The Queens Right-Hand

Your Secret Is Safe With Me

Annabelle

Over the last few weeks Queen Charlotte did nothing except plan the welcome party. Which of course meant that Annabelle wasn't doing anything except watching her plan this party. Katie was still driving the Queen insane, they would often vent about her at the end of the night. Annabelle was still sneaking into the Kings room as well as getting alone time with James. Being with James was much different then being with the King.

There were several times where she and James would be out walking together being able to hold hands and kiss, whereas with the King everything was behind closed doors.

" My parents will be arriving in a few hours" Queen Charlotte told the King during breakfast that morning.

He smiled " Great, the staff already have their room ready. They also have the rooms for the staff they're bringing" Albert told her.

Annabelle Was very excited to see her mom and dad again, it was only about a month but felt like forever.

" Queen Charlotte don't forget we have your final dress fitting this afternoon" she reminded her.

" I completely forgot thank you Annabelle" she said giving her a smile.

" James please accompany them into town for that appointment" Albert ordered and James nodded.

Within a few hours the three of them were on their way into town to get the Queens dress. They pulled upto the store and James helped both of them out of the carriage. The store was really small so the Queen went in by herself and James and Annabelle stayed outside.

" Just think you'll be meeting my parents today" she told him and he grinned.

" I can't wait, they raised such an amazing woman I'm sure they're amazing people" he told her taking her hand.

" What do we tell them"? she asked him.

" What do you mean?" he asked her.

" Well what are we when I introduce you to them?" she asked him shrugging her shoulders.

" James is a good place to start" he told her with a laugh.

" No you aren't understanding me" she told him as she gently shoved him.

" I understand you perfectly Annabelle, but we haven't even put a name to what this is. So for now I think James is perfect" he told her kissing her cheek.

" How long do these appointments take anyway?" he asked her.

" It's the final one so shouldn't be too long" she told him.

He took her to a nearby bench and they sat down. He gently grabbed her face and kissed her, she smiled and kissed him back.

" It will be hard but I should probably limited my kissing you while your parents are here" he told her pulling away from their kiss.

" I can always sneak into your room at night" she told him and he grinned.

" That's a great idea" he said kissing her again.

" Oh my I wasn't expecting this" came the sound of the Queens voice as a staff member was carrying her dress.

" Queen Charlotte our deepest apologies, we should've been keeping a better eye on your appointment. Also you should not have seen us in such an intimate way" James told her pulling away instantly and bowing really low.

" That is alright, I like to see you both happy. Especially Annabelle it's about time she's getting male attention" Queen Charlotte said coming over and giving Annabelle a big hug.

" She's like the sister I always wanted, I'm beyond happy for you two. But if you hurt her, I'll make sure you receive a punishment " she told him giving him a small wink.

Annabelle felt like the worst human in the world at that moment. She always knew what she was doing with Albert would hurt her, but she didn't know she saw her as a sister. She knew this should stop, but now she knew it really needed to stop.

" I'm ready to head back if you two are" Queen Charlotte said as the staff handed the dress to James.

" Of course were ready" James said giving her a smile.

They made their way to the carriage, James put the dress in first and extended his hand to the Queen then Annabelle. He climed in afterwards and held onto the dress so it didn't wrinkle.

" How long has this been going on?" she asked them.

" A few weeks" James told her.

Queen Charlotte gasped " You've been keeping a secret for weeks, I didn't know you kept secrets from me what else are you hiding?" she asked her with a laugh.

" Nothing of course" Annabelle replied quickly.

Queen Charlotte smiled at her " That's what you would say if there was a secret, but I trust you" she told her.

They finally arrived back at the castle and James brought the Queens dress upstairs to her room, gave Annabelle a smile and left the room.

" You're so fortunate, it looks like James really likes you" Queen Charlotte told her.

" It seems like the King has a real soft spot for you too" Annabelle told her, even though saying it outloud was upsetting.

" Sometimes it feels that way, but he's tired and works alot. But what else can you expect from an arranged marriage" she told her shrugging her shoulders.

Annabelle sighed " Do you wish things could be different" she asked her.

Queen Charlotte nodded " It would be nice if Royalty had the option for love first, then if that didn't work do an arranged marriage. I don't think that will ever change so is what it is" The Queen told her.

" That stays between us, if I find out you told anyone. You'll be spending an entire day alone with Katie as a punishment" she told her with a shudder and a laugh.

Annabelle laughed with her " That sounds worse then being locked outside" she told her and the Queen just nodded.

Queen Charlotte and Annabelle continued to chat in her room when there was a knock on her door.

Annabelle opened it to see a member of staff standing there " The carriage carrying to King and Queen are just pulling in" the staff told the women with a curtsey.

" Thank you" Annabelle told her as they made their way downstairs.

" Charlotte you're looking as beautiful as always" Queen Beatrice said walking into the castle giving her a hug.

"Mother I've missed you so much" she told her.

Annabelle could see her parents patiently waiting behind the Queen, once they had left then they would hug. Queen Charlotte's dad gave her a big hug next. After a few minutes they left and Annabelle's mother and father gave her a big hug.

" I feel like I haven't seen either of you in years" she told them as she was trying not to cry.

" We've been feeling the same way" her mother said wiping away a few tears.

" We will be here for at least a week so we will get lots of time together" her father told her with a smile.