AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not sure your word is enough, Mr. Jameson. Maybe we should abolish the monarchy altogether. Maybe this is the country telling us that’s the right decision.”
“Ma’am, did you see the streets lined with people?” Albert leaned forward in his chair, clasping his hands together. “They mourn with you, Your Majesty. They loved King Maxwell. They loved your mother, God rest her soul. They loved your brother and were ready for him to begin taking on more of a role in royal duties as heir. They’ve loved watching Edwina and Anthony grow up. They’ve celebrated with your family in all the successes, and they grieve with you and Princess Victoria over this and all of the tragedies.”
“I thought losing our mother would be the hardest thing I’d ever go through,” Elizabeth replied, referring to her mother’s death two years prior due to a heart attack that no one had been prepared for.
“You have been through more than anyone should have to bear, Your Majesty, but this country wants its monarchy. A small faction of people disagrees, yes, and some of them are now locked away behind bars, at Her Majesty’s pleasure. We will find the rest and lock them away as well.”
“I pray you do.”
“In the meantime, Ma’am, we must discuss your coronation and the next steps regarding your security.”
“I expected that,” she replied.
“Firstly, we must determine your name.”
“I can’t keep Elizabeth?”
“You know of our history with Britain, Ma’am. They’ve had two Queen Elizabeth’s.”
“Right,” she replied. “I’m named after the first one.”
“You are. But you are also named after other strong, important women; Elizabeth Antonia Victoria Louise Hanover.”
“I am a Hanover. I’m a descendent of Queen Victoria herself. It doesn’t get much more British than that.” She allowed herself a smile. “And Albert is pretty British, too.”
“It is. I was named after Queen Victoria’s husband.” The Prime Minister smiled as well.
“Why areyougoing over this with me? Shouldn’t Rebecca be taking me through this? Surely, you have more pressing things to do, Mister Prime Minister.”
“Ma’am, Rebecca will remain on as the Princess’s private secretary, but you must now choose your own. In the absence of him or her, I told Rebecca I would help you get through this part of the process.”
“Can’t I keep Rebecca?”
“If you’d like, you can promote her, Ma’am. Victoria will then need to choose someone for her own staff.”
“I’ll discuss it with my sister first.” Elizabeth nodded.
“Very well. Back to your name, Ma’am.”
She stared out the window and at the cold, gray sky that so closely resembled her mood and wished she didn’t have to do this.
“Antonia,” she said finally.
“After your mother?” he asked.
“Yes, I will be Queen Antonia I.”
“I don’t believe there’s been a British Queen Antonia, but I will verify.”
“It doesn’t matter; that will be my name.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Albert replied with a short nod. “I will convey that to the staff working on the coronation.”
“When will that be?” she asked.
“Normally, it would be after the traditional mourning period of a month, but given these circumstances and how unprepared we were for them, it will be in six weeks,” Albert informed. “The Princess will be there, obviously, but after that, we’d like to have her move out of the palace and into Coburn Cottage if you agree.”
“Coburn is well over fifty kilometers away,” she remarked.
