Page 56 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

Maddie nodded as she pulled away another piece of funnel cake. “The night you and Mom made Nate take me with him.”

Victoria winced as she shot Elena a glance. “Oh, I am sorry about that, Ellie. We hadn’t realized Nate was going on a date.”

Elena offered her a blank expression. “There’s no need for an apology. I had a lovely time with Maddie.”

Nate wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pleased with how well she accepted his family.

“Still, I’m certain you would have preferred to be alone,” Victoria said.

“And it was like their second date, too,” Maddie said with a chuckle.

Victoria’s shoulders slumped as she pressed a hand against her chest. “Oh, goodness, what you must think of us.”

Elena cocked her head before she shook it. “I don’t think anything at all. Family is very important.”

“Well, that is very kind of you, Ellie,” Victoria said. “I appreciate you being such a good sport about that.”

Elena offered her a sweet smile before she grabbed another piece of the funnel cake. “So, tell me about the Kingsleys. Have you lived in Sterling City all your lives?”

“The kids have grown up here, yes,” Victoria said with a nod. “Charles is also from here. I’m from New Orleans.”

Elena’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh. If I’m not mistaken, that city is quite a bit larger than this one. Is that right?”

“Yes, it is,” Victoria said.

“And which do you prefer? There or here?”

Victoria sucked in a breath, her eyes going skyward. “That’s a good question. Umm, well, I guesswhen I first moved here, I thought it was a bit small, but I’ve really grown to love it. How does it compare to where you’re from?”

“Oh, I’m from quite a small…town. So, this is much larger, but I am very much enjoying all the amenities. It is a very lovely city.”

“We like it,” Victoria said with a nod.

Maddie wiped her hands with her napkin before she tossed it down. “Ellie, would you like to ride the teacups with me? Mom and Dad won’t go.”

“I would love to,” Elena answered. “Nathan, would you mind terribly?”

“No, have fun. I’ll be right here.” He kissed her cheek before she rose. “Want me to hold the bear?”

“No, you said I had to carry it, so carry it I shall,” she said with a giggle. “Lead the way, Maddie.”

Elena strode away with his sister as Nate smiled after them before he twisted back to glance at his parents. “Well? What did you think?”

Victoria heaved a sigh as she glanced at Charles. “Well, I think she’s very charming, Nate. She certainly seems well-mannered, polite, kind. I know we’ve only talked to her for a few minutes, but I liked her.”

Nate grinned at his mother. “I like her, too.”

“How did she take it when you told her about the hidden identity?” Charles asked.

“Fairly well, I guess. I…told her the reasons, and she asked if those were the only things I wasn’t honest about. I said yes. And she was very understanding. She said it wasn’t an issue as long as I’d been honest with her about how I felt, my personality because love isn’t about money or fancy things, it’s about connection.”

“Well, I would like to get to know her a little better before I make a final call, if that’s okay,” Victoria said. “Why don’t we have her over for dinner?”

“Yeah, sure, I’d love that,” Nate answered.

“How is next week?”

“Perfect. Yeah, let’s do it,” Nate said as Elena and Maddie returned in a cloud of giggles.

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