Chapter 13 - Unexpected Visitor

They were almost finished their lunch when the surveillance system chimed. Immediately, the boys, got up. Beeves went to see the feeds and Boris to the front door. “Someone is coming to your door,” said Beeves, he picked up the device and held it out to Rota so she could identify the person.

“Oh No,” said Rota “Its my Uncle Octave, My Fathers brother. Oh I didn’t expect him here for at least another two days. He normally drags his feet when coming here.”

“Did you want us to turn him away?” asked Beeves

There was a knock on the door.

“I would like that but no its better to just get this over and done with”

Shimel got up at once and took all their unfinished plates from the table “Uncle Octave won’t think it proper, the help eating with a Princess” she said in a mocking tone and put them in the butlers pantry. She then hurried down the hall closing all the doors.

Lacy positioned herself at the door ready to open it. Beeves hid the security feeds.

“Look like guards on duty” the Princess said and settled herself in the middle of the lounge fluffing her skirts so no one would dare sit beside her.

By that stage Shimel was in the kitchen fixing a tea tray, Beeves was standing against a wall between the entry way and the Princess.

“Only make a small tray Shimel, I want him to know he shouldn’t stay long. Ready, Lacy” She then called softly. She then pulled out a tissue from the coffee table and put a sad frail look on her face.

Lacy was heard answering the door, “Oh, let me ask the Princess if she wishes to receive visitors, just a moment.” She closed the door and clopped down the entry room stopped, gave the Princess a look who said “absolutely not” in a dramatic voice, which made everyone smile and then take another moment to compose themselves. She clopped back to the door.

“she shall see you but please not for too long, she is very upset.” Said Lacy

“Oh, Oh Yes, I understand,” said a pompous voice

“Just wait Sir, for the princess’s protection please stand facing the wall with your arms out and feet apart”

“What?” said a now outraged voice.

“Oh yes,” said Lacy, “everyone must, its now required since yesterday’s awful, awful events”

“Oh but surly, I’m her uncle” said Octave dismissively

“Oh Yes, especially since you’re her uncle,” Said Lacy sweetly “If you kill her, you will inherit the throne.” Lacy said of matter factually.

Octave froze for a split second, it wasn’t long but Boris registered the action most concerning, he thought. Gosh Lacy is good.

With a sigh Octave stood facing the wall.

Boris patted him down and the removed a knife from his lower leg, “You can have this back when you leave” Boris said

When he turned around, Boris could tell he was only just holding on to his anger. His face was red and his fists were clenched tight and shaking.

Lacy not seaming to notice “This way Sir”

Boris took a detailed look at the knife he just confiscated, it was very elaborate but sharp, it also looked like it had blood in some of the engravings. He silently pulled out his comm and sent a message to lacy and shimel: I need a swab kit, small black bag in the crate on the left side, near the bench where the coffee maker is. 

“Princess Rota” Octave said in a fake fondness

“Oh Octave” said Rota “I didn’t expect you for a few days yet. I suppose you came because of Fathers . . . condition”

“Oh yes, yes, tragic it is, how are you going, I suppose you must be devastated?”

Shimel got Boris’s message as she was about to take the tea tray over. She pretended to drop something as she searched in the crate.

“Well, he isn’t gone yet so there is hope still”, have you gone to visit him?”

“Yes, but only briefly”

There was a pause in the conversation, Shimel found the swap kit and took one out and tucked one down her front.

Lacy picked up the tea tray

“What I really, came here to talk to you”

“Refreshments Princess” Lacy said in a clear voice that cut Octave off

“Oh yes Lacy, Thankyou” Rota smiled.

“As I was saying, we, really need to talk about who will stand in for the King while he is . . . recovering”

“Isn’t that a bit insensitive,” Rota said a bit of outrage in her voice. “it only happened yesterday”

Octave tried to keep his voice even but it was obvious that he was affronted.

“Maybe but we have to have this discussion, sooner or later”

“Maybe,” The Princess said, she paused and wondered for a moment if she should actually cry. No, best take him head on. “What do you suggest” there was a strength and warning in her voice. Which put Octave on edge a bit.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if you were able . . . to make necessary decisions . . . while your father is . . .” he broke off.

“you want the crown” it was a firm statement

“Oh no, no, no,” he started bumbling “I, ahh just want what’s best for you, I wouldn’t dream . .”

“You wouldn’t dream of what?

Octave started to go red again.

“Yes, I suppose you are right, I should meet with the Governors to discuss, what happens next.  Thank you for bring it to my attention.

Shimel, made her way confidently but quietly towards the entrance room, she pulled the swab kit from the front of her dress and handed it to Boris. He swabbed the knife where the blood was put it in the bag and stowed it in his pocket. Shimel walked purposely but quietly back into the sitting room.

Octave had taken a seat and was drinking his drink quickly.

“So how was your trip?” Rota asked

“Oh yes, there was only one mishap, easily sorted though”

“Did you come straight from Cobalt on the other side of the planet, you made remarkable time if you did”

“No actually, I have just purchased an estate 30mins north of here. I moved in a week ago. Still trying to get everything settled. It was in an awful dis-repair when I purchased it.”

“Oh Father, didn’t tell me”

“Oh that’s because he didn’t know”

“I see. What is the name of the estate, I might know it?”

“It is the Villa Laron, on the River”

“Oh yes I have heard of it, it has a very rich history in smuggling does it not.”

“Yes it does actually, I wasn’t even aware of that until I moved in”

“Really”

There was silence again

“Anyway, I must be going I just wanted to check on you”.

“Why, how very selfless of you” Rota said with too much emphasis on selfless.

“Lacy, do you mind showing Octave out”

“Oh, it would be my pleasure” Lacy said leading Octave to the door

Boris gave Octave back his knife and he left without another word. Beeves pulled out his Comm and checked the room for bugs just in case Octave was up to more than trying to get Rota to back away from the crown. All clear.

“Flip” said Beeves when they all returned to the sitting room “I thought the battle field was tense”

“I think you women just made an enemy” Boris said amused “We really will have to be on our guard now”

“What did you want the swab kit for” asked Lacy

“There was some blood on Octaves knife, I will get this to the lab and see what it tells us. First lesson Ladies, If your going to carry and use a knife, make sure it’s an plain knife with no engravings. . . they are easier to clean.” Boris said

“Ok” Shimel said with a smile” Plain knife, got it. Is anyone still hungry, we were in the middle of our lunch.”

“Oh yeah” the boys said in unison, and they planted themselves back in their seats waiting for their plates.