5 Days til Christmas
by Rhonda*
Day One
I was up early this morning, agitated I suppose and more than a little worried about Mia�s flight. I crept out of bed determined not to wake Joseph who has only just fallen into sync with my own sleep patterns and now actually sleeps past five in the morning instead of waking to carry out his duties.
In my dressing gown and slippers I sat with Maurice in the parlour and had tea. Finally Charlotte came to inform me they had just landed and all was fine, you can�t imagine my relief. It�s much safer to have your nearest and dearest safely on the ground. I planned to give Mia time to settle and rest after such a long flight, to have time with her mother and new baby brother, to see Lily and Michael and introduce Nicholas to San Francisco before I called. Part of me hoped she would be the one to call first.
We�ve grown so close over the past few months, if I�m honest I can tell you I was slightly worried about giving up the throne to so young a new host. But she has proven me wrong time and time again, this has been no different. Besides that she has shown me she does still need my guidance, I am still useful to the monarchy!
After the welcomed news I prepared myself for the day ahead, looked over the schedule with Charlotte then went back to my suite and took a shower. Joseph chatted to me as I washed, he�s taken to doing that now, at first it unnerved me, somebody sitting in the bathroom and listening to me, I�m so used to the privacy. But now I look forward to our little routine, he tells me his plans, I tell him mine, he makes me laugh in the morning and occasionally he�ll even wash my back � ha!
This particular morning we spoke about Mia and how quiet it would be without her causing havoc in the palace. Then the Christmas Eve ball to finish the preparations for and Joseph was still in the process of helping Shades re-organise the security system before he completely, and totally, retired. It may be almost Christmas but unfortunately my days still tick on as hectic as ever. Even Parliament has finished for the holiday season, why do I still work?
By lunchtime I was beginning to tire, it was too cold to be going around the garden discussing possible new landscaping plans and where would be the perfect spot for the statue Mia insisted on having made of me. A statue of me for goodness sake, who will want to stare at that in years to come? It�s not as if I�m Queen Victoria marking the entrance to Buckingham Palace, royalty to be proud of, part of history, part of culture, my achievements pale in significance. Yet the girl insists, so I oblige and pose as the artist requests, let�s hope he slims my waist a little in the finished product�
After finally escaping the clutches of the gardener and �artist� arguing over which spot would catch the sunlight, and the positives and negatives of said sunlight, I went to the library to find Joseph. The fire burned all day in there and the room maintained this gloriously homely feel despite its sheer size. My husband has become quite obsessed with re-arranging the library and is currently working on a way to categorise the hundreds and hundreds of books displayed there. Apparently, he revealed to me a couple of months ago, the library and its organization have always bothered him and now he has the chance to �get his hands on the those dusty old books� as he so eloquently put it, he�s wasting no time. Who am I to deny a man his pleasures?
I slipped in unnoticed and wandered to the back of the room, usually I would see him dangling from a ladder, stretching across some shelf and scaring me half to death. But today he was sitting in the armchair by the fire reading, gently and silently enjoying his afternoon. A glass of mulled wine sat on the table next to him and it smelled divine.
�How indulgent you look.� I said walking across the room and removing my coat.
He looked up and gave me a half smile. �I�m embracing my new lifestyle.�
�Enjoying retirement.� I bent to the fire to warm my hands.
�Semi-retirement.� He added beckoning me over.
As I got closer his free hand slipped around my waist drawing me to him and I slid down onto his knee.
�Your cold.� He said kissing my cheek.
�Damned statue.� I rubbed my hands together in an attempt to get the circulation going again. Joseph only laughed.
�It will look fabulous, you know that, and don�t tell me part of you isn�t quietly pleased about it��
I was tempted to deny that to the death but he knows me too well now so instead I laughed along with him.
�Possibly� What are you reading anyway?�
He put his book to one side. �Nothing important.� He lifted my legs from the floor and drew them over the side of the chair, I settled against his chest, warm and content by the fire.
�If anybody walks in on this they�ll think we�ve finally gone mad.� I murmured.
�Or that we look terribly old and sweet together.�
�You�re the old, I�m the sweet.�
�I know that too well.� He kissed the top of my head with such tenderness I had to lift my face to his and return the kiss.
I�d never been one for kissing, for open affection; I find it difficult to hug. But with Joseph I could spend long leisurely days enjoying the pleasure of his kisses. He was tender and caring and took his time with me; in the beginning I was so very nervous, yet he waited so patiently, he�d always waited so patiently as you very well know. And now it�s me who often initiates the cuddles, or the kissing or nights of making love. You wouldn�t believe the change in my demeanour. Totally, completely, head-over-heels in love, I wouldn�t alter it for anything, I�ve never been happier.
