Tudor Roses & Romance

Chapter 8: Payback

Up and at 'em! It's essential to start your day right on the right foot, especially if it is an important one. There's nothing more damaging than waking up on the wrong side of the bed or worse--- with bed head! Sometimes, we wish to pull the cover over our eyes and go back to sleep.

As the Beatles sang, living is easy, particularly with eyes closed. Because once they're open, we know that in an instant, everything can change. And even with our eyes wide open, we still have blindspots. Those are the ones that trip us up the most. But here comes the sun. It's alright. It's alright.

The day of the Summer Gala arrived at long last. Mary could not be happier because that meant she could return to her own life once it was over. Thank goodness! Playing Princess has its merits, but nothing is better than running her life instead of her life running her. These past few weeks, she's smiled so much that her cheeks hurt, and she wouldn't be surprised if her face is permanently scarred.

However, it hasn't been all bad. Mary has gotten to spend much-needed sister time with Beth. Plus, it's allowed her to know the Duke of Suffolk more intimately. Both of those things have been wonderful. She lay in bed thinking about it until the door opened, and Fiona entered bearing coffee and breakfast.

Mary watched as she set the food down and began drawing back the curtains. What would she ever do without Fiona? Life is too short not to have a best friend or a good assistant. To have both is a blessing. But then Fiona said something horrible. "Are you going to lie there all day, or do you plan on getting up? We have to get this Princess show on the road."

A groan escaped Her Highness's mouth. She hauled the covers over her head in protest. Fiona laughed and joined her under them, and the two giggled like school girls at a sleepover. "You can't stay like this forever. Your public demands a good showing, especially since the Queen is pregnant and looking it," the bronzed girl pointed out.

Mary wanted to say she could stay like this forever. However, Fiona had other ideas. She yanked the covers off the bed and forced the Princess to get up. As a reward, her awful friend revealed, "The Duke of Suffolk is out for his morning run around the grounds. He looks fitter than usual, and his jogging shorts leave nothing to the imagination, especially when his shirt is off like today. Just think of it... that hairy chest and defined abs with sweat glistening down them."

Fiona had to pause and fan herself before preparing the bagels. Knowing that scenario would get her friend's attention, which it did, Mary went to stand on the balcony. In the distance, the Princess spied her Duke. He did look hunky and yummier than any bagel could ever hope to be. From this vantage point, she could see him clearly, and unfortunately, he could see her. He waved. That's when she looked down and saw her pajamas: white shorts with pink hearts and a pink tank sans bra.

Mary's eyes grew rounder as he jogged closer, yet she was rooted in that spot. It was like her feet were molded into it, and she couldn't move. But Charles had noticed her the second she stepped onto the balcony because when you're in love, you notice everything. He stopped underneath her area and called, "I feel like I should say something witty like Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair."

The Princess chuckled and played along. "Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou?"

Charles told her, "Channeling his inner Disney prince. I'm rather sweet on this view."

Mary chuckled and sang, "I'm standin' there on a balcony in summer air. You were Romeo; you were throwin' pebbles. And my daddy said, Stay away from Juliet.

And I was cryin' on the staircase beggin' you, please don't go." In truth, she could see her father saying a similar version of those words and the song playing out in her mind. Bizarre how things like that work.