Clara Spencer

Chapter 11

Edited by SayWatt74

Unknown Location

"Did you get the photos?" The businessman asked as the other man climbed into the car.

"Yeah. Hurt my bloody shoulder getting the right angle though," the photographer complained as he stretched his sore arm. He reached inside his bag for the photos and passed them to the inquiring man. "Do you like the shot, boss?"

"Yes, well done," he praised with a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he continued to examine the pictures.

Uneasy at his boss's expression, the photographer asked, "Can you tell me why she's so important now? Who is she?"

He gestured towards the woman in the photo.

"Someone who is about to make me a lot of money...Someone who is going to pay for her family's actions," he smirked, staring at Clara's frame in the photo as she stepped outside Prince Charles' home.

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Kensignton Palace

Leaving Charles' home, the Prince informed Clara that her meeting with the Queen would be in 2 days' time, and then proceeded to exchange a quick goodbye. Now, the next day, Clara sat on her bed, staring at her blank wall, expressionless. If you looked closely though, you could see the silent panic in her eyes.

Charles' words did give some clarity on what she wanted, but that did not mean she was at all ready to meet the Queen. She didn't even know the mannerisms or etiquette. In fact, one of the main reasons why she didn't drink the tea Charles had offered was for fear that she would have made an utter fool of herself.

All of this though fed her biggest insecurity about this meeting. The insecurity that the Queen would simply hate her. That she'd see she was just some sad, pathetic, orphan who was just clinging on to whoever she could find. She feared the Queen would be able to see that and decide she doesn't need this sad excuse of a human in her family. Clara resigned herself to trying harder to hide her sorrow and hope the Queen won't see through her.

A knock at the door startled Clara out of her thoughts. She furrowed her eyebrows, not having expected any visitors today. As she was walking towards the door, another much more insistent knock followed.

Clara's heart started to palpitate faster, thinking of people it could possibly be. She knew Harry and William would never knock like that and June had told her she was attending a fashion show. What if it was one of the Kensington Palace staff members? Harry and William said they weren't going to inform the staff until later on; what if they had gotten suspicious as to who was suddenly living in this apartment?

Creeping on the wood door, Clara held her breath. Eternally grateful there was a peephole, she leaned forwards and saw...Mia?

She let out the breath she was holding. It was just Mia. Quickly composing herself and putting on a soft smile, she opened the door.

"Mia! I wasn't expecting you. Come on in, I'll go put on some tea," she invited Mia in.

Following behind Clara, Mia's kitten heels could be heard clicking on the hardwood floor.

"Well, you would've expected me, had you bothered to answer my calls. A couple of weeks with the Royals and you've already managed to forget about your other family," Mia accused with a sharpness in her tone.

Clara abruptly turned to face Mia with a wide-eyed look. "Oh no! That's not it at all! I'm so sorry if you felt like that," she apologized, "I've just been busy with the move, and everything that's happened recently that I haven't been paying attention to my phone much, I'll try to–" Clara cut off mid-sentence, realizing something Mia said. "Sorry, but did you say 'other family?' How do you know the Royals are also my family?" She asked, puzzled.