I'm not upset you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't trust you".
-friedrich Nietzsche
I found out I was pregnant eight months after Diego and I started trying for a baby. I was only four weeks along the only people we told was our parents.
Since one of my best friends Mia Rodriguez had a degree in communication and worked in PR before. I ask her to be my lady-in-waiting and she agreed.
I didn't choose another acquaintance as my second one because the queen made a very important point.
"Someone in their forties or fifties who have done the job before will be a great mentor to you. She can guide you on engagements and train the other two up".
I took her advise and choose a Fifty-three year old glamorous looking woman name Lady Gabriela. Who worked abroad for another royal family and Camila for two years. Lady Gabriella recommenced a thirty year old woman called Elena Ferrari who was lovely and eager to learn. We have all been working together for a month now.
It turns out the queen was right about my workload increasing and she also gave me one of her patronage's. It was a music charity and I then decided to become patron of ten more.
"Darling how are you feeling?" Ask my gorgeous husband handing me a bowl of freshly wash strawberries.
"Ok, the morning sickness hasn't really kicked in yet".
He kisses my forehead, "I was beginning to wonder if we could get pregnant for a while there".
He rest is forehead on mine.
"I'm pregnant that's all that matters now. I don't think we should wait too long to have the second one".
"Agreed", he walks me over to our bed.
"I can't wait till I hit the three month mark and can tell everyone about the baby".
"Me too darling".
I hit the three month mark and we excitedly tell my friends and the public.
I had an engagement the day my pregnancy was announced. It was a conference dealing with the safeguarding of children. Lady Gabriela and I exist the car at the entrance to the conference. I greet the chair of the committee and the co-chair.
'Congratulations on your pregnancy your highness she says to me".
"Thank you Mary", I reply. I'm given flowers by one of the teenagers taking part in the days session.
"Thank you".
I give it to Gabriella then I follow Mary inside and take my seat and the meeting begins. I listen to what everyone has to says. I turn to the teenager who just finish speaking, "You went to school did anyone pick up on what was happening at home with you?"
"No your highness not in elementary or any other stage of my schooling. Until I hit upper school(high school) my father always had an excuse for why I had bruises. When a teacher finally noticed something was wrong I stood in the office internally screaming for her to help me. I knew because my dad was talking to the teacher I would be punished severely when we got home". She takes a breathe and collects herself, "One day that same teacher bought me lunch and she kept buying me lunch. I knew she wanted me to tell her what was happening at home. I couldn't, the fear of the punishment if I talk was too great. Three months after she started buying me lunch she said."You look so thin I know you're suffering I saw you steal a sandwich months ago. Do they starve you?" I just sat there saying nothing,
"I can't help you if you don't talk", she said to me.
"Something in me broke and I started crying not because she knew some of what was happening to me. But for the beating and starvation that would happen if I told her the truth.
"Did you know I contracted social services three months ago. I saw your fear no it wasn't fear it was dread. When we were in the office with your father. He told them you were anorexic and was very weak so fell a lot. I'm guessing they(social services)didn't speak to you". I shake my head and then told her everything.
"I just needed a guarantee that I wouldn't be allowed home that day". As I listen to Sophia's story I start to cry.
I take her hand, "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that but look at you now. You got stronger and you're attending university. You even starting a charity to help other at risk kids that I will be honoured to be a patron of".
She was in shock I just decided then and there to do it. Everyone was looking at me in surprise.
"My hope with this conference is that the money that's given to the different charities here is use at the grassroots level. That's why I organised this conference in the first place. We have to realise when a teen leaves home and goes into care. And then leaves care and are given a flat they need help to kit out their flat. Counselling, clothes and a place to go where they can feel safe other than their home. This is what all the charities here do I'm so humbled to be here with all of you".
After my speech we discuss some fundraising ideas. When the engagement was over I felt hope and sadness. Hope because the abuse of children is slowing not becoming a hidden thing. Then sadness that people can make a call and say someone is in trouble. Yet the person in trouble can fall through the cracks.
Gabriella and I was in my living room after the engagement.
"I know today's engagement was hard for you. You experience some of what that girl has been through yourself. but you can't just decide to become a patron of a charity just like that. It needs to be checked out to make sure the accounting is correct. That there is no scandal involved with them".
"I was too emotional".
"Yes", she replies. "In the course of your lifetime you're unfortunately going to hear a lot of stories that will upset you. You need to put your feelings aside and remember you're to be a future queen and need to be Stoic at all times. You need to be careful of your association".
I was angry listening to her but she was right. I needed to be able to listen and not do spontaneous things because of my emotions. I can see why Camila recommended her.
