“Makes sense. Money and greed are a strange thing. Are they still like that?”
He shakes his head. “Like I said, they’ve changed. They rarely go to parties now. I was truly stunned when they wanted to fly to Marsdale for the Winter Flurries party. It’s something they would have done in the past, but not something they’d do now. But I didn’t question them. I can also add that they were quite taken with you and urged me to see if you were okay when they saw you standing by yourself.”
“Really?” I ask. “You wouldn’t have come up to me otherwise?”
He shakes his head. “No. Not because I wasn’t interested, but because that’s just not within my character.”
“Well, you were pretty good at it and clearly made a good first impression.”
“You made it easy.”
My cheeks blush. “Good line.” I call him out, making him laugh and shake his head.
“I see how this is going to go.”
* * *
“And here aresome pictures of old people who I’m still trying to learn about,” I say as Evan walks right next to me on the tour I offered him.
“Fascinating. Your in-depth knowledge of Strombly has made this a magnificent tour.”
“Thank you,” I say on a laugh. “Pretty sure Henrik would keel over if he heard what I was saying.”
“I’ve met him a few times, and I’d agree with you.” Evan gestures to a large picture of Theo and says, “Do you know who this is?”
I laugh and push at his shoulder. “Of course. That’s my grandfather, also known as the King of Torskethorpe.”
“You got one right. Good job.”
“I mean, I don’t want to brag, but . . . look at me knowing things.” I fluff my hair.
“When do you get your picture painted?”
“Oh, I already sat for it. I think they’re just putting the finishing touches on it. Honestly, I have no idea what progress has been made since I’ve been sort of MIA. I should ask Henrik. Katla told me that the first painting she had done of her, the artist gave her an absurd nose. She was so polite that she wasn’t going to complain about it until Theo saw the portrait and demanded the artist give her a nose job.”
Evan laughs. “Did he say it like that?”
“He did.”
“My assumption about the royal family isn’t correct. You all have a sense of humor, but you just don’t show it.”
“For the most part, yes. And Theo, he seems so intimidating with his big beard and stern eyebrows, but he’s the biggest, cuddly bear ever. He has so much love to offer. And Katla, she’s very precise and regimented, but she also has a fun side, a loving, teasing side that feels motherly and also like she’s a friend at the same time. I’m so glad I found them.”
“You enjoy being up here? You think you’ll stay? I know things with Keller could have rocked that a bit.”
“It did, for a second, but this is home. Torskethorpe is home. I might still be learning about it, learning about the traditions, getting used to the cold and the fermented cod cakes, but I feel more at home here than I did in Miami. Once my parents died, I really didn’t have anything to cling to there. When I was brought here, it felt like my mom surrounded me. I saw where she grew up, and I was able to hold the linens she’d embroidered. I’ve been able to look into the eyes of her parents. It feels right.”
“You have quite the story,” he says. “I don’t think anyone has the kind of tale that you have. Plucked out of a different culture and dropped into this one, into a family you didn’t know existed. It’s truly something to witness, especially since you’ve given up everything to make sure Torskethorpe remains led by Strom blood.”
“It’s an honor,” I say as we come to the end of the hallway. “Well, I think that just about ends our tour.”
“Probably the best tour I ever received.”
I turn toward him. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“I enjoyed lunch too,” he says. “If you’re interested, I’d like to take you out somewhere. I know you’d need to talk to your security and all of that, but if you can carve out some time, I’d like to see you again. Maybe we can check out those shops . . .”
“I’d like that,” I say, and I mean it. I had a good time with Evan. Could I see something growing with him, probably not at the moment. My heart is still attached to someone else, but then again, the more I hang out with him, maybe those feelings for Keller will fade away. Not to mention, this isn’t just about love, this is about letting Theo know I’ll be okay.
