It was a late night flight to Berlin, because even a day off wasn't truly a day off. Back in London, Meredith had a hard time remembering how she spent her days off. She never remembered being this tired after a day off. They drove to the British consulate in Berlin, where Meredith was subjected to a shower when Harry was just allowed to crawl into bed. Finally, she settled in beside him, but he was already asleep. Sighing, Meredith laid back and stared at the feeling. While she was tired, the wheels in her mind turned.
With early sunsets, there were late sunrises in January. She was up before the sun for another busy day ahead of them. Harry slept in the bed as Jessica sat Meredith down at the vanity, starting with the hair, which twirled in the secretary's fingertips.
"Can't we let it stay natural today?" Meredith asked defeated. Her fingers didn't run easily through the curls.
Jessica watched the duchess closely and then nodded. "Natural it is." She snapped her fingers and the stylists went to Meredith's face, something that was not allowed to stay natural.
When it was time for Meredith to get dressed, Harry was awoken for his shower and for a change. Meredith was zipped into a dress, and she stepped up into her heels. A black jacket was put over her, and Jessica held a hat in her hands.
Meredith groaned. "Please don't make me. I've gone so long without a hat."
"You need to wear it today for the memorial, your highness. The Queen insisted."
Time to fall into line, Meredith thought as she dropped down and Jessica fastened the hat into the curly, blonde hair. Standing again, her knees quaked a bit as she adjusted herself in the mirror. Jessica stood and placed a poppy on Meredith's black jacket. After Harry was dressed in his black suit, a poppy was placed on his suit. His black shoes were shined.
"It's time," Jessica said as Meredith fluffed her hair out again.
Meredith took Harry's arm as they walked out into the closed off driveway. The two slid into the car, and they were off. People walked briskly in the cold, not even noticing the couple as they went. Meredith glanced out the window, careful not to knock the hat off her head. There wasn't a need to wave when no one cared to look your way. The car rolled to a stop, when it was easy enough walk to the Denkmal fuer die ermordeten Juden Europas, or the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Harry stepped outside of one side of the car and Meredith did the same. The British Ambassador to Germany and the German Foreign Minister waited for them at the steps of the memorial. A poppy reef waited with British and German soldiers as the royal came forward with solemn faces.
Silence overcame the crowd as only the birds chirped and motors groaned from the passing cars and buses. Even then, the silence was deafening. No one breathed, careful not to shatter the moment. A bell tolled, and Harry along with the German Foreign Minister laid a floral arrangement at one stone. With there being no real entrance, it was hard to judge where to begin, but with 2,711 columns of stone, many reefs were needed.
Meredith hovered in the back, a few feet away with her head down. Harry never turned his back on the monuments as he backed up and became even with Meredith again. Silence still hung in the air as the British Ambassador and the German Foreign Minister bowed again, and the royal couple did the same. Slowly, they all backed away without turning their backs as bells finished tolling.
Back at the British consulate, it was a quick change. Meredith shed her black clothing and hat, and she stepped into a colorful dress and heels. A green jacket wrapped around her. Jessica did not make her put on another hat. Meredith paused as Harry walked into the room.
"Wish me luck." Harry took off his black suit to be replaced with khaki pants and a tan jacket. He wore a green sweat with a white button up collar sticking out. He glanced at Meredith's face and then stopped. "What's that face?"
She tried to transform it into something else. "What do you mean?" Meredith placed lipstick on.
"That shocked look. What was that about?"
"Um." Meredith turned to face her husband. "Did you pick out your... outfit?"
"No. Jessica had it laid out." He looked around himself. "Is there a hole or something?"
"Do you like it?"
"Yes."
Meredith smiled. "Good. Well, good luck."
Harry wasn't letting her off that easily. "What?"
"Nothing." She put on her earrings. "Good luck."
Pursing his lips, Harry came over, resting his chin on her shoulder, looking her straight in the eyes by reflecting off the mirrors. Meredith didn't back down but tilted her head to lean against his. "Mere, really, what is it?"
"They gave you a dad outfit today."
