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Ingrid nodded.
“But you didn’t say it back?”
Ingrid shook her head.
“May I ask why?”
“I shouldn’t be talking to you about this. Elin and I should talk.”
“Yes, you should. But she’s leaving soon for Palmer’s thing.”
“I know.”
“Look, I am no expert in love… I’m not even sure I’ve ever been in love myself.”
“Trust me, you’d know,” Ingrid replied.
Lillian smiled thoughtfully at her and said, “I’m sure that’s true. It’s the Queen thing, though, isn’t it?”
“It’s fine. I want Elin.”
“I have an idea,” Lillian replied.
Then, she pulled out her phone and dialed.
“Hey, do you have a minute?” There was a pause. “Ingrid is here. Can you talk to her about something for me?”
“Who are you–”
“It’s Palmer. You should talk to her,” Lillian said to Ingrid. “Great. I’m going to give her the phone.” She handed Ingrid the phone and added, “I’ll be in my room. Just bring it back when you’re done.”
“I don’t–”
“Ask her what it was like for her, Ingrid. If anyone gets this, it’s her. Just remember: Elin is just a person, like you. She’s in love with you. She has been forever. And if you’re not in this, you need to tell her now. If you are, though – I promise you, she will be the best partner in the world. She’s already the best sister. She’s a great aunt to Palmer and Elizabeth’s kids, and she will be to mine, too. She’s already on her way to being the best Queen. Sorry, Palmer! No offense to your wife.” Lillian said that last part a little louder. “Just give it a chance. Don’t freak out. Don’t ruin what could be the best thing ever for both of you, okay?”
“How did you know I–”
“I saw the terrified look on my sister’s face this morning, Ingrid. I don’t ever want to see that look on her face again.”
Lillian left then, and Ingrid reluctantly put the phone to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Queen troubles?” Palmer asked.
“Princesstroubles at the moment. Lillian is insistent, though. MyQueenis working right now, and then she’s on her way to see you,” Ingrid replied.
“You’re freaking out about the whole possibility of being a consort one day?”
“Not just that,” Ingrid said. “I thought I could handle it; I really did. I just… I don’t know. It hit me last night.”
“So, let’s walk through it,” Palmer suggested.
“Walk through it?”
“She’s a Queen, and you know how it works because you worked for her. You know there’s the official coming-out-to-the-world thing that has nothing to do with the fact that you’re two women. They take official pictures of you and everything. Then, people start asking about the engagement. In fact, you’ll be on engagement watch from the moment you go public. Elin technically has to propose to you becauseshe’sthe Queen, but you could always lie about that later, if you have to. People would expect a wedding within a year or two, at most. Of course, at that point, they’re going to wonder about the kids you two don’t want, from what I understand, and you’ll have to address that. You’d have to quit your job; at minimum, once you’re married, but people will expect you to do it once you’re public. You can’t be a royalandearn a paycheck. It’s a lot, Ingrid. Elizabeth once told me that someone had to love her enough to want to not only be with herthe person, but to be with herthe Queen. They’d have to be okay with our children taking over this whole thing one day. You know all of this, but once Elin decides she’s ready, people will pull you into a room. They did it to me, too. I had to learn a lot more than you do since the whole thing was foreign to me. People I hardly knew at all asked me personal questions about my family, why I wanted to marry the Queen, and whether or not I believed in divorce.” Palmer chuckled. “They’ll start telling you the things you can’t do anymore, or the things you do that you have to change now. It’s going to feel like your chest is tightening, and you’re going to wonder why you’re even considering putting up with all of it. You probably won’t ever be truly alone again; security will always be somewhere close by. You’ll live in a mansion that’s never empty. It’s going to feel like you have to choose between the life you want with Elin and the life yougetwith Elin.”
Ingrid didn’t say anything when Palmer paused.
