Page 6 of Loyally, Luke
Text from Ellie to Maeve:I am a horrible person.
Maeve:I try not to deny or confirm such statements until I’ve heard the whole story.
Ellie:There was an American in the airport coffee shop and our coffees were exchanged by mistake. Did I react nicely?
Maeve:I feel certain I can answer that one.
Ellie:It’s no excuse, but I’d just read the recent tattle from The Edge and they’d pulled up an old photo from three years ago when I’d stumbled out of a bar wearing something atrocious. Will I never outlive those mistakes? I’ve made such an effort to distance myself from who I used to be. To change for the better.
Maeve:You have. You need to offer the media some positive photo ops, or they’ll keep dredging up the past. And you have plenty for them to dredge up.
Ellie:Thank you for the encouragement, friend.
Maeve:I am surprised, though. Your brother has been a much worse royal than you, and he doesn’t garner half the media coverage.
Ellie:Oh dear, I don’t want to know what Arran’s done recently. The last incident cost Father and Mother a small fortune.
Maeve:No, you don’t want to know. But I will say it involves a French model and a bagpipe.
Ellie:I think I just became sick.
Maeve:So how nasty were you to the poor American?
Ellie:Arrogant! A regular prig. After seeing The Edge’s photo, I was in no mind to talk to anyone and then we bumped into each other, splashing coffee in all directions. Needless to say, Ms.Nasty raised her head.
Maeve:Well, at least it wasn’t caught on camera.
Ellie:I’m groaning at the very idea.
Maeve:And the good thing about an airport meeting is that you’ll never see him again.
Ellie:Right. Exactly. Though it doesn’t stop me from feeling like a fiend anyway.
From: Peter MacKerrow
To: Luke Edgewood
Date: March3
Subject: Introductions and “roughing it”?
My grandfather, Lewis Gray, suggested I send you a quick note to prepare you for your visit... and to introduce myself. I’m Peter MacKerrow, Lewis Gray’s grandson by his younger daughter, Mirren. Mum married a Scot, so she lives across the pond on the Isle of Mull, but I’ve spent summers in Skymar for years and am taking a yearlong break from attending seminary in Old Inswythe, so I count Skymar as home too. Since we’ll be renovating some of Grandfather’s old properties, he’s planned to have us live at a cabin near the village of Crieff in the northwestern part of Ansling, which is particularly nice for me because it is one of the three Scots villages in Skymar (and is a closer flight to Scotland when I travel home on the weekends). I should also add that Grandfather has some secret project inmind for us. He’s not told me what the project is, but he has a twinkle in his eyes when he talks about it, which means... you should be forewarned. I don’t know if you have a twinkle-eyed grandparent, but they’re dubious, at best.
I should be in Skern to meet you by early afternoon for the drive to Crieff. Grandfather’s arranged for a Mr.Holton to meet us to discuss the “secret job.” He said Mr.Holton would explain everything. Sound a bit fishy to you too? If it hadn’t come directly from Grandfather, I’d question the legality of the assignment, but Grandfather has an excellent reputation throughout Skymar, with some friends in very high places, so I have to trust it’s all aboveboard.
I was relieved to hear that you’re used to more simplistic accommodations since we will be living in the cabin while we renovate. However, Grandfather says the fireplace is in working order, so we “won’t freeze.” I do believe Grandfather is getting a bit of a laugh out of it all... and likely at my expense. Hopefully, I’ll provide some friendship even if I’m not initially successful at striking a nail. (My father is a historian, and my mum owns a little family bookshop in the village of Glenkirk. Neither swings a hammer very well.) My eldest brother, however, is quite adept at handcrafting and building. I’m more of a bookish sort (another reason to be forewarned).
Grandfather thought you’d like to know that all of the materials and tools are stored at the cabin or on-site at our “secret assignment,” which I believe may be ours whether we choose to accept it or not.
See you in a trice.
Peter
Text from Izzy to Penelope and Josephine:Check out my new ring.
Penelope:OH. MY. GOODNESS!! Is that an engagement ring? Is it? AHHHHHH!!!!
Izzy:Yes, it is!! And I’m sending a few more photos of the actual moment. Brodie had Luke on stand-by to take them! It’s been a little over a year since the email where I thought Brodie was Josie and bared my soul to him. He said his happily ever after started on that day.