He put his chin down to see his sweater. "I see it now. Do I look bad?"
"No."
"No?"
"They've taken your sex appeal away."
He smiled. "You don't find me sexy anymore?"
"I find you incredibly sexy, but I am not sure how I feel about them putting you in sweaters with collars." She turned around and made sure it was correctly done. "I like the olive and navy button ups. Those blue shirts match those blue suede shoes that you like to wear. But if you like this new fashion, then so do I."
"I do." He kissed her. "I'll see you later. I love you."
"I love you." She waved. Turning back to the mirror, Meredith stared at herself in the mirror, thinking, I'm definitely going to talk to Jessica about changing his wardrobe back. Meredith put her last earring in before going downstairs to meet with Jessica.
She had a lunch-in with a literature group of Berlin before heading to an art school afterward. Meredith wished Harry came with her to the art school to see all the work. He did much better with art than her. Same went for Harry, who knew that Meredith was more equipped to handle the politicians and politics that he faced. When Meredith had gotten the schedule before, she claimed it was gender stereotypes that made her go to the art school, and Harry had to agree.
Meredith shone at these events while she spoke in German and English. It was the occasional German, but with everyone else having some comprehension of German, there was barely a need. At the lunch-in, it was easier for Meredith to speak about the work at hand and how the literature was affected by the history of Berlin. It was the same at the art school with more of a flare. There was a mixture of colors and mediums to use, and nothing was ever the same.
Meredith returned to the British consulate, where they meant to stay for another night before heading out for a breakfast in Luxembourg and then an afternoon and party in Belgium, or at least this was the itinerary that Jessica gave the duchess. Meredith glanced at the clock as Jessica gave more details, not really listening.
"When should Harry be back, Jessica?"
Jessica checked her watch and bit her bottom lip. "Soon, your highness." Backing away, Jessica was by the door without Meredith having moved her eye line from the secretary.
"Where is he?" Meredith asked, wheels turning in her head. "It was only supposed to be the afternoon."
"Maybe they had supper?"
"Maybe?" Meredith mocked. "Are you not his secretary? Does he not breathe without you knowing it? So, where is he? You obviously know but don't tell me."
Jessica held her chin high. "Ma'am, the first way tours work are that there are charitable, such as the dukes doing missions to Africa to save endangered species. The second is that governments invite us places, and while we may not be able to be there right away, we do want show off that they are cared about, yet with so many countries asking and so many working royals, sometimes adjustments need to be made." She paused with her lips pursed. "Third, most of the tours are either our government-- the British government-- sends us off to do a mission for them. We do what they ask of us because the government is formed in the name of the queen. If they ask for the queen to do something and she asks for us to do something, we do not question it. We go and we do."
Meredith stood and towered over her secretary. "Where is my husband?"
"I am not sure, ma'am." Jessica curtsied. "Good night, your highness."
It was past midnight by the time Harry came in quietly. The lights were out in the suit, and he tiptoed in. He dropped his jacket off on the chair, and he tiptoed into the bathroom. He turned on one light, just barely any light came through, but even then, he glanced in the mirror to see Meredith staring at him from behind.
Harry turned around. "I didn't want to wake you."
"You didn't wake me." Her voice was flat. "What were you up to today? What did the British government want you to do?" Her eyes were even. "The monarchy is well aware that I know much more and care about more with governments, especially the German government-- but they didn't send me. What did the British government want because-- technically-- we're not allowed to do anything? The monarchy is the middle ground."
"Brexit," he said. "We need better trading deals, so the British Ambassador and I went to the government, and we spoke to some of the leaders. The Torries believe that it will be easier to go straight to the German government instead of the European Union."
Meredith rolled her eyes. "I imagine that went well."
"No, but the ambassador kept pushing, which is why I'm back so late." Walking over to the bed, Harry sat down. "Trust me, I don't want to be dealing with politics. It's boring and nothing ever gets done. I don't know how your ears don't bleed."
"It can be a challenge," she conceded. "But why us?"
"We're not that important." He kissed her forehead and went to the bathroom. "Good night, Mere." The door closed behind him.