#my granny almost divorced him around 30 years ago. i knew that. what i didn’t know is that it was over how he was treating his grandkids | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

princessanneftw · 4 years

Text

Lost

In the darkness of her bedroom at Gatcombe Park, a very distressed Princess Anne was sitting on the couch, her mind racing faster than her horses.

Maybe that article was right. Maybe she was not an easy woman to live with. Maybe Tim deserves better than her. Maybe he was tired of her. It was true she was rude to that woman last Christmas, and to her nieces too, but she regretted her actions, and had apologised to the girls when they returned home. She didn't apologise to the lady because she forgot her face and the basket didn't include a card with a name. Maybe that's why Tim was cross with her.

She had also missed his birthday, but he said it was alright and that he'd celebrate it with his mother, and he’d already refused a party. She might’ve still been in the wrong. She had just called him on the phone and gave him his present with no proper celebration, even afterwards. They were more distant now than they had ever been. Her workload having increased tenfold, she was doing a lot of engagements and he was back working at the MoD, in London all week while she was alternating between Gatcombe and St. James’s. Weekends were spent either running the farm or catching up on work. He accompanied her to some engagements but they weren’t the proper place to have "Us" time with one's husband. On top all of that, her fucking hormones - a symptom of her oncoming menopause - were driving her mental. If she thought her mood swings were bad when she was pregnant, they were straight from hell now. Maybe that's why he was so distant. Maybe he had his eye on another woman. A younger, more beautiful woman.

“No, no, no, no..” Anne got up and started pacing the room. Tim wouldn't do it. Would he? He was still young, handsome, polite, a proper gentleman, respectful, a man of duty with a successful career. And she... she was still the same Anne. Same old clothes, same hairstyle, immersed in her job and farm and spent most conversations talking about horses, sailing and lighthouses. She had lost whatever beauty that remained in her mid 30s. No wonder Mark cheated on her. It wasn’t a far possibility Tim would too.

But Tim told he loved her and promised her that he would never cheat on her, that if he ever found another person he would tell her. “Not that any woman could ever take your place Annie,” he had told her late one night as they lay side-by-side. “You're the only woman that I've ever loved, will ever love.. and a person can’t have two soulmates, can they?”

Maybe it could be about children, She knew he loved babies, and he had always dreamt of being a father. Unfortunately, that had never happened for them, but Tim always assured her that being Zara and Pete's stepfather was enough for him, always said he was the luckiest man in the world to have them in his life. But still, something was off.

Last week, she’d met him in the corridor that lead to her mother's office. When asked what he was doing there, he told her he just had a meeting with her mother and her private secretary. Seeing her raised eyebrow, he said that the Queen needed his opinion on something, then left hastily. Later, when she interrogated one of the aides, the poor man was clueless. He only knew that it was the third time this month that Commodore Laurence had had a private meeting with Her Majesty and the second time that her Private Secretary had joined them. It was all very strange, and her mother was no help either. “If Tim said I needed his opinion then I needed his opinion, and no, it's none of your business. Now, would you care for a cup of tea?"

She left her mother with more questions than she had before. She went to her father’s office and he was as clueless as she was, but he wasn't alarmed or suspicious. "I learnt years ago that when your mother makes her mind up about something and she is all secretive, better leave her to her devices or I'll only get a headache."

She tried her best to forget about the subject, but when even her own private secretary and ladies in waiting started acting strangely around her, she almost lost her mind and phoned her mother.

"I want to know what's going on between you and my husband? Even my staff are acting weird."

Her mother only laughed at her. "There is nothing that you should be worried about. He is my only son-in-law and one of the best equerries I had, I don't see why I couldn't have his input sometimes. As for your staff, you should ask yourself how you’re treating them this last year, and be glad no one has resigned." Her mother sighed heavily. “Now, I am about to have dinner with your Papa, we will see you tomorrow,” and she hung up.

Now Anne was sure to leave a hole in the floor of her bedroom by pacing back and forth. Huffing loudly, she stormed out of the room and went to her husband's study where he was locking himself inside since he came back from work, emerging only to have dinner.

Approaching the door, she heard Tim's voice. Apparently he was talking on the phone. His voice was muffled by the door so she could only make out a few of the words he was saying.

"Yes... leave tomorrow evening… I'd prefer earlier… doesn't suspect… would like until… leave… shock her…she... irritating… wife but… can't stand… her… time to take some actions... I... frustrated…. Love...pleasant dreams"

Anne retreated to her room, changed her clothes and slid into bed with her back to the door, trying hard to hold her tears. Only minutes later, Tim came to the room, went on with his night routine then slid in beside her. She feigned sleep so she wouldn’t have to talk to him, but almost outed herself when he gently gathered her in his arms and kissed the crown of her head, whispering a soft "goodnight love".

