AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Queenie]

He smiles and say "Oh yes, please be seated Miss West." Before he can even signal a waiter has arrived and takes Ruby's order for food and beverages. Ali Ranuel says, "It is a huge honor to have our new Queen here. I would like to ask a large favor if I can be so bold. If we could have your fiance take photographs of her visit it would be very helpful. The more we can publicize her visitation her the more prestige we will gain in the long run."

Ruby smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. I am certain George would enjoy that, as long as the Queen approves. We have gotten very good service here so I am sure it will not be an issue."

She kept an eye on the familiar woman, trying to figure out where she knew her from. She was actually going to try to have breakfast with her but once the Sultan grabbed her to sit, she did not want to offend him. Still, she just could not put her finger on why she was familiar and it was getting to her so a large part of her attention was focused there.

"I imagine you wouldn't even need a picture, I mean, once word spreads the Queen has stayed here you'll be sold out all the time." She laughed lightly, "I do hope you'll have room for me on my next trip here!"

 

[Silver Moon]

"Welcome representatives of The British Armed Forces of the United Kingdom who negotiate for and on behalf of, Her Majesty Queen Victoria. May I introduce the hosts of this conference. Her Royal Highness Princess Amisi, Colonel Hassan of Her Majesty's 3rd Royal Rifle Company of Alexandria. I am the lead negotiator for Her Highness, Queen Neferka, Pharaoh of the Lands of Egypt and the Nile, George Eastman, interim Chief of Staff for Her Majesty." begins George in English looking expectantly at the generals.

General Wolseley begins by thanking George for his interventions the previous morning, first in rescuing General Duruy-Lowe, and second in returning him to battle and exposing the imposter. Genery Duruy-Lowe also thanks George. Wolseley then asks, "What has become of that miscreant? If the Queen is uncertain of what to do with him I can formally request that the man be turned over to us for judgement. Impersonation of a Royal Army Officer is deemed a capital offense."

 

[Silver Moon]

Ruby smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. I am certain George would enjoy that, as long as the Queen approves. We have gotten very good service here so I am sure it will not be an issue."

She kept an eye on the familiar woman, trying to figure out where she knew her from. She was actually going to try to have breakfast with her but once the Sultan grabbed her to sit, she did not want to offend him. Still, she just could not put her finger on why she was familiar and it was getting to her so a large part of her attention was focused there.

Further concentration on the women reveals a magical aura surrounding her.

"I imagine you wouldn't even need a picture, I mean, once word spreads the Queen has stayed here you'll be sold out all the time." She laughed lightly, "I do hope you'll have room for me on my next trip here!"

He says, "But photographs can be displayed on the wall for posterity. Even one-hundred years from now they will see that we hosted the Queen. As for a room for you, I will always have one for you. And if for any reason Mr. Eastman does not follow-through on his offer to marry, a room could be found for you here permanently."

 

[Queenie]

Further concentration on the women reveals a magical aura surrounding her.


He says, "But photographs can be displayed on the wall for posterity. Even one-hundred years from now they will see that we hosted the Queen. As for a room for you, I will always have one for you. And if for any reason Mr. Eastman does not follow-through on his offer to marry, a room could be found for you here permanently."

Ruby laughed heartily. "You flatter me, Sultan, and I do appreciate and value the offer. Alas, my heart is restless and I find it will be quite some time before I can settle down in any one spot." Ruby placed her hand over the Sultans. "But we shall be very good friends, if that pleases you."

 

[orchid blossom]

He says, "The ceremony is not for another five weeks so there is sufficient time, but yes, I would say that at least three different formal clothing changes will be necessary. One for the evening before the ceremony, when you will meet the Stuarts. Another for the ceremony itself. And a third for the ball later that evening."

"Three! Oh, this just keeps getting worse and worse," she said, with a definite hint of seriousness. "Meet the Stuarts? I suppose that's necessary, but we have to make a whole evening of it?"

 

[Silver Moon]

Ruby laughed heartily. "You flatter me, Sultan, and I do appreciate and value the offer. Alas, my heart is restless and I find it will be quite some time before I can settle down in any one spot." Ruby placed her hand over the Sultans. "But we shall be very good friends, if that pleases you."

"It does indeed," he states. The food that Ruby ordered is delivered. The Sultan's tea is refilled and he takes a sip. He asks, "Is the Queen's visit here only a one-time thing, or will this be a semi-permanent place for her? This city is where her new husband is from."

 

[Silver Moon]

"Three! Oh, this just keeps getting worse and worse," she said, with a definite hint of seriousness. "Meet the Stuarts? I suppose that's necessary, but we have to make a whole evening of it?"

He says, "Abby, I am being knighted! Do you honestly think that either my uncle or my father would do anything less?"

 

[orchid blossom]

He says, "Abby, I am being knighted! Do you honestly think that either my uncle or my father would do anything less?"

"Of course not. I've only known about this for about five minutes, Cal. I haven't had the chance to think it all through yet. My brain is bouncing from one possibility to the next. I have no idea where I'll be over the next few weeks. Egypt, back in Florida, and now I'll need to be in England. And of course I'll need to tell my mother and all my English relations.

I have no idea how this will affect my employers. Probably not at all. Mrs. Parker and Mr. Eastman are already well-known so a little notoriety is likely alright. But I don't know what their plans are for the future or how this may change them.

And the idea of spending an evening with people who do not like me doesn't rank high on my list of ways to have a good time."

She stopped and took a deep breath. "I know, you're being knighted. I'm not. It's a much more important distinction for you, but in light of everything it's just about the best outcome you could have hoped for. Recognition for myself is unexpected... and disconcerting."

 

[Silver Moon]

"And the idea of spending an evening with people who do not like me doesn't rank high on my list of ways to have a good time."

"Not 'do' not like you, try 'did' not like you. The Queen is personally honoring you, that is something that aristocrats will not ignore. It will certainly raise your esteem in the eyes of my uncle. And having your English relatives present will not be bad thing to help dispel my father of his notion that you are just a troublesome colonist."

She stopped and took a deep breath. "I know, you're being knighted. I'm not. It's a much more important distinction for you, but in light of everything it's just about the best outcome you could have hoped for. Recognition for myself is unexpected... and disconcerting."

He says, "Like yesterday, we will be in the city too late for the best shops. But if we make it an earlier night than we did before you could come back into the city tomorrow morning and purchase what you will need. Meagan could tailor them magically so you would not have to wait for alterations and a later fitting."

 

[orchid blossom]

"Not 'do' not like you, try 'did' not like you. The Queen is personally honoring you, that is something that aristocrats will not ignore. It will certainly raise your esteem in the eyes of my uncle. And having your English relatives present will not be bad thing to help dispel my father of his notion that you are just a troublesome colonist."

"It's a shame their sudden turnaround won't help me like them any better. Whether they liked me or not, it actually has nothing to do with me. There's only one Stuart whose opinion I can trust to be honest. Yours." She moved closer and kissed him lightly. "It's the only one that matters anyway."