The Ambassador's Daughter

Chapter 27

Louise sat in the back of the town car, silently watching the city slip by. Part of what she liked so much about the Wakandan capital was that one minute you would be driving through a tamed city, and the next wild jungle was encroaching on civilization. And T'Challa's palace was situated out of the actual city and the jungle crowded against the palace walls. Louise loved it. Louise was so wrapped up in her thoughts about tame and wild coexisting, that she didn't notice the frequent and darting glances Gordon shot in her direction.

Soon the car pulled through the palace gates and stopped. Gordon got out of the car and opened the door for Louise. She flashed him a grateful smile, but didn't actually look at him, as she walked past. Gordon paused and watched her enter the palace and then slowly got back into his car and pulled it around to the garage.

Once safely parked, Gordon went to the staff room to meet with his friends. With the amount of time he spent at the palace, Gordon had gotten quite familiar with T'Challa's drivers, and knew much of the gossip in the palace. Whenever Louise's presence was brought up, Gordon usually changed the subject. He felt very protective of the girl. He had practically watched her grow up, with that came a level of love and loyalty that did not stand for idle gossip at her expense. However, with his job now on the line, Gordon was very interested to know what the servants knew and thought about Louise's frequent and prolonged visits.

"Ah, Gordon!" The King's Driver cried when Gordon entered the comfortable room. Gordon smiled and greeted his friend. "We were beginning to wonder when you'd be coming back. I can tell you, that girl of yours has been missed around here."

"Really? She's been very busy at the Embassy Mansion. I think perhaps her parents saw something they didn't like at the ball."

The King's Driver looked up, his dark brow furrowed, "What would they not like?"

"I don't know," Gordon shrugged, "I'm sure it had nothing to do with this country or its king. But ever since then, she has not been as keen to come to the palace."

"Well, I can tell you she was here a few nights ago...all night." Usually at this point, Gordon would ask about the driver's family, but this was exactly what Gordon needed to hear.

"Really? I wonder why?" If Gordon's sudden interest in gossip struck the other man as odd, he said nothing. He merely sat up straighter, preparing to share his information.

"I'm not entirely sure, either. I just know that I was dispatched with Security to go get your girl at about midnight, maybe one in the morning. I overheard her and Security talking on the way back. I mean, yeah, the back seat is sound proof, but I was curious so I left the divider open a bit."

"What did you hear?" Gordon asked, trying hard to hide his distaste for spying on your fare.

The King's Driver shrugged. "Not as much as I'd have liked." He replied, "Louise asked what was going on and Security said something about a patient and not wanting to discuss it." At least somebody here does their job respectably Gordon thought. "I can tell you, though, Louise was out of my limo like a rocket as soon as I stopped."

"No idea what their conversation meant?" Gordon asked, feigning disappointment.

"I didn't say that." The other man said, taking a drink of his coffee, only too happy to give up the secrets he'd been denied sharing for their entire acquaintance. "A while back, just after the last king was killed in Vienna, this king brought Captain America and one of Cap's long lost war buddies back here. Cap left, the buddy didn't. Cap is back. Got here a few months back. I think Security's conversation with your girl had something to do with that."

"With Captain America being back in Wakanda?" Gordon asked.

"Yeah, well, mostly with this war buddy."

"You keep saying 'war buddy', what war? Do you mean from the second World War?"

"As far as I know that's the only war where the captain thought he lost a friend." Gordon chewed on his lip, his eyes darkening. If this was true, then Gordon knew exactly what Louise was up to and he was certain that the ambassador should not get entangled in this mess. Unfortunately, Gordon was also certain that the ambassador did mean to entangle himself in this mess.

Gordon really regretted opening the floodgates of The King's Driver's gossip. Once the man started he didn't seem able to stop. Soon the topic moved from Louise's suspected involvement with Bucky Barnes to her supposed involvement with the king himself, to her suspected involvement with Steve Rogers. And then the driver moved on to the intrigues of the royal household of servants. By the time Louise finally buzzed for her ride home (again cutting it very close to her curfew), Gordon's head was reeling and he had to force himself not to run to his car.

The ride back to the Mansion was just as quiet as it had been on the way over. Louise was smiling happily in the back seat, which was an improvement on the worried look she'd worn on the way over, but Gordon was even more distracted than on the way over. He ardently hoped that the tales of Louise's exploits in the palace were not the subjects of discussions all over the capital, but, after hearing how The Kings Driver liked to gossip, he had little hope of that. Also, he was worried about what the ambassador had in mind for Louise.

"Gordon," Louise suddenly spoke, pulling Gordon from his reverie.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Thank you for taking me all the time. I know my dad doesn't like me going to the palace as much as I do, and it can make things difficult for you, professionally. So, thanks."

Gordon nodded. "It's no problem, Miss." He lied, staring straight out the windshield. If only she had said this a few days ago, he could have said it was no problem and not be lying to her. He certainly hoped whatever she was actually up to was worth the trouble she was going to get herself into. Gordon knew she had already received several punishments in connection to her goings on at the palace, but he had a feeling that whatever was coming was going to be worse. Much worse. He just hoped he was wrong.