The Girl behind the Throne (Editing)

The Girl behind the Throne Chapter 25

I looked at my father who was smile was quivering like he was trying to hold in laughter, and even Hamish was laughing but unsuccessfully covering it up with a cough, making him sound like a hyena with asthmatic difficulties.

Next it was Andrew, who started by shooting a charming smile that was simply outstanding to my grandmother who was sitting with her mouth open, grandfather on the other hand looked bored and that he had smelled something funky.

“I have to go...erm...turn off the toast- you know what, ill just close the door behind me”. He said shooting out the door even quicker than Sloane.

There was a period of around five minutes where everyone I the room looked at each other and shot a warm smile, grandmother extended Hamish her hand in a greeting, and he shook it readily.

“I am Lady Byron, you must be the man who is going to protect my darling granddaughter” she said with a warning behind her charming expression.

Hamish nodded and smiled widely picking up on the warning, and bowed to her. “With my life” he said kissing her hand and standing straight again so he towered over all of us.

I could hear the sincerity in his tone and I could tell that we were going to get along just fine.

“Ok Tess darling, we have a few things to discuss”. Grandmother said sitting on the other chair and making it clear that all her attention was now focused on me.

“That’s an understatement” I said with a wry smile.

“Indeed. So when you are discharged, you are going to come back to the house with your grandfather and me. It’s probably a good time to mention that we started a trust fund for you when you were born, even though we weren’t in contact we wanted to do well by you, so you are entitled to that from now on”. She said smiling widely at me, she skimmed quickly over the ‘weren’t in contact thing’ and went straight to the trust fund. I still wasn’t completely sure why my mother had left, but I got the feeling that it was a LOT larger than something as simple as getting impregnated by a peasant.

“Trust fund?” I asked in a croaky voice, a bloody trust fund! Like all those stuck up bitches at my old school, note to self: don’t let money go to your head.

“Oh yes, it’s only rather small im afraid, around 2 million” she said with a disappointed sniff. I looked over to my father who looked like he was going to keel over any second and die.

“2-2....mill- million...2 m-m-illion” I said stuttering weakly. The range of emotions that were passing through me were so intense it was almost making me faint.

“It would have been larger, but we had a bit of money trouble when you were younger” she said looking at her hands. I couldn’t even register this at all and started laughing hysterically like a hyena. My laughter came out loud, high and crazy making everyone look at each other in fear.

Luckily I was saved from explaining anything by Hamish jumping into the conversation. “Excuse me, my lady. But im afraid after everything Tess’s has gone through she might need some rest before she can process everything you’re saying”. He said standing protectively to my right making me shoot him a grateful look in thanks.

“Yes you’re right Hamish, she probably will need a while to get used to everything” dad said getting up from the chair, followed by my grandparents copying his lead. I yawned loudly not realizing how tired I felt until then, my dad kissed me on the forehead before leaving the room followed by my grandparents, Hamish saw them out and went to stand at his post outside the door.

I rolled over to my side and closed my eyes. I felt sleep filling my senses like sand until I heard footsteps, I opened my eyes to find Jamie looking at me, a loving expression on his beautiful face. His blonde waves were falling around his face like he had never even heard of a comb and his grey eyes looked tired. He was about to turn around thinking that I was asleep and I held my hand out to him, he looked at it and pretended to roll his eyes before taking it and climbing into the bed beside me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I felt my eyes go heavy and my brain shutting down, I was at the stage where you can hear things but no longer being able to answer coherently.