�Are you looking forward to tomorrow�s carol service?� I asked lying my head back down against his chest.
�Of course, will be good to experience the service from the front of the church rather than the back or the side.
�Oh goodness I hadn�t thought of that, I�m sorry.�
�There�s hardly need for apologies. I will get to hold your hand in the house of god and listen to those glorious heavenly voices. Then it will feel like Christmas.� He kissed my hand.
�Yes it will, as much as I understand Mia�s need to be home with her mother and brother I�m a little� crestfallen that she will miss these traditions.�
�Plenty of years for her yet��
�Of course.� I placed my hand on his cheek. �I have to go.�
�Well madam, thank you for your visit.�
�Your most welcome. A little break in the day, seeing you, eases the strain.� I struggled up from the chair and readjusted my skirt.
�Am I presentable?�
�Perfectly neat and tidy.�
�Perfectly?� I raised an eyebrow.
�Practically perfect in every way.� He rose and kissed my forehead. �Dinner, later?�
�As always.�
�Good, I have something I wish to discuss with you.�
�Does it involve knocking walls down and expanding the library.�
�No it doesn�t but that�s a good idea, I may consider it.�
I placed a finger on his lips. �Don�t, I have enough with the garden.�
�Alright, then I�ll work with what I�ve got.�
�We all have to make sacrifices.�
�Hmm I know, but every now and then life hands us a glass of the finest champagne.�
�What a wonderful way to look at things, I�ll remember that later when I�m discussing possible table displays for the ball.� I squeezed his hand and prepared to leave. �Don�t forget tomorrow I require your support for the visits.�
�I know, I�ll be there, Santa suit and all.�
I turned at the door. �Really? I wasn�t prepared for that but how marvellous. Enjoy your afternoon dear, don�t work too hard.�
I could almost visualise the shaking of his head and laughter as I made my way down the hall away from him.
Day Two � Tuesday 21st December
Clarisse had her nails painted red, with tiny diamante studs on her little finger nails. You may laugh but it was one of the sweetest things I�ve ever had the chance to witness. Two little girls, age 11 and 13 side-by-side painting their monarch�s nails, and all in the name of charity. We also played the tombola, I danced with about twenty young ladies, Clarisse read to the youngest children on the hospital ward and we brought goodwill and cheer to Genovia�s young ambassadors.
We arrived at the hospital around 10 and didn�t leave until at least 7:30 in the evening, Clarisse was exhausted I could tell but she didn�t let it show. She smiled and she greeted and she was graciousness personified as always. It wasn�t until we collapsed in the back of the car that she relaxed, threw her head back and slipped her shoes off and her head fell to my shoulder.
�Thank you for today.� She whispered.
�I hardly did anything.�
�You did, you supported me, you danced.� She laughed. �And danced and danced.�
�Ahh you noticed.� I hugged her close. �You were wonderful, as usual, and I adore your nails.�
She held her hands up. �Mia would be proud, they do look quite wonderful though not at all appropriate.�
�Being appropriate isn�t always for the best.�
�Hmm�� She closed her eyes and settled back again.
�Did you think anymore about my suggestion from last night?�
�A little. A break would be good.�
�Only good?�
�Perfect, a break would be perfect, but I�ve not spent a Christmas away from home in the last thirty-five years. Things are expected of me.�
�I know, roles and responsibilities. We don�t have to alter too much, we can still have the ball and meet and greet, you can be the ideal hostess.�
�And you, you are afterall my husband this year.�
I kissed her neck, nipping her ear with my teeth. �We can leave early, helicopter ride away and we�re free and alone and secluded. And Christmas will be celebrated in a divine manner.�
She laughed, warm and open then looked up at me smiling brightly. �You haven�t even told me where you intend for us to go.�
�Somewhere that�s nowhere� as I said private.�
�Cryptic.� She pulled my tie from my shirt. �And if I agree to this little trip how am I to explain it to those who have been invited for Christmas day?�
�Let them have it, only without your charm to run the day. I want that to myself.�
She sat up, folding her hands and mulling it over. �I guess I do have a few days left to organise things.�
�Yes. We�re here.� I said glancing over the drivers head to the gates drawing open before us.
�Oh�� She slipped her shoes back on, the fa�ade slipping back into place.
I exited the car, moved round and took her hand helping her up. Charlotte greeted us at the door with a heap of messages, most importantly a call from Mia which brightened my wife�s face considerably.
�I�ll leave you to your duties.� I whispered in her ear before exiting the foyer and retreating to our suite.
* * *
�Just a little higher, it aches right there��
She sighed, a glorious satisfying sound to my ears. The water splashed around her arm as she settled it back in the bathtub. Her head fell back against my chest and I rubbed her shoulders as she relaxed against me.
