"That's true. One of my daughters is interested in history and everything we do here, but for many reasons, she wasn’t able to do those things as a young teenager. Perhaps now that she's older." There was a wistful note in her voice. "I wish I was able to do those sorts of things more often as well." She set his resume to the side. "We do have an opening. It hasn't been publicized yet, because we're hoping to find a candidate without opening it up to just anyone. We'd prefer someone we already know has the qualifications and understands the discretion inherently involved in working in the palace."
Hope started to sprout inside. "What other information do you need from me in order to be considered for the position?"
"I think your resume and references will speak for themselves." She gave him a smile and stood. "That's enough business for now. Would you like to join us for dinner this evening?"
Jake stood with her. "That would be lovely." He had told his grandparents not to expect him since he didn't know how long this meeting would take.
Before they went to the family quarters -upstairs somewhere if he remembered correctly - Madeleine took him on a tour of the archives. Though she hadn't said as much, he suspected this was part of his interview process.
She took him behind-the-scenes, as it were, and showed him the storage areas for things being worked on or locked up if they were considered more valuable. They even took a small spiral staircase down to the underground storage.
"It's fireproof and waterproof," she told him. "So is the gallery upstairs once the door is covered. Don't ask me how they did it while preserving most of it, but they did. It happened long before my time. I think there was water damage at a university facility, and it made them a little paranoid. Actually, your father might know."
He looked around in awe of the bits of pottery and statues and other ancient artifacts. "I'll have to ask him about it."
She showed him where the portraits were stored and gave a brief rundown on how they were organized.
"I don't think I saw any of the current queen upstairs," he told her. "At least not anything recent. The only one I know I saw was with both of her parents and all four siblings so it's limited to a short period a decade-and-a-half ago."
"We don't have one in there at the moment. There's a spot for one, though her first portrait painted as queen for her eleventh birthday is there now. A new one has been commissioned and should be ready in the next couple of months. It will replace that one." She led the way back up the staircase.
After making certain the lights were off and everything was locked up, they left the gallery and made their way to the family's quarters.
Before they even walked in, he could hear laughter and conversation.
Madeleine entered first and announced their presence. "I'm home, and I brought company."
Most of them were running around or playing, but one ofthe older children helped one of the younger ones with schoolwork.
She turned and her eyes went wide as he realized who she was.
They spoke at the same time.
"You."
2
Catherine couldn't believe her eyes. Standing a couple of feet inside the door stood the man she'd met earlier.
The one who'd had no idea who she was.
"Do you two know each other?" Mumeleine asked.
"We met," Catherine said quietly, then stood straight, her public persona going on like a cloak. She took a few steps until she was close enough to him to hold out a hand. "I’m Kinsey around here."
Mumeleine gave her a look. Only her family used that nickname, derived as it was from her mum’s pet name for her - Catherine had become KatieKins before it turned into Kins and then her siblings turned it into Kinsey.
It had never been made public.
"Jacob," he replied as he took her hand, sending a wave of electricity right up her arm. "Jake to my friends."
She inclined her head slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, officially."
A muted snicker of laughter from Mumeleine made Catherine look that direction. Mum covered her mouth and looked the other way.
"What's that about?" Jacob whispered, leaning in a little closer.
"I'm not sure," she whispered back.
