Two Princes and a choice

Chapter Eleven

Hayley saw them when she was scribbling down an order for a customer. Palace guards, in their attire. She watched them as they went past her spoke to one of the waiters and then they went with him towards the manager’s office. She was in her part time work at a restaurant; she had left the pizza place at one and was going to be at the restaurant till eight and then go home.

She was heading to the kitchen with the order when she was waylaid by the palace guards, a pleased manager peeping from behind.

‘Hayley, these gentlemen are here to take you to the palace.’ He informed her beaming.

Hayley darted a confused gaze to the men who look nothing like gentlemen.

‘Are you Hayley Smith?’ one asked.

Hayley nodded dumbly wondering why they were looking for her. ‘Can I help you?’ she inquired tentatively.

The other offered her a smile. ‘Nothing to worry, the king requests your presence.’

Hayley was shocked. The king?! Why does he want to see her? Was it because of Waldorf? Oh God! Am I in trouble?

‘Let’s go,’ the man who had spoken first made a sweeping gesture of his arm towards the door. Hayley nodded and started off with the guards at her heels. She didn’t miss the furtive glances and whispering coming from both the customers and staff, and the manager’s gleeful chortle as she went out.

‘I always knew she was great,’ he said and held out the check in front of him. Fifty thousand Oduduwa Pound! He chortled in happiness. A waiter approached him and took a look at the slip of paper. He instantly snatched it away from view and tucked it into his pockets. ‘What?’ he demanded from the man.

‘Nothing,’ he said scratching behind his ears and gave an uneasy smile before he slinked away.

The manager went back to his office thinking of the good things to come.

Hayley stared uncertainly into the car and back at the chauffeur who had held it open. The Mercedes Benz Limo was silver and was glinting in the sunlight. Taking in a breath of calmness she entered and the guards went in after her. As they drove to the palace, Hayley tried to keep her fear at bay and tucked her quivering hand out of sight under her apron. She concentrated on the view outside not on the turmoil growing inside her. She counted trees that went past and she was at the count of two hundred when they entered the palace’s gates and into the largeness.

Hayley had been here once with her father when she was five and it was still as she remembered the vastness, the greenery everywhere, and the beauty. The palace was large done in white marbles silver and gold, national flags were waving in the wind from towers and lining the walkway, it spread out, enormous with terraces, large portico, spurting fountains, maze and statues. There was a dome in dark sea blue glinting in the sunlight.

She inhaled as the door was opened on her side and stepped out. She followed the guards in and her breath was almost taken away by the beauty and splendour of the foyer. She was led into the garden where her father worked.

John felt his heart beating madly as he saw two palace guards lead his daughter into the palace. What do they want with her? He wondered. His heart seized in fear as a thought ran through his mind. No, it couldn’t be, he thought with an uneasy smile. His majesty couldn’t possibly know, even so he won’t call Hayley first and tell her. He would call them first. Still doubting he turned back to the garden.

James was just rounding up his meeting with Waldorf’s lawyer Mr Lawunmi in a pavilion in the garden when a servant came to tell him of Hayley’s arrival. The man had just told him that Waldorf had wanted his will read three months after his death.

‘Oh, really? Send her in.’ he stretched his hand out to this loyal patriot; the beaming man bowed and received the warm handshake.

James stood up and turned to face the splendid view before him his hands clasped behind him.

Hayley bumped into Waldorf’s lawyer Mr Lawunmi on her way to the pavilion where the king was flanked by the palace guards. She had been drawn by the enormous garden with its spurting fountains, ponds, pools, tamed animals wandering about from the leaping gazelles to the climbing monkeys, chattering parrots, singing birds, strolling elephants and yawning lions. The gardens were vibrant with colours and heady with different perfumes.

‘Oh, Mr Lawunmi! Great to see you again.’

‘Hayley! Nice to see you too. So you are the one his majesty is expecting.’

Hayley inhaled letting her anxiety show. After all this man was a good friend of hers and Waldorf and had more than once tutored her in the legal work. ‘Is he in a good mood?’

He laughed. ‘Don’t worry Hayley; he just called you to thank you. See you soon.’ He winked and left.

They approached the pavilion and the guards gestured up at the stairs. Hayley inhaled and climbed up the stairs. She stopped at entrance. The king was standing on the balcony his back turned to her. She gulped and took hesitating steps into the room. The place was empty except two arm chairs a table and a portrait hanging on the wall. The national flag was hanging on the wall. Two eagles facing each other and a rising sun on the background, a crown above them. The two eagles were symbol of strength, the rising sun of a new era and the crown of monarchy reign.

