Royal

Frank’s P.O.V
I went to find Lily once Gerard agreed that my plan of taking her into town was a good idea. “Hey George have you seen where the new girl is?” I asked one of our oldest members of staff who nodded and told me he last saw her in the service staffs kitchen. I made my way down there passing a few members of staff who I could hear whispering when they thought I couldn’t hear. I wasn’t strict, if I felt like that someone needed a punishment then one was given but luckily I hadn’t had to for so long. I finally reached the top of the 3 stairs that led down into kitchen area when I noticed that Lily wasn’t the only one in here. It was Ivy I saw first who smiled over at me.
“Anything we could get for you sir?” She asked me drawing attention over to me as the look of shock covered everyone’s face. I noticed Lily look up at me wiping her wet hands on the apron that was tied around her waist.
“Yes I need a quick word with Lily, would you all be so kind to leave please.” I smiled at them all as they nodded and hummed leaving us both alone.
“What can I do for you sir? My pager did not go off.” She commented looking down at the small electronic system that we used to get in touch with our staff.
“I didn’t page you Lily.” I smiled walking down the stairs and further into unchartered territory. I mean sure I’d been down there before but not to have a conversation with a member of staff. “I would like you to accompany me into town. You are new here and I would like to show you around. Also, I noticed that you don’t have any home clothes so we will get you some for your two free days.” I smiled at her taking the towel off her and setting it on the side so she couldn’t mess with it. “Go ask Ivy for some clothes she can lend to you. I’ll be in the study when you are ready.” I smiled as she nodded walking out slowly.

“So you’re taking her into town then?” Ivy asked as she pretended to dust the table at the side of the door.
“Yes I am.” I told her looking round making sure no one saw us. Ivy gets away with speaking to Gerard and I like we are her old friends, but, not in front of others.
“Relax it’s dinner time for them.” She told me looking up smirking. “You know she’s the best person I know? That’s including the prince.” She told me honestly, no playful side that I normally see. I didn’t respond taking back by her sincere moment and I think she picked up on it as she went back to her normal self. “You know you should find a friend. All the other maids talk about how Gee has a mystery friend and that they are sick of cleaning the stains off the sheets, let me tell you there is nothing to clean he ain’t got nothing left to hose the fire down with by the time we’ve finished,” she added the dirty details in before continuing, “they all say you should get one. Want to know what they call you?” She asked smirking up at me as I let the disgusted look linger on my face staring in the direction Lily would come from. “They call you…” Ivy started.
“Beautiful.” I whispered as I saw Lily for the first time out of her maids uniform.
“No that is not what they call you.” Ivy looked at me with a stupid expression until she realised I wasn’t joining in and turned around to see her best friend stood there in the mid-thigh length floral silk skirt and berry blouse, berry lipstick covering her usually pale plump lips.” I stood staring at her as I felt Ivy nudge me from the side as my brain jolted back into action.
“Lily,” I smiled stepping forward towards her, “are you ready?” I asked her biting my lip, nerves getting the better of me as she nodded. Ivy opened the door for us as I held my hand out to her to take and led her outside, her hands shaking a little. Ivy whispered a little it’s ok I could be trusted to her before she closed the door behind us. I opened the car door for her allowing her to slip in before closing it and running around to the other side and driving out of the grounds quickly.

