Offer To The CEO

Wednesday, continued…

Snatching a quiet word with Phillipa at the wake, Anna had to ask why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke and Duchess of Sussex were present. The response was surprising "Anna, it is likely two-fold. My grandfather was a marquess and as of the unique terms of the entail, will have caused some interest at the Palace. With my professional background, I have interacted with their Royal Highnesses dealing with matters involving mental health that may have drawn them to attend. Now do not stress out. Go and sit down before your husband decides to take you away because you are getting overstressed and tired, I do not need my friends gone early."

Anna quietly approached Hou Yi who was talking to a few people and after being introduced indicated that she was going to quietly sit down for a little while. She located a quiet corner and sat down with a soft drink in her hand, trying not to fall asleep. Her attention was distracted when she heard an American sounding voice speak to her, and she looked around immediately recognising who was speaking to her. Aware of etiquette from the crash course she had yesterday from Phillipa, and that she was also an Australian Citizen Anna quickly got to her feet, curtseyed and greeted the Duchess of Sussex.

After taking a seat, and telling Anna to sit, the Duchess started talking to Anna. It was clear that she had her briefings and most likely had information from Phillipa and Lady Amelia. She stayed talking to Anna for almost ten minutes offering to help support their initiative to deal with domestic violence, before Prince Harry came over and apologise for dragging his wife away. Anna was stunned about how interesting the whole conversation was, and within a couple of minutes Lady Amelia came over to speak to her.

"You survived that then?"

"Do I have to blame your daughter for that?"

"Actually no, the palace when the confirmed who would be attending asked for a full guest list, and background information on each person. We were given a list of people each of them wanted to meet, and her Royal Highness only wanted to be introduced to you. The few times I have been at private functions with her being present that is her way. She is happy to be introduced to everyone present, but then will speak in depth with a couple of people who interest her. It just happened to be you."

"So, it was you then?"

"Guilty. But you do know, that for everything your husband has done for my daughter I consider him like a son. You are family. Having you here the last couple of days while he has been away has been a blessing. My father hated the idea of mourning his death but knew that tradition and his title meant that we had to. With you and the things we have done the last couple of days, you have helped us honour his wishes to be grateful for the time we all had with him, and to focus on the good in our lives. That has made today bearable, particularly as Phillipa's abuser, given his own title and eventual inheritance is here with his wife. Neither of us wanted him here but we could not exclude him."

"That explains why she has seemed somewhat tense."

"Possibly, but last night she finally introduced to her father and I her boyfriend, and he almost fainted when he realised what her future holds."

"You laid it on thick"

"If he is serious, he has to understand what he is getting in for. Not only Phillipa's own career, but this estate and her position as one of her father's heirs as well. His reaction surprised me. He turned when we told him all of it and said that we had no choice on her future it was her choice alone, and if that was with him so be it, but he would sign whatever pre-nuptial agreements were demanded by us to protect all of Phillipa's inheritances. That made Phillipa mad, and I am guessing they had words on that last night."

"Over-protective mother?"

"You will be the same. Now my favourite adoptive daughter-in-law, you are exhausted. Go and rest, otherwise your husband will kill both of us, and we will see you later. I have already made your excuses to their royal highnesses so go."

With that Lady Amelia escorted Anna to the door of the ballroom where the wake was being held, before a staff member escorted Anna to her and Hou Yi's room. As soon as she laid down, she immediately fell asleep.