Page 41 of Appointing

“Don’t bow down your head or call any of us Your Royal Highness, Your Majesty, or Ma’am. It’s pretty simple actually,” Elin told her. “Alex is pouring you wine right now. It’s merlot. She also has those toffee biscuits you love. She’s putting them out for you now.”

“Toffee biscuits?”

Elin smiled and said, “Come on.”

“I need to change,” Ingrid noted.

“Why? You look great.” Elin’s cheeks flushed then, and she stood quickly from the bed. “We’re all wearing our pajamas, Ingrid. Look.” She motioned to the red-and-black flannel pants she was wearing with the white-and-red matching shirt.

“I’m wearing shorts, Ma’am.”

Elin eyed her.

“Elin,” Ingrid corrected.

“Well, itiscolder down there, so feel free to change if you’d like. I’ll leave you alone and meet you in the hallway.”

“Not downstairs?”

“No, if I don’t wait for you out there, you’ll make up some excuse and stay up here.”

Ingrid laughed and said, “You’re probably right.”

“I’ll be right outside the door. And don’t think of jumping out the window. We’re a few stories up, and there are rose bushes down there.”

Ingrid laughed again, which Elin loved so very much.

“Give me a minute.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Elin teased.

CHAPTER 13

“So, you like working for Elin?” Alexandria asked.

“Of course,” Ingrid replied.

“You don’t have to lie; we’re all friends here,” Lillian teased.

Ingrid looked over at Elin, who was taking a drink from her wineglass.

“I’m not lying. Her Ro–”

Elin cleared her throat.

“Elin is great to work with,” Ingrid said, smiling at being called out for almost calling Elin by her title.

This was thestrangestnight of Ingrid’s entire life. She was sitting in a room full of Princesses and Queens, and they were all acting as if she was one of them. She was sitting next to Elin, on the floor in front of the fireplace, so casually as if they’d done this a hundred times before; all of them sitting around talking and laughing.

“What about Erik?” Alexandria asked.

“Whatabouthim?” Mari asked back.

“What’s going on with you two?” Palmer asked.

“We’re talking.”

“Talking?”

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