‘Your Highness,’ she sputtered. He turned around and smiled.

Hayley had seen him once when she had come with her father to his work place when he had come strolling by. She had hid away in fear that he might find displeasure with her. She had hid under a shrub. While she was there she heard him speaking in harsh voice to some gardeners. She had imagined since then that he must be harsh and stern.

But looking at him now he looked nothing like harsh. His eyes were warm and friendly and looked ready to embrace. His posture was relaxed not rigid and when he spoke his voice was certainly not harsh as she had thought it would be but soft and kind but she was still nervous.

‘Hayley, right?’ he said with a smile.

‘Yes your highness,’ she answered keeping her hands folded before her.

‘Nice name,’ he commented.

‘Thank you your highness,’ she managed a thin smile.

‘Come on Hayley let’s go for a walk.’

Two minutes later they were walking side by side through the garden in silence. The quietness was disturbing to her. What did he call her for? Mr Lawunmi said he called her to say thank you. For what? How many people did the king call to say thank you?

‘Beautiful day,’ the king sniffed in air ‘don’t you think so Hayley?’ he said looking at her with a warm smile.

Somehow that smile banished half of her anxiety. ‘Beautiful day,’ she agreed with a thin smile. Hayley cast a glance towards the well-trimmed rosebushes. Where is dad?

‘You must be wondering why I called you here,’ he said.

Finally, her heart raced. ‘Yes, your majesty.’

‘Call me James or dad after all I’m a father to all.’ He told her with a friendly paternal smile that her father gives her whenever she was with him.

What is this? Call him dad? Or James? Am I dreaming or misheard? His majesty is asking me to call him that? ‘I don’t think I can call you by name or say dad. It will sound awkward but I can try.’ She told him. Ok Hayley just don’t put suffix.

James smiled at her what a bright girl; he could see why Waldorf was very fond of her. Lawunmi had told him about his deep affection for this girl.

‘You’ve heard about Waldorf, right?’ he said.

‘Yes… dad.’

He nodded and smiled. ‘Not only was he a former minister in the cabinet, he was also my best friend. We went to the same university.’

Hayley nodded in understanding. Okay. She glanced over her shoulder at the imposing guards behind hands folded before them, with ear buds, moving as they moved but maintaining their distance.

‘It was really a shock to me when I heard though I partially blamed Waldorf for his carefreeness when it comes to matters of security. He never paid much attention to security believes God will protect him.’ He smiled wanly. ‘I call him crazy but he was my best friend….’ He took a deep breath. ‘Thank you Hayley for helping.’

‘It was nothing, Waldorf was like a father to me and it is my duty to help if and when I can.’

He nodded. ‘You did a good thing Hayley,’ he laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘I’m proud.’

This was too much. It was okay for him to smile, normal. And a little bit unusual to ask her to call him dad and now his hand was on her shoulder as if they had not met just a few minutes ago. ‘Thank you …., dad.’ It sounded somehow saying dad to someone you just met but it’s better than calling him James. Her mother will berate her if she heard her call him that. Not because he was rich or of a higher position but because he was an elder. You don’t call your elders by their name; it’s a sign of disrespect.

‘But child you look thin,’ now that he was looking at her he could see shadow under her eyes and she look pale as if fatigued and too thin. He was concerned. ‘And pale also.’

Hayley was touched at his concern but somewhat embarrassed also. She wanted to hide behind her braids. ‘I’m just tired.’ She said with a casual air and a smile hoping that he would drop it.

But he didn’t. ‘Lawunmi told me you do odd jobs at Waldorf’s place and you also have part time jobs. How many jobs do you do?’

She had ten part time jobs but was somewhat reluctant to share it but his majesty was expecting an answer. ‘Ten,’ she answered wringing her hand.

‘Ten!’ he was shocked. A girl of her age having ten jobs, no wonder she looked like she would drop dead soon. ‘But why do you work so hard? A girl of your age shouldn’t work that much.’

‘I have to support my parents; we don’t have that much of money so I have to do what I can to lift a bit of burden.’

And place them on yourself; he thought touched by this young girl who could be so helpful to her parents. ‘And which work do your parents do?’

‘My dad’s a gardener, my mum a housekeeper.’

He clicked his tongue sympathetically. ‘But still my child you should have some time off for yourself.’ He told her.

‘I’ve been thinking of that but I have expenses to think of since a new year of school is coming up I have to work to cover up the expenses.’

