Page 70 of Royally Benevolent

“Trains are brilliant, aren’t they?” Parker’s face erupted in a smile. “America needs to get on board with trains. Britain needs to invest in better infrastructure, too. I cannot wait to hear more.”

Astrid put her hand on Parker’s arm. “Darling, we arenottalking about trains all night. Apologies for him. He’s passionate about transit.”

“Me, too,” I said. “But maybe another time?”

Parker shot her a look as if she cramped his style.

“Wyatt, Theo is darling,” Alexandra said. “The curls.”

“He’s sweet,” Odette said.

“He can be a terror just like any of them, but he has a good heart,” I said. “He’s been building a castle all day. He said he was the king and then gave orders. I am not sure he knows how to win people rather than alienate them.”

Rick chuckled. “Well, now he has seen a palace and can build one—be a little prince in his own palace.”

“Don’t give him any ideas,” I said. “He’s an absolute ruler.”

“Nah,” Rick said. “He’s sharing his roll with Kari.”

“They are bartering! Oh my God, my ovaries! How fucking adorable!” Astrid declared.

I gathered Astrid was the spiciest sister.

Parker groaned, “Asti, for the love of God.”

“What, it’s adorable. Look at them!”

“I can see with my eyes, love.”

“It’s cute, yes,” Alexandra rubbed her stomach.

“It’s good for him to be around other kids. He attends a day school three times a week, but he could probably use more unstructured time.”

“Bring him around anytime then,” Rick said. “The more of them there are, the better they are at ignoring me.”

“And the more mess they cause,” Alexandra said.

“Mess is nothing. Their little minds need destruction and chaos,” Rick asserted. “Alexandra, my love, you have never picked up after them. What do you care?”

She glared at him. I suspected Rick was right, but such behaviour landed him in the doghouse. I’d learned what hills to die on by now. Sometimes, pedantry did not get you anywhere.

“It would be nice to turn them out in the garden on a nice day,” Alexandra said.

“Oh, they could climb the tree!” Odette said.

I shivered at the thought.

“Odette, that is probably a bit too advanced.”

“At Linny and Kari’s ages, Ingy and I always climbed the tree.”

“And gave us a fright!” Astrid admonished. “No trees.”

“I agree. No trees,” I said. “He needs no more encouragement.”

“Well, he’s adorable. We should like to have him around another time,” Alexandra said. “It’s nice having other children around.”

I could agree with that statement if only the other children weren’tfamous, royalchildren. It wasn’t that I had any beef with Alexandra and Rick. Their kids seemed just as chaotic and troublesome as any. It was just that I couldn’t imagine a world where this was anormaldinner. Suddenly, I pulled back. With Odette, this was what it was. Was I ready for that?

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