Page 27 of Appointing

“Christian, I told you about this,” Elin said.

“Oh, shit. That’s right; you did. Seniority stuff, right?”

“Yes,” Elin replied.

“So, once you’re Queen, change it,” he suggested.

“Yeah, he’s right,” Mari echoed. “Once Dad retires, just give Markus another job. Lil gets Katrin still, and I don’t need a secretary since I’ll be in business school. You’d get Ingrid.”

“This is supposed to be a party,” Elin sighed.

“Fine. We’ll talk later,” Mari said, pointing at her and then walking off.

“I’m getting food. I’m starving,” Christian announced and followed her.

“Ingrid will quit if she’s stuck with Mari,” Lillian stated simply after they left.

“What?”

“Mari won’t have any work for her to do. Whether she goes back to school or not, Mari won’t have anything to reallydofor a while. She’s only just now entering the real royal life. Ingrid’s too good, Elin. She likes working with you because you’re a real working royal. I’m just trying to tell you that you risk her quitting. Like you said, she’s a person; she can leave whenever she wants. And if she’s bored because Mari is boring, she’ll leave fast. And I don’t think you could blame her for that since you’re the one that did nothing to try to keep her.”

CHAPTER 9

“Does it ever seem to you like our lives are spent on the outside looking in?” Katrin asked.

“Pardon?” Ingrid asked back.

“Well, there’s a party going on in that ballroom, and we’re in our offices, which are by the palace kitchen because we’ve been relegated to the second and third in line.”

“First and second now,” Ingrid corrected. “Well, once The Princess Royal takes the throne anyway.”

“Explain that to me… How is it that Markus has seniority over you, so he gets to stay with the sovereign, but you have seniority overmebut end up with Mari, who is less interested in having a crown on her head than I am? And I haveneverdreamt of being a Princess,” Katrin added.

Ingrid hadn’t technically started her new job as Mari’s private secretary, but she’d been spending time in what would be her new office soon, which, as Katrin had just pointed out, was off the main palace kitchen that happened to be off the main ballroom where the royal family was having a party for their extended family to celebrate Mari’s return and send Christian off back to the Royal Air Force. They could hear the frivolity from their shared office space. Ingrid had gotten used to having her own office just off of Elin’s suite of rooms. Now, she would be sharing an office about the same size with Katrin. Their old wooden desks sat facing one another, and Ingrid had just enough room to maneuver her chair behind it to get in and out of the space somewhat comfortably. She remembered this very desk from her early years in the palace, and she couldn’t believe she’d be back here soon enough. She’d worked so hard for Elin and the royal family. How had she gone backward?

“I’m going for a coffee. Would you like one?” Ingrid asked.

“No, it’s late. I’m finishing this up and going home,” Katrin replied.

Katrin, along with some of the other palace staff, lived on the grounds or just off in a building meant for those employed by the palace. Ingrid had an apartment there, too. Well, it was reserved for the person in her position, but she gave so much of her life to the palace and royal family that she hadn’t wanted to move in, choosing to maintain her own apartment. Now, had she been living in that apartment, she’d have to move to the one designated to Mari’s private secretary, which, she guessed, would be way smaller than the one for someone on Elin’s staff. That would be especially true now that Elin would ascend the throne. The apartment for the secretary serving the sovereign was three times as big as the others. It was meant for a family, with four bedrooms, a large kitchen, an office, and a formal dining room. She’d been there many times when Steven would invite the staff over for dinners. As junior, Markus had only a slightly smaller residence. Markus’s wife had passed years ago, though. He’d never remarried, and they’d had no children. Steven’s apartment had been filled with the sounds of his children growing up, and now, his grandchildren when they came to visit. While Ingrid hadn’t planned any children for herself, considering her career to be more important, she did wish she had someone to come home to that wasn’t her younger sister.

“I’ve got some more work to do on the gala, so I’ll be back,” Ingrid said, standing and leaving the office.

The palace kitchen had five people currently plating hors d’oeuvres for the guests, pouring champagne and wine into glasses, and then carting everything out to the party, which didn’t appear to be winding down anytime soon. Ingrid made her way over to the fancy coffee machine, which she rarely used for her own drinks, and noticed someone not dressed in the kitchen uniforms. Prepared to lecture them on either why they weren’t dressed appropriately or why they were in the kitchen if they weren’t staff, she was surprised to see Elin there pouring herself a cup of tea.

“Ma’am,” she greeted.

“Oh, Jesus,” Elin uttered, turning to see Ingrid there and promptly pouring scalding hot water from the kettle onto her hand holding the cup.

She yelped a little in pain, and Ingrid moved quickly, taking the kettle from her and placing it on the counter before taking Elin’s hand in her own and looking down at the darkening red spot.

“Call for the doctor,” she said to someone who stood there watching without offering to help.

“I don’t need a doctor,” Elin replied. “Really, I’m fine. It’s just a little burn.”

“Ma’am, it won’t be. Let’s get it under some water.”

Ingrid moved them until they were by one of the sinks, running room temperature water, which she’d heard was better than cold over the affected area.

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