Page 42 of His Runaway Princess

“I’m not sure Mum remembers it’s here. It’s been a quarter of a century. If she did, it seems likely she either would have had it redone or ensured I moved somewhere else.”

Princess Amalia set the photo back down, took a couple of steps, and picked up a stuffed animal. Ryker couldn’t tell what kind.

She held it close to her torso as she looked down at the face and brushed the fur back off its forehead.

“I always knew Ginny existed,” Princess Amalia told him as she continued to stare at the animal. “I always knew I came second. Not just in the line, but to my mother.”

Ryker blinked. What did that mean?

This time the princess looked up, tears sparkling in her eyes. “I always knew I’d be asked to make sacrifices. I never thought it would be my choice of life partner, but I always knew I’d never measure up to the idealized version of her oldest child. I knew she’d never love me as much as she loved the daughter she sent away.”

Before he realized he’d made the decision to move, Ryker wrapped his arms around Amalia and let her cry.

14

Before dinner rolled around, Amalia had pulled herself back together. Ryker said he would wear the same slacks, but would manage to change into a different button-down shirt - one that didn’t have her mascara all over it.

She had changed into her favorite pair of slacks, stilettos, and a new shirt - one she knew made the green in her eyes pop.

Zoey had helped with Amalia’s hair, even thoughstylistwasn’t included in the assistant’s job description.

“Mr. Drasil has returned, ma’am.” Zoey smiled at Amalia. “He looks as nervous as a teenager on a first date.”

It seemed like a first date to Amalia, though they’d be with her family. The first real time they’d spend together once their identities had been revealed, at least without the immediate emotional trauma from finding out about the legalities of their relationship.

Exiting the hall from her bedroom, Amalia found him staring at a piece of artwork hanging from a wall. He must have heard her walk in because he turned immediately.

“You look lovely, Your Royal Highness.” The lack of snarkiness in his voice made her think he wasn’t trying to be condescending.

“Please, call me Amalia.”

He winced. “I’m not sure that’s going to be possible.”

She didn’t know why the idea stung a little bit. “You did in Ravenzario.”

“Only when I couldn’t avoid it.” He looked straight at her. “I work for a family of your contemporaries. Even though you’ve given me permission, it’s inappropriate. Even now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince myself to drop the title, at least not for a while.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “So even if we are married, you will continue to call me Princess Amalia? For how long?”

“I’ll do my best to lose the formality as much as I can, at least when we’re not in a setting where it wouldn’t be appropriate until everything has gone public.”

With a sigh, Amalia nodded. “That’s the best I’m going to get out of you, isn’t it?”

“Yep.” He grinned in a way that should probably be illegal. While not overly smoldering or arrogant, it exuded confidence and made her stomach do slow flips.

“Very well.” She started for the door with Ryker following closely behind.

He fell in step beside her as they walked through the wide hallways. This time, she took him through the main portion of the building rather than sticking to the back ways. They still didn’t see many people, though she stopped to talk for a minute with several of the staff members she knew. Nothing of real importance. Just checking on one’s daughter who Amalia knew had been ill. Another’s mum had passed not too long before. The third had gone on holiday recently.

She didn’t have nearly long enough to talk with any of them, just enough to get a quick update that the daughter was feeling better, the family was getting back to normal after the passing of their matriarch, and Islas del Sargasso had been lovely.

Even with the short stops, they arrived at the dining room five minutes before they had been told. Ginny and her husband, Ollie, already waited. Standing off to one side, they each held a drink of some kind.

A staff member handed Amalia and Ryker beverages almost as soon as they walked through the door. Before she could even take a sip, a concerned Ginny appeared at her side.

“Is everything all right?” her half-sister asked.

Amalia nodded. “Some things need to be worked out, but nothing’s really wrong.” She turned and held a hand toward Ryker. “Ginny, I’d like you to meet Ryker Drasil. He assisted me in Ravenzario and became my friend along the way. Ryker, this is my older half- and adopted sister, Ginny and her husband, Ollie from New Sargasso.”

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