Rule of The Monarch

Fourteen: At Long Last

24 September

'How are you feeling?' Amelia said in greeting. 'Your sister says we're heading back to Hellebore Place.'

'Yes, thought we'd head back home.' Heather motioned for her to sit down. 'There isn't a problem is there? Our search here isn't exactly fruitful.'

'No, no problem. I was just... curious.'

'About what?'

'The prince,' she began. 'Why are you looking for him? Why aren't the police doing it instead? How do you have his book? Why do you have his book?'

'About a lot then,' Heather smiled at the waterfall of questions. 'But I can't answer those questions, sorry. Anything else?'

'Who are you?'

'A concerned citizen.'

'Does a concern citizen traipse around the kingdom looking for a person she has little to no connection with?'

'A curious citizen,' she sipped her tea and grinned. 'What about you? No one mistakenly disappears. You aren't really who you say you are, Miss Prescott.'

'Neither are you.'

Heather studied her for a moment, coming up with no conclusion of who Amelia Prescott really was. 'This is nice. You're not as dull as the other women.'

'Thank you.'

'Astor likes you, you know.'

'Does he now?'

'In a romantic way.'

'Oh,' Confusion was painted all over her face. 'That's interesting.'

'Is it though?' She set down her teacup. 'A highborn falls in love with his old schoolmate of equal rank. No challenges, no obstacles between your love. It isn't exactly Romeo and Juliet.'

'No, but I always thought he fancied you. Living in the same flat and all—'

'No,' Heather said firmly. 'I don't know why anyone thinks that way. We're colleagues. Friends at best. And I've seen the way he looks at you. The way his eyes light up and how his face turns three shades redder. There,' she looked to Amelia's flushed cheeks. 'Just like that.'

'Why are we heading back to Hellebore?' Amelia asked, her face still beet red. 'Three days ago, you said the prince would be here. You don't seem like the type to give up easily.'

'Good observation. A clue's turned up.' Heather explained. 'He's at Ellington Park.'

'How do you know?'

'A personal habit of his, leaving hints here and there.'

'Oh.'

'You know, you look familiar.' Heather crossed her arms in contemplation. 'Have we met before this whole fiasco?'

'Have we? Perhaps I have one of those faces.'

'Perhaps. What about your parents? Have you told them where you are?'

'They have no use knowing where I am.' A dark look crossed her features. 'I have an estranged mother and a father I've never met.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be. I've no use for your pity. It's a thing of the past.'

'But if it wasn't your parents who filed in the police report, who did?'

'My aunt,' she explained. 'She worries easily, especially since her sister's death. Often overreacts.'

'But you've told her?'