The Girl behind the Throne (Editing)

Chapter 1

I looked down at the faint line, smiling, remembering how we had to find a knife and somewhere to hide to make our vow, and how we had hidden between the piles of soil in the greenhouse and swallowing winces, trying to act brave in front of the other, we had vowed to always be friends.

Unfortunately, life doesn't always agree with ten year old children's vows of friendship, and I hadn't seen Jamie since I was sent away to boarding school when I was fifteen; it had been three long years. Apart, he had missed my disastrous experiences with braces, sneaking alcohol and trying to figure out what exactly is wrong with boys, and I had missed my best friend as though he were a phantom limb; sometimes I could almost feel him, but he wasn't actually there.

I sighed loudly for my father's effect, knowing that I was being dramatic, but as he had had three years absent of my teenage mood swings, he just had to deal with it. I had to deal with being away from my best friend and knowing that we were in completely different worlds, our friendship was thoroughly looked down upon, I was a female servant and he was a Prince.

My father replied to my sigh with an arched brow, and a warning point of his finger, before leaving the dining room, probably not wanting to deal with me anymore. Grinning, I pulled my iPod out of my pocket. Listening to headphones while working in the Royal Palace- was a big no-no, a huge one, but thankfully, the Royal family were in meetings all morning, so it was just floor staff and the occasional random employee, and we don't tend to snitch on each other. I pulled out the headphones and continued the last played track.

'I'm here by myself, I do know you I don't need no one else'. I sang along twirling as placed the last spoon at the head of the table, and throwing out dramatic arm jabs in time with the song.

'I see your dancing hasn't improved, or singing'. I heard a deep masculine voice radiate from the door. Shocked, I looked up pulling the headphones out of my ears, to see Jamie leaning casually against the door a wince on his handsome face, his blonde hair sticking up in every direction.

A huge grin overtook my face and I stuck my tongue out at him. 'You're just jealous of my sweet, sweet moves'. I said mockingly as I walked- well borderline ran up to him.

'You see right through me as per usual. I stay awake at night, thinking how will I ever be able to contend with such fantastic, and I mean fantastic dancing'. His voice was dry and sarcastic; he had thrown his grey eyes heavenward in a dramatic display. I giggled in reply, letting my ugly smile of 90% gum and 10% big red cheeks overtake my face. I also used this time to covertly check out how much he had changed.

He almost looked completely different. There was still my Jamie in his face, the grey eyes, high cheekbones and wide smiling man, but he was no longer the gangly spotty seventeen year old I remembered.

'I knew I kept you awake at night'. I said laughing before a blush stained my cheeks when I had realised what I had just said. Note to self- avoid sexual innuendo while conversing with best friend who you haven't seen in three years.

He laughed at my blush, his pearly white teeth gleaming against the honey of his skin tone and his slate gray eyes sparkled. I mean I hadn't been totally oblivious to how beautiful he had gotten. I was happy for him; his external looks matched the sweetness of his interior.

Every girl in the country knew Jamie; he was the catch of the century. I had to listen through my teenage years at the posh boarding school I attended- to girls with posh accents saying how they loved him and how they even went as far as to kiss the poster of him they had pinned above their beds, which was unbelievably creepy.

It was hard being the secret best friend of the next in line to the throne.

'What are you doing here?' I asked in an amazed tone once I had stopped evaluating his looks and how much he had changed.

'I take it that you're not pleased to see me, Tessie?' He asked a smile on his face and leaning towards me, I hugged him greedily making up for the time I spent missing my best friend.

I relaxed when I was in his arms breathing in his smell; he pulled away from me, my hands lingering on his back for longer than they should, it was hard not to touch him, when I had missed his presence for so long.

'Of course I am, you fanny.' I said hitting him in his arm, the way he taught me to- thumb out and knuckles clenched.

He laughed 'Ouch, I don't remembering you having such hard knuckles'. He said dramatically rubbing his arm. 'Off with her head'. He yelled out, laughing loudly. Tosser.

I stiffened in retaliation, whispering, 'Shush, I'll get in trouble so much trouble if I'm seen even talking to you.' I said chastising him.

'Why?' He said frowning. Clearly the reasons for my being sent away hadn't been as glaringly obvious to him, as they had to me.

'Why do you think Jamie? Do you think your brother is best pals with the maids too?' I hissed, watching as realisation dawned on his face.

'Sorry Tessie, I didn't think'. He said quietly, I watched his face, watched him realise the conclusion I had come to three years ago- the days of innocent and open friendship between us were over. The only way we could be friends' while I was living at the palace was in secret, a private friendship.

'So, nothing has changed since I was gone?' I said teasingly, lighting the mood. He threw a fake scowl at me, before it wavered around the edges, a bright wide smile overtaking his fake anger.

I smiled warmly back, feeling all the questions I wanted to ask him flood my mind. I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted.

'Tess, are you finished yet?' My father's voice came down the hall.

'I have to go'. I said quickly, grabbing my box of silver cutlery and making a move to walk around him. As I passed, Jamie grabbed my arm, sending small pinpricks of sensation up and down the limb.

'Meet me tonight? In our den?' He whispered to me, leaning close, his warm breath heating my cheek. I hadn't been this close to a guy since Liam, and even though it was only Jamie, a part of my stomach flipped.

I nodded uncertainly, frowning and biting my lip, I knew how much trouble I would get in if we got caught. 'What time?'

'Seven o'clock, be there or be square'. He whispered back smiling brilliantly at me.

I walked away to my next maid duty, feeling his eyes on my back. I snuck a quick peek at my watch, it was ten in the morning. I only had to count down nine hours, I could do this. As if needing to get another peek at Jamie, I briefly looked over my shoulder back to where he still stood, leaning against the dining room doorway, his long and muscular arms crossed over a broad chest. He was watching me, and smiled broadly and winked quickly, in his face filled with a mischievous expression.

In reply, I stuck my middle finger up, stifling a giggle when he pretended to be wounded by my rudeness. Hearing my father moving around in the nearby parlour and afraid he would come out and see what was taking me so long, I kept walking, a large smile on my face and began to count down the hours until I would see him again.

Oh boy.