The Royal Scandal | Prince William |

Good Morning

February 3, 2001

William and Jaclyn had had a busy night. Which was why once they were seated in the confines of one of the sitting room in the York House, Jaclyn had instantly fallen asleep. It had been around midnight, and William was sure she would wake up, but then he had sunk farther into the soft cushions of the couch and was out as well.

That was how they were found the next morning. William sitting upright head cocked over Jaclyn's sleeping form almost protectively, while she had snuggled her head into his lap.

The sun fled into the room at the right moment, using the white walls to brighten the entire room. With beams of light crossing his face and William stirred. His eyes blinked a few times, and he went to move when felt a weight in his lap.

Eyes shifting downward he found Jaclyn sagging into him still knocked out. It was probably the only time he had seen her twisted into an awkward position, and he wanted to savor the image of her curled up against him, he wasn't even bothered by the fact that they had fallen asleep in a pretty common room in his house.

That was until someone cleared their throat. William sat up straight arms shielding Jaclyn instinctively as if paparazzi could have broken into his house. The person standing in the doorway with his arms crossed might have been worse.

It was his father...

The sudden movement caused Jaclyn to stir rolling towards him so her face was pressed against his chest as she whined daring them to bother her further.

"Good morning, papa," William said. His whole body stiffened immediately imagining what the scene surely looked like to his father. A girl curled in his lap, both of them extremely tired, not to mention alone. Really their only saving grace was they were clothed.

"Good morning William, plan on introducing me to your friend?" Charles asked.

For months now Charles had refrained from asking questions on the girl knowing William would come to him when it got serious, but he kept tabs on everything. He watched the "Tackie Jackie" spreads, and had his eyes on the ones of his son with the girl. He saw her struggle through the presses eyes, and it almost made him feel bad for staying silent.

That's why he was hoping the young girl would just leave on her own. The clothing choices, the downcast looks, the eyes that signalled horror in every picture; it was like the royal family was being tested to see if they would screw up again. Charles very well would have called her up weeks ago to tell her to escape before it was too late if his son wasn't so smitten already.

Charles was sure she'd get out like everyone else, no girl of her deamenor could handle that kind of torture for too long. That was until he saw her dance that night at the Opera House. There was the strength no one cared to mention

"She's sleeping, long night." Just as William said that Jaclyn rolled onto her back staring up at him. Slowly her droopy eyes went through the phases of lost, confused, and mortified. Suddenly fully awake Jaclyn sat upright very aware of where she was, and even more aware of how she probably looked. She could get bed head like nobody's business.

"Look she's awake," Charles laughed lightly trying to ease the awkwardness from the sitting room, "good morning dear." Horrified eyes shot over the two prince's in the room, and before William could stop her she leapt onto her feet and dropped into a curtsey saying, "Your Royal Highness."