Chapter Eleven

Flowers started to bloom April in London, and fresh air was brought in. When Lucy could, she spent her time outside, taking in as much fresh air as she could. Harry was gone for the last week and was to be gone for the next week as he toured. Lucy almost went with him, since she only seven months, but he ended up adding another stop to his schedule. That one stop was one she couldn't end up doing. Harry wanted to do it and Lucy wanted him to go too. However, the stop ended up not being safe for Lucy in her "condition," no matter how she argued she was fine. It wasn't Harry that told her no, so she couldn't be angry at him. But rather it came from his father, who ended up having the final say.

With Harry gone, Lucy went to her own events, which included a lot more lunch-ins nowadays. There wasn't much for physical movement, when she could still easily get around. Also, this was her last month on duty before she stopped at eight months. Lucy wasn't exactly sure what she was to do for assuming two months and not just one month. Boredom was about to take over her life.

Lucy had been reading aloud for a while without an event today. There were some studies about the baby being able to hear outside the womb, and reading was supposed to help its mind. Lucy wanted to catch up on some reading and any book was supposed to do well for baby's mind.

The door open and she heard it creak. She thought she was supposed to spend the day alone. "Tony," Lucy called from the living room, her finger slipping between pages.

After a few steps on the hardwood floors, the bodyguard popped his head in. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Weren't you supposed to have the day off?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

"You're here?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Do you plan on staying?"

"Would you like me to leave, ma'am?"

"No, it's fine." Lucy closed the book and slowly got up. "If you're here, it means we can go out."

Tony stopped in the doorway. "Ma'am, I don't think that's a good idea."

"I'll go get ready."

"Ma'am--"

"I'll be a few minutes, Tony. Prepare." Lucy walked past him and started up the stairs.

"Where specifically are we going out?" he asked.

"The park. The flowers are in bloom and I want fresh air." Her head appeared around the corner. "Not true. I need fresh air."

"Car, ma'am?"

Lucy shook her head no.

Tony turned away from the staircase and knew he was eventually going to get into trouble for this. But that was the future and this was now. Even if it ended badly, at least there was fun to be had. It never really ended badly when Lucy decided to go on a spontaneous trip to the park; in fact, no one ever quite noticed her. Somehow no one ever noticed her. There was more of a chance to be noticed when Harry was with her, but it was rare someone noticed her while she was out and not as a royal. It was probably because she never truly looked like her royal self when she went out not as a royal.

Deciding early on, Lucy took the liberties to change things about herself so they were different in the public eye compared to the private. First was her hair. Though blonde, her natural hair was curly and she let it fall natural when she was in private. When in public, it was stick-straight perfect. Second was the makeup. In the public eye, usually there wouldn't be an imperfection anywhere, especially on her face. That meant all scars were covered up, and all the skin was the same shade. In private, Lucy usually put on less than normal makeup, so that she had on eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. Third was the clothing. When Lucy had the chance, she wore jeans.

She came down the stairs heavily and it had taken her a little more time to get ready. Tony was already waiting for her, switching into normal clothes. That didn't mean weapons weren't on his body. Lucy walked downstairs, fixing her jacket. Her body had gotten accustomed to the weather in London, even though it was always colder in Minnesota. She liked that it was always warmer here at least. 

It was always easy to get out of Kensington Palace, which was funny since it was so difficult to get in. With the walk to Kensington Gardens, it was simple. No one noticed, not even the tourists who snapped pictures of everything. Lucy and her bodyguard walked around the Round Pond and into Kensington Gardens. With the warm weather and weekend, many people were out. Tony grew still beside her. Lucy continued on her way to Hyde Park; she never spent much time in Kensington Gardens.

A walk through Hyde Park was always Lucy's favorite. It naturally made her happy. The fresh air was good for her and the baby, but it were the smiles she received from people that she liked the most. No one glanced twice at her, but that didn't mean that people didn't look at her once. Everyone was just peaceful and happy.

Lucy stood in the middle of Hyde Park and watched the world pass her by. Beside her, Tony stood there and watched the world differently. This was the first time he had taken his eyes off Lucy the whole day. She found a good place in the sun and sat down. Tony sat down beside her.

"Look more natural," she commented, and Tony tried. Lucy laughed at him. "You look natural when you're with your kids, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Why not now?"

"Ma'am, we're in a dangerous situation."

She rolled her eyes and took in the warmth. "I never thought the clouds would effect me so much here. I thought I would be fine. How do you guys do it?"

"With practice."

Lucy hummed her response and just sat peacefully in the sunlight for a while. Eventually, Tony slowly got comfortable too. After thirty minutes of sitting there, she needed to move. The bodyguard helped Lucy off the ground, after having a slight difficulty. She still had time to go, yet she already seemed massive with just one baby.

The walk back to Kensington Palace was just as peaceful as Lucy took time get some chips to eat along the way. The snack was finished up by the time they made it close to Kensington Palace. Tony was about to take the back way into the apartments, where security was to check them in, but Lucy remained standing outside the Palace.

"Ma'am?"

"I've never taken the tour." She turned to him. "Want to go?"

"Ma'am?"

Lucy grabbed his arm and towed him forward. "Let's go."

The line was long and Tony glanced around a lot to see if anyone noticed them. No one did. Lucy quietly snapped at him that attention would've been drawn to them if he kept going at this pace. When she reached the front, Lucy pulled out her wallet to pay.

"Two adults please." Her old American accent came back. Over the years of living in London, her accent had mixed of American and English. Now, she pushed her old Minnesota accent out with strong and long vowels.

"Where are you from?" the cashier asked nicely.

"Minnesota in the U.S." Her accent came out thickly.

The cashier looked up at her, handing her the tickets. "Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot alike Lucille, Princess of Wales?"

Lucy felt Tony stiffen beside her, but she smiled at the cashier. "A lot."

"You are even pregnant too. Funny how that works?"

"Hilarious."

"She's been seen walking around sometimes, especially outside. She likes the outdoors. I'd keep an eye out."

"Thank you." Lucy handed Tony's ticket to him. "Was that so difficult?"

"Ma'am" was his only response.

The bodyguard walked forward first and Lucy followed as they mixed into group. They were no more than tourists to the Palace. Even with Lucy's pregnant belly, no one noticed that Lucy was the same person as Lucille, Princess of Wales, even when the tour guide said something about it. Lucy smiled nicely and spoke in the most Minnesotan accent that she could. It worked every single time.

After the tour, Tony finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't think we need to do that again, ma'am." They stood in the front hallway of Lucy's Kensington Palace Apartment.

"Come on. That was fun."

"What will your husband think, ma'am?"

"Why is always what my husband thinks? He knows who he married." Lucy's mobile beeped and she looked down at it. "Speaking of him." She wished Tony good night as Lucy into the kitchen, and the bodyguard let himself out. "Hello, Prince Charming."