Page 65 of Royal Darling
Thank you, Anna!I relax a little, knowing Anna is on my side.
“Perhaps I should leave,” Mother says, rising from her chair.
I stand too. “There’s nothing more that needs to be said. I’m going to visit Silvia.”
“No one is going anywhere!” Anna barks. “Now sit your asses down. That is an order from your queen!”
I promptly take my seat, not wanting to upset the pregnant woman. Mother does too, though a little slower. She’s used to giving commands, not taking them. She used to be queen.
Anna takes my hand and then takes Mother’s hand in her other hand. “I’m sorry I had to pull rank, but you’re my family now.” Her eyes get teary, and that pierces my defensive state, bringing tears to my own eyes. She squeezes my hand and gives me a sympathetic look. “Listen, us Rourke women have to stick together, okay?”
I nod.
She turns to Mother, who gives a curt nod before looking away.
Anna releases our hands and straightens. “Now, Alexandra, you owe Emma an apology for your dismissal of her new empowered self, among other things. She’s your daughter, she’s done her duty her whole life, and she doesn’t deserve to be ignored.”
My mother turns to me and meets my eyes for the first time in two whole days. “I’m sorry if I’ve ignored you.”
I clench my teeth, biting back harsh words. Her apology is half-hearted and incomplete.
“And?” Anna prompts.
Mother turns to her. “She’s changed. You can’t expect me to just accept this—” she waves a hand toward me “—phase. She dresses completely inappropriately for a lady of her station. It’s because of that depraved rock star.”
I’m wearing a bright outfit meant to cheer myself up—a red and white polka-dotted blouse with black trousers and black high-heeled boots. It is not inappropriate or depraved. It isnormaland stylish for a woman of my age. I don’t care about “my station.” I’m never going back to my modest pastel dresses meant for a matronly woman again.
Before I can say any of that, Anna speaks up, smiling gently at my mother as she says, “Try again, my darling mother-in-law. I know you can do better than that. She’s dressed completely fine. And Jackson is good people. Don’t judge him because he looks more rock ’n roll than buttoned-up prince.”
Mother sniffs. “Good people don’t just up and leave without a goodbye to their hosts.”
Anna gives Mother a withering look. The kind my mother is aces at. “We are not leaving this room until things are fixed between you and Emma. I have an important announcement once that business is taken care of.”
We both turn to her expectantly. Is it baby news? Boy or girl? Is she having twins? Or is it some news on the day spa front or fabulous guests for the royal fantasy suite? Anna has so many interesting projects in the works.
“Got your attention now,” Anna says smugly, helping herself to a blueberry scone. “Now try again.”
Mother purses her lips. “Emma, I may have prematurely judged your friend.”
I say nothing. It wasn’t an apology, and she hasn’t addressed the fact that I’m not the old prim and proper Emma anymore. That I’ve reclaimed myself and that self is completely appropriate. Not whorish.
Anna chomps on her scone and slurps some tea. Mother cringes and tries to hide it by taking a sip of tea.
Tense seconds tick by, the only sound Anna noisily eating and slurping. I suspect she does it to annoy Mother. I can’t remember her sounding like that before at a meal.
Mother shudders at the constant chew-slurp noise and finally speaks. “Emma, I accept your apology regarding leaving Abdul. You were correct to do so, though…” She nods once. “I am just glad…well, that it is done. We will work to restore the good name of our family.”
I meet her eyes, feeling it’s a good start, but…
Mother goes back to her tea.
Anna’s chomping and slurping mercifully stops and she coughs out, “Whorish,” which is not easy to do.
Mother closes her eyes for a moment and then contemplates her tea. “It was wrong to call your dress whorish, and I willtryto accept the unexpected changes I’ve seen in you.” She finally lifts her gaze to mine. “You’re a grown woman now, single and making your way in the world on your own, so this is to be expected.”
It’s more of an apology than I ever thought I’d hear from her.
Anna turns to me expectantly.