He nodded understandingly. ‘Okay my child,’ he mussed her braids. Way too much. But the feeling was good how many people do the king do this too? She smiled and the king’s hand stilled.

‘Are you your parents’ only child?’ he took his hand off her head.

‘Yes.’

He was about to say something when Hakeem, the head of servants came forward to whisper in his ears. He nodded whispered back to him. He turned to Hayley and smiled at the girl. ‘Hayley dear, I have to go now follow Hakeem, he has something for you.’

He left and Hayley followed the austere major domo into the palace. He handed her a wooden box with red ribbon. He asked her to wait while someone came to lead her out but she shook her head.

‘I can find my way out thank you,’ she smiled at him and saw the man stiffen. Weird! Don’t people smile at him? Why does he look so pale? ‘Do you need to sit down mister Hakeem? You look pale. I could fetch some water.’ She looked around.

He waved off her words. ‘No worries miss, I’m okay just felt dizzy that’s all. If you will excuse me,’ he placed one hand on his belly and bowed. He left.

Hayley looked around and walked away though it had been long since she was here last she still knew the way to the exit even though changes had been made. She held the box in her hands in front of her humming amazing grace and her eyes roving about the place. What a beautiful place! Big and lovely. How would it feel to have such a grand house? Only that I won’t feel comfortable in it, It’s too large! She preferred small cosy home filled with books and drawings. It had been long since she had touched the sketch pad, not since Monday. Her hand was already itching to – her body hit something solid. She blinked out of her reverie and looked upon the face of a very pretty and very angry girl. The girl seized her up and sneered. Hayley felt embarrassed under her hot gaze

She took steps back. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t see – ‘she began but the girl rudely cut her off.

‘Where you blind that you couldn’t see me coming. This is not your father’s house that you can waltz about day dreaming! I don’t blame you. That’s how you poor people behave; even the educated ones have no sense. Turn them loose on civilisation and they lose their thinking faculty.’ She raged.

Hayley was becoming angry, what has she done to this person to warrant the insults. ‘Excuse me; you weren’t the entire victim in this incident. You too have eyes when you saw that we were only a few inches apart can’t you have swerved? Or you are too big to contain the hallway? I said I am sorry isn’t that enough? What do you want blood? And don’t insult me because I’m poor. The way you talk doesn’t that show you are one of us?’ she said and without giving the stunned girl a chance to speak side stepped her and walked away.

Aisha scoffed looking at the girl that was walking away. How dare she speak to her like that? Dirty low life! She must be new around here and has not been taught how to bridle her tongue. Swine! And saying she as one of them? What audacity? She was still sulking when she got to her future mother in law’s bedchambers. The guards let her in.

The queen of Oduduwa Yemisi Dorcas Williams was in her negligee sitting on a couch sipping coffee and reading newspaper a silver tray on the table before her a maid hanging by and two female security manning the door. This was the woman who shared everything with the king. A woman she looks up to, have been groomed since birth to be like her and someday will be in her position sharing everything with the new king. Tan.

Yemisi looked up from the newspaper and her eyes lighted up with delight. Her lips parted in a smile. ‘Aisha!’ she cried in delight and held out her hand. ‘Come dear,’ she invited.

Aisha walked into her arms and received kiss on her both cheeks. ‘Morning mama,’ she said.

‘Sit my dear,’ she patted to the space beside her. The girl did so. ‘Do you want some coffee? It’s fresh and the cake are delicious you should try one.’ She signalled to the maid who came forward and offered the girl cake. Aisha bit into it.

‘Delicious right?’ Yemisi probed.

Aisha nodded. ‘Yes.’ She smiled at her banishing all thoughts of that chit she had had the ill fortune to have met. She would deal with that later. ‘How’s your health mama?’ she inquired setting down the plate. ‘Last time I was here you complained of headache. Are you better now?’

Yemisi smiled wide and proud. She had indeed made a god choice for her son. Aisha would love and care for her precious son. ‘Yes my child, bless you for asking.’

‘Mama, did you hear from Tan? When will he return?’ she asked.

Yemisi smiled and patted her hand; glad at the girl’s enthusiasm about her would be husband return. ‘He will join us in a few days and then the two of you will be together.’

Aisha nodded. ‘He doesn’t call me much but I hope he calls you regularly.’

‘Tan is a shy boy,’ she said with the air of maternal affection. ‘A little awkward in expressing himself I guess that’s why he doesn’t call. But don’t let that worry you, he loves you and you know it so no need to worry. Hmm?’

Aisha nodded in understanding. ‘Now let’s talk about what you are going to wear to the gala.’