A Royal Adventure [Ongoing]

Ten

Looking at bridesmaid dresses had made me homesick. The next morning, during break time I slipped away during one of Saunders' lengthy anecdotes and made my way outside. I couldn't 'help but glance behind to see if I was being followed, but nobody seemed to notice me go.

It was a bright autumn day and I was glad of the sunlight on my face when I pushed open the door to the side block where Gustave was posted.

As I hoped, he was there. He beamed when he saw me, looking cold despite the sun, wrapped up in multiple layers.

'Princess,' he said. 'It's good to see you.'

'Mind if I join you for a bit?'

He shook his head. 'One of these days, someone will see you.'

'I don't mind,' I say, letting him light a cigarette for me. It was a bad habit, and no doubt later, Saunders would ask me why I had left. But I needed the time to think and the fresh air was calling me.

We sat in silence. I thought that I had wanted to talk, but now that I was there, I was happy sitting in silence, watching the cars pass by on the distant road.

Inside, I heard the sound of footsteps thundering down corridors and I knew that it was time to go back. With a sigh, I stubbed the cigarette out, got to my feet, brushing the dust from my skirt and head inside.

Later in History, Saunders dumped his books on the desk next to me and pulled the chair out with a loud, unnecessary screech. I made a face at him as he made himself comfortable.

'Happy there?' I asked.

'Where did you go earlier? You missed the best part of my story!'

'Tell me at lunch,' I said, avoiding his questions,

He made a loud sighing noise, and luckily, the teacher came in and silenced the group.

Over time, I realised that Saunders was suspicious of me. But I couldn't put my finger on why. There was no one thing that stood out to me, nor one moment in particular that made things worse. But all the same, I remained convinced, even now, that it had been Saunders that day, and that he had known for a long time the truth about me.

I had no way of proving that – not without asking him. But at the start, right at the start, anyway, he was always enthusiastic. It was Saunders who encouraged Charlie and me more than anyone else. Sometimes, I wondered now, if he regretted it. But he never showed any signs of that.

He just watched me carefully.

And so I in turn watched my step.

I soon learned about how things worked at the school. My visits to Gustave were regular and I enjoyed them. It was a chance to reconnect with home.

'Are you planning to stay every weekend in school?' Penelope demanded one night as I was struggling with some homework. I looked up in surprise, her voice breaking into my concentration. I hesitated and then threw my pen down.

'Why?' I asked, confused by the question.

'Just wondering.' She hesitated, a frown on her face. 'I just don't' want you to waste the time that you have here in the UK.'

'And?'

'We have to make the most of it. I can't have you wasting away in this room for the rest of term. It wouldn't be fair. I would be failing in representing my country.'

I laughed.

'So are you up for it?'

'What?'

She rolled her eyes as if impatient at how slow I was, although I wasn't sure what there was to get.

'I've started drawing up a list of places to visit,' she said holding up her notebook that I had assumed she was doing homework in. 'We can begin next weekend.'

And because I could see that I had no other option, I agreed. Because what else was I meant to do?