�You should cut down on the work, rest more.�
�As you keep telling me.�
�I�m only saying.�
�I know, I know� now stop talking and keep rubbing.�
�Yes ma�am. No problem.�
�So this trip you want me to take��
�I thought you said it was impossible.�
�And you said it was important.�
She looked up at me, smiled, those wonderful eyes sparkling with mischief.
�So is that a yes?�
�It�s a yes.�
I kissed her forehead. �Thank you. You will enjoy yourself.�
�Of that I have no doubt.� She returned to her relaxed position, settled down and closed her eyes.
�And how is Mia?�
�Wonderful, she was the one who encouraged me to go.�
�Ahh I see, not my requests then.�
�To some extent.� She allowed herself a giggle. �But anyhow. She is dancing, spoiling her baby brother, gossiping with her friends� she�s enjoying herself, what can I say?�
�She�s missed her home, it�s going to take a while for her to get used to being away. She�s done well, almost five months.�
�It�s certainly been interesting.�
�A roller coaster year. Is that enough?�
She rolled her neck. �Yes, thank you.�
�I am going to read a little before bed. Will you be long?�
�Not too much.�
�Good.�
I left her to her bath and read in the lounge by the fire.
* * *
She was settled down in bed when I joined her, the sheets wrapped around her body, her head sinking into the pillows, eyes closed, face blissful.
�Are you sleeping?� I whispered as I removed my robe.
�Not quite� so, will you tell me a little about where we�re going?�
I slipped into bed next to her. �It�s quiet, nobody around, nothing to do� read, relax, play cards.�
�I�m not very good at cards.�
�Exactly my point.�
�Hey!� She moved towards me, rested her head on my chest, we�ve settled into this routine. A new favourite position to lie in. I�ve never been more comfortable.
�And who lives there?�
�Nobody� now.�
�Who used to live there?�
�I don�t know, a nice old couple, they played Scrabble, he smoked a pipe and cut wood for the fire. She baked cookies and made malt drinks.�
Clarisse laughed, I felt her body shake against me. �How about a young couple, first Christmas together, and scrabble is something they play between eating and making love.�
�Active imagination behind that proper outward demeanour.�
�Too long hiding it�� She bit my chest.
�Ow!�
She kissed the place she�d just nipped then turned onto her back, lying her head down.
�Switch the lamp off dear, I�m tired.�
I obliged. �It�s late, a long day.�
�And another tomorrow.�
�Christmas, a supposed time of rest.�
�Supposed, I like that.�
She held my hand in the darkness. �Carol service tomorrow afternoon, Opera in the evening.�
�I know, I�m prepared, have done my background reading.�
�Full marks to the nice man with the kind voice.�
�Goodnight sweetheart.�
�Goodnight.�
Day Three � Wednesday 22nd December
Honestly it�s like watching two young lovebirds at times, not that I�m complaining you understand, oh no! I recall the days when Sir Joseph would stomp around the palace in such a deep depression it seemed nothing would lift that cloud that hung over him.
Of course we all knew what was going on, how he felt about her majesty, though he would deny it til he was blue in the face. One Christmas party I remember vividly, Shades had gotten him very drunk and was slowly grinding him down on the subject of whether or not he wanted to catch the Queen beneath the mistletoe. In the end he threw a drink over Shades, went a deep shade of red and disappeared from the party. Nobody ever asked him again.
And then a few years ago things started to change, there had always been gossip about the two of them of course, silly comments about how the Queen allowed Joseph to hold her hand or whispered things in his ear when she thought nobody was looking. How our Joe would gaze at her for far too long, or defend her to the death. And then there was the fact he was a very good-looking overly charming intelligent man with no female companion, and no obvious attempt to find one. All in all it pointed in one direction� or at least we all thought it pointed that way.
We�ve witnessed some real changes these past few years, her majesty loosening up a little, the introduction of young Princess Mia to palace life, and now with a new Queen and our favourite secret couple married it seems the cycle is complete. Those of us who have been lucky enough to work here for many years, like myself, were at first afraid of the many changes but now I am overjoyed.
Today was the annual, traditional carol service. There are two actually, one in the morning for the children which her majesty has always attended. The second after lunch for the palace staff, which once again her majesty attends, she used to simply stay for a few carols with King Rupert but since his death she remained the entire service and always says a few kind words.
This year I noticed how blissfully happy she appeared as she entered the church, Joseph taking her hand escorting her down to their seats. She wore a wonderful long white skirt, it looked like crushed velvet but I�m not sure, her clothes are always divine. Now married again she seems to dress up that little bit more, I certainly would if I were married to such a man. That gigantic diamond she used to wear, was probably forced to wear, has gone replaced by a slightly smaller yet equally as stunning ring.
