Papillon (Prince Harry)

Chapter Eighty One

She had no idea what was expected from her. She had been here before though. Here she was again, staring at the luxurious ceiling. Everything was so detailed she didn't know where to look first. She could imagine being in Mr Darcy's house, it would make her less nervous. Fumbling with her fingers, bum firmly planted on a Victorian looking couch, which only she could presume was a historical masterpiece, she stared out in front of her.

She had been sitting here for the past twenty minutes, scared to move one inch. She could imagine falling over the carpet, trying to hold on to the little table on her right, curling her fingers around the blue/golden vase on top of it and watching it fall down in slow motion, breaking into a million tiny pieces. It was not going to happen.

Sighing, she bit her lip. She did have to pee though. She remembered going to the restroom when it was Trooping Of The Color but Harry had shown her the way. She was sure she'd end up being lost if she were to go solo.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she heard the big ceiling doors open to her left. Turning her head immediately, she stood up when she saw the woman who's picture was on every post stamp in the country enter the room. She was wearing a light blue dress, in which Evee thought she looked very beautiful. Her hands were clasping on to each other in front of her and The Queen immediately smiled when she saw the blonde standing up.

Wearing her heels, Evee was almost a head taller than her. The Queen held out her hand and the nurse took it as an invitation to shake it with hers. Remembering what Kate teached her, her knees buckled into a curtsy. "Mrs Delamane, now that you're marrying my grandson I don't see why this is still necessary in private."

Evee's face immediately lit up in a beaming smile as she let go of the woman's hand, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important with my visit, your majesty." She honestly had no clue what to call the Queen. She always noticed how Kate kept her at respectful distance and thought it would be the best to do the same. She read into many protocols for the outside world towards the Queen, but now being in her inner-circle, she wasn't sure if those would change.

"Oh no dear, I was delighted to hear from you. I've been wanting to get together and discuss a few things. Let us sit down and have some tea."

Eveline's eyes widened a little when she could see two butlers enter the room. One of them, the older man with grey hair, held a silver platter that had two detailed bone china teacups, a silver pot and the smallest spoons Evee thought she had seen in her life. The other man, a younger one with a slight startled expression on his façade held two bowls of strawberries and cream and placed them with much grace on the little tabletop in front of the settee.

"Tell me how do you prefer your  tea?" The Queen smiled at the woman sitting next to her. She could tell that Harry's fiancé was nervous and tried to calm her down.

Evee didn't dare to tell her she preferred coffee over tea. It was a nurse's thing, coffee ran through her veins. She survived on coffee back in the days. "Usually just a tiny spoon of sugar and some milk." She watched how the older butler immediately got into action.

"I favour mine with just some milk and no sugar." The butler respectfully handed the cup of tea towards Eveline as her hands tried to steady the cup gracefully. Left hand on the plate, right hand sophistically around the ear of the cup. Don't drink until the Majesty drinks it first. She carefully eyed how the buttler handed the Queen her cup of tea and waited. "Strawberries and cream?" Harry's grandmother questioned. "I have been craving for these the entire morning."

"That would be delightful." Eveline smiled. When then nurse saw the Queen sip from her tea, she did the same. After the butlers set the bowls of strawberries on the table, along with some biscuits, they respectfully bowed at both of them and turned around, leaving the room.