Winter Queen (Roger Taylor fanfic)

30. ...she met the Queen

Freddie urged Josie to come to their New Year's Eve party so much, that she pushed Scott to promise her, that between the Buckingham palace reception and their return to the embassy, they stop at the Queen's party.

The reception made Josie exceptionally nervous, on the other hand she didn't care about the embassy party at all. She read all she could find about etiquette and practiced it thoroughly. When they drove through the palace's gate, she remembered Roger's vicious remark, when they first met again after her return. She just got in the place, where overwhelming majority of the Brits never set a foot, this coud've been her highest goal. It was bitter to know, this is not her succes, not in the least.

In a way, it was huge relief, when they left through the gate again. She did met the Queen and believed she handled it without mistake, but felt too restricted to really enjoy it and felt too unimportant.

She was now looking forward to wish happy New Year with the boys.

"Only ten minutes, sweetie." Scott reminded her, when they entered the lively bar, where fun was in full swing. She nodded.

The reception they just left and the party they arrived to, couldn't have been more different. Both were incredibly expensive, but the orderliness and grace in the palace and the wild, unrestrained fun in here - the differences were striking.

Josie smiled. She saw the table, where Brian with Chris and Deaky with Veronica sat, at least Scott knew the first couple. She hugged them, wished them lovely New Year, girls admired her dress.

Freddie arrived to their table, topless, sweaty from all the dancing, but hugged Josie anyway.

"You look like a princess of the universe!" he shouted. "Come on, let's have a shot!"

"We just came to say hi." Scott interrupted. "I just wanted to meet people I allow Josie to travel with. I have no idea how such tour looks like."

"Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll."

Roger appeared beside them, with a lipstick smudge on his jaw. He extanded his right arm to Scott.

"Roger. You must be..." he pretended he doesn't remember his name. "The ambassador."

"Scott, pleased to meet you." Scott smiled, like Roger hadn't just tried to offend him.

"Josie, you absolutely must have a shot with me and dance with me, how am I supposed to celebrate New Year's Eve? I am the Queen and I demand a dance with the princess!" Freddie tempted her.

Scott grabbed Josie's elbow and leant to her.

"You can stay here with you friends, you don't have to come." he offered and her eyes sparkled.

"You don't mind?"

"It's going to be just boring duty. I have many of those, but you don't, so stay and have fun."

Ten minutes later, after a shot of tequila, she danced with Freddie, laughed and went crazy with him.

"Isn't this place better than Elizabeth's?"

"Definitely is!" Josie laughed.

They went to catch their breath to the bar, ordered the most colourful cocktail there was on the list and sat to the table with others. Roger appeared unexpectedly again.

"Well, so he did allow you to stay with us?" he asked. "After all, he does look like he's your father, so you need to ask his permission to play with you friends."

"Roger, you should take a walk and get some fresh air." Brian recommended.

"He's kind of right." Christine spoke up and Josie's eyes popped out, she didn't expect such treachery.

"We are so not discussing this here and now." Brian insisted.

"I agree." Josie said and tried to sound firm, but wasn't succesful.

"Come." Roger said, took her hand. She didn't even imagine to protest, though his words hurt her. Roger leant to Freddie's ear, he rolled his eyes, but headed to the sound system, while Roger lead Josie to the dancefloor.