CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

“So, you like working for Elin?” Alexandria asked.

“Of course,” Ingrid replied.

“You don’t have to lie; we’re all friends here,” Lillian teased.

Ingrid looked over at Elin, who was taking a drink from her wineglass.

“I’m not lying. Her Ro–”

Elin cleared her throat.

“Elin is great to work with,” Ingrid said, smiling at being called out for almost calling Elin by her title.

This was the strangest night of Ingrid’s entire life. She was sitting in a room full of Princesses and Queens, and they were all acting as if she was one of them. She was sitting next to Elin, on the floor in front of the fireplace, so casually as if they’d done this a hundred times before; all of them sitting around talking and laughing.

“What about Erik?” Alexandria asked.

“What about him?” Mari asked back.

“What’s going on with you two?” Palmer asked.

“We’re talking.”

“Talking?”

“Yes, he lives in Denmark. We can’t exactly see each other every day.”

“Would you live in Denmark?” Elizabeth asked. “It’s beautiful there.”

“Live there?” Mari asked.

“If you two got together,” Palmer added, wrapping an arm around Elizabeth, who snuggled up to her side.

“Well, we’re pretty much just talking on the phone right now, so I think we’re a long way from thinking about me moving to another country.”

“But you like him?” Elin asked.

“I do.” Mari blushed.

Ingrid thought the youngest Princess was actually very sweet, and she envied her a bit. Mari was in the beginning stages of a new relationship, maybe even falling in love.

“And what about you?” Alexandria asked, looking over at Elin.

“What about me?”

Ingrid looked over at Elin as well, suddenly very interested.

“Anyone on the horizon for you?”

“No,” Elin said quickly. “You?”

“No,” Alexandria replied and laughed. “Touché.”

“No one?” Lillian asked. “Not a single woman in the entire UK has caught your eye?”

“I haven’t exactly been looking.”

“Why not?” Lillian asked.

“I’ve been a little busy planning to take over as Queen of a country and the Commonwealth one day.”

“And your parents aren’t having party after party to try to throw you at someone?” Mari asked.

“What? No,” Alexandria replied.

“Is that common?” Ingrid asked.

“Ask Elin,” Lillian said, nodding toward her sister.

“Lil, it’s not like that,” Elin replied.

“What’s it like?” Ingrid asked, feeling a little more comfortable now.

“They just want me to find someone,” Elin said, shrugging a shoulder. “They didn’t use to care any more than other parents who want their kids to fall in love and settle down, but since Christian–”

“I’ve counted eleven guys,” Mari interrupted.

“What?” Palmer laughed.

“Eleven guys; some Dukes and a few Earls, along with some Lords and even just a couple of commoners that are just filthy rich,” Lillian said. “That one guy from Munich was pretty hot. The one from Florence wasn’t that bright, but the man built an entire company and is a billionaire now.”

“I’m not interested,” Elin said.

“They’ll care more now that you’re inheriting. Mine always have,” Alexandria offered. “When I came out to them and my grandmother, I heard her say that she wished my parents had had my brother first. It wasn’t exactly easy, but my parents have learned to live with the fact that I’m gay and will one day marry a woman. It’s been… interesting. Every now and then, they ask me if I’ve met someone. It’ll be over dinner or something, and my mother will ask if I’ve met a special lady.” Alexandria laughed. “Special lady?”

Ingrid smiled and finished her wine.

“Well, I think I’m ready for bed,” Elizabeth announced.

“Yeah?” Palmer asked.

“Yeah, I want to call the kids.”

“Okay. We’ll see you guys in the morning,” Palmer told everyone.

They all said their goodnights to the only married couple in the bunch, and Palmer and Elizabeth took off for bed.

“You know, Mari and I should turn in as well,” Lillian said.

“We should?” Mari asked, looking at Lillian.

“Yes, we’re both very tired. Right?”

“I guess,” Mari replied, looking confused.

“Well, I’ll turn in myself,” Alexandria said. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’ve been trying to keep up with what’s going on with Parliament, which means reading a lot. There’s not always time to do that during the day, so I often stay up late to keep up with everything. I am very happy to be on this holiday; let me tell you.”

She stood, excused herself, and left with Mari and Lillian shortly after.

“I suppose I should get to bed myself,” Elin said then.

“Are your parents really trying to get you to marry?” Ingrid asked.

Elin seemed surprised by the question but nodded and said, “It’s normal.”

“But you’re not going to give in, are you?”

“Give in?” Elin asked, smiling at her.

“Just accept the men they throw at you?”

“No, I won’t do that.” The woman chuckled. “I’m going to clean up since my sisters left their wineglasses, and I don’t want Alex to think we can’t clean up after ourselves. We’ll never be invited back.”

“I’ll help,” Ingrid offered.

“You don’t have to,” Elin told her.

“I want to,” Ingrid replied, standing up and grabbing two glasses off the table.

Elin stood up, grabbed the one Alex had left behind, and they walked into the kitchen together, placing them in the sink.

