Chapter43

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Andrea's POV

In the past

A thirteen year old Andrea looks on enviously as her friend Isabelle is whisked away by bodyguards. She pouts and frowns why can't she have nice things like her. Why can't people bow or curtsy to her as well. Her mother walks into their living room with her hair in two braids. "Isabelle had to go? I made her cookies. Take them to school tomorrow and give them to her."

"Okay Mum I will and yeah her mother called a president is coming to Denmark and she needs to be there."

"That's nice dear, here have a cookie."

Andrea takes a cookie and bites into it. Her mother was always making treats for Isabelle. It wasn't right she should get special treatment but not her.

A sixteen year old Andrea looks on enviously as girl after girl tries to get Prince Johan's attention. He was too busy listening to the teacher to care. Everyone knew she was the best friend of the queen's daughter and treated her special because of it.

"Hey Johan do you fancy going to the cinema or something at the weekend?"

He put his sandwich down and looks at her, "I'm sorry Andrea I'm busy."

"That's okay." She smiles at him while seething inside.

Andrea watch Isabelle work the crowd at her first official royal engagement. The people loved her she narrows her eyes at the tv screen. "Isn't Isabelle doing well for her first engagement?"

"Yes mum she is."

"OMG James ask me out," Andrea look at Isabelle's excited face.

"I'm so happy for you Isabelle we should go out and celebrate."

"Actually I'm going to New York with the family. I'll have a look at my diary at let you know when I'm free."

"So how about you and I go back to yours and have a good time?"

James looks down at Andrea and push his sunglasses up his nose."I'm dating your friend."

"I should care because?"

"How you're that type of girl?" Andrea didn't like the sound of that one bit.

"What do you mean?"

Rather than answering her James smiles at her and tell her to come inside his penthouse. She sees a Berkin bag on the table. She always wanted one. James seeing where her eyes were trained walks over to the table and pick up the bag.

"I was going to give this to Isabelle but you can have it."

Andrea's face lights up, "Really?"

"Really, now I believe you promised me a good time."

He walks towards the bedroom and Andrea follows him.

The present

Andrea couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing. The news was doing a piece on the marriage between Duchess Amanda and Crown Prince Franco.

Duchess Susan smiles, "I'm glad Amanda got her happy ever after. I don't know what happened between her and Johan. But it's nice to see she and Isabelle remain friends."

"They were never friends," murmurs Andrea under her breath.

"What was that dear?" Ask Susan.

"The wedding looks lovely the cream of Italian, french, and Danish society are there. Why is there so many royals there it's not like Franco is going to rule a country."

Susan leans her head to one side, "You spent years with Isabelle and you don't know. Even if they don't have a country to rule all the same rules applies. There's a queen and an heir and he is an heir."

"I never spent much time with Johan's friends male or female."

Susan gives her a withering look, "Is that right. So there was no chance of you getting a title. Or becoming a princess by marrying one of his friends then?"

Andrea though perhaps Susan was putting her down but she knew as she was carrying her first grandchild. She wouldn't dare do that to her.

"Wait are you saying that woman is now an HRH. That I would've to curtsy to her?"

"You curtsy to her? My dear let's be real that won't happen. She lives in another country for a start."

"You know Susan it sounds like you're making fun of me."

"You must be imagining things dear and Amanda is now a crown princess."

They see Isabelle move to one side as the press takes photos of the bride and groom, Andrea was furious. Susan watches her then her eyes goes to her stomach. She still wasn't showing yet. She insisted the woman have a pregnancy test at the hosptial. She didn't trust her one bit.

"Doesn't the royal couple look happy I can't wait till it's Isabelle's turn. I can't believe little Izzy is going to be a Queen."

"Which royal couple do you mean duchess there's so many of them? Even the king and queen of England is at the wedding."

"I meant the newlyweds dear imagine getting to live in a castle."

"We are living in a large castle like house now?"

"Yes I'm living in a castle but as you have seen for yourself. Royal life in a castle is very different."

"We have servants like they do."

"My staff are wonderful people."

Joseph walks into the living room, "Hi mum, Andrea."

"Earl Larsen." Andrea hated calling him that but Susan ran a formal household and Joseph was more senior that her.

He gives his mother a peck on the cheek, "I've just been to the penthouse. The interior designer has gutted the whole place, let me show you the plans for it."

He takes some folders from his briefcase and gives to his mother. She looks through them. "Honey this is wonderful."

Andrea walks over to where Joseph and his mother were sitting. He gives her a withering look and she returns to her seat.

"How can you gut the whole penthouse don't you need the landlords permission for that?" She ask.

"The building belongs to me and I give myself permission to make changes."

"How can it belong to you when it never belong to your brother?"

"The thing is Andrea I'm heir to a dukedom. Which means the house you're sitting in and the cottage you will live in will all belong to me. My brother was allowed to use the penthouse while he was presumed to be a future heir." He smiles sweetly at her.

"Your sister will never change ranks so I don't see why you're gloating."

"Mum am I gloating?"

"No son you're not and your sister is a duke's daughter meaning Jenny will most likely marry a titled man. I know of two princes who would love to date her. You see Andrea this house is for the heir apparent and current duke. Their children tend to marry up."

"Theo married you didn't he."

"Like I said before they marry up."

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