Page 15 of Loyally, Luke
“She does give off a sense of—”
“Arrogance?” Luke pressed back into the seat. “Entitlement?”
“Ah, you don’t fancy her,” Pete stated more than asked.
He shouldn’t have opened his mouth. “I try to steer clear of folks who put on airs, that’s all.”
“Put on airs?” Pete repeated, appearing to mull over the notion. “If she’s a movie star or high rank in the royals, she likely has reason to put on airs, as you call it.”
“Being a certain social status or rank doesn’t mean you stop being polite or kind. In fact, I’d expect folks who’ve been given more in life to be even kinder because they have so much already.”
Pete paused, contemplating Luke’s words. “I like that idea, but I don’t believe it’s as common in practice.”
“No,” Luke said, releasing a sad chuckle. “Usually the opposite.”
“I wonder what her reasoning is. Why she seems so mad.”
Luke stared out the window, those icy blue eyes of hers emerging in his mind against his will. “Most people who put on airs are either trying to prove something... or hide something.”
He didn’t know which one it was for Grace Kelly, but he had no interest in finding out.
Text from Ellie to Maeve:He is here! In Crieff.
Maeve:Maxim Thompson from that fabulous Italian holiday?
Ellie:No! The American from the coffee shop. And why do you keep bringing up Maxim? He was a fiend.
Maeve:A delicious-looking fiend, who had a rather ravenous kiss, if I recall from your retelling.
Ellie:And the very man who made certain that the paparazzi caught us in a rather compromised position! I thought he was helping me with my sunscreen! Had I known he was posing for the paparazzi, I would have pushed him in the pool.
Maeve:Your royal life has been fraught with unfortunate moments.
Ellie:And poor choices.
Maeve:Remember, we are not wallowing in self-pity and regret. Though I do blame some of your ill behavior on your strange brunette phase.
Ellie:Why are we friends?
Maeve:Because I know all your secrets and don’t treat you as if you’re special. Now about this American? I happen to like most Americans, as I am one myself.
Ellie:You’re only half American. Your mother is Skymarian. Besides, you’ve lived in Skymar for ten years. You can’t claim your American status anymore. You’ve even lost part of your accent.
Maeve:Oh, I claim American status quite regularly when I want to. So did the American recognize you?
Ellie:He recognized me from the coffee shop, but not for any other reason. And no one from the orphanage has given any indication of who I am. The entire village of Crieff is remarkable at creating a space where I can just be a normal person.
Maeve:You will never be a normal person.
Ellie:Again... why are we friends? And I would love to be justa regular person for a little while to someone. I can only imagine how refreshing it would be.
Maeve:I’m a regular person. It’s not super refreshing. But as someone who has only been a royal by living vicariously through you, I wouldn’t want a constant fishbowl life either.
Ellie:Thus the reason Crieff is such a haven for us. Well, at least for me, especially during the last few years while I’ve been trying to reinvent myself.
Maeve:So what’s he doing in Crieff? It’s not a typical tourist spot for Americans. For anyone, really.
Ellie:He was recommended by one of Father’s advisors as someone who could give an estimate for the orphanage project.
