The Prince's Tutor

Callie sat hunched over on her bed, her beautiful locks of curls scrunched up in her hands. Letting out a sigh of deep frustration she simultaneously rubbed her tired eyes with her fingertips. A large pile of college textbooks lay sprawled in front of her and she looked at the clock. One thirty in the morning… Had it really been so long?

Glancing over at the adjacent bed she saw her younger sister Jen sound asleep. For a split second, Callie was envious of her sister who was snuggled up under warm covers, lost in a land of innocent and carefree dreams. What she would do to go back into that childhood, to be so unaware of the struggles of daily life.

She heard a soft knock and saw her mother’s head poke in. Her mother had aged. The stress and workload had tired her body, creating large bags under her eyes and premature wrinkles. Her once beautiful auburn hair was now mostly gray.
“You’re still up, sweetheart?” her mother’s soothing voice came.
She made her way over to her daughter and pulled her into a tight embrace.

She smelled of lavender, just like when Callie was younger.

“Go to bed, sweetheart. Forget about all these books. You need your rest, you look like a corpse!” her mother cooed, gently running her soft fingers through Callie’s curls.
“No, I’m almost done. I just have a couple more pages….”
“No, Callie. Bed.”
“Mum…”
“Caroline.” Her voice was tern stern, apprehensive.

Callie slammed her line of books closed and pushed them off the bed. When she was settled well under the covers her mother said,
“I know I don’t say this very often, but I really am grateful for everything you do for this family.”
Callie, already half asleep, struggled to keep her heavy eyelids open. Instead she just pointed to her Pre-Law textbooks and mumbled,
“Under there, the check.”
Then, as easily as a baby, Callie sweetly and soundly dozed off to sleep.
~~**~~~

The next morning, Callie sat on a bench outside the Cambridge school. Under the large oak tree, she silently finished her homework from the previous night. She wore simple attire- jeans and a floral off shoulder shirt accompanied with her favorite pair of sneakers. Too simple.

She was just about finished with her last question when a scrawny boy ran into the outside garden, searching frantically.

He looked confused, which really contradicted his character because he was the second top student in her Business Law class. Key word: second.

His hair was gelled back which made his hair appear almost frozen and it shined under the morning light. His eyes were lost under a pair of large rimmed glasses, and his small frame seemed as if it couldn’t support his abnormally large head. Callie analyzed him for a moment; he looked hilarious really- such a mousy boy running around in such frenzy.

Finally, the boy found what he was looking for.

“Caroline!” He ran up towards Callie, and took a moment to calm down. He bent over and placed his palms on his knees, panting heavily.

“The director….of the school….wants to speak to you.” Pause.
“She is waiting….in her office….wanted me….to find you.”

“Me? What for?” Callie sat, apprehension crossing over her delicate features.

This was it. The end of her life- they had found out about her fake identity.

Callie couldn’t stop the ridiculous thoughts that trampled her mind. She had a tendency to think only of the negative during times like this.

It’s over. What the hell am I going to do? I’m going to be thrown out, maybe even exiled. What will we do then? Will we be shunned to another city?

All these thoughts crossed her mind as she walked, slowly, to the Director’s office. She stood in front of the door for some time, racking her brain for what to do if the worst were to come.

Then, gently, she took the brass knob and gave the large wooden door a push.
The director was a middle aged woman, probably in her late forties. She sat behind a large oval desk, a coffee in her right hand.

When she saw Callie, she excitedly stood from her seat and walked over to her.

“There you are, my dear!” she spoke.

She was dressed in an expensive formal suit. She had on a black, tight fitted D&G blazer and a matching pin skirt. She wore Michael Kors’ black pointed toe heels, accompanied with his branded Golden toned Glitz watch on her wrist.

Wow, even the teachers were name brand.

“You wanted to speak with me, professor?” Callie twiddled her thumbs anxiously in front of the woman.

“Yes! My dear, there is a royal limousine outside of the school right now.”

Callie, unsure where this conversation was going, didn’t know how to respond.

“That’s err….fantastic.” she said, attempting a genuine smile.

What in the bloody hell was this woman talking about?