I was lucky enough to get a seat near the front and had a great view of the choir and the newly married couple. As I reached over and clutched my own husband�s hand I tried to recall our first Christmas together, over forty years ago now. I found I couldn�t picture where we were, my mother�s house I believe. I don�t know what I bought him, or he me, but I remember being incredibly happy and so overwhelmed by love. Perhaps that was how she was feeling now, it certainly looked that way, she had a glow about her I don�t remember ever seeing before.
She was scanning the program, toying with the chain hanging from her glasses, Joseph leant over and whispered something to her and she laughed. Wonderfully open and free, then she seemed to remember where she was and caught herself, held a breath and settled her laughter, Joseph watched and smiled, then he surprised both myself and her majesty by kissing her cheek. The way she turned towards him I thought he was in for a rebuff but instead she lightly touched his lips with her own then calmly returned to the program on her lap. It made my heart leap.
* * *
�I�m overjoyed to be here today, I know you all probably think I say that every year and we have been here for many years.�
There was murmur of laughter around the room.
�But this year, far more than any other I am truly grateful to be here with you. As you know things haven�t always been easy and we have missed his majesty King Rupert.�
�King Rupert may he rest in peace.� Chorused around the room.
�But now with Queen Mia I feel a new joy has entered the palace, and touched not only myself but the entire staff. You have all always been so supportive, so steadfast in your duties and committed to the family. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful group surrounding me.�
A little applause went around the room and she smiled, bending her head and glancing at the ring shining on her finger.
�Over the past year it seems each and every day I wake thanking god for the many gifts of my life, and I pray that god blesses each one of us this Christmas and we have an equally joyful new year. We all deserve it. May I wish you all, from Joseph and myself, a very Merry Christmas.�
The applause resumed and she thanked before returning to her seat reaching over silently for Joseph�s hand. There was a sheen to her eyes and I wondered if she would break down for the first time in public, but his hand in hers seemed to calm her and a few seconds later she was on her feet to join in with the final hymn.
The drinks and mince pies that follow are one of the rare occasions when we staff gather in the grand ballroom. All dressed up in our finest and shining along with our noble family, our new Queen had left gifts for each one of us which were handed out by the much respected and adored Charlotte. We chatted and danced, I was lucky enough to bag a twirl around the dancefloor with Joseph, always a treat to have such a fine dancing partner, my own husband has two left feet bless him.
Clarisse, I still find it strange not to refer to her as the Queen, also found the time to dance with many male members of the staff before drawing the raffle. Many grand prizes were handed out; fine Champagne and Belgium chocolates, silk scarves, dinner at high-class restaurants, a weekend in Paris. I clutched my strip of tickets watching as others won, who knew I would be lucky enough to bag the top prize of all � well in my opinion anyway. The prize for tickets to tonight�s Opera went to Daisy, a new member of the clerical team who almost fainted when her name was called, but a second pair of tickets went to me. I was going to the Opera ahhhhh!!!!!
* * *
I wasn�t sure what to wear, who knows what to wear, Charlotte offered assistance but I have a fair few years on her and there is no way on earth I would squeeze into one of her dresses! Still at least Roger, my husband, scrubbed up pretty damn well in his suit, he even stood up well next to Joe when he came down the stairs. Her majesty of course shone like a rare jewel, a long deep red silk dress, a discreet yet nice come-hither slit on one side. I almost died when Charlotte announced her and she gave each one of us a hug and congratulated us on the win.
�Rosa my dear I�m so pleased you finally won, how many years have you picked the wrong number?�
�Too many ma�am.� I replied meekly.
She then slid long white gloves on covering the jewels adorning her hands and Joe helped her with her coat.
�Well I will be seeing all of you later, I hope you have a lovely evening.� She smiled sincerely.
Joe kissed my cheek. �A little Christmas cheer.� He whispered then shook Roger�s hand.
Daisy received the same treatment; the poor girl was on the verge of fainting as it was. Imagine your first year in the palace and you get treated to an evening like this. I must take her under my wing and make sure she behaves appropriately tonight.
I can�t really fill you in on anything more, the Opera was unbelievable, I�ve never seen anything like it, and our seats were wonderful. I believe Joe and Clarisse were above us in the balcony but I never saw them, I caught a glimpse of her majesty during the interval but she was surrounded by well-to-do people, I would surely be out of my depth in the presence so I keep my distance.
After the performance I looked for them again but they must have left early, I bear them no grudge for that I was exhausted and I hadn�t been giving speeches all day. I tend to overlook the fact she works so hard, it�s easy to think she has a grand life with no bad spots, but of course she has been lucky enough like me to spend her entire life with the man she loves. The rumour is they are going away for Christmas, good luck to them.
Parts 4, 5 & 6