“What’s your plan?” She slid her hand out of his. “Where do you start with the queen?”
“First, I must tell her there will be no arranged marriage for me. Although she may already know this since I politely made it clear to Lady Astrid and her family today.” He rubbed his chin. “Next, I will insist that Kat invite her friend Kalina to her birthday ball. In fact, I will insist that Kalina come here and be our guest for a few days. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like you’re going to make your daughter happy.”
“And then I will insist that you return to living down here with the family,” he declared. “Unless she offers you a more comfortable suite on this same floor. No more servants’ quarters.”
“Thank you.” Meredith pursed her lips. “But what if she denies these requests?”
He sat up straight. “Then I will tell her that I’m taking the children, and you if you’ll come, to England with me for an extended visit with my family there.”
Meredith wished she could be privy to this conversation but knew that would probably not help his situation. “I’m impressed, Spencer. It sounds like a solid plan.”
“I will meet with her tomorrow. I suspect she already has me on her agenda…to let me know how displeased she is over my rejection of Lady Astrid.”
“I really thought arranged marriages went out in the eighteen hundreds.”
“Rotslavia is a bit behind the times.”
“I can’t wait to see Kat’s face when you tell her about her revised birthday plans.”
“Papa?” Kat burst into the room, almost as if she’d been hiding behind the door. She had on her striped pajamas and an interested expression. “Did I hear that Kalina can come for my birthday?”
“Eavesdropping again?” Spencer extended his arms. “Come give me a hug, and I’ll forgive you.”
She ran into his arms. “Really? Kalina gets to stay here a few days?”
He grinned. “Why not? It’s not every day a girl becomes a teenager.”
“And you’re really going to stand up to Grandmama?”
“I am.” He looked from her to Meredith. “With two strong females backing me, how can I lose?”
Kat exchanged glances with Meredith. They both knew that he could lose. Playing against the queen, the odds were against them.
“It’s late, Kat.” Meredith stood. “Since you’re not a teenager yet, will you let me tuck you into bed?”
Kat laughed. “Yes, we need a girl talk. I want to discuss my plans for when Kalina gets here. I have some ideas, but I’ll need your help.”
Meredith put an arm around her. “Okay, but promise not to keep me up too late. I need my beauty sleep.”
Spencer called out goodnight, chuckling to himself as they headed for Kat’s room.
Although Spencer never told Meredith the details of his conversation with the queen, it was clear that things were changing. She no longer questioned Kat’s birthday guest or that Meredith had returned to her old room in the family’s quarters. Meredith suspected that Spencer’s ultimatum about taking the kids away had done the trick. Still, Meredith was unsure about the queen. She was a smart woman and could possibly have afew royal tricks up her sleeve. But Meredith was determined to show the woman respect and do her best not to cause problems.
In the meantime, she and Spencer and the children were acting and functioning almost like a normal family. Not that Meredith knew exactly what that was, but they enjoyed their times together, and Spencer seemed more attentive to his children than ever before. And the children seemed happier than ever before too. Meredith hoped and prayed it wasn’t only temporary.
The royal household got livelier when Kalina arrived. It was amazing how much more noise two almost-teen girls made than just one. For the first day, Kat kept Kalina occupied in the palace. The girl wanted to see and experience everything and probably gave Kat a whole new appreciation for the home she took for granted. Then the girls wanted to go shopping for ball gowns. Knowing this was one of Kat’s goals, Meredith had called ahead to the most elegant dress shop several days ago. She’d asked the proprietor to reserve the shop for one afternoon for just the two girls and to have a selection of age-appropriate ball gowns on hand to show them. Meredith hoped this would alleviate the need to go to Vienna, which Spencer was not in favor of due to a continued concern for security.
While ball gown shopping for the girls, Kat insisted that Meredith get one too. “But I won’t be at your party,” Meredith quietly told her as she fastened up the back of Kat’s pale yellow gown.
Kat spun around with a deep frown. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m not going.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“I wasn’t invited.”