“You don’t understand. The car is here for you.” Callie’s face was emotionless.

“I don’t think I follow, sorry?”

“Prince Charles wants to speak with you. You’ve been summoned!”

It seemed with every word, the woman grew more excited- if that was possible.
Her face was overjoyed; she was probably the most happy she’d ever been in her life.

A sudden jolt hit Callie, they were taking her where!?

“Did I do something, professor? Why are they taking me away?”

Dear God, help me. I am being exiled for sure…

“My God, girl! You ask so many questions! If the Prince of Wales is summoning you, do as you’re told.”

“But my classes…” Callie started.

“Hush. Now fix your hair, and put on some decent clothing- you’re a business man’s daughter for God’s sake.”

The director seemed quite agitated with Callie now, and Callie thought it best to put her questions on hold.

In that moment, two large men in black suits came into the room. The Director seemed as if she was going to have a heart attack right then and there. This was probably the closest she’d ever get to royalty- their bodyguards.

“Miss.” One of the bulky men addressed Callie. The other preferred to call her by her formal name.

“Are you Caroline Marie Alice Bellhart?” he questioned.

“Yes, I am.” Callie said. She was becoming really anxious now, she felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest.

“Come with us, Miss Caroline.”

Callie followed the two men out to a black limousine. A royal flag was positioned at the front of the car.

There were more bodyguards that surrounded the vehicle; one of them opened the door for her.

Callie seated herself on the cool leather of the car. Whatever happens she told herself she would remain calm.

The ride was a long one, and soon Callie grew bored of the scenery. She rolled her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. She hoped that everything would turn out okay. It had to right?

The car stopped and a man opened the door.
“You’ve arrived, Miss.” He said.

Callie’s eyes fixated on the grand estate in front of her- Buckingham Palace.

The building gave off an aura of luxury. There were many flowers- tulips, lilies, roses-all planted in front of the grand statue of Queen Victoria. The Gates glimmered and the British flag waved at the top of the building in its glory.

An older man approached Callie. He had a kind face and genuine smile, and every time he laughed his cheeks turned a rosy colour. He asked Callie to follow him into the large common room.

Prince Charles sat on the large Victorian sofa dressed in, what Callie presumed, was one of his best suits. His hair was combed back neatly and he wore a blue tie to match his suit. The butler motioned for her to sit across from the Prince, and Callie did just so.

She attempted to look more formal- she crossed her legs in a feminine fashion and placed her hands on her lap. While she waited for the Prince to finish dropping his sugar cubes in his tea, she held her breath expecting the worst.

“May I offer you tea, Miss Bellhart?” The butler asked.

“Oh, no thank you.” Callie replied. The Prince however seemed dissatisfied.

“Oh you must have some! The tea is excellent, and it is quite rude to reject offers from the host.”

Callie’s eyes widened. She did not want to insult Prince Charles and she feared she may have already done so.

Great Callie, you just stepped in and already you’re messing up.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I don’t want you to think I’m being rude! I’ll have tea, if that’s what you wish…er… your Majesty.”

The Prince chuckled; he seemed all this was quite amusing

“Oh I am just joking, my dear. You do have to excuse me; I love a little laugh every now and then.”

Little laugh? He spoke so formally.

Callie was handed her tea and she gracefully placed it on the table in front of her, stirring in the sugar already thrown in.

The Prince seemed slightly uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat, trying to come up with something to say to lighten the mood.

It was silent in the great common room for a while- neither Callie nor the Prince knew what to say.

Callie awkwardly sipped her tea and waited for the Prince to interject.

“Erm…it is a gorgeous day, isn’t it?” he asked, trying to make small talk.

Callie felt as if she was balancing on a beam fifty feet above the ground- one small slip and she would fall.

“Yes, the weather is nice.” She replied and quickly drank her tea so she wouldn’t have to say anything else.

Prince Charles nodded, his wrinkles seemed more apparent than before.

“Yes…and the ride here, it was alright?”

“Yes, it was a little long though.” Callie admitted and set her cup.

“Yes, Cambridge is a tad bit far from Westminster.”

Callie was starting to get restless, why exactly was she here?

