“Princess-y?” I echo.
She’s making up words now?
“You know, like this.” She lifts her chin, pushes her shoulders back, and rearranges her features. And yes, she looks considerably moreprincess-y.
“Certainly more than you did a moment ago. But would you mind changing? Your dress, that is.”And your impetuous personality.
Her eyes widen. They really are very large and distractingly blue. “Of course I can change.”
“If you’d care to come with me, I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Thanks, Fred. You’re the best,” she says genuinely. “Can I say a quick goodbye to the dogs first? We’ve had such a lovely time together, and I want them to know I’ll be sticking around.”
I close my eyes.
Oh, yes. This is definitely goingto be a disaster.
She crouches down and says goodbye to every single dog individually, petting them and telling them how delighted she is to meet them. I tell her each of their names. Scarlett and Rhett, Marmalade and Toast, and Butterscotch.
Finally, she rises. “Right! Thank you for that. Shall we go?”
I lead her from the glasshouse, calling the dogs with a whistle. They dart past us onto the lawn.
“I always think animals are easier than people. Don’t you? They're more honest about what they want. If a dog likes you, they show it. If they don’t, they show that, too.”
There’s something disarmingly honest about that.
“I’m glad you like our dogs,” is my profoundly lame response.
We fall into silence as we make our way across the gravel path. I hold the French door ajar for her, and she steps inside ahead of me.
She turns to face me. “I suppose we should talk about the elephant in the room.”
“The elephant?”
“Your parents and my parents want us to wed to protect our countries. To keep Elkevik from going bankrupt, and preserve your monarchy.”
Bluntdoesn’t even begin to describe this woman.
“That’s right,” I reply.
“Isn’t it all very romantic?” she asks with a cheeky smile, the dry tone in her voice catching me off guard.
“We’re doing what we must,” I reply.
“We are.” She studies my face earnestly. “Can I ask you a question?”
I give a cautious nod. I have no idea what’s coming.
“What doyouwant, Fred?”
Her question takes me by surprise. No one has asked me that, not once in this entire discussion.
“I want what’s best for Ledonia,” I say.
Which is true, though it’s not quite the whole truth.
“No, I mean what doyouwant? I’m not thinking of you as the prince or the future king, more as a person.”