I thank her for the advice and dismiss her. I change my clothes and go into the kitchen and start baking. I take a break and have a slice of freshly cooked lasagna with some bread. Diego walks in the kitchen.
"There you're. Do you still have a lot of baking to do?"
"If you give me a hand I'll be done in no time". He washes his hands and start placing cherries into the pie dish. On the way back to our apartment he ask me what's wrong. I tell him.
"Don't hate me but Gabriella was right it's okay to show emotions now and then. But you really shouldn't have decided to become a patron on the spot like that. In some ways we have to be cold on engagements. It's how we don't end up with mental health issues.
He hugs me, "You will be fine. We need to get ready for the reception".
I know I did a stupid thing giving the patronage out and I can't even defend myself. I have a shower and brush my teeth and walk out the bathroom to see my lady's maid. She was waiting to do my hair and makeup and to help me dress.
I didn't see Diego but I knew he had several rooms that he used in the apartment just like I did. He must be getting ready with his valet. I choose a curve hugging blue dress from Dior and a flat shoe with a gel insole.
The reception was for the one hundredth anniversary of the charity Diego's was patron of. It provided help for injured service men and woman. It was our first time hosting a reception by ourselves. The night went well and we took a photo with the charity members.
I was now seven months pregnant and my sister invites me to London. I decline of course and use the excuse I was not allowed to fly. She ask if she could visit me and I told her no. She knew the king had to gives permission for her to visit.
"Come on sis I haven't seen you since the wedding".
"I'm sorry Emma but I can't visit Denmark right now. I have a lot of work to do and Diego is really busy. It's just not a good time ok, I'm sorry".
"You're on maternity leave Victoria you can't be that busy".
"Like I said I'm very busy just because I'm not doing engagements. It doesn't mean I'm not working behind the scenes".
She just whines and whines, "I've to go I've lessons with the queen". She rolls her eyes at me, "Of course you do".
"Before I go how are you and Theo doing you've been dating for a while now right?"
"Yes, I think he's going to propose to me".
I inwardly cringe I knew from speaking to Debbie and articles in the glossy Danish magazine. That I read online he and Susan were happily married with another baby on the way. They were offered a lot of money to sell the wedding photos to the newspapers because Debbie and Antonio would attend. They turned it down.
"That's wonderful news look I have to go bye".
I end the Skype call, Diego who was listening in kisses me.
"Have I told you I love you today".
"Once or twice".
" I have a surprise for you".
"What?"
"Remember that babymoon I promised you".
I don't let him finish and passionately kiss him. As we were in bed he starts to undress me and we make love. Afterwards he ask "Did I hurt you?"
"Diego I'm fine sex isn't going to hurt me or the baby".
Two days later we were in the Seychelles. We didn't really go into town their just enjoyed ourselves at the villa. It was lovely just being together as a couple with no distractions.
Diego and I returned to Sardinia to a surprise baby shower. Debbie came but my sister wasn't invited. William had an engagement he couldn't cancel. The shower was lovely I got some cute baby clothes for both boys and girls. Unfortunately news leaked about the baby shower.
My sister calls me, "You didn't invite me to your baby shower Victoria. I'm your damn sister".
"Look I didn't know about it okay it was a surprise". Even if I did I wouldn't have invited you I thought to myself.
"Did you go on a babymoon the article said you did. You look very tanned in the photos?" Photos were leaked to the press also.
"This place is hot all year Emma of course I'm going to be tanned". She put the phone down on me.
Two hours later there was a newspaper article saying I bugged Debbie's phone when she first came to Denmark. It was trending number 1 on twitter. Mia sent me the link.
Debbie calls me, "I've given a statement saying it's not true".
"Oh Debs why would you do that for me?"
"You apologised to me for doing it Victoria and I don't want you upsetting yourself and getting your blood pressure up. We need to get that baby cooking for the nine months it needs. I know how much this baby means to you guys".
"Thank you".
"My dad has already spoken to your father-in-law and dad please don't get upset about it. It's all water off a duck's back please don't give the person who did this. The pleasure of seeing you upset and having to go to hospital. You don't want to put your baby in harms way".
We finish our conversation and dad calls me, "How are you Victoria?"
"I'm okay dad I just spoke to Debbie. I can't believe she did that for me".
"Your cousin loves you".
"Yeah she really does."
William joins our chat because he was concern about my stress level. It was lovely to speak to them both on zoom together. When the conversation ended I was feeling much better than before.
I checked Twitter again people were twitting how disgusted it was someone would say that. Just as I was weeks away from giving birth.