The Ambassador's Daughter

Chapter 14

Louise decided a few days later that she had to go to the palace again. Her face still hurt quite a bit and the bruise was still quite noticeable, even with make-up, but she had to go. Louise picked up the phone in her room and called the garage. Gordon answered, "Garage, Gordon speaking, how may I help you miss?"

"I need you to meet me with the car out front in five minutes."

"Yes, Miss." Louise hung up and dressed in a pair of black trousers with a red cardigan over a plain black t-shirt. She put on her red heels and swept her hair into a low side ponytail. She grabbed her purse and left her room. As she headed downstairs she met another servant. "You," She said suddenly, grabbing the servant by the arm, "What are you doing right now?"

The startled servant stared at her, "Uh, I'm going to finish cleaning out one of the spare rooms."

"Are you doing the job alone?"

The servant shook his head, "No, Miss, there are two others helping me."

"Good," Louise said, she began walking pulling the servant with her. "You need to come with me. My father says I can't leave without an escort. You're it, today." The servant's eyes widened.

"Really, Miss?" He sounded unsure. Frightened, even.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything with my father and the other servants." Louise continued pulling the confused servant with her. She half ran down the steps of the Mansion and into the waiting car.

Gordon eyed the servant in the rear view mirror. "Where to, Miss?" Louise knew that he asked only as part of his job. He knew exactly where she wanted to go.

"We're going to the palace, today, Gordon." Next to her, the servant nearly choked.

"The palace, Miss? Are you sure?" Louise smiled at the poor man.

"Yes, I have business there. Don't worry. If you'd rather, you can stay with Gordon while I'm attending to my business." The servant slumped into his seat, clearly worried about what the repercussions of being Louise's escort to the palace would be. His eyes kept flitting to the bruise on Louise's cheek. She stared out the window, trying to ignore him as best she could. She didn't know what to tell him. She couldn't promise that he wouldn't get a beating of his own. She couldn't promise he'd keep his job. In her desperation to get away, she hadn't even thought about what taking the servant with her would mean to him. She was so selfish!

"I'm sorry." She said, finally, turning to look at him. "I will truly try my hardest to keep my father from dismissing you, but I can't make any guarantees." He nodded. Soon they were pulling into the drive of the palace. The car had barely stopped when she opened her door and climbed out. She rushed up the steps and into the palace and up to Bucky's room.

The door was fully closed this time, so she knocked and waited for an answer. When it came, she let herself into the room. Bucky was sitting in one of the chairs by the window. His hospital bed had been replaced by an actual bed and the monitors had been pushed back into a corner of the room. Bucky had a book in his lap and he was alone. He stood when she entered and put the book on the table next to his chair. "Hello, Louise."

"Hi, Bucky. Where's Steve?" She didn't come any closer, the only light in the room was coming from his window, making the room fairly shadowy by the door.

"He's probably around here somewhere. I haven't seen him, today." Bucky replied. "Do you want to go find him?"

"Nah, he's a big boy. I'm sure he's not getting into trouble."

"Do you know Steve Rogers at all?" Bucky asked walking towards her. "He's probably thrown himself in front of a bus by now." Louise slipped out of the door just ahead of Bucky. He pulled the door shut behind them and turned to look at her. His hand flashed out and grabbed her chin turning her face so he could see her cheek. She flinched and tried to pull away, but it was too late. He'd seen the bruise. "Louise, what happened?" Louise stepped around so she was walking on Bucky's other side.