew so much. She also wished to spare Sir Charlie from keeping the secret from her son.
    "Well, then," Sir Charlie said calmly. "If Mr Carlos does not realize that Her Highness' courtship with Lord Dankworth is not based on love, then can you blame him for his reaction?"
    "But Sebastian is an idiot that he would ever think that Darrel did not love him," Paul retorted. "After everything she did for him, after all the people she fell out with over their relationship. How does he not realize how much he meant to her?"
    "Mr Carlos is in pain. He ended his engagement with the love of his life and now is stuck in a foreign land. He must read about Her Highness' new courtship in the papers. I am not surprised that he is in a bad mood, I would be too."
    "Well, he is still an ass. And impossible to deal with."
    "Be patient with him, Paul. He is not a bad person."
    "Oh, very well. I will give him yet another, last chance."
    "Good. Why don't you take him to Downton? It will allow you to see your mother again, and a change of scenery for Mr Carlos might be good for him."
    "That is a decent idea," Paul nodded.
    "Well, I would not be Her Highness' private secretary if I did not, on occasion, have decent ideas," Sir Charlie smirked.
    "Thank you, Father."
    "You are very welcome. And do give my regards to your mother."
    "Of course."
    Paul got up, stole a pastry from Sir Charlie's bag then walked out of the study.

    Sir Charlie let out a sigh of relief once his son left. If he had been able to speak freely, he would have agreed with Paul; that Sebastian was being ungrateful and Paul had to warn him to change, otherwise, he'd be kicked out. However, as her private secretary, he knew how much Darrel cared about Sebastian, and he knew that she would be furious at Paul if he tossed Sebastian out, and she would sack him for helping Paul come to that conclusion.
    His job as The Princess of Wales' Private Secretary entailed way more drama than he had anticipated when he accepted the job.

How long do you think Paul will be able to put up with Sebastian? How do you think their trip to Downton will go?