A Royal Adventure [Ongoing]

Fourteen

Saunders woke in the early hours of the morning. I hadn't managed to sleep much, despite thinking ahead to what Ana would say when she saw the bags under my eyes later that day at the wedding. That day. I was going to be in so much trouble. If I even got there in time. Now, it seemed that trying to cross most of Europe with just about fifteen hours to spare seemed utterly ridiculous. At this point, I thought that getting there with minutes to spare would be a triumph. Not that anyone else would see it that way.

Every time I tried to sleep, I just thought ahead to everything that was going to greet me when I got home. There was the wedding itself to get through too, and I wasn't sure yet how I would cope.

Saunders stretched. 'Pull over soon mate,' he said. 'We'll get a coffee and I'll take over. You sleep.'

Charlie nodded, and soon, the car came to a halt. I stayed in the car with a sleeping Pen, while the boys went to get drinks and use the toilets. I couldn't help but think how much trouble I was going to be in.

I had been staring at the same strict timetable of events for months, and I knew that even now, I had missed the wedding rehearsal, would miss the breakfast, and then my appointed hair and make-up time.

No matter what happened now, I was in trouble.

And so that sense of panic settled again in my stomach, and I knew that it was there to stay.

The boys retuned with drinks and piles of sugary snacks that would deliver such a come down later, but I didn't want to ruin their fun by warning them. After all, they were doing me a huge favour.

Saunders climbed into the driving seat.

'You okay?' Charlie asked, staring at me intently, before he settled.

I nodded. Somehow his smile and presence reassured me ever so slightly, although I couldn't imagine that he would be so concerned and caring when we reached home later that day. Later that day.

'Try and sleep?'

'I'll try. You too – you need it,' I told him.

Saunders was slurping his energy drink. 'Shall we go then? We better crack on.'

'Let's hit the road,' Charlie agreed.

We had long left France and were now high up in the Swiss mountains. The roads had become windy and narrow, and so our pace had slowed rather. I liked it. I watched the mountains pass by in the dark. I could feel home moving closer and closer.

Saunders was still humming along to the radio, but quietly, because Pen was still asleep, and Charlie had fallen nearly instantly asleep. I was sure that he thought I was asleep too, so I didn't say anything, and kept the charade up. My eyelids felt heavy, but my mind was still racing, so I kept watching, wondering when the bullet might hit.

'Hey Alex,' Saunders said softly. I realised that the humming had stopped a while ago and we were now descending, down the hills, back onto a motorway. 'You doing alright?'

I hesitated before answering. I wasn't aware that he had realised I was still awake. 'Yes.'

'Nervous?'

'I guess.'

'We'll get there.'

'I know.' I paused. 'I don't want you all to get in trouble.'

'It'll be fine.'

'Thank you,' I said softly.

'Anytime. Now get some sleep?'

'I'll try.'

Miraculously, I did sleep. The next thing I was aware of was Charlie at the wheel and broad day light. I blinked, and pulled myself up into a sitting position, stretching as I did so.

'And the princess finally awakes from her slumbers,' Penelope said jovially. My heart seemed to stop for a moment, and I wondered if I was still dreaming. Had something happened while I was asleep – had they found out?

But then, I realised, that it was just a phrase, and that nothing had actually changed while I was asleep. Apart from the fact that we were in a different country, and had stopped while I was sleeping. So I feigned confusion and blamed it on being sleepy.

Saunders had always suspected me, I knew that. I was surprised he hadn't said anything yet. I had a feeling he knew the truth, but he hadn't said anything. I was glad of that.

'We're going to stop for some breakfast soon,' Charlie informed me. 'We're making good time, so we don't have anything to worry about.'

'Brilliant,' I said. My throat was dry for some reason and so my voice sounded croaky. I didn't like to admit quite how much that unfortunate phrase had unsettled me. It wasn't like they knew anything, not yet, but it was unsettling, and I knew that they were getting so close to the truth.

Those peaceful times in England all seemed an awfully long way away, and I wished myself back there more than ever.

I wished that I didn't have to go home at all for this stupid wedding.