Close to the Crown (On hold until 2021)

Chapter Two (REWRITTEN AND EDTIED)

A/N: This chapter has been re-written and edited, but beware, there still may be the odd mistake.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I refused to meet the eyes of my father, as he glared at me from across the dinner table. This was only the fifth time I had eaten dinner with him in my own home since I returned from boarding school. Although like many times before, he was angry with me and wanted answers.

"I will not ask you again, Lilliana." He snarled, 'What did the man see?!"

I looked down at my plate, 'I'm not sure, father. I can't be sure on how long he was there for, but I know it must have been for at least the but where the man was searching me for anything stolen..."

"Did he recognise you?" He asked, banging his first on the table, making me and the plates of food jump.

"Again, I can't be sure. He definitely recognised me from somewhere, but I don't think he actually realised who I was."

I looked Up at my father to see him rubbing his chin, "Okay, so what are the chances of there being an article about this tomorrow?"

It angered me that he said this, but I kept it well hidden, "I would say slim, because it happened last night, it would probably have been reported today."

"But what if he does some research into who you are?" He fired back, "I doubt he would let the story go if he recognised you for sure, he would want the money."

"Then there will be a story, there is nothing we can do to stop from it getting out. I didn't get a good look at the man, and I don't know his name either." I sighed, "All we can do it try and contain the story, if it is released."

My father looked angry and annoyed, but nodded his head anyway, "You do know that the King has to be informed about this incident, don't you?"

I bit my lip, "I was expecting you to say that, Adelaide was there, after all."

"That is not the only reason and you know that. We have ties to the royal family, you Espeically."

I winced at the reminder that my father had given me. I was very much aware of my future, it had been planned out for me as soon as my mother knew she was giving birth to a little girl. I knew it was only a matter of time before my Father and he King got the ball rolling, and things would begin to happen.

"Can we not discuss this now?" I asked as politely as I could.

"You can't avoid this forever, Lilliana." He warned, "We both know how sick the King is, and it is only a matter of time before he has to announces it to the world. Then it will be expected that he will step down and hand the throne to William. You know what must happen before that."

"Yet until that time comes, I do not wish to think about." I reminded him.

He shook his head, "Stop being so stubborn. We are meeting with the King in the morning, and when I say 'we' I mean both me and you."

"What for?" I was worried."

"You know exactly what for. You are going to tell him about what happened in Italy, and then the three of us will discuss your future, I expect William will join us for that part."

"Why must this conversation happen so soon?"

He gave me a solemn look, "The illness was confirmed to be terminal last week. There is nothing else they can do, but pre-long the inevitable. They do not know how much longer the King has, and that's what pains me most. My best friend may not even get to see his own son be crowned King of England."