We’d walked around the town, me stopping to show her certain places of interest and dipping in and out of a few shops. I noticed she was relaxing more and more as we talked more and more about the town. It wasn’t massive, but it was a reasonable size and had withstood the war so had lots of interesting facts scattered around. “We should stop for food. What do you like?” I asked as she stared blankly at me.
“I have never eaten anywhere but at the palace.” She blushed again as I realised what she was saying.
“That’s ok I’ll take you to my favourite place.” I smiled taking her hand slowly and pulling her across the road towards the pizza house. We quickly got seated, perks of being a prince I guess, and looking over the menu. “Choose anything.” I told her smiling as she looked at the menu amazed. We made our decision, she ordered mushroom and sweetcorn and I ordered the fully veggie pizza along with two cokes. We sat there quietly for a moment as she took in her new surroundings, she was like a puppy seeing everything for the first time. “Are you ok?” I asked as I noticed her nervousness had returned as she looked up at me guiltily.
“C..can I ask you something?” She looked up at me biting her stained lips as I nodded. “Why me? Why did you choose me sir?” She asked looking back up at me when she finished her question, checking she hadn’t over stepped a line.
“You were the oldest.” I told her, not ready to tell her the full truth in case I scared her, she nodded seemingly satisfied with the answer. “Lily you can call me Frank when we are not in the palace and when we are in my room.” I told her smiling, never allowing anyone to use my real name. She looked up at me with wide eyes the shock evident on her face.
“My name isn’t Lily.” She bit her lip like I was ready to shout at her, I looked over at her confused; I’d trusted her in telling me her name and she’d broke that. Regretting everything nice I had done for her in a split second. I was about to say something, but her mouth opening stopped me. “I mean it is but I’m really called Elizabeth. The king thought Elizabeth was too regal for an orphan to have so shortened it to Lily.” She opened up a little more as I relaxed again, smiling slightly that she had trusted me enough to tell me that.
“Elizabeth.” I smiled noticing her lip getting released from her teeth as she smiled back. “That’s beautiful.” I told her truthfully as she blushed.
“Thank you. You’re the second person I have ever told that too.” She admitted as I figured Ivy was the first.
“What would you prefer me to call you?” I asked her giving her the freedom of choosing her own name.
“Everybody already knows me as Lily now.” She smiled shrugging her shoulders softly as I nodded.
“Well how about when you call me Frank I call you Elizabeth? Deal?” I asked her as she nodded slightly.

We’d arrived back at the palace shortly after 6pm and Lily had gone to put her new items away in her room. “How did it go?” Gerard asked as he walked in my room. It was now 11pm and I knew at any moment the maid would be in for final chores.
“I think it went well. I took her for pizza. She loved it.” I laughed a little at the memory. “She told me the king had made her change her name, her real name is Elizabeth.” I looked over at Gerard who frowned.
“Wow he’s a prick.” He breathed out what I was thinking as I reached for my cigarettes lighting one up instantly.
“Tell me about it.” I agreed with him taking a deep inhale of the delicious poison.
“At least she opened up. I mean she kinda had to it was like a date after all.” Gerard shrugged smirking at me as I shook my head at him glaring. “Don’t deny it. Ivy told me what happened when you saw her in plain clothes. Just bloody act on it!” He shouted at me as I was about to swear at him there was a knock on the door. “Turn down time.” Gerard winked, knowing full well what that meant as he swung the door open.
“Oh hi Lily right?” He asked as I strained to look at the door to see her but was blocked by Gerard. I assume she nodded because he’d followed his last question with, “nice to meet you officially.” And with that he pushed the door open a little more allowing her to enter, wiggling his eyebrows above her head at me as I tried to ignore him.
“Elizabeth.” I smiled at her as she blushed at her real name being used.
“Is there anything you need before bed sir?” She asked smiling at me.
“For you to use my real name.” I laughed as she made her way to my side of the bed as I was getting in. She sat a cup of tea on the bedside cabinet and fluffed my pillow.
“I’m sorry… Frank.” She said unsure of herself. I smiled up at her as she smiled back, leaning over to bring the covers over me.
“I had fun today in town, thank you very much Elizabeth.” I continued to smile up at her as she carefully neatened out the comic books that she had taken off the bed. “But I have to admit something to you.” She stopped to look over at me. “You asked why you? The answer I gave wasn’t fully truthful.” I admitted as she went back to looking nervous. “I didn’t want to admit the truth in case it scared you but you opened up to me so it’s only fair I do the same.” I paused before telling her, “I saw something about you that intrigued me. You are beautiful Elizabeth and I wanted to get to know you more.” It was like the roles had been reversed as it was my turn to bite my lip. She stared down at me for what felt like forever before smiling slightly the red tint on her face. “Thank you, Frank.” She spoke quietly, sitting up slightly I kissed her cheek.
“No thank you.” I whispered in her ear.

Notes