His eyebrows lift ever so slightly. “I see. So does that mean the other plan is on the table?”
“I don’t know, is it?” I hold his gaze.
Eddie’s lips twitch. “Well, I suppose everything’s on the table.”
“A great big old table,” I agree with a sigh. The cocktail is delicious, at least, and truthfully, so’s Eddie. We’ve had a few glances our way, when I waited outside early to meet him and now even in the bar, so we’ve been clocked. Nobody appears to be listening, but the tables aren’t that far apart.
Maybe I should have invited him over to my flat for the privacy to talk freely, but I don’t want to give him the wrong idea. Which is probably a weird position to take about a man who is meant to be my fake husband. “I do like refinishing furniture, by the way.”
Eddie smiles. “A man of many talents.”
“I’ve got a chest of drawers in the workshop that I’m just finishing up for a client this week. It was a real find.”
“Sometimes the best finds come by surprise,” Eddie offers. “Lucky client. Maybe I should order a great big old table while I still can.”
I’m not sure how to take any of that, holding his gaze. “Well, my colleague Ethan’s the one taking bookings for the foreseeable future.”
“I’ll consider reaching out. In the meantime, I’ll consider the table. Special order from you.”
“Mm.” I fight the urge to chew my thumbnail, a terrible habit when I get really stressed, and really stressed is happening right now. So if Eddie’s actually entertaining this unhinged plan, I’ve got to take it seriously too. The latest hubbub has died down about Aidan, about the yacht, about me acting the fool. I could turn over a new leaf with Eddie and be all respectable. “I’ll see what I can find. I suppose you’ll need to think about where to put it.”
“True. In the summer house in the country or in the city?” Eddie offers.
“I guess that’s an important one to decide. Where the table is best suited for placement. It’s helpful that you have options and flexibility about where the table should go.”
“Maybe I’ll need to rearrange some furniture.”
“Maybe you will.”
We consider each other over our drinks and order another round.
“When should I book for?” Eddie asks at last. “I imagine your calendar is very busy.”
“It is,” I confirm, then give him a wry look. “It’s a very busy season. However, mid-July has an opening.”
Eddie, bless him, looks startled, but quickly recovers. “Right, mid-July.”
“I realize it’s not a lot of notice…” I cough delicately, sitting back in my chair, wondering if he has completely lost his mind or if I have. It can’t be more ridiculous than Freja abdicating. Imagine rolling into Copenhagen with a new husband and telling Freja that two can play this game. “I guess we’ll need to plan out table settings too.”
“Good point.”
“State banquet or not.” I shrug a shoulder, doing my best to look demure. Secret wedding or a public royal one? I’m well out of my depth here. “I’ll need to confirm the timings.”
“As will I.”
With relief, I raise my glass to Eddie. We shift topics to his business meeting, my day in broad terms, and when we step outside, I hesitate.
“Do you want to come to my flat for another drink? I can make mocktails if you’re driving later.” I suppose if this plan is on, we need to talk more candidly.
“I do love a good mocktail.” His gaze is steady. If only I could channel some of his calming energy.
“I can make a mean faux-jito.”
And soon enough, we make our way through Mayfair to my flat. It’s totally surreal having Eddie over in my home. Like everything has become much more real rather than hypothetical. Like the call from Mamma last night. While Eddie takes in my flat, I mix our drinks, joining him in the living room.
“Your home is beautiful.”
“Thanks. Will have to sell it, most likely.” I shake my head. “I need to move to Copenhagen this summer.”
