Page 62 of The Backup Princess

How old is she, eight??

“I’m trying to help here. It would be good if we could get along, don’t you think?”

She twists her mouth, her arms still crossed, although not as tightly as they were only moments ago.

Progress.

“So? What do you say, Madeline?”

I can almost see some of the tension leave her shoulders.

“I guess we could try,” she concedes.

“See? That wasn’t so hard.”

“Hmm.”

We begin to amble through the gardens in silence together for a while before she says, “You mentioned something called The Games. What is that?”

“They're the annual games between our two countries. It’s a long-standing tradition, and they’re held in either Malveaux or Ledonia each year. It’s your turn this time. There are serious events with professional athletes, and then the more light-hearted ones. My family always attends and we always participate, although we compete in the light-hearted events only.”

“Does that mean I have to play these games?”

“It would be circumspect of you.”

She gives me a look that clearly says you and your big words.

“It would be a good idea,” I say.

“I know what ‘circumspect’ means.”

I cannot win with this woman.

“I’m sure you do. It’s very clear to me that you’re bright.”

She gives me a sideways glance, as though she doesn’t trust the compliment.

“I mean it.”

“Sure,” she replies uncertainly. “I’m smart. Thanks.”

“Of course.”

We walk around a thicket of trees and onto the Grand Walk, a stretch of grass that leads up to a neoclassical rotunda atop an incline.

“What do I have to do at these Games? It’d better not be rugby.”

“You don't like rugby?”

“I don't know anything about rugby but ask me anything about football.”

“By which you mean American football?”

“Of course. Go Texans!” She punches the air.

“Ah.”

She bristles. “What does ‘ah’ mean? Are you looking down your royal nose at me because I don't know what rugby is? Because that’s unfair. No one in Texas knows what rugby is.”

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