Page 101 of Royally Rivalled

“Well, that is exciting for your family. Your Mum must be over the moon.”

“I gave my sister a wedding budget. Both my sister and mother were cross about it. I brought Astrid along as muscle.”

Rick chuckled. “It’s wise. She’s good at that. Offering a budget is strange, I’m sure.”

“It’s not wonderful. I miss my dad.”

“When did you lose your father?”

“A couple of years ago now,” I admitted. “Honestly, Astrid is the only one who gets it.”

“It’s good. Astrid is a wonderful ally but a terrifying enemy.”

I laughed heartily. “Oh yes. She’s fucking amazing at argument. I’ve met my match, but I never know whether I find her attractive or frightening when she gets on a tear.”

Rick smiled. “She’s a lot to handle, but she’s one of my best friends. She wanted to kill me when I first arrived, but Astrid is kind and always resourceful. I owe her more than a small debt at this point. And she’s talking Lex down now. Treat her well, and she will take care of you.”

“I will,” I agreed.

“I suppose we’ll be having you back in the summer. And, by then, Alexandra will be miserable, and about to pop, I’d gather. So, apologies in advance.”

“No apologies needed. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it here. It’s a beautiful country, and your family is a laugh. The younger girls grow on you immediately.”

“I heard there was an… issue… and Odette said she was ‘scarred.’ If you ever felt bad, do not. Lex and I struggled with boundaries at the start. Odette and Ingrid didn’t know to knock. They were also bonded. We had to work on it.”

“Apologies about that. Scarred?”

“Yes. Odette can be… dramatic.”

I laughed. “She returned and hugged me later, so I must not have done too badly. She’s sweet. And Ingrid is so funny. Both easy to love.”

Rick nodded. “You fit right in. That’s what matters.”

Did I fit right in? How was that even possible? It was the biggest compliment he could have given. I found my place in the most unlikely of spaces with the most unexpected woman. Neandia may never be home, but I could get used to the Deschamps family circus.

fifty-six

ASTRID

Niall invitedus to his family’s box at the theatre for a fun weekend. We would see the biggest hit on the West End—Victoria the Great—which featured a distant cousin, Natalie Roughy, in the lead role. Natalie—known to everyone as “Leah”—was no average girl. She was the daughter of the Queen’s twin brother, Prince George. Amara nearly tripped over herself at the invitation to join us. Amara, obsessed with Leah, was bursting. We took the train to Victoria Station.

“It was nice of Niall to invite all of us,” I said to Parker. “Even Amara.”

“He fancies Amara,” Parker said, “so he’s enduring a night at the theatre for her. And if Leah is as good a friend as I lead her to believe, I think she’ll wing woman for him.”

“It’s a brilliant plan.”

“Better than I could do. Which is why—despite us both being awkward fucks—I have no game. I have no pseudo-princesses to invoke.”

“Not, just a gaggle of actual princesses. Can you please explain why sheisn’ta princess? Why?”

“If you listen to mother tell it, her father left the monarchy—and Niall’s mother—to marry Leah’s father.”

“Wait, he was withNiall’smum?”

Parker nodded. “They were almost engaged. Niall’s mum responded by running off with Prince George’s second cousin and best friend—Niall’s dad. And, about a year later, Mac—Niall’s older brother—was born.”

“Fuck. That isjuicy. Suchdramawith the Brits!”

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