An Errant Prince

The Queen's Beast

The Queen of England delicately placed her jubilee cup on a priceless Regency tea table and refilled it with her favorite white peony tea. "I'm not a superstitious person, Starling, but I believe in omens. I dreamed of a white tiger last night." She frowned, recalling the nightmare. "The beast entered the palace and released the Falcon of the Plantagenets." Her Royal Highness wore a baby blue suit with a subtle floral motif and a matching hat. A diamond and aquamarine brooch added a touch of elegance to her sedated ensemble.

The tall, thin, grey haired MI6 agent moved to the other side of the sette and poured himself a cup of Earl Grey tea. No servants were allowed in the Buckingham Palace sound-proof room. The cozy, high ceilinged room was filled with priceless antique furniture. It's purpose was similar to the White House situation room, only more elegant. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand the significance of your dream, your Majesty." The senior agent's voice was mild, but it had the authoritative quality that commanded close attention.

She tsked, disapprovingly, her blue-white hair radiating in the sunlight like the Columbia Pictures flaming torch. "The Falcon of the Plantagenets symbolizes the struggle my ancestor, Edward IV, had in obtaining the throne. After much difficulty, he closed the fetter lock on the bird and won the kingdom. The Falcon is one of my Royal beasts."

"As am I," thought Starling.

"Diana nearly tore this family apart in her death. If she was to reappear, she would finish the job."

The MI6 agent looked up sharply. "Lady Diana is dead, your majesty. She will never reappear."

The Queen paused, the tea cup halfway to her lips.

"No, she's not." The Queen calmly bit down on a coconut pecan biscuit. "She's the white tiger from my dream, the people's favorite who could challenge my throne. I wouldn't put anything past her, being descended from the usurping Plantagenets."

James Starling felt the blood rushing to his ears. "How is that possible? I escorted Diana's body to her final resting place with the Royal Guard."

"That body was a decoy. You know what it's like for unsophisticated Royals in the spotlight. Their lives are an unrelenting gauntlet of social engagements without a moment of privacy. Early on, Diana wanted out of that lifestyle. She requested sanctuary in exchange for her children's custody."

"I can't believe she gave up her children to The Crown."

"She saw the writing on the wall. I made sure the princes were raised by nannies who spoiled them so they'd value their lifestyles over their mother. Their insipid dreams and illusions have become their reality. William and Harry want to stay in the Royal fold. Later they'll discover how unbearable a restriction the crown becomes." Agent Starling stopped listening, remembering how enamored he'd been by this woman's aura of saintliness when he'd first met her. His dreams and illusions about her saintliness had died a long time ago. The Queen's powerful position demanded her to act like a predatory wolf—not a mild sheep. An impenetrable shell had hardened around him over the years. To him, people were inanimate chess pieces of which he had to gauge their reactions in order to protect The Crown. It was a job that entailed the unpleasant aspect of removing threats from the board.

"Agent Strom's reported Sam Johnson is behind this threat to the crown. The man's dying and he's determined to find Diana. I've assigned her to track him down, search his things, and then kill him before he finds her."

Starling frowned at the mention of Jasmine Strom, the volatile undercover MI6 agent he avoided like the plague. "Strom is involved in this assignment?"

"She's more than capable. I don't want to involve SIS. I can't count on them. Intelligence's handling of the Paris operation was rubbish. Diana's faked death was poorly executed. Stopping the ambulance multiple times to draw attention to the event was heavy handed. And then prolonging the journey to the hospital was even more bizarre. Did they want people to think she was supposed to die? I want this assignment executed outside of standard operations by my two most trusted agents."

"I understand your concern over the situation, Your Majesty." Outside he appeared calm, but Starling's mind was still reeling from the revelation that Princess Diana was alive.

"Luckily Samruth takes after his father," the Queen continued. "He's pliable, just like Charles. Unlike his mother. I don't like loose ends, Starling. Prince William and Harry believe their mother's dead. Along with the world. Can you imagine what would happen if they found out she was alive?"

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"I want you make sure Agent Strom takes care of this problem before it comes back and bites us in the Royal ass. Both of you have been assigned to stop Johnson before he brings this house of cards down on our heads. By whatever means necessary. Even if it means killing Diana."

Starling caught himself before he could respond. He knew Queen Elizabeth II was implacable, having served as her assassin for over twenty years. There was nothing he could say to change her mind.