Page 103 of Royally Drawn

“I think you need to wait him out, Ingrid. That doesn’t mean waiting around for him and ignoring other offers, but I sense he will return.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because some guys take forever to grow up. And whatever is rolling around in his brain needs time.”

“How?”

Manon let out a massive burp, provoking hearty laughs.

“So demure!” I giggled.

“Demure princesses wouldn’t last a minute here,” Rick said.

“True.”

“I can say that I had a lot of negative feelings about myself before you all came into my life. I thought I could not be properly loved andlove someone as they deserved,” Rick said. “But you all taught me I was no monster. Maybe Keir worries he will hurt you? I don’t know. But that’s ahimproblem. My hope for him is that he can change.”

“I refuse to wait around for a man to change his mind. No one changes their mind.”

“Your sister wanted to kill me until five days before our wedding,” Rick said. “And look at us now! I practised patience, grovelled to no end, and tried to save the day. She found it in her heart to forgive me. In your case, I think the issue will be you forgiving him. You don’t have to, but I’d hate to see either of you lose out on love over this, Ingrid. If it is meant to be, it will. In the meantime, live. Be your best self. Focus onyou. Be happy. You deserve all of those things, sweetheart.”

It never occurred to me that this wasn’t over forever. Maybe Rick was right, but I wouldn’t be burned twice. I couldn’t accept that.

A Call From Home

INGRID

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Cantering around a warmup was always an excellent way to start my day. Kraken and I were competing in Virginia at a four-star international event. We rode right after Cici and Cardigan, her new Irish Sport Horse. Coming out of dressage, the two of us were sixth and eighth—with me in sixth. I was so proud of myself and excited at this chance to win an event for the first time since entering international competition. I’d come close in February at Wellington—placing third. I’d never been so proud of myself.

That would all come to a halt in the next five minutes. I pulled up next to Cici, trotting next to her.

“He looks outstanding today,” Cici said. “You’re going to kill it.”

“He’s a little wild, but that isn’t bad.”

“You’ll be great. Just go out there and give it your best. It’s enough.”

I noticed our coach waving his arms like he was landing a jet.

“I don’t know what Nils needs,” Cici laughed. “He looks soinsistent.”

“He’s so aggro. What did I do?”

“Oh, darling, it’s me more than you I worry about.”

We rode up to find him there with Betty and Isak, both looking upset.

“Cici, go back,” Nils said.

“What is going on?” Cici asked.

“This is about Ingrid,” Nils said.

“You can say it to us all,” I said.

“You’re out.”

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