Chapter Thirty-Two
Stellan
Afew days later, I’m escorting Margot down a long hallway at Winthrop Manor, the house in which my parents have finally come home to rest. I slow my pace, stopping her for a second. She looks up at me, her face worried.
“What?” she asks. “Did you forget something?”
My brow creases. “Are you okay?”
She nods slowly, pressing her hands down over the full skirts of her light blue ballgown. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I shrug. “You’ve been quiet ever since we went to that ball.”
She bites her lip, her face heating. “I know. Just… I’m still a little shaken by the fact that the protestors were protesting you. I’m trying to figure out how to feel about being a part of the problem and not part of the solution.”
My eyebrows rise. “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
She bows her head and shrugs. “It’s just… stuff I need to get over, I guess. I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”
I reach out, grabbing her hand and hauling it againstmy chest. “Are you sure you’re still okay with meeting my parents? It’s a big step, I know.” I pause. “Is it too soon?”
There is a moment of hesitation. I see in her eyes that she’s still not a thousand percent sure. But Margot raises her chin, looking at me proudly.
“I’m ready,” she affirms. “I promise.”
I lean down and kiss her, reassuring myself as much as her. She tastes sweet and perfect, just like she did the last ten thousand times I’ve kissed her. I squeeze her hand, then lead her to the doorway of the dining room.
“Your highness,” the servant at the door says, bowing low. “Please.”
He waves us into the room. Everyone else in my family is already here, and my late joining doesn’t exactly go unnoticed. The entire table turns to me, as if they are collectively waiting for something.
I reach behind myself and find Margot’s hand. She’s gone pale as we approach the two empty seats, situated between my father and my little sister Annika.
“Speak of the devil,” my brother Lars announces.
“Yes, we were waiting for you two,” Annika says, looking amused. “Join the party.”
My father looks jovial as usual, a huge dark-haired giant with bright red cheeks. “Ah, our firstborn has finally deigned to join us.”
My mother gets to her feet, rushing over to hug me. She’s a tiny person, and when she embraces me tightly, several strands of her dark hair escape the chignon at her nape. “Ach,min son!”
I let myself be hugged for a second, then chuckle. “Okay, okay.” My mother lets go and I draw Margot closer. “Mother. Father… this is Margot. Margot, meet the king and queen.”
Margot curtsies awkwardly. “Your highnesses.”
“Oh!” my mother says, beaming at Margot. “Please, call me Thora. And that’s Göran.”
My mother then proceeds to be her charming self, embracing Margot and pulling out her chair. Margot turns red and hurries to sit down. I see Annika tug on her arm and whisper something into her ear. Judging by the smile that appears on Margot’s lips, I would guess that Annika just told her something whimsical.
“Sit, sit,” my father says. “Join the rest of us.”
I take my seat next to him, looking around the table. Lars and Finn are in attendance, though Finn looks bored.
“Where’s Anders?” I wonder.
My mother clears her throat. “We should talk about that later,” she says, smiling. “We are all here to meet your new friend, Stellan.”
I reach for Margot’s hand under the table, glancing at her. “Girlfriend. She’s my girlfriend.”
