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“You don’t understand. We don’t have a queen because we are a republic. We have a president, not a monarch like a lot of these European countries.”

“And don’t you think it’s time we put a stop to that? America needs a queen. Not these bozos that come and go and make a mess of things. A nice queen would give the country some much-needed stability, not to mention international prestige. And you can be heir to my throne,” she said graciously, extending a hand to Odelia.

“If you’re the queen, Marge will be crown princess,” said Chase. “That’s how it usually works.”

“I’m going to skip a generation and make Odelia queen.”

“Marge won’t like it,” said Chase.

Gran waved an imperious hand.“Marge will be fine. It’s Tex that I’m worried about. Can you imagine having Tex as king? That simply won’t do. No, when I’m done being queen, in thirty years or so, I’ll abdicate the throne and make you queen, Odelia. Of course you’ll have to change your name. Queen Odelia just doesn’t have that ring to it. You’d have to choose something regal. Like Eleanor. Or Mathilde.”

“Tell me you’re joking, Gran,” said Odelia.

“I’m dead serious! America’s getting its queen and I’m going to ask the British queen for a couple of pointers and useful tips of the trade.”

“It’s not gonna happen,” said Chase. “You’d have to rewrite the constitution. Heck, you’d have to change the whole system.”

“Systems can be changed, and constitutions can be rewritten. I’ll ask my future colleague the Queen to put in a good word for me.”

“A good word won’t make it happen, Gran,” said Odelia. “You can’t be queen. And if you try, everybody’s gonna think you’re a crackpot.”

“Nonsense. The moment we get back, I’m going to Washington and tell them to call off the next election. I’m sure they’ll all be very happy. Elections are tough, not to mention expensive. A queen is a much cheaper option.”

Odelia couldn’t argue with that part.

“What are you going to tell them in Washington?” asked Chase, who seemed to think the whole thing was a big joke.

“I’ll just tell them: Your queen is here. You may bow now.”

“They’ll probably kick you out,” said Chase with a laugh.

“No, they won’t. I’ll convince them to give it a shot.”

Odelia remembered they’d all watchedMr. Smith Goes to Washington the other day. That was probably where Gran had gotten the idea.

“Gran, you don’t know the first thing about being a queen!” she said.

“Or politics,” Chase added.

“Which is why I’m going to ask the Queen to give me some tips,” said Gran patiently. “The woman has been queen for so long she knows a thing or two about the job and will only be too happy to help out an aspiring royal.”

“Oh, dear God,” said Odelia, leaning her head back against the leather headrest. “And here I thought you’d finally gone sane.”

“I have gone sane. Even better. I’ve gone queen.”

“Gran, you simply can’t—”

But Gran wagged her finger.“What’s with all this ‘Gran’ business? You’ll address me as Your Royal Highness from now on.”

“But Gran!”

But Gran tilted her chin and looked away.

“All right—Your Royal Highness!”

Gran looked up, comporting herself very regally indeed.“Yes?”

“What will Mom and Dad say?”

Gran lifted her shoulders in a queenly shrug.“Let them eat cake.”

Chapter 20

The meeting took place at a shelter for homeless people, and Tessa was clearly in her element. Accompanied by Dante, and watched over by an ever-vigilant Angela, she talked to several of the homeless present, the people who ran the center, and a selected group of reporters snapping shots and filming the whole thing for the evening news. Wherever Tessa went, film crews followed. She was a lightning rod for their attention, her presence electrifying. Dressed soberly in a simple black dress, she played her role to perfection, showing genuine affection for the shabbily clothed vagrants.

Dante, who stood next to Odelia, gleamed with pride.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” said Odelia.

“She is. She’s grown in the role and handles it all with such grace.”

“I think she’s wonderful, no matter what the media people say.”

The gleam diminished as Dante locked eyes with Otis Robbins for a moment, then looked away.“It’s tragic the media would choose to turn my wife into a target. Especially as she’s the most wonderful person I’ve ever met and the terrible things they write about her are lies, every single one of them.”

“I must say that not all the media are against her, though,” said Chase, gesturing to several members of the press who smiled and applauded as Tessa placed a kiss on an elderly woman’s cheeks, much to the woman’s glee.

“No, of course not. But it’s people like Otis Robins who don’t seem to grasp that we have a real opportunity here. An opportunity to change the way we royals interact with the public. On an equal footing, I mean.”

Odelia watched as Tessa’s smile was infectious, and reflected in the smiles of the people she met. “I think it’s true what they say about her,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“Despised by the media barons, loved by the people.”