I found myself waving back before I remembered that standing outside windows waving at people was not standard princely behavior.
She grinned at my obvious awkwardness and pointed toward the library door, then held up what appeared to be a coffee cup in invitation.
I told myself I was going inside because it would be rude not to.I told myself this had nothing to do with wanting to see her smile again.
I was lying to myself, but I'd gotten quite good at that lately.
"Research session?"I asked, letting myself into the library.
"Cramming session is more accurate."She gestured at the books spread around her."I'm trying to learn six hundred years of Solmarian history before my first public appearance tomorrow.It's going about as well as you'd expect."
"Tomorrow?"
"The charity luncheon for the children's hospital.Didn't your mother tell you?"
I had a vague memory of my mother mentioning something about Betty's first official event, but I'd been distracted by the luggage investigation report at the time."She may have.I've had other things on my mind."
"The sabotage investigation?"
"Among other things."
She studied me for a moment, something shifting in her expression."You actually took that seriously.The luggage thing."
"I told you I would."
"I know.I just didn't expect you to actually do it."She gestured to the chair across from her."Want to quiz me on Solmarian prime ministers?I've memorized approximately three of them, which I'm hoping is enough to fake my way through small talk."
I sat down, close enough to smell whatever shampoo she used, something floral that made me want to lean closer."Which three?"
"The current one, the one who was assassinated in 1847, and the one who legalized women's suffrage.I figured those were the most likely to come up in conversation."
"Solid choices.Though the 1847 assassination is still a sensitive topic with some of the older families."
"Great.I'll add 'don't mention the dead prime minister' to my list of things not to say."She pulled out a notebook covered in handwritten notes."Speaking of things not to say, is there anything else I should avoid tomorrow?Besides fish migration rights and the Bavarian hunting incident?"
"Where did you hear about those?"
"Petra warned me before the pre-wedding reception.I've been keeping a running list of forbidden topics."She flipped to a page filled with bullet points."So far I have: fish migration, Bavarian wildlife, the Spanish countess's failed engagement, anything that could be construed as American exceptionalism, and croissant-tearing technique."
"Croissant-tearing technique?"
"I do it wrong.Madame Delacroix was very distressed."
I laughed before I could stop myself, and something in her expression softened at the sound.
"You should do that more often," she said.
"Do what?"
"Laugh.You're less intimidating when you laugh."
"I'm not trying to be intimidating."
"And yet."She gestured at the general scope of him."The whole prince thing has an intimidating effect whether you intend it or not."
"Does it intimidate you?"
She considered the question seriously."It did at first.Now it's more like..."She searched for the right word."Background noise.I know you're a prince, but when we're actually talking, you're just Archie.The guy who wanted to be a veterinarian and has opinions about pasta authenticity."
