Page 54 of Loyally, Luke
“Excellent.”
“I hear you have a third dinner with Christopher Montgomery this evening.” Mother’s attempt at disinterest failed miserably. “He’s always seemed like such a nice man.”
“He is. Nice.” And without much of a personality. Ellie held her smile.
“Well, if he doesn’t turn out to be the one for you”—her mother raised her serviette to her lips—“there are three others I would recommend without hesitation. All from long-standing Skymarian families with good reputations.”
“But there’s no hurry, of course.” Had Father caught her look of desperation? “And you could stumble upon some excellent North Countryman none of us have ever heard of who will embrace the royal life as beautifully as your mother has.” His attention fell upon his wife with the open tenderness he often kept reserved from the public eye.
Mother paused, her gaze lingering in Father’s, before she turned to Ellie. “Of course there is no hurry.” Her golden brow rose. “But so long as he’s a good Skymarian man, I’ll be happy to support your choice. And I’m quite fond of good, honest North Countrymen.” She rattled off a statement in Scottish Gaelic without a hitch. “We can live too long in the royal life that we forget the everyday Skymarian, and I hope I brought such a perspective into the family.”
“Without a doubt.” Father raised his teacup to Mother, his smiledisappearing within his well-trimmed beard. “And I still consider her brother someone who keeps me grounded.”
Ellie laughed. “Because the two of you stay in a cabin on Kernvick for three weeks out of the year?”
“It’s refreshing to disappear for a little while and just live in the quiet.”
“A truth I’ve appreciated more than I can say over the past three years.” Ellie pinched off a piece of her scone and tossed it in her mouth. “But I am also ready to formally return to my duties.”
“A fact we look forward to celebrating at the Wild Hyacinth Ball.” Mother sighed, a smile playing across her lips. “All you need to do is sort out who your special escort will be. There is a lovely history of partners who come to the ball together and end up married very soon after. Your eldest brother is a prime example.”
“I don’t know that my perfect match will happen this year, Mother.” Ellie tossed another bite of scone into her mouth. “But I am more than content with the announcement of officially returning as a working royal during this ball.”
“Don’t underestimate the power of the ball, Elliana.” Her father chuckled. “Or your mother’s excellent skills at matching. She made such a good choice with Stellan, she’s rather determined to do the same with the rest of you.”
“Aleksander!” Mother tossed her serviette down. “I plan no such thing. It’s merely that I knew our children well enough to see a good option when one presented itself. But there was no matchmaking. Only suggestions. As with the Duke of Styles.”
“Of course, darling.” Father’s eyes lit as he took a sip of his tea. “Merely suggestions.” He shot Ellie a wink and then sobered. “As a small country and one that is losing its population, we have to attempt to bring out the best of Skymar, not only to make us stronger but to bring people back. The Foreign Spouse Initiative has helped some, but we’ve seen the most growth in promoting our tourism. There arenot significant numbers yet, but the preliminary view suggests that tourists are coming... and then choosing to stay.”
“Sander, you’re bringing work talk to the breakfast table.” Mother’s teasing reprimand held Father’s grin intact.
Ellie almost smiled. Her parents’ affection for each other came in subtle hints but was true and beautiful in its way. Even amid the trials and expectations, their united front paired with a healthy relationship with the Houses of Parliament had brought Skymar from the brink of bankruptcy.
And keeping a united front and sending a positive message of the privileges of their heritage were a part of that continued growth.
The people here needed to see the stability and hope provided by the Skymarian leadership.
A choice Ellie would make, no matter the consequences to her heart.
***
Christopher Montgomery sat across the table from her in an open-collared white shirt and gray sport coat, his well-made mouth hanging open.
“What did you say?”
“At the next snow, would you like to go sledding with me up in the North Country? There are excellent hills and I’ve overseen some of the building programs for holiday houses. It would provide privacy.” Perhaps he would relax some in a less populated setting? If deepening the relationship was their plan, then why should it be a surprise to try something more real-life than simply dinner at a high-end restaurant? “And perhaps a more relaxed environment to become better acquainted.”
He closed his mouth and took a deep breath, extending the silence by patting his lips with his serviette. “Elliana, as much as I’d like ourrelationship to go to the next level, I feel spending the night together wouldn’t be the best choice for your reputation.”
It was her turn to sit agape. Her reputation? “I wasn’t expecting us to spend the night together. Only spend time together in less formal situations.”
“What else can you learn in a different setting that you cannot learn over dinner?”
She blinked a few times. “Conversations can happen over dinner, of course, but other settings provide new information.”
“Like what sort of information?”
She racked her brain for an answer. “Well, for example, if we were going to see a movie, what sort would you choose?”
