Toddy: Emperor of America

Chapter 8

"I'm sorry about the duchess," Toddy apologized.

"Oh, it's okay. Little girls get very jealous when someone new comes into the picture."

"Hil doesn't like me," Toddy informed her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, she loves Oliver."

"If you say so. Let's just sign the papers."

The two spent the rest of the time taking care of all the legal stuff.

"You know when Northern Ireland hears about this, it'll be really dangerous for me back in my country. They could dethrone me, or kill me."

Claire started crying.

"You can stay here for a time, if you want."

"Really?" she asked, tears all gone.

"Yes."

"Oh thank you," she hugged him.

"You're welcome."

Yawning she continued, "I'm tired, I'd really like to go to bed."

"Goodnight then."

"I'm not sure I can remember where it is, can you show me?"

"I-I-I can't, but he can," Toddy motioned for a servant, "Take her to her room."

"Yes, Sire."

On the way from the President's room, the servant stopped at Hil's room.

"Yes? Hil's getting ready for bed. What do you need?" Annie, Hil's personal servant asked.

"I need to talk to Hil, now."

"I'll tell her," Anne sighed.

"He did what?!?" Hil exclaimed when Ron told her all that had happened.

"It's true. She is staying here, and she is definitely trying to seduce him."

"That-that-that dingbat!"

"I am sorry, Hil, I just thought you should know."

"Thank you, Ron."

He bowed and left.

"Annie, fetch me a pen and paper please."

Hil then wrote a brief letter to Queen Elizabeth explaining the situation and asking if she could come to England to visit for a little while."

"Annie, see that this is delivered to her as soon as possible. Make sure that no one knows."

"Yes, duchess."

For the next few days, Hil pretended to be sick. Ron and Annie kept her up to date on everything. Finally, Queen Elizabeth's reply came.

"Toddy, I'm leaving," Hil abruptly announced.

"What? Where? When?"

"Queen Elizabeth has asked me to visit, I can't refuse her."

"Oh, okay. You scared me. I thought you meant you were leaving for good."

"No, Toddy, not for good."

"Oh, Toddy!" Claire's voice sounded through the building.

"I'll leave you alone."

Hil returned to her room.

"Annie, please help me pack."

They had only been packing a few minutes when Oliver entered the room.