Grace

Chapter 55

Gabriella went home the in the afternoon of the next day with plenty of reminders of the things I needed to improve and when to be at Wembley. She also told me to take a couple of days off at some point. That point came around very quickly – Snowdon. Clara and I packed the morning we left and true to Wales fashion, it was raining. Clara was determined to go though so we packed like we didn't care – I most certainly did care because the last thing I needed before a concert was a cold – and got dropped off at the train station. Clara had changed her mind about the photo shoot so the only instrument I was brining was my tin whistle which fit into my rucksack nicely.

"I hope the weather picks up tomorrow," Clara sighed and looked out of the window.

We were sat on a steam train being gently rocked from side to side and the rain was threatening to shatter the windows.

"Maybe it'll be nicer when we get there," I said.

"Maybe." She started to stare blankly out the window, but then shook her head and turned to me with a forced smile. "Got all your extra work done yet?"

I nodded. "Though mostly it's revision for English. Oh, Ben got a show up for that essay."

"The 50 Shades one?"

I nodded. She laughed.

"Oh man!" she said with a grin. "Really?"

I nodded. "Got made an Oppedian Scholar for it too."

"That's what he got made Oppedian for? No wonder he didn't tell anyone."

I grinned. "What have I doomed us all to?"

She laughed a little more. "So on his coronation day it's going to get mentioned?"

"Somehow I kind of hope so. Bring some humour to the event for the family at any rate."

"And you settled all that?" she asked softly.

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. "Maybe. Nearly. I don't know." I ran a hand through my hair and sighed again. "It's a lot, you know?"

"Surely what matters most is that you're madly in love with him."

I smiled and remembered our quick, but tender goodbye and the warmth that had flowed between the two of us. I felt it sweep through me now and lift away the worry that Clara's previous question had brought. I began to think that maybe she was onto something.

"Can I get you any refreshments?" a steward asked.

I jumped.

"Tea please," Clara said.

I smiled. "For me as well, please."

He had a trolley with a few different tea services on it and put one on the table between us. "Scones?" he asked

"Please," we both said.

He put scones in front of each of us and then went further down the carriage. I pulled a thick jumper on as Clara poured tea.

"If the weather doesn't improve what are we going to do?" she asked.

I shrugged. "There's an open fire at the B'n'B. I guess we can toast marshmallows. You said there's a piano there too."

"Cosy night in playing barn music," she smiled a little. "Might be fun."

"Oh, hey. Happy Birthday."

Her smile turned sad. "Thanks."

I put a gift on the table. It was small, it had been hiding in my pocket, and wrapped in silver paper and a white bow.