For the first time in her life, she felt lost, clueless and utterly confused. Why did her husband call her love and cuddle her when just minutes earlier, he was planning to leave her and was making his displeasure with her clear when he was on the phone? What the hell was going on?

The following day, it was her Granny's birthday. She woke up feeling like she was hit by a train. She didn't know when she’d finally fallen asleep but she knew it was late. Tim had already left the bed. She looked at the clock by her bedside table. 10 A.M. ‘Bloody fantastic,’ she thought. Dragging herself out of bed and into the bathroom, she took a hot bath, changed and by the time she went downstairs, she found her husband in the kitchen.

"Good morning love," he said cheerfully with a kiss. "I went upstairs to wake you up but I heard the water running in the bathroom, thought I’d make you some brunch.” She thanked him, asked about her children then tucked in when he put the food in front of her. He sat on the opposite side of the table reading the newspapers and sipping some coffee.

"I thought perhaps we could go sailing tomorrow and stay until my birthday before we join the rest of the family in Scotland. What do you think?" She asked, testing the waters.

"I'm sorry dear, we can't this time. Maybe after your birthday." He answered, not even bothering to look her in the eye.

"And why is that?" She asked irritated. "Actually, you know what? Don’t bother, I couldn’t give a fuck. I'm leaving for London, you and the kids can catch me later, and she left, fuming. Anne decided to drive herself to Clarence House while her PO followed behind her in another car. She spent the whole drive crying, confused about what was happening in her life. She felt lost. When she finally arrived her eyes were puffy, so she put on her sunglasses to make sure nobody from the crowd gathered outside could notice. When her parents and grandmother asked her why her eyes were swollen, she blamed it on oversleeping. As for her coming early and alone, she stated that she had business to take care of beforehand. Her mother’s look was clear: she didn’t believe her. She went to the bathroom, washed her face and tried her best to fix her make-up. Later on, family members and friends started to arrive, including her children and husband. She plainly ignored Tim, only speaking to him when he gave her the gift bag that she’d forgotten to bring. Nobody seemed to notice. Well, that what she thought until her parents both pulled her aside. They went to a room and closed the door.

"Alright, spit it out," demanded Prince Philip.

"Philip!" scolded his wife, then looked at her daughter. “What your father meant to say was, we noticed that you've been acting strangely. You’re ignoring your husband, your eyes were swollen from crying and, though you’re trying to smile, it isn’t reaching your eyes.. We’re worried about you, Anne. What is going on?"

Anne was surprised that her parents had noticed her dark mood, but it was logical. They were her parents after all. She gathered her strength, breathed deeply and looked them dead on.

"I want to divorce Tim.”

"WHAT?" Both the Queen and The Duke cried but she ignored them.

"I know he’s leaving me, and considering a separation, that's why he was meeting with you recently, and I heard him talking on the phone yesterday. He’s leaving this evening," she explained urgently, "so I want a divorce, I can't let him humiliate me.” She said the last bit, but even she didn’t believe it. Her sweet, loving husband would never do that to her... But she’d heard him on the phone! This had to be the only explanation for what was happening in her life recently.

Her parents looked shocked, when suddenly, her father exploded in a fit of laughter, while her mother chuckled and shook her head. Anne was stunned. They’d lost it. She was about to ask them exactly what was so funny about the idea of her getting divorced a second time, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door. After receiving permission, the person came inside. It was Tim.

"Ah, I'm glad I found you all here,” he said. “I came to bid you farewell, Ma'am. Sir." Anne froze. She felt dizzy. Her whole body went tense. Her heart stopped. Her mouth went dry.

"Why?" She asked, her voice barely audible.

"Well, because I am leaving an-" she didn't hear the rest of what he said. Blackness enveloped her, and she fainted. The last thing she remembered was the feeling of strong arms catching her.

TBC...

* * *

OMG FFS WHATS HE PLANNING??!

Thank you for sending me this lovely, I really enjoyed it! I’m still not sure what the surprise is, but I liked the elements of truth throughout. Both of them spending a lot of time apart, working hard, Anne getting stressed and paranoid cause hormones and menopause and working a lot. I think the early noughties were a stressful time for them for sure, and you’ve got that in here, if a little dramatised in a different way.

I can’t wait to read the next bit!

#fANNEfiction #submission #cliffhAnneger #i will go down with this ship #crafty boi

27 notes · View notes