Page 135 of Appointing

Sarah did.

“Elin and I…” Ingrid looked at her hands in her lap, remembering them being on Elin’s soft skin.

“You two finally…”

“Yes,” Ingrid confirmed.

“Was it bad or something? Is that why you’re in a bad mood?”

“No, it was perfect. All of it was so perfect.” Ingrid looked over at her sister.

“Okay… So, what’s the problem, Ingrid?”

“She told me she loves me.”

Sarah smiled, softening instantly.

“That’s amazing.” She watched as Ingrid didnotsoften instantly. “Hey, that’s amazing. Why don’t you look happy?”

“I didn’t say it back.”

“What do you mean you didn’t say it back?! You’re head over heels for this girl.”

“I know.” Ingrid sighed.

“Did you get tongue-tied or something? Maybe you were busy doing something else with your–”

“Sarah, knock it off,” Ingrid said, laughing a little, though. “I don’t know; I just froze when she said it. I wanted to say it back, but I freaked out. I had this flash of my entire life in front of me, and while a lot of it was good and amazing and what I want, there were parts I’m not so sure I can handle.”

“The Queen thing?”

“I talked to Palmer,” Ingrid said. “Actually, I spoke with Lillian first, who then put me on the phone with Palmer – she’s been through this, too. She never planned on marrying a Queen. She was an American reporter just on vacation in St.Rais when the hospital bomb went off and Elizabeth became Queen.”

“Well, I get why you’d want to talk to her, but your situation is a little different.”

“Of course. But it was helpful to talk to someone who basically had to give up the life she wanted for herself.”

“You’d know better than me, I guess, but I read that book you bought a few years ago about them: it didn’t seem to me like Palmer gave anything up that she wasn’t good with, you know? She still writes and publishes. She works with charities that she loves supporting. And in that book, it’s very clear that she loves her wife and their life together, Ingrid.”

“She does; I know that. She told me as much on the phone. And I’ve seen them together; I know she doesn’t regret anything. But the monarchy St.Rais is privately funded; they don’t take taxpayer money. Elin’s familydoes. That means some of the things that Palmer can still do, I wouldn’t if–”

“If you guys got married one day?” Sarah interjected. “So, youarethinking about that stuff?”

“Of course, I am. You don’t just start dating a Queen without thinking about that stuff. But I’ve also spent the past three years falling in love with the woman without realizing it, apparently.” Ingrid’s head went back against the sofa.

“What would you be giving up, exactly? Spell it out for someone who didn’t work for the royal family.”

“I couldn’t work anymore,” Ingrid said.

“At Dad’s company? Fine. You went there because it was available, and you didn’t want to work for Elin because you wanted tobewith her. What would you really be giving up?”

“Not just there; I meant I wouldn’t be able to workanywhere.”

“So? You’d be Queen Consort. You’d have a job, Ingrid. Didyouread the book Palmer wrote?”

“The first or the second one?”

“Either one,” Sarah replied, exasperated. “I remember you coming home exhausted from all the work Elin did that you helped with as her secretary, and she was only a Princess then and not even next in line. If you and Elin work out, you could be her Consort. You’d have your own secretary or secretaries; you’d have that much to do. All that travel she does? You would do itwithher. You could choose to just be arm candy if you want, but that’s not exactly your style. I can see you being like Palmer there.” Sarah pointed at the TV, despite it being on a commercial and no longer showing the charitable event. “She seems to work hardandmakes a difference. Isn’t that the point of a constitutional monarchy these days? It’s not like Elin has anyrealpower.”

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