Page 13 of Twisted Royals

“I’m afraid we must attend the funding meetings. We won’t have time for the rest.”

Her excitement faded, and I almost changed my mind and let her go. I hated the look of disappointment on her beautiful face, but the funding meetings were too important.

“Yeah, sorry. You’re right.” She took the tablet and slid it into her bag. “I completely forgot about what I was supposed to be doing. Without funding, the fun stuff doesn’t happen.”

“I have an idea. Send your notes to your friend Saul. He might be able to fill in the information you wanted.”

“No.” She slid the strap of her bag over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s okay. He’ll be too busy with Dr. Needmore.”

She tried to edge past me toward the door, but I took her hand to keep her still. “Let me make it up to you.”

“It’s really okay.” She tried to ease her hand free of my grip, but I wouldn’t let go. “The symposium happens every year, so I’ll have another chance. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to have a working knowledge of the budget process.”

I turned her to face Alwin, then led her back to the podium. Before she could protest, I said, “Dr. Sieger. It’s a pleasure. I’d like to introduce you to my assistant, Damaris Lawton. She’ll be starting her doctoral program in the fall, and I’m trying to convince her to apply for the fellowship in Agafonza.”

“It is rarely a pleasure to see you, Your Highness, but it is a joy to finally meet Ms. Lawton.” Beaming, he took her hand and shook it. “Your discovery of the new M-class is making the rounds, but I haven’t received your application yet. Please don’t tell me I’ve missed my chance. Did you not receive my letter?”

She blinked and shook her head. “I don’t understand. What letter?”

“I sent a letter of invitation to your home in Texas. Dr. Needmore was kind enough to provide me with your address.” Still smiling, he asked, “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

I hid my surprise, but it was unnecessary. Neither of them was paying me a bit of attention. It sounded as if Damaris wouldn’t need a reference from my mother at all.

Not that she’d have taken it. She’d made her opinion on the matter quite clear, and while I admired her ethics, it would make the process of wooing her that much harder.

“I’m sorry. It must not have been forwarded. I’ve been working as a housekeeper for Prince Savva.”

“In that case, let me extend a personal invitation. We could discuss it over supper, perhaps? My wife complains I’ve spoken about you so much, she feels as if we should adopt you.”

“Um, I… well, I was looking at Mauna Kea, actually.”

“Completely unsuitable. They don’t deserve you.” Alwin wrapped his hand around her elbow and escorted her from the room, leaving me to follow them to another. “What has Hawaii got? Palm trees and beaches? We have beaches.”

She laughed and pulled her arm free. “Thank you. I can’t believe I’m actually talking to you, but wow, just… thanks.”

“It has been a delight to meet you, Ms. Lawton. May I escort you in?”

She glanced into the room and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m acting as Prince Savva’s assistant this week, so it’s finance meetings for us.”

Frowning, Alwin nodded. “Of course. I will ensure you get access to all the recordings, along with an invitation for next year.”

“It’s okay, really.” She glanced at me and smiled, but it didn’t erase the wistfulness in her eyes. “More money means more research, right? Maybe I can get some folks to loosen the purse strings.”

He laughed, then laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed both cheeks. “You may save your efforts for everyone but the prince. He’s an irredeemable scoundrel, but he funds about eighty percent of our operating budget already and has been a longtime supporter of our work. We wouldn’t exist without him.”

Giving me a sideways grin, Damaris said, “I knew the first part. The second is… unexpected.”

CHAPTER 5

DAMARIS

Snore.

If I’d realized finance meetings were going to be so boring, I’d have stayed in Agafonza and cleaned. It about broke my heart to miss all the roundtable discussions too.

Nobody got a personal invitation from Alwin Sieger, and here I was wasting the opportunity.

Watching Savva was fascinating though. He was truly in his element talking about budgets and spending. It seemed as if he’d undergone a whole personality transplant.

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