CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 41

“Sitting next to Her Royal Highness, Princess Mari, was her boyfriend, Prince Erik of Denmark, but he’s not the one making headlines today. On the Princess’s left side was a former private secretary of Her Majesty, Queen Elin. Her name is Ingrid Olson. She worked for the palace for several years; her last few were as the then Princess Royal’s private secretary. Many are now speculating as to why the former secretary would be given a seat in the front row of the cathedral on such an important occasion as the consecration of our new sovereign,” the reporter said.

“Her name is Ingrid Marie Olson. She’s an Oslo-native and worked alongside Her Majesty for three years prior to her departing the palace. It has been determined that she was not dismissed and, in fact, left voluntarily and now works…” the second reporter said.

“She’s thirty-six years old, from Oslo. It’s believed that the Queen invited Miss Olson to sit in the row of honor in thanks for her years of service to the royal family,” the third reporter said.

“How many more channels are you planning to flip through?” Ingrid asked Sarah Anne.

“All of them,” Sarah said.

“They’re all saying the same thing,” Ingrid replied.

“Sometimes. But it’s also interesting to see what they’re making up. I heard Channel Three say that you were fired from the palace and they gave you the seat for today because you have dirt on the royal family.”

“What? That’s–” Ingrid stopped when Elin walked into the room. “Oh, wow.”

Elin had changed out of her ceremonial garb and the crown that had been placed over her tiara, but the tiara still rested atop her head, and she was now wearing sleek black pants, black boots, and a very nice navy button-down with the sleeves rolled up, making her the picture of dressy and casual at the same time.

“Sorry, that took a while,” Elin said.

“Katrin, I don’t want the wallpaper; I prefer the paint,” Lillian said into the phone, walking into Elin’s suite. “Yes, I know it’s eggshell.” She rolled her eyes. “I realize it’s plain. That’s what I want.” She paused again. “Yes, thank you.”

Elin sat down next to Ingrid on the small sofa, leaned over, and kissed her on the lips.

“You look hot,” Ingrid whispered.

“I do?” Elin asked, seemingly surprised by the comment.

“She’s right,” Sarah Anne said. “It’s the sleeves-rolled-up thing; that’s doing it for her.”

Elin laughed and placed her hand on Ingrid’s thigh as Lillian sat in the chair next to Sarah Anne. They’d been introduced prior to the ceremony, and Elin had even gotten Sarah a seat at the consecration, making her younger sister very happy.

“Remind me why I’m dating him.” Mari walked into the room. “And can I take this thing off now? We’re done with the pictures and stuff, right?” She pulled off her tiara and placed it on a table for someone to take care of later.

“Erik?” Lillian asked, hanging up her phone.

“Yes. I love him, but the man cannot tie his tie or leave the seat down. He’s a Prince, for crying out loud.”

“Why are we all in here?” Christian asked, walking into the room. “Everyone else is downstairs. Mom wanted to know where you guys were.”

“Well, we were in here. I don’t know what you’re doing here,” Lillian said.

“You can take the tiara off now, Elin,” Mari said.

“Or, you can leave it on,” Ingrid said without thinking about it. “Up to you… I mean, if you wanted…”

Elin laughed a little and said, “I think I’ll keep it on for a bit.”

“Gross,” Sarah Anne said. “That’s my sister.”

“And she’s ours,” Lillian added.

“No one’s making you all stay in here. There’s a party going on downstairs. Feel free to leave us alone anytime,” Elin replied.

“Is that an order, Your Majesty?” Christian teased.

“What are you even now?” Mari asked her brother.

“What?” he asked back.

“Well, you’re technically a Prince, but you’re not really, and you won’t be getting that Duke title, so…”

“I’m a Captain in the Royal Air Force,” he replied, standing up straight.

“That’s enough for you, isn’t it?” Lillian asked, as if just now realizing it.

He nodded. Ingrid looked over at Elin and kissed her on the cheek.

“How are you?”

Elin stared back at her and said, “Better now that it’s all over. I hate the whole ceremony thing. I want the job, but not the pomp.”

“The pomp looks good on you, though,” Ingrid said with a small nod to the tiara on top of Elin’s head.

“Can I take it off before we go downstairs if I promise to put it back on for you later?”

Ingrid smiled, and Elin kissed her.

“So, what’s everyone saying?” Mari asked. “And you two, stop kissing constantly while we talk about this.”

“Talk about what?” Elin asked, turning toward her sister and squeezing Ingrid’s thigh.

“What are the reporters saying about Ingrid? Does she have three heads or illegitimate twins yet?”

“I heard it was triplets,” Lillian teased.

Ingrid laughed. “None of the above. But, apparently, I was fired but invited today because I knew deep-dark royal secrets and blackmailed the family.”

Christian waved that off and said, “Must be a rookie reporter. I once had four girlfriends. I had one in Finland, one in Holland, one in Ireland, and I forget where they said the last one was from.”

“Germany,” Elin said.

“Yes, Germany,” He pointed at her.

“I once sexed up an entire party of lords,” Lillian said, shrugging a shoulder. “I wasn’t even there.”

“Oh, and I was disowned,” Mari added.

“That was a good one,” Lillian said.

“What about you?” Sarah asked Elin.

“What about me?”

“What rumors have they spread about you?”

“Oh, I’m curious about this one,” Ingrid said, turning toward Elin.

“Nothing. She’s the perfect daughter, Princess, and now, Queen,” Mari replied.

“You say perfect; I say boring,” Lillian added.

“Hey,” Elin said.

“What? It’s true. You’ve had no good rumors.”

“I think that’s a good thing,” Elin replied.

“Amalie is waiting downstairs. Can we head that way so Mom doesn’t yell at me?” Christian asked, hooking his thumb in the direction of the door.

“Am I allowed?” Sarah asked.

“Of course, you are,” Lillian said. “And it’s just the close family, so no need for the whole formality thing.”

“Are you sure?” Sarah asked.

“You’ll be family soon, right? Might as well get used to it now,” Mari replied, standing up.

Ingrid watched as their siblings made their way out of the room. She looked at Elin, who was removing her tiara.

“Need any help?” Ingrid asked.

“No, I’m used to it, but thank you.”

She set it on the table in front of them and turned back to Ingrid.

“I don’t need to worry or anything about comments like that, do I?”

“Comments like what?”

“What Mari just said about Sarah Anne being family soon,” Elin said.

Ingrid undid Elin’s top button and placed her hand there over Elin’s skin.

“No, my love.” She smiled at her. Then, she sighed. “Do we have to go to this party? Can we be, like, twenty minutes late?”

Elin laughed a little and said, “I’m afraid not. It’s sort of a party for me, and we’re already twenty minutes late.” Elin slid onto Ingrid’s lap.

“You are not helping,” Ingrid remarked.

Elin ran her fingertip down the column of Ingrid’s neck and said, “Find me in the kitchen later? We can have coffee and tea together while everyone else is out there talking about us.”

Ingrid kissed her and asked, “Are you over your clumsiness now that we’re together?”

“No way.” Elin laughed. “You will always make me nervous in the best way, which means I will always be clumsy around you.”

“Good,” Ingrid replied, pressing her lips to the center of Elin’s chest. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Elin replied.