of a beautiful chestnut Thoroughbred. “The ones you already have are terrors. One of your lot took a wee in the drapes at Clarence House.”
“Reminds me a bit of your ex-husband,” Nick said lightly. “How is Julian? Still awful?”
“I assume so, the pig,” Agatha said.
Richard entered, and we all scraped back our chairs and stood. “Be seated,” he said. “First, an update on Her Majesty’s health…”
He droned on in a manner devoted to rationalizing his continued role as regent. Then we worked through his upcoming month of engagements, then Nick’s, Agatha’s, and Edwin’s, and lastly mine. (It was clear that, to Richard, putting me at the end constituted a sick burn.) I stifled a yawn and glanced at Freddie’s usual chair, which sat eerily empty.
“…and then after that, we’re attending a gala premiere of a new play based on the quiz show Countdown,” Elizabeth finished. “It’s going to be marvelous. Ken Branagh is doing all the roles, even the maths lady.”
“Stirring,” Richard said drily. “Finally, Rebecca’s diary. Given some of the hullabaloo from the tour, I’m sure everyone will agree that we’ve seen enough of her for the time being.”
“Much of the press was positive, Dickie,” Agatha pointed out, although it looked like it pained her to say it. “Mummy was pleased. She is still the boss, you know.”
“The Times said they were refreshingly relatable,” Elizabeth piped up.
“And The Sun said they seemed dreadfully common,” Richard retorted.
“The Sun is a rag, and you know it,” Agatha snapped. She glared over at me. “They did a perfectly reasonable job.”
This was officially the nicest thing Agatha had ever said about me, and it gave me a boost.
“Actually, I’ve been working on something about that,” I piped up, and hoped no one could hear my voice shaking. I flicked open my binder.
“Oh no, not another binder person,” Elizabeth murmured.
“I want to keep supporting Nick and Freddie in their work as much as possible,” I said. “But I also don’t want to be seen as a tagalong. I think I should show the public that I can stand on my own, and that I’m taking this job very seriously, and to that end I’ve taken the liberty of compiling some potential patronages I’d like to investigate.”
I pushed the binder across the table to Richard.
“We also think we need to bring some of this under a proper new Clarence Foundation umbrella,” Nick said. “We ought to be more involved in shaping our own ventures, hand-selecting organizations and projects that have a specific meaning to us. Obviously this doesn’t preclude you sending us on other outings,” he added hastily, “but we think it will help shape a larger cohesive purpose for us as a team.”
Agatha’s lips had puckered into an O of astonishment. Richard laid a hand on the binder as if trying to read it through osmosis.
“How very clever of you both,” he said, and I couldn’t tell if he meant it. “Thank you for the additional reading. I shall do it at my own convenience and get back to you.”
Agatha, who had clearly assumed he’d tell us to get stuffed, jerked her head between us and her brother like a ticked-off chicken.
“I assume that concludes your portion of this agenda, Rebecca,” Richard added.
“Actually, there is one more thing,” I said. “My sister is getting married, so Nick and I will need to be on hand for that. Probably in November. I wanted you to have advance notice. She’s also expecting a baby.”
“Goody, I love babies!” Elizabeth chirped. “Hearing that makes me broody.”
“Indeed,” Richard said. “Perhaps, Rebecca, this is one instance in which you should use your sister as inspiration. Certainly, no duty of yours is more important than delivering this family its next heir.”
Nick opened his mouth to say something, but Richard was quicker.
“Moving along,” he said. “I’ve been briefed on Frederick’s whereabouts. He was in Afghanistan by last reports, and safe, but I won’t hear more until the mission he’s undertaken is over, or unless he’s forcibly evacuated.”
“I still cannot believe you let him go,” Agatha scolded.
“He’s been expertly trained. And it’s very difficult to say no when your child is motivated to do good in the world,” Richard said, although I noticed that his lips had gone white. “I suppose you’ve never run up against that situation with Nigel.”
“Nonsense,” Elizabeth said, leaning across the table to pat Agatha’s hand supportively. “I’m sure his campaign to legalize ecstasy is going to revolutionize the club scene. And create jobs.”