The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1700 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

I made the cottage pie and the table load of hungry marchers wolfed it down in short measure. As they finished, Simon arrived home. He seemed in very good spirits considering the state of European finances.

“I’m afraid this load of guzzlers ate your portion of cottage pie, I’ll make you something else if you’re hungry.”

“No, I’m fine, I ate a big lunch and had a sandwich on the train, so a piece of toast later perhaps.”

“I could probably find you some cheese and crackers later.”

“That would be just right, but later.”

I sensed there was something he wanted to tell me but I felt it was almost a private thing. I cleared up the dishes and picked up my sandwich. I wasn’t that hungry so made do with a cheese and pickle sandwich–which was how I knew we had some cheese.

I left Stella supervising and Jacquie assisting her and went down to my study. I’d barely got there when Simon followed me in and closed the door behind him. “Is there something you want, darling?”

“Oh yes,” he said making a silly face, “but I can wait until bedtime.”

“You’ve been busting to tell me something ever since you came in, so c’mon, I’m all ears.”

“How did you know I had something to tell you?”

I could hardly tell him he was like a four year old, prodding his mother until he gained her attention. He hadn’t actually prodded me, but he was close to it. “Female intuition,” I replied, let him sort it out of that.

“Oh, okay.” He shrugged then continued, “What are you working tomorrow?”

“Let’s see, it’s Friday, I’ll be here doing the survey for a couple of hours, why?”

“No you’re not, you’re coming up to town.”

“Am I now? Sez who?”

“I’m your lord and master, right?”

“In your dreams you might be,” I smirked–I couldn’t help it.

“Okay, we’re a partnership–right?”

“What happened to the lord and master bit?” I teased.

“Okay, you’ve made your point. I need you in London tomorrow. Will you come?”

“What’s it for?”

“Never mind that, will you come?” he pleaded with his eyes, “Please?”

“What time and what is this all about?” I took a bite of my sandwich before it became any more stale.

“Okay, I need you to dress up.”

“What sort of dress up?”

“We’ve been invited to a garden party at Buck house.”

I started to laugh and choked on my sandwich–okay, serves me right–but it struck me as funny. He slapped me on the back and I managed to swallow some tea and clear my throat.

“Will you come?”

“Are you going to be in tails?”

“What? No way–I shall be in a nice lounge suit as I usually wear.”

“I haven’t got to wear a long dress have I?”

“Not unless you want to. Look sort out a nice dress and a hat, then get your arse up to my parent’s house and change, I’ll collect you from there.”

“You want me to drive up?”

“Yeah, use your sat nav.” He knew I hated driving in London and didn’t know my way round that well.

“I thought garden party invitations were sent out months in advance?”

“Yeah, Dad and Monica should have been going but they’ve got to go to Greece.”

“I thought they hated bankers over there?”

“Yeah, he’s looking at a hotel, property out there has dropped through the floor.”

“Oh, possible cheap holidays sometime, then?”

“I don’t know, he might buy it and sell it on–he’s looking at several properties that Monica has earmarked.”

“I thought Athens was a bit risky at the moment, riots and ouzo.”

“I think the risk depends upon whether you have the ouzo or the riot first,” he chuckled at his own joke–not one of his more endearing qualities, but preferable to farting in bed.

“Is the Queen going to be there?”

“In Greece–I doubt it.”

“No, the garden party, silly.”

“I have no idea, does that matter? I mean we’re hardly likely to be presented to her are we?”

“Because of me, you mean?”

He gave me a peculiar look, “Because of you? What d’you mean?”

“Never mind,” I said looking away from him.

“No hang on, I thought we’d resolved this–you are as good as anyone else.”

“So why wouldn’t we get to meet the Queen, then?”

“That list would have been made ages ago, Dad’s met her dozens of times, I’ve met her a couple and I’ve also met Charlie boy,” I blushed as he said this but I don’t think he noticed. “He’s okay, bit up in the clouds unless you’re into something he enjoys.”

“Like tree hugging?”

“He’s into environmental things.”

“Yeah, he conserves things so he can shoot it.”

“He only shoots things like grouse or peasants.”

“Don’t you mean pheasants.”

“No, peasants if they’re annoying him.”

“Very funny, so he might think I’m a bit of a peasant then?”

“I doubt it, you’re a lady in every sense, including title and rank.”

“Only because I married into it.”

“So, that’s how we all started at some point.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

“So will you do it?”

“I suppose.”

“Oh good.”

“You’re going to have to bribe Tom to collect the girls and Julie to keep an eye on them when she gets home, not to mention Stella and Jacquie.”

“Yeah okay, I’ll buy them an ice cream next time they’re at the beach.”

I snorted and he grinned at me, “Gotcha.” I nodded and conceded defeat.

“Don’t forget we have a wedding on Saturday,” I reminded him.

“Eh?”

“Neal and Gloria are tying the knot–she’s up the duff.”

“What time?”

“Lunch time I think.”

“Shit, okay, I’ll cancel my meeting–I moved it from Friday, it’ll have to wait until Monday.”

“I told you last week about it,” I grumbled.

“Yeah, okay, you’re not a bridesmaid are you?”

“Meee? I’m too bloody old and besides I’m married, I could be a matron of honour, but it’s a registry office job.”

“Oh jeans and a tee shirt, then?”

I gave him a laser look and he blushed. “If you want me to turn up for Queenie in a jeans and a tee shirt, just carry on, mate.”

“Okay, point taken.”

“Better go and get the others on board and I’d keep your wallet handy,” I smiled an insincere smile and ate my sandwich wondering what the hell I was going to wear to the palace.

Twenty minutes later Stella appeared, “So, you’re off on a jolly while us slaves have to babysit.”

“In a word, yeah, why?”

“I thought you might want to discuss what you’re going to wear. The forecast is dry but cool.”

“A vest then?”

“Yeah,” she nodded and sniggered. “Haven’t you got my old DK dress, the light blue one?”

“I’ve got a blue dress you gave me, didn’t see who designed it.”

“Yeah, that with your navy hat and shoes and some little lace gloves.”

“Lace gloves? I’ve got some blue cycle mitts will they do?”

“Didn’t your mother drag you up proper then?”

“Nah,” I pretended to wipe my nose on my sleeve.

“Ugh, gross,” was Stella’s opinion.

The next day, after showering, Stella did my hair for me and I packed the dress up ready to collect once I got home from the school run. I dropped the girls off and dashed back home, checking my list, which was just as well because I forgot to pack my shoes and makeup.

I cuppa later, I packed up my car and after a quick hug to Stella and Jacquie, I kissed Catherine and set off for London. It was nine thirty and the journey took me two hours to get to Hampstead where Mrs Jameson was sole occupant of my parents-in-law’s palace.

She made me very welcome and produced a cup of Earl Grey, which went down a treat as did the slice of fresh cream sponge. I went up to the guest room and changed after a little freshening up wash. I was just finishing my toilet–actually giving myself a squirt of No 5 when Simon arrived in a cab which was waiting for us.

He dashed in and grabbed the suit and clean shirt I’d brought up for him, washed and dressed in ten minutes. I adjusted his tie. “You know what that’s supposed to mean, don’t you?”

“That I’m fussy?” I said coyly raising my one foot behind me.

“Uh, no–you look good enough to eat, and if you don’t stop playing with my tie I’m going to have an accident.”

“Oh?” I said, and blushed.

I grabbed the navy jacket and pulled it on over my dress, pushed on the hat and grabbed my bag.

We posed for Mrs Jameson to take a quick photo of us, she approved, at least I think that’s what the broad smile and nod meant, then we were off in the black cab towards The Mall and Buckingham Palace.