Page 10 of Appointing

“Well, I was just invited, too,” she replied. “Shall I go?”

“Yes, please,” he said, the perfect little Prince that he was.

Elin then stood and reached out her arms to hug Elizabeth.

“Hi, Cousin,” Elizabeth said, because they were likely at least that.

“Thank you for having me,” Elin replied, pulling out of the hug.

“Anytime; you know that. We’ve been at Coburn for a few days now, and the kids have been awaiting Cami’s arrival so she’d take them horseback riding – as if they couldn’t do that any day.” Elizabeth smiled down at Leif and then over at Sophia, who was still being held up by Palmer. “They love their Aunt Camilla. And they love their Aunt Elin, too.” She winked at Elin.

“You’re just in time for lunch,” Palmer added, placing Sophia on her feet and taking her wife’s hand.

Elin turned, remembering she hadn’t arrived here alone, and saw Ingrid standing behind her with her hands clasped in front of her.

“You remember Ingrid,” she said, smiling at Ingrid.

“Yes. Hello, Ingrid. Would you like to join us for lunch as well?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, thank you, Your Majesties,” Ingrid replied, bowing her head.

“It’s technically her holiday,” Elin said. “You probably want to get to those hot springs.” She held on to her lower lip with her teeth. “The car is yours, Ingrid.”

“You’re going to the hot springs?” Sophia asked, excited. “Mommy, can I go?”

“No, baby,” Elizabeth replied. “We’re going to have lunch together.”

“Aunt Elin?” Sophia tried with an adorable puppy-dog expression.

“She skipped right over me and went to you. She must think you’re more likely to give in,” Palmer said, laughing a little. “She’s really good at reading people, Elin.”

“How are you supposed to say no to that face?” Elin asked.

???

“So, is this one of those royal meetings where I should excuse myself, or do you want me here?” Palmer asked.

“My love, youarea royal now. It’s been ten years. When will you get used to that?” Elizabeth asked, taking Palmer’s hand and placing it in her lap.

They’d eaten lunch with the kids. Then, their Aunt Victoria arrived with her own two children and took the four of them to the palace, where the children loved to watch movies in the small theater and bowl in the tiny bowling alley. Now, they were sitting in the parlor of Coburn Cottage. It wasn’t much of a cottage, though – it had seven bedrooms after a major remodel in recent years, so Elin wasn’t sure it shouldn’t be called a manor now. Ingrid had retired to the room Elizabeth and Palmer had made up for her. Elin invited Ingrid to join them for lunch two more times prior to them adjourning to the dining room, but Ingrid said she wanted to work instead. Elin worried she shouldn’t have asked her along. Ingrid might have preferred to stay at home. Elin should have asked her if she wanted to go to the hot springs, but she’d wanted to surprise her. Ingrid worked so hard for her – for the family, and now, she’d be paired with Lillian, who wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Elin wanted to do something nice for her, and now she worried she’d made a mistake.

“I kind of wanted to talk to both of you,” she began, sitting across from Elizabeth and Palmer.

“Is everything okay?” Elizabeth asked.

Elin so admired her distant cousin. Elizabeth had been so far down the line of succession ten years ago, when a bomb at a hospital the royal family had helped build went off and destroyed her family with the exception of her younger sister, Victoria. Elizabeth had become Queen unexpectedly, in an instant, and during the worst time of her entire life. While Elin’s ascent to the throne was far from the same, she still hadn’t been raised to be Queen and had honestly expected her brother to rise to the occasion and not put this on her shoulders.

“This hasn’t been announced yet, so it must stay between us,” she continued.

“Of course,” Elizabeth replied.

“My father is going to retire. His health is rapidly declining, and he’s concerned about what it presents to the country. His mental faculties also aren’t what they used to be. He’s been forgetting things lately, and he needs to rest more and more.”

“Oh, wow,” Elizabeth uttered.

Palmer leaned forward and said, “So, Christian is about to be King, and you’re about to be next in line?”

“Christian has decided to remove himself from the line of succession.”

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