*Sixth book in the Royals Series*
It's been nearly 3 years since Jackie Baker married her long time friend, Prince Harry, with the eyes of the world on her. Now, with a one year old and twins on the way, Jackie must balance the pressures of her chi...
"Mary, you've got to keep your dress down while you're playing," Jackie warned with a grin, her eyes glancing in the rearview mirror of her royal-issued-Range Rover.
Mary Kate let out a giggle and shook her head. Jackie and her daughter were headed to a charity polo match Harry was playing in to benefit his charity, Sentebale, which helped vulnerable children in Lesotho, the African country where he spent his gap year.
It was an unseasonably warm March day, the sun was shining as Jackie pulled to a stop in the lot at the field. She wore a tank top and a billowing skirt that skimmed her baby bump- which was stretching to the max. She was already 32 weeks along, the twins due in just 8 short weeks, at the beginning of May. Jackie was trying to spend as much quality time with Mary Kate as she could. Her days as a mother of one were numbered, and she wanted to enjoy every moment she had with her sweet little daughter before there were three children competing for her attention.
Jackie climbed out of the car, stretching out her lower back, which was always aching. She got Mary Kate out of the back seat and carried her towards the field. White tents had been pitched, filled with gourmet snacks and luxurious table settings. Before becoming a mother, Jackie would have enjoyed the deluxe amenities, but she knew her day at the polo match would be spent rolling on the grassy hills with a very enthusiastic toddler.
The members of the press that had congregated for the event immediately aimed their cameras at the Duchess and the Princess. Luckily, because they were on private property, the cameras had to follow some guidelines for taking photos- staying a great distance away in a designated photography area. Jackie had been avoiding going out in public recently. She hated being targeted by the paparazzi frenzy, especially when she was pregnant and toting around a 20-month-old. As she grew as a mother, her tolerance for the press dwindled. It became harder and harder to hold her tongue as total strangers shouted and pointed a camera in her face.
"Look, Mary, do you see Daddy?" Jackie asked, pointing towards the players. Harry's unmistakable red hair poked out from under his helmet as he rode across the field on horseback, warming up with the others.
"Daddy?" Mary Kate asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
Jackie waved to Harry, who waved back, getting Mary Kate's attention. The baby let out a shriek and pointed towards her father. "Daddy!"
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Jackie managed to say hello to some spectators in the tents that she recognized- including Harry's cousin, Zara- before Mary Kate drug her off to the big grassy hills near the field.
Jackie plopped down on the grass as Mary Kate tumbled around. She was thankful that the little girl was wearing knit tights. Elizabeth liked to joke that Mary Kate had inherited Jackie's love for "flashing the cameras-" and old joke dating back to Jackie's days in "Princess 101" before she married Harry.
Mary Kate and Jackie played on the hill for the entirety of the match. "Come on, they're all done!" Jackie said, waving for Mary Kate to follow her back to the field, where the players were dismounting their horses.
