Encounter

Part 4:Calm before the storm

                                                       Short but connective chapter.

The ballroom returned to normal and as Freddie watched his Margaux being poured he became a little agitated. He knew he turned off America with some of his antics but now, alienating another country?  Is he becoming persona non grata all over the world? What could the duke possibly want?

"Freddie" said the duke, "I have a proposition for you that may be advantageous to the both of us. This is not the proper atmosphere  to speak. Would you come to my embassy tomorrow morning for this discussion?"

Freddie smiled and casually said, "Do I need to bring my lawyer?"

"No, no, dear boy, nothing clandestine, it is something rather personal. 10AM, shall we say?"

Both men rose and shook hands as the room watched and Freddie made his way back to the band.

Freddie stopped at a few tables to have his photo taken and when he reached the band, he sat down and sighed.

"What the fuck was that whole thing all about Fred? " Brian asked.

Freddie lit a cigarette, moved in a little closer to the table and said only two words, "Red Ferarri"

The table remained quiet for a while, when John of all people looked straight at Freddie and said "your crystal cat?"

Freddie nodded.

" Oh my god, the girl you threw into your koi pond is the Duchess of Luxembourg?" asked Brian

" The one and the same"

Elton looked at Freddie and said "These things only happen  to you."

" Well look at you Miss Elton, 'Princess Diana is my closest friend"' mimicked Freddie

" So what did the Duke want Freddie? You were sitting  there drinking a glass of wine and then you stood up and shook hands, what's going on?" Miami asked

" I honestly don't know Miami but he asked me to come to the embassy tomorrow, I'll find out then I guess"

" Hey wait a minute Freddie, you're going to a foreign country's embassy. Once you step foot inside that place you're off English soil, what if they arrest you throw you in chains and bring you back to Luxembourg?" Roger said.

" Roger did you suddenly become allergic to that strawberry you ate off the prince's head, don't be such a moron." Freddie said.

"She was quite a looker" Rod said. 

" You think, I really hadn't noticed?" Freddie said as he discreetly  adjusted his pants.

" You did give her quite a walloping' John said.

" OK enough of this nonsense," Freddie said, " What are they serving for dinner?"

The table turned in unisom to look at Freddie and all had the same thought, since when is Freddie Mercury interested in food.

" You know, all in all this was a pretty fun gig, even with the entertainment you provided Freddie." Rod said.

The table of seven joked and gossiped till it was time to leave. All said their goodbyes and departed to their waiting limos.

"Let us know what transpires tomorrow, Fred we're all eager to know" said Elton.

"Yeah, right" said Freddie.  Miami snickering at this exchange, really believing Freddie was going to fill them in on  his private life.

Freddie entered Garden Lodge and called to Phoebe.

"Phoebe, where are you, put the kettle on and we will have tea together while I spill some tea" Freddie said.

Phoebe  came running, tying his robe, obviously been sleeping,  hearing that peculiar sentence. Freddie wanted to talk about something personal, what the hell happened at the palace.

"Okay Freddie, kettle on. Now what is so important to awaken me for a cup of tea?" Phoebe asked.

" Oh hush,  you know I always confide in you on things. You do know everything that goes on here, don't  try to convince me to believe that you don't."

Phoebe brought out his favorite tea service. One of the sets he brought back from Japan. It was the hand painted Herend  set In Lavender with gold borders and  a geisha sitting in her garden.

Phoebe poured the tea and fixed Freddie's to his specification. Always 2 sugars and a splash of milk and of course, Earl Grey.

"Cheese biscuit?" 

"No thanks darling , just the tea will do."

Ok Freddie, spill."

There they were, two old ladies, sitting on the breakfast bench when Freddie walked over to his Peacock Wurlitzer juke box and played Aretha Franklin.

"Freddieeeee?" Phoebe said

Freddie's POV

Pass me the astray dear as he lit a Silk Cut. Phoebe slid a Lalique ash tray over to Freddie who admired it before using. The crystal was adorned with two swimming carp.

(Sorry folks, I just had to get some of the auction details into the story.)

Remember the girl who racked up her Ferrari outside and we took her in. She was a basket case and ordered me out of my own guestroom and broke the Baccarat cat..

"Yes Freddie, I remember her well because I took care of her" Phoebe said as he reached for one of Jer's cheese biscuits.  I also remember you throwing her into the Koi pond."

Well surprise, surprise, she was at the palace tonight. 

"What?"

That wildcat just happens to be the Duchess of Luxembourg. We sang our songs, walked between the tables greeting  people,  when we got to her table I wished her a happy birthday and we both unmasked at the same time. She took one look at me an smashed a slice of  strawberry shortcake in my face.

"Upon my word"

There's more Feeb. She was about to throw another piece at me when I grabbed her, turned her over my knee and gave her a sound spanking in front of her father the Duke of Luxembourg and Her Majesty.  The amazing thing is that the Duke didn't seem to be bothered by it at all, and  she ran out of the room crying.  The Duke wants to see me tomorrow morning, he said he had a proposition for me. Do you think I should go?

"Well, I would Freddie, curiosity et al.

I guess I should  retire now, I'm going to need an early start. Tell Terry to be ready at 9:30.

Freddie picked up Delilah and went up to his bedroom. He placed the cat on his bed and removed his clothes preparing for a shower. In the shower he reached for his Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo for his hair was still sticky from the strawberry shortcake. He started to hum as he shampooed his hair, stopping for a second and thought out loud

"So her name is Carolyn."