Side Sixty-Seven – Princess Eleanor Elizabeth Diana Windsor
This isn’t awkward at all. Eleanor bit down on a sigh as she looked around the ballroom. Dozens of important people were here, from politicians to fellow people in the line of succession. Her brother Richard was there with his wife, looking as regal as ever, and as he caught her gaze, he smiled and waved lightly, causing her to look away.
I don’t want to talk to you right now. I have too much on my mind. He realised she was again holding her side, which was making her walk awkwardly in the elegant powder-blue ballgown she was wearing, her hair piled up more regally than she usually wore it, the sapphire necklace and earrings she wore a gift from her grandmother to match her eyes, and when Eleanor had done a quick search on Wikipedia she had found they were royal heirlooms, and worth an eye-watering amount. Not that she was any stranger to extravagance, being a princess, but even so it wasn’t often the Queen lent out the old treasures. I need to calm down and stop spacing out. Deep breaths, deep breaths.
Donovan reached out a hand for a handshake. He then paused, going pale, realising just who he offered her hand to, but Eleanor was well-used to such things, so she rely grasped his hand gently, pumping it twice before releasing it. He’s blushing. That’s… kind of adorable. “I’m never washing this hand again, princess.” Donovan grinned shyly.
“No, please do wash it, else I won’t be able to be near you. The sll would be terrible.” She made a joke, and Sir Arthur guffawed, slapping Donovan on the back, and nodding to Aditi.
“Indeed, I understand that. Our Eleanor is quite the beauty, but no funny ideas, all right boy? I’ll be watching!” He warned jovially, and Donovan nodded rapidly, as though his head was on a spring. “Of course I get it, sir! I’m only here to fulfil the request of the Queen, and to get the money on offer… no, not the money, ugh, ah…” he looked down, mortified, and everyone laughed.
“Oh, now I do not feel so nervous, so thank you, Donovan.” Aditi smiled calmly.
“Well, have you t my brother yet?” Eleanor asked, and they shook their heads. “Well then.” She continued. “You simply must. I don’t want to be the only one at this party everyone is looking at.”
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“That was quite nerve-wracking. Your sister-in-law, she is very nice, as the papers show her to be.” Aditi said, fanning herself as they sat in the corner, trying to avoid notice.
“Yes, she’s very sweet.” Eleanor agreed. “And with her and Henry’s girlfriend in the picture, I don’t get so much attention as I used to. Still, that will change, won’t it?”
“It sure will, princess.” A fiery redhead who they had picked up earlier grinned, her Scottish twang thick. “A warrior princess indeed. And t’think I’ll be there alongside ye. I’m getting chills.”
“That’s damn stupid and you know it.” A man a little older than the princess said, and Eleanor struggled to keep calm. David Reckless, the boyishly handso yet sour-faced speaker, was a choice she had been reluctant to make, but under advice from her grandmother and Sir Arthur, she had accepted him as part of her team. But ever since eting her, the martial artist, who was known for fighting in UFC and had a decent record, had done nothing but talk angrily at her, not even hiding his disdain. “You are a fool, Sarah.” He continued, draining the glass in his hand, the sll of alcohol on his breath intense.
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