“Eh, sir…I mean, your Majesty… I don’t mean to offend you, but I’m not exactly sure as to why I am here.” There she finally said it.

Charles stared at her for a split second before nodding vigorously. He now too, set his teacup down and rested his hands in his lap.

“Yes, yes of course! I don’t blame you for asking.” He let out a small laugh, as if chuckling at his own foolishness.

“Well you see- you have heard of my son, yes?” he asked first, lifting his eyes to match Callie’s.

Automatically, Callie responded with:

“Prince William? Yes, of course!” she said, delighted that the conversation was going somewhere.

“No, my other son I’m afraid. Harry.”

Callie felt stupid for some reason; she tried her best to make amends.

“Oh yes! I didn’t mean to say William first- it’s just he’s older and, well, you know-”

Prince Charles cut her off. “Yes, I understand.”

Callie became silent. She needed to learn to control herself before she’d end up getting thrown out of the palace.

Prince Charles sighed heavily before continuing:

“I’ve enrolled him into Cambridge recently. And I’m looking for someone to tutor him- well not just that really. I’m looking for someone that could be a good role model for what he can achieve if he applied himself.”

The heir to the British throne paused and took another sip of his tea, then continued:

“I’ve asked my advisors to find suitable candidates for the position, and well I’ve come across your file. You’re background is very impressive. I need someone not only with outstanding grades, but someone with a family history like yours. You’re the daughter of BT Group?” he finished, looking expectantly at Callie.

Callie felt frozen in her chair. Keep calm, Callie. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but decided it was best to keep it closed. Who knows what she would spill out if she opened that damned thing?

She desperately wanted to shout at him “No, I’m the daughter of a poor street cleaner.”
All these secrets and expectations were rising to the top of Callie, begging to be released.

Callie nodded slowly, shoving all her words down her throat.

“Fantastic, I’ll get a hold of him shortly and ask him for permission to-”

“No that’s not necessary!” Callie blurted out, and then quickly laughed to hide her anxiety.

“Please, my father isn’t very involved in my life. Whatever you may wish to ask of me, I believe I am old enough to give you the answer myself.”

Prince Charles merely smiled.

“Ah, good for you, my dear. You have the talent to be a businesswoman. Very self- dependant.”

After the compliment, his tone returned to the seriousness it held moments before.

“I am offering you a job as my son’s tutor. I, of course, will be providing compensation. I know my son may be a little hard to handle, but if you accept my offer, I’d greatly appreciate it.” He finished his sentence and looked at Callie, who now sat speechless in her chair.

After collecting her composure, Callie replied:

“I’m not sure about this, sir. I don’t mean to be difficult; this is a great honor, really. It’s just I have school and homework, and it’s just all so much right now.”

The Prince nodded in understanding then called over to the butler who was standing next to the door of the other room.

“Gerald, would you please show Miss Bellhart the amount we intend to give her.”

The man named Gerald walked over to Callie and handed her a slip of paper with a number on it.

Callie took one look at it and gasped, dropping the piece of parchment to the floor.

“Do we have an answer, Miss Bellhart?” The Prince smiled genuinely at her.

Callie was unsure, the room was spinning. All of this was happening too fast.

‘Think of the money, Callie’ she told herself. No matter how many times she told herself, she still felt as if she was being bought.

“Well…”she started, biting her lip.

“My dear, if this is all overwhelming you, you can of course give me an answer later.” He said.

The man was nice; he didn’t mean to pressure her. Callie realized that he was just used to his life in luxury. Money just wasn’t an issue.

Callie thought of her mother, who spent her evenings with a broom- cleaning up after people in the streets. She thought of her elder sister, Andrea, working two jobs to help pay the rent. She thought of her little sister Gen and her little brother Tommy. Why did they have to suffer growing up the way she did?

No, if she turned down this opportunity she would regret it later. She owed her family this much.

“No, I’ll take the job.” Callie said, determined.

“Excellent!” Prince Charles seemed thrilled- he probably wouldn’t have found another person who would agree to the task.

So she was going to tutor 'The Great Troublesome Prince'?

As Callie stood up from her chair she couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right.

Why did she have the feeling that this was going to be more than what she bargained for?