Page 56 of Appointing

Elin shifted, and Ingrid nodded. She sat down next to her and made sure to leave enough space between them.

“One of the things my father has taught me is that as monarch, you’re supposed to be the all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful, strong leader of the people,” Elin began. “I think he might still believe royalty is descendent from the gods.” She laughed a little. “I don’t believe that, though. I’m not all-seeing, all-knowing, or all-powerful. And I think it would be wrong and a little silly for me to pretend that I am.”

“Okay,” Ingrid said, wondering where this was going.

“I say all this to tell you that I know I make mistakes – many of them, probably – and that I can admit it and, hopefully, rectify them.”

“What mistakes, Ma’am?”

“You being down here, for one,” Elin replied, giving her an awkward smile. “I shouldn’t have just agreed to Markus being my secretary. You and I have worked well together for the past three years. I trust you more than I trust him right now, andnowis the time that I need that trust more than anything.” Elin paused. “Ingrid, I’d like to have you back as my private secretary if you’d agree.”

Ingrid hadn’t been expecting that when the new Queen walked into her office. She’d been thinking the Queen was merely here to check on the designer’s work and to make sure that Ingrid liked her new office.

“What about Markus or Steven? What–”

“I’ll have to talk to them next if you agree. I’ll handle it, though. And if they make any comments, or cause you any trouble at all, I’ll handle that, too. This ismymistake. I shouldn’t have let it happen, to begin with.”

“Ma’am, both of them have seniority over me. You did the right thing. It wouldn’t be right.”

“If I can find jobs for them where they’ll be happy, would you at least consider coming back?”

Ingrid swallowed and replied, “I don’t know, Ma’am.”

“Oh. Okay.” Elin uttered, seemingly unprepared for that answer. “You don’t want to be my secretary?”

“It’s not that, Ma’am. But I don’t know that I should rock the boat, either.”

“I’dbe the one rocking the boat, Ingrid.”

“Ma’am, would it be all right if I think about it?” Ingrid asked.

Elin looked disappointed, but she nodded.

“Of course. I’ve put you through a lot recently, so I understand.”

“It’s not that, Ma’am. There’s a protocol to this, and I don’t want to cause any problems.”

“I get it,” Elin said, standing up.

Was it just Ingrid’s imagination, or did Elin somehow make suspenders look regal?

“I’ll give you a few days. Would that be enough time?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Ingrid replied.

Elin slid her hands back into her pockets. In this now-well-lit office, looking how she did right now, Elin could have easily been walking a runway at Paris fashion week. She was just that beautiful.

“Have a good rest of your day, Ingrid.” The woman looked around the room. “I really do like your office.” She smiled softly.

Ingrid stood quickly when she realized she shouldn’t still be sitting when the sovereign was standing. Elin hadn’t apparently noticed. Ingrid bowed her head, despite the fact that Elin hadn’t turned back around before she opened the door and left the office, closing the door behind her.

???

“Hold on. Now she wants you to work for her again?” Sarah Anne asked as she opened a bottle of beer for herself and sat back down on the sofa next to Ingrid.

“She asked me today.”

“What about this whole seniority bullshit she spouted before?” Her sister took a drink of her beer.

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