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"Okay, look," Ellie says,out the ards the balcony "Do you see that potted plant in the corner, there? If you have to hurl, Sarah, do it there Then, Liv will block you with her a stomach--and no one will notice"

"Or, , flowy polka-dotted skirt and ht along with you Whoever called itsickness didn’t know their ass fro They’ll probably call us the Puking Princesses in the pressbut it’s got a catchy ring to it, so it could be worse"

Sarah laughs along with the less like the color of a dead oyster

The Queen breezes into the rooe ruby broach on the lapel Her tall, blond personal secretary, Christopher, is behind her, clipboard in hand And everything stops The men in the room, myself included, bow and the ladies curtsy, as is required on the first occasion of the day when one encounters Her Majesty

Ellie bends her knees and sinks down gracefully, lowering her head Good girl It upset her that she’d mucked up her first i Soend of the tiny blonde who tackled the Queen

"Are we ready?" the Queen asks no one in particular

Henry steps forward "Your Majesty, Sarah is--"

"Going to try her best," Sarah finishes for hi look, but Lady Sarah nods reassuringly "I want to try It will be all right"

"Of course it will be all right," the Queen agrees, as if by declaring it, circumstances wouldn’t dare to contradict her "There’s no need to worry--no one will be looking at you It will be as if the rest of us aren’t even there They’ll all be exa Olivia’s bump"

"The public interest is ferocious," Christopher explains "There are office pools around the city, wagering how ht Duchess Olivia has put on each week"

Olivia looks down at her growing belly "Great"

"Pay no attention to that,with approval "You look wonderful Very healthy I’m thrilled for you" She smiles at Nicholas too "Both of you"

"Thank you, Queen Lenora" Olivia takes her husband’s hand "We couldn’t be happier"

"Although," the Queen goes on, "your due date is terribly close to Henry and Sarah’s wedding day It’s important to spread these events out, you know To e"

Olivia rubs her stomach "I’ll do my best"

The Queen pats her forearm "I know you will"

"And in the future," Nicholas adds, "we’ll be sure to keep the "

He’s being sarcastic But either Queen Lenora doesn’t pick up on it or she’s giving it right back to hi pod, those two

"That would be appreciated" She nods "Now, shall we?"

The Queen takes a few steps towards the balcony, stops and turns around--noticing Ellie for the first time One thin eyebrow rises as Her Majesty walks a circle around the lass, checking her out froles

Ellie lifts her head "I’ain"

"Yes, I rerown up, aren’t you? Very lovely"

"Thank you Yes, I just graduated college--with y"

"How nice" Queen Lenora thinks for atowards the balcony, then back to Ellie "You reet the croith us You are a relation by es We should remind everyone of that"

Nicholas’s brow furrows

And Ellie’s eyes go wide "Holy sh--"

But she catches herself

"I ain

Once the Queen turns her back, Ellie’s eyes flare and her jaw drops She looks atin her shoes

I give her a smile and nod