~ ZARA ~
There was a point, near the bottom of the Palace stairs, where the wall that surrounded the Palace itself encroached. It offered a space, out of view, for servants to come and go in assisting with visitors or arriving and departing Royals, without being under the feet of the nobles or their personal attendees.
I crouched behind the wall, Emory, Lizbeth, and Hildie clustered behind me as I peered with one eye, as I watched David greet the kids, who'd been released from the top of the stairs by the nannies.
There had been a scary moment when it looked like Dara might actually tumble on her face down the stairs and I'd almost run out, but her brother caught her hand and helped her keep her feet, then they ran together on those pudgy, gorgeous little legs, straight to their father and the men around him.