Royal Rebel - Chapter 5

Chapter 5.1

It was ten to eleven. Esme was busy pouring over maps of America in her study, with Slick nearby, when the housemaid knocked on her door. 2

“Who is it?” Esme asked angrily.3

“Please miss, but it’s Natty.”4

“Oh, hi Natty, come in.” Natty was only about three years older than Esme, and they got on well.5

“How are you?” Esme questioned, then she added a bit more quietly, “How’s your mum?”6

Natty’s mum had been ill with a virus that cost a lot of money to treat. It could only be cured with this treatment, with the money. The money Natty’s family didn’t have.7

“Actually, that’s what I came to talk to you about,” she replied. Esme was on the edge of her seat. “She’s making a full recovery and the doctors say she’ll be out of hospital in two days!”8

“Oh wow, Natty, that’s amazing news!!” Esme grinned with pleasure.9

“I know, and thank you so much for lending us that money for my mum!”10

“Not lend, Natty, there’s no way you’re paying that back, I insist.” 11

When Esme had been taking the money out her account got her bike, she also took out the money for Natty’s mum’s treatment.12

Suddenly there were footsteps in the hall, and another knock at the door. Esme’s mother entered, and looked snobbishly at Natty. 13

“Out.” She ordered, ignoring the protests coming from Esme. Natty did a small curtsy, and walked out the door, but not before sticking her tongue out at Esme’s mother behind her back first.14

Esme leaned back in her study chair, and her mother sat down curtly in a wooden one in front of the desk, glancing over the marked maps and the route on the computer in front of them.15

“Esme……this, trip.”16

“Yes, what about it”, Esme said in icy tones.17

“Will you be planning to do it any time soon?”18

“Yes, quite soon”, Esme mimicked her mother in a posh voice. 19

“When?”20

“After A levels.”21

“And have you asked permission?”22

“I won’t need to.”23

Her mother stood up at that. A fierce look crossed her face. 24

“And how, Esme, are you going to fund this trip?”25

Esme had already thought of that.26

“With the money from my bank account plus the money from my old job.”27

“JOB? WHAT JOB?” Her mother was really angry now.28

Slick started growling.29

“The job at that restaurant on the high street where you used to go for my birthday.”30

“When was this?”31

“When I was fourteen.”32

“But you can’t work unless you’re sixteen!”33

“I lied. You know, that thing that you do a lot just to get publicity.”34

Her mother stood there for a while, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, then stormed out of the room, shouting insults at Esme all the way down the corridor.35

Esme smiled. Maybe things had turned out like she wanted after all. 36