“I’ll just wash them,” Elin said.

“You know how to wash dishes?” Ingrid teased.

“Shut up and dry,” Elin replied through her laughter.

◆◆◆

The following morning, Ingrid headed outside first thing to enjoy some fresh air. She hadn’t slept well after staying up late talking to Elin while they washed dishes together. Ingrid was starting to get a little too comfortable with Elin, and she needed to get used to working for Mari now instead. She needed to start seeing Elin only as her future Queen and not as someone she genuinely enjoyed spending time with.

“Hi.”

“Oh, hi. Sorry, Your Royal–”

“Ingrid, I’m just Alex out here, okay?” Alex said. “No formalities when you’re on holiday; at least, not with me.” She held up a pair of pruning shears. “Time to prune the rose bushes. I have an extra pair if you want to help.”

“I can’t say I know how,” Ingrid replied.

“Well, I can show you.”

“I won’t ruin them?” she asked.

“No,” Alex said, laughing a little.

Ingrid followed the would-be Queen around the corner, where she noticed the beautiful rose bushes lining the side wall.

“Wow. They’re gorgeous,” she noted.

“I wasn’t really into flowers, but I spent some time with Palmer and Elizabeth, and they know a lot about them. They kind of got me into them. I even have an updated greenhouse here now, with about every shade of rose you can imagine,” Alex shared.

“I’d love to see that if I may,” Ingrid replied.

“Of course. You’re free to explore the grounds however you like,” Alex told her.

Ingrid watched the Princess as she worked with the roses first before Alex handed her a pair of shears, and Ingrid worked alongside her. After a few minutes of shared silence, Ingrid thought she’d gotten the hang of it. Then, she looked into the window behind the bushes. Elin was inside. She was laughing at something Lillian said and holding on to her teacup. Ingrid prayed silently that the Princess wouldn’t drop it or spill hot tea on herself.

“Everything all right?” Alex asked.

“Yes. The Princess Royal is a little on the clumsy side at times, and she’s laughing with her sister while holding hot tea, so I’m a little worried she might find something to trip over.”

“Elin?” Alex asked.

“Yes.”

“Clumsy? Really? I’ve never thought of her as clumsy. We played water polo together in school, and I’ve seen her walk rooms in the busiest of dresses without issue.”

“She played water polo?” Ingrid asked.

“Yes. If she weren’t royalty, she could have made the Norwegian Olympic Team; she was that good.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I didn’t know that,” Ingrid replied.

“I doubt most people do. Christian was always in the spotlight, and it’s Norway – no offense, but people pay much more attention to the British royal family.”

“But I’m Norwegian.”

“Do you follow water polo or the Olympics?”

“Not really, no.” Ingrid shook her head. “But I know my Princess.”

“Your Princess?”

“Hi,” Elin greeted, suddenly behind Ingrid.

“Oh,” Ingrid said, surprised, and accidently snipped at a rose, chopping it from its bush. “Sorry,” she said to no one in particular.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Alex said, smiling at her. “Maybe Elin would like that one.”

“What?”

“The rose.” Alex nodded to it with her head.

“Oh,” Ingrid uttered. Then, she held it out. “For you.”

Elin smiled, blushed, and took the rose from her.

“Thank you,” she said. “Oh, you should take this before I drop it.” Elin held out her cup. “I made you some coffee. I didn’t see you in the kitchen getting your own.”

“You made me coffee?”

“Yeah. If you don’t want it, I can take it back inside.”

“No, I do. Coffee would be great. Thank you.”

“It’s good coffee, too. Elin brought it with her,” Lillian said, emerging outside.

“You did?” Ingrid asked.

“I asked Henri for the blend in that machine you taught me how to use. No offense, Alex, but the Brits aren’t exactly known for their coffee,” Elin noted.

“But we do have the best tea,” Alex replied.

“I know. I had some.” Elin smiled at her.

“Well, I think I’m due for a tea myself,” Alex said.

“Mari and I are going for a hike,” Lillian announced.

“Where are Palmer and Elizabeth?” Elin asked.

“Sleeping in,” Lillian replied. “Although, I don’t know how much sleeping they’re really getting.”

“Lil!”

“What? They’re married. They can get it on all they want; I’m not judging. I think it’s great. They’re clearly still into each other even after a decade and two kids. That’s admirable.”

“Yeah, it is,” Ingrid said softly.

Elin turned to her, offered her a shy smile, and it warmed every part of Ingrid.

“If anyone wants a tour of the estate, let me have my tea first, and we’ll be on our way,” Alex said.

“Did you eat?” Elin asked Ingrid.

“Not yet.”

“Come inside. Let’s have some breakfast.”

“I have some work I–”

“There’s work waiting back in Norway, Ingrid.” Lillian waved her off. “Take the tour, and then we’ll all have lunch when we’re back from our hike.”

“I think that’s an order,” Elin said to Ingrid with a smile.

“I suppose so,” Ingrid replied, smiling back at her.