Even in ordinary families, overly strict parental control often sparks rebellion. anwhile, children without such oversight—like those from absentee families or orphans—yearn deeply for guidance, equating it with care.
Margaret’s current state mirrored this paradox.
Away from her sister and the royal family, Hardy imposed no etiquette on her. Free from her previous urge to escape, she felt a newfound ease. Yet, royal upbringing subtly reasserted itself, prompting her to voluntarily maintain composure.
To call Margaret rebellious, after all, was rely a reflection of how she deviated from the era’s rigid expectations of royal behavior.
By comparison, many Hollywood stars behaved far more outrageously and were readily forgiven, their actions judged by different standards.
The royal family, as a national symbol, faced much stricter scrutiny. Discover exclusive tales on .Côm
Cayman Islands
Wearing a floral maxi dress and crystal-heeled sandals, Margaret strolled arm-in-arm with Elizabeth Taylor through a luxury shopping district.
By now, Margaret’s belly was visibly rounded. She no longer needed to hide it and instead took pride in her pregnancy. The Caymans, reserved exclusively for distinguished guests, saw few visitors—staff numbered in the thousands, while custors rarely exceeded a couple of thousand.
Everyone on the island knew Margaret was both a British princess and the Countess of Hardy, effectively the island’s mistress.
Still, she paid for her purchases, naturally using Hardy’s money.
Margaret didn’t have many true friends. Most of her acquaintances in Britain were tied to political or social interests. Here in the Caymans, where her circle was even smaller, she had invited Taylor to keep her company.
At a Dior boutique, the sales assistant enthusiastically introduced the latest handbags. Margaret selected one, and Taylor chose another.
When it ca ti to pay, Margaret noticed the card in Taylor’s hand. Once they exited the store, Margaret whispered sharply, "You’re using my husband’s card again."
The cards weren’t like modern bank cards but were instead Cayman Island credit tokens. They worked by linking to a deposit made at a local bank and recorded spending directly, with a slight grace period for repaynt. Hardy was laying the groundwork for modern credit card systems.
Taylor rolled her eyes at Margaret.
"Well, you stole my boyfriend. I thought you were my best friend, but in the end, my man was taken by my bestie."
Margaret huffed, whispering, "Don’t think I didn’t notice. Hardy snuck into your room last night, didn’t he?"
"Hmph! I t Hardy first," Taylor retorted.
"We’re still on our honeymoon!" Margaret exclaid, hands on her hips.
"And I was the bridesmaid," Taylor countered smugly. "I have honeymoon rights too."
...
January 1953.
The honeymoon had just ended.
Hardy bid farewell to Margaret and returned to the United States. A day later, he took Andy to Washington to attend the inauguration of the new president.
As for Princess Margaret, she loved the climate in the Cayman Islands and had no desire to return to a freezing London. She decided to stay on the island, accompanied by her maids, butlers, and guards. Taylor was also there, so she wasn’t lonely.
January 20, 1953.
Capitol Hill.
This was Hardy’s second ti sitting in the viewing gallery of Capitol Hill.
The first was for Johnson.
This ti it was Eisenhower.
He believed there would be more opportunities in the future.
The inauguration ceremony, like before, was broadcast live across the United States by ABC. To ensure people could watch the ceremony, Congress had specially approved a nationwide holiday, including schools and factories.
According to statistics, the number of people watching Eisenhower’s inauguration today was expected to exceed 80 million—a truly historic mont.
When the cara panned over the viewing gallery, it lingered on Hardy for about two seconds.
Many viewers couldn’t help but comnt internally:"ABC really knows how to curry favor—giving their boss a close-up."
However, Hardy’s presence in the viewing gallery also sent a signal to the entire nation and even the world: even though Johnson had stepped down, Hardy remained a prominent guest of the president, still wielding considerable influence in Washington.
That two-second shot effectively solidified Hardy’s position.
The inauguration began.
First, Nixon took the stage to be sworn in as Vice President and Senate President. Hardy observed Nixon closely—this was a politician he had personally supported.
Of course, other powerful families had also positioned their own people in key cabinet roles:Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Comrce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Developnt, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Energy, and Secretary of Education.
Each ti a new president ca into office, it was essentially a ga of dividing power—a ga that had never changed. These cabinet mbers, appointed by the president, could also be replaced at any ti at the president’s discretion.
For instance, Kissinger was a representative of the Rockefeller family.
Similarly, Robert Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy, served as Attorney General during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
Many U.S. cabinet mbers were forr businessn, especially Secretaries of the Treasury, who were often bank executives or Wall Street investnt firm CEOs before suddenly becoming Treasury Secretaries after a president’s appointnt.
Their ascent to power was easy, and their removal just as simple—if the president was dissatisfied, they could be dismissed without much justification.
After the Vice President’s swearing-in, it was the President’s turn. Following his oath, Eisenhower delivered his inaugural address. Amid the cheers of tens of thousands, he and his wife then headed to the White House to officially beco its new occupants.
That evening, the White House hosted a reception.
Hardy stood among the crowd, with many people coming over to greet and chat with him. By now, Hardy had beco a towering figure.
His wealth, his status as the lord of an autonomous dominion, his marriage to a British princess, and his budding military power—all of these factors made him a formidable presence. Individually, each attribute was impressive, but together, they made him nearly untouchable.
Eisenhower eventually made his way to Hardy. The others around them tactfully stepped aside, leaving the two n space. Raising his glass, Eisenhower clinked it with Hardy’s, once again expressing his gratitude for Hardy’s support during the election.
---
Reviews
All reviews (0)