sleep last night. She remembered the note, and her throa

lying that it was one of the maids playing a prank on her. She didn'

e palace to start her shift. Every glance at her seemed loaded. Could

tly on the wooden notice boards along the hallway in the staff quarters. New

ns brief, and "hold themselves to the highest standards." There had been no grand announce

nued with her day. But as soon as she walked into the

," muttered a young

wing one night" a senior butler whispere

ention. She hurried to the kitchen, where Isla was already bu

ed an order at Catherine. Isla took on the brunt of the task, arranging the trays wit

ther's excessive drinking had broken up his marriage, and it had destroyed her mother. She never felt love in her home. She remem

maids. Catherine had also vouched for her in one particular incident. "If you accuse Isla, y

ed tight inside her. She said nothing more, just con

still feeling on edge. She saw Prince George coming the other way towards her. He looked tired,

didn't know how to act around him. So, she tried to avoid him, but the

voice softer than she

wed him into a small

I... I've tried to piece it together, but I can't. I have this feeling something's c

ing to say. "Umm... I... I was with you. You... you were dru

sign of lies. And for a moment, some

his 6-year old girl in the gardens beside the palace, clutching a wildflower he'd picked up fo

steps echoed as Mr. Alden, the King's junior royal secretary, appeared

e said. His tone was polite but held an edge, a

ing Catherine one last, unce

steady her heart beating errati

, the cups rattling, nearly falling. Maids gasped. Mrs. Ha

rnered Catherine in a

ble, but you're not. Staff position is earned with discretion. If I find yo

's side. "With all due respect, Mrs. Harrow, Catherine's only ever put the palace f

d at them, huffed

into the administrative offices. A senior su

things like that lightly, and we require absolute transparency. Any staff caught up in

eling a bit scared on the inside. "My Catherine has n

forget the chill in their warning. She's been here before, and sh

ughter about the situation. But as soon as she walked in, she s

d to her side, her heart in

her eyes tired. "I don't

ening in the last few days together: the rumors, Cat

g was true, then nothin