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Erin sighed. “Well, I wouldn’t say we aren’t doing it at all. I mean, we still have sex sometimes. But there’s always that listening out for a baby crying in the back of your mind. I mean, we had them in our room with us for the first six months. I know we had a lot of help, and I know we could have left them with nannies overnight, but we wanted to, you know. We wanted to be good parents. We wanted to experience it. I have to say, I’m not sad they have moved into their own room now though. Anyway, Vic, it is the party next week. Birthday number one for the four of them. Big party at the palace. I know it is a baby birthday party, but the babies will go to bed with the nannies and the party will continue. I think you need to get back in the game. Wear something nice. Wash your hair! Get back out there.”
“Fuck me, I can’t remember the last time my hair saw a brush.”
“I know. I can tell.” Erin was deadpan.
“Fuck you, Bodyguard! Okay, I’m going to make an effort for this party. Can Alicia do my hair and makeup if I show up to the palace early?”
Erin smiled, slyly. “I’ll get you booked in with Alicia. Make sure you get there early and I’m sure she can fit you in before she does Alex and me.”
“Will Julia be at the party?” Vic asked, trying to seem casual.
Erin looked at her knowingly. “Julia Swoolia?”
“Yep, Swoony-Julia, Swoolia, love of my life.” Vic played up to it, giving her usual nickname for Julia.
“She sure will be at the party. Will you be dressing up for her?” Erin asked.
“Maybe.” Vic winked at Erin.
The party was beginning to sound a lot more fun.
6
Julia was ready for the first birthday party for the royal babies, which was held at the palace. She wasn’t technically working, but she never was truly off duty. The Royal Family was her whole life. She looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath. She looked alright. It had been so hard to choose what to wear. It was an afternoon garden party for the kids, then she knew it would go on into the evening and become an adult-only party. It was work, but not work. Julia also knew Victoria would be there with Hyzenthlay, and if she was honest, that was the main reason that choosing an outfit had been so hard. Julia had finally settled on a black pencil skirt and heels with a casual loose-fitting, sleeveless red shirt that matched her choice of lipstick exactly. She looked professional still but a little bit sexy, and she liked it. She chose to wear her dark hair down in loose curls whereas usually it was pinned up for work.
She had delivered her gifts for Princess Florence, Princess Matilda and Prince Frank already. She had chosen teddy bears personalised for each of them that she thought they would love. It was hard to choose something for babies who had everything. She had also picked out a soft toy for Hyzenthlay. It was a rabbit with her name embroidered into the paw, chosen because she knew Hyzenthlay had been named after a rabbit from the book and movie Watership Down. Julia had meant to watch the movie, but she hadn’t got around to it. It was a famous old movie, an animation. She would have to watch it one day.
Julia had chosen to let the party get started before she headed down to join it from her room in the palace. There were plenty of staff responsible for the party and the children so it wasn’t her domain at all. She was looking forward to relaxing and socialising. She was also looking forward to seeing Victoria, she realised.
Julia swept into the big function room that opened out onto the gardens. There were waiters and waitresses with trays filled with champagne flutes. Some with champagne, some with orange juice. Julia chose orange juice. She rarely drank alcohol and when she did, it was never to excess.
The party was busy. There were small children everywhere that had been invited specially for the party with their parents. There were a lot of people there that Julia didn’t know, and she was pretty confident that the Queen and Erin barely knew them either. But, that was the thing with some of these functions, it was an honour to get an invite to the birthday of the Queen’s children and it was a good networking and popularity opportunity for Queen Alexandra and Erin.
There were photographers there from a popular glossy magazine that often covered royal events. Julia watched as they snapped away. The Queen herself was striking in a lovely summer dress in periwinkle blue. Julia had watched over the last year as Queen Alexandra had recovered from a difficult triplet pregnancy and traumatic birth. It had taken time and the help of many specialists for Alexandra to feel herself again, both in her body and in her mind. Here she was now, looking as dazzling as ever, a diamond crown glinted above her ashy blonde hair. Her smile radiated across the room. She held her son close, Prince Frank, who wore a bow tie that matched the colour of his mother’s dress exactly. Prince Frank’s hair was darker than Alexandra’s but his eyes were the same enchanting blue.
Erin stood next to her wife, handsome as ever, her dark hair slick and pinned up, she was striking and proud holding her two little girls, one with bright blonde hair and one with light brown hair as the family posed for photographs.
“Julia! Lovely to see you.” Julia snapped back into the moment to see the one woman she had been hoping to see and yet at the same time so nervous about seeing. Victoria held Hyzenthlay on her hip, but managed to pull Julia in with her free arm and lightly kiss her cheek in welcome. Julia breathed in deeply and she could smell a freshness underneath the warm scent of Victoria’s perfume. She felt an electricity run through her body.
Victoria released the hug and stood back. Her eyes ran up and down Julia’s body, pausing at her breasts and then she smiled.
“You look fucking beautiful,” she said and took a big swallow of the champagne in her hand.
This was a complete turnaround from the version of Victoria she had seen the other da,y and Julia could tell it was the confidence borne of champagne. She was a party girl. Julia knew that, but it made her feel so alive to be looked at with the hunger that Victoria looked at her with.
Julia felt lost for words.
“Happy Birthday, Hyzenthlay!” Julia leant forwards and kissed the curls on the little girl’s head and Hyzenthlay gurgled happily.
“I like this.” Victoria reached to touch the necklace Julia was wearing and Julia felt shivers run through her at Victoria’s touch.
“Um, thanks,” Julia said. “My mother gave it to me. It’s a locket, you see, with photos. It’s so she can always be close to me. She is in there. And Helen too, my wife. You know, she died. I keep her photo in there too so I always have them both close.”
Oh god, stop waffling on. She doesn’t care.
Vic looked directly in her eyes and for the first time Julia could see in the light that her eyes were a greenish brown.
“I’m so sorry about Helen. Are you close to your mum? Can I see?” Victoria asked.
