Page 86 of Royally Drawn

“Concerned?”

This came out of left field. We’d been tangled in the sheets two weeks ago, making love endlessly at his cottage on the Sandringham grounds. I didn’t think I even put on clothes for about ninety per cent of the weekend. I’d left there feeling so overwhelmingly in love with him. Now, he looked like he was about to end it all.

“The article was… Ingrid, you cannot…”

“Spit it out,” I said, annoyed. “Just say what you want to say. Spare me any sugarcoating.”

“Don’t get upset with me.”

“I’m not,” I said. “But if you love me, you owe me honesty.”

Keir nodded, appearing understanding. “Everyone has to know it’s either me or Duncan. And given Duncan has been chasing tail for the past month and getting himself intoloadsof trouble, it’s not Duncan. So, it’s me. Your statement?—”

“I never named you.”

“That item was not blind, Ingrid. I don’t know if this whole thing excites you or if you care about us succeeding. Maybe you don’t know the rules. You’re just… inexperienced.”

I didn’t like anyone infantilising me. His words reduced me to a child who couldn’t handle the rules of engagement of royal dating.

“I am sorry I was cheeky, but I’m allowed to have feelings.”

“Oh, Ingrid, I know. Darling, I know.” Keir softened a bit, reaching for my hand.

I pulled it back. “No, you don’t know. And if I’m inexperienced, then aren’t you just some predator exploiting me?”

“I don’t mean it like that. I mean… I’ve been dancing around these questions a lot longer.”

“Maybe I don’t want to dance around them?” I demanded. “Maybe you’re just embarrassed by me?”

“Oh, Ingrid,” Keir sighed. “I don’t mean it like that. I love you.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“Tone it down.”

“Because you don’t want people to know.”

“No, my love. Because I don’t want people harassing you, I don’t want you getting hurt. It worries me.”

“I have lived this life my entire?—”

“You don’t understand the British press. I’ve told you this before. They raked my mother over the coals in ways I cannot describe.”

“I can handle it. I’m tough.”

“So is Mamma,” Keir said, voice sharp. “You aren’t listening. You think you know, but you cannot know.”

His tone didn’t upset me as much as it worried me. I relented,giving him a look. I wanted him to explain. I knew he needed to get this out.

“Mamma and Dad… they kept things under wraps. They dated in America and came to the UK once my father decided he’d marry her. They only went public upon their engagement.”

“That sounds fucking miserable,” I admitted.

“It was for her security. Things were different then. I don’t know if you know this, but my mother had two mothers. Her older mother—the one she called Mom—died when I was younger. The younger one—she called her Mamma—died only a few years back. She lived averylong life and was one of the most important people in my life. She held us together when Daddy died. Anyhow, two moms led tomanyquestions—namely about my mother’s parentage.”

“Why would they care?”

“She and my Aunt Linnea are twins born to a lesbian couple. It was a big deal for their daughter to marry into our family in Britain.”

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