Clara Spencer

Chapter 14

Edited by SayWatt74

2017/Present - Buckingham Palace

"That was the last time I saw them," Clara swallowed the lump in her throat. "Those were the last words I said to them. Hateful ones." She stared out the window to avoid the royals' gaze, watching the downpour, outside.

"You did not know though that it would be the last time you saw them. Your behavior was only that of a rebellious child. Quite natural for a teenager," the Queen argued, furrowing her brows. She exchanged a quick look with Phillip, both uneasy at Clara's solemn mood.

"It doesn't matter." Clara shrugged. "I will be paying the consequences for the rest of my life. You're right, though M'am; I was acting like a child. I don't understand what came over me." Clara bowed her head in shame, forming tight fists as she gathered the fabric of her skirt.

"You must not blame yourself," Phillip defended, sternly placing his teacup on the table. "From what you're telling us, those people who raised you were extremely suffocating! Manipulating your conversations, keeping you cooped up– it's no way to raise a child."

Clara looked up, eyes wide. "Oh no, you mustn't think that way of them, Sir. I saw it that way too until I read the letters. Both my Mama and Diana wrote me letters explaining the truth. It was only once I read them that everything started to make sense. My parents didn't mean to be...suffocating, they were just trying to protect me. I'm positive they were going to explain it all to me that night," she assured.

"Despite their intentions, that doesn't mean it excuses the emotional trauma they inflicted on you, dear," the Queen said in a much gentler tone.

Clara pursed her lips and wrung her hands, "That's a bit harsh, M'am. I wouldn't say I'm traumatized. Could I have used some more socialization? Perhaps. However, working abroad has helped me in that regard. I'm perfectly well now." Clara gave them a small smile, hoping they believed the lie. "You have to understand how much my parents sacrificed for me.

"Once they adopted me, they resigned from their jobs, packed up their belongings, and left behind their home and family to raise me. They discreetly travelled from country to country working for charities that paid them half of what they previously made. While my Mama had no family she kept in contact with, my Papa did have his mother, my Grandmere.

"She died when I was young so I don't remember her much from when we visited except for the fact that she always looked at me with a scowl on her face." She pursed her lips, "Who could really blame her though if she knew I was the reason her son lived so far."

Despite her efforts, Prince Phillip and The Queen were still not satisfied.

"Their sacrifice is honorable, but their actions were still...extreme," The Queen said, concerned.

"They might come off as extreme, but they were merely scared, M'am. Put yourself in their shoes. They're harboring the daughter of the most photographed woman in history. Of course, they would do everything to keep me a secret. To give me a semblance of a normal life. They went through all the stress and struggles because they loved me," Clara's eyes grew glossy. "It's also for that reason, that they feared what would happen if I was discovered. Because the people they feared more than the press, was you."

"Me?" The Queen raised her eyebrows.

"The Royal Family," Clara corrected. "My Mama claimed they didn't know who my biological father was, but she must have had some suspicions. My mother feared you'd um...take me away if you knew of my existence."

The unasked question lingered in the palpable silence. Clara squirmed in her seat, feeling beads of sweat trickle down her neck as she felt their scorching gaze.