And that was when we had an interruption.
“I am so sorry to bother you all.” Duncan appeared.
People never flew out of their seats so fast, but I didn’t budge.
“No, no, don’t bother,” Duncan insisted. “I interrupted your party. I just wanted to say hello. I’m nosy and have heard nothing but good things from Miss Mills.”
Everyone stared. I needed to introduce him.
“Your Royal Highness, this is my best friend, Monique Vincent, and her wonderful parents Constance and Julian. Everyone, this is my boss, The Prince of Wales.”
“Call me Duncan. I am to understand you are basically family of Miss Mills? And I hated that dreadful title business,” Duncan said, sweet as pie.
I wanted to smack him for interrupting my evening if only because this was a big stretch. My worlds were crashing into one another and I didn’t like it.
“Lovely to meet you,” Constance said.
Julian nodded in agreement.
“You are a mystery to me as she never speaks about you. Says everything she does is top secret,” Monique said. “So thank you for breaking the ice.”
“Yes, well, she’s beholden to our wall of secrets. And, clearly, is a trusted member of the inner circle. We are very lucky to have her. I don’t know what I would do without Eloise.”
I flushed bright red and kicked Monique. She was about to dissolve into a fit of girlish giggles, and I wanted to avoid it.
“Well, enjoy the rest of your meal,” Duncan said. “Nice meeting you all.”
“He seems very kind,” Constance said. “Not what I expected.”
“He isn’t what anyone expects.” I left it there.
PART THREE
THE SOCIAL SECRETARY
41
WILD GOOSE CHASE
DUNCAN
11 January
London Daily Times
The Prince of Wales has had half a dozen social secretaries in the last five years. Most recently, this post has sat vacant for nearly a month. So, when the palace released a plan to announce a new social secretary, we wondered who the lucky victim was. It seems she is an unknown twenty-five-year-old PR consultant named Eloise Mills. We’ve confirmed that she was the one previously following the Prince around as a sort of “handler”.
Leo Hayes assessed the situation, “As a Royal Correspondent, I’ve seen many things, but never a total outsider stepping into this role. We know nothing about Miss Hayes. It’s a curious choice. Only time will tell if she can outlive her predecessors.”
“Bloody ridiculous,” Mum said. “As if you weren’t just like Miss Mills, Lucy. You still work here!”
“Well, she actually has a lot more of an advantage there,” Lucy pointed out. “She went to Seymour.”
“Posh,” Dad said. “She’s so normal. I didn’t know what to expect.”
I was surprised by that.
“Dad, she has impeccable manners. She’s great. You could bring her anywhere and she’d never put a foot wrong. She only struggles with staff.”
