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“How bad?” she asked Elin.
“It’s my own fault,” Elin replied.
“Ma’am?”
“Pretty bad,” Elin admitted.
“What were you even doing in here, pouring your own tea?” Ingrid asked.
“I wanted tea, and I just needed a minute away from everything out there, so I came in here.”
“We should get you out of here. Can you leave the party? I think you need to keep water on this for about fifteen or twenty minutes,” Ingrid said, still holding on to Elin’s hand with her own under the running water.
“You think?”
“We all have to take basic first-aid training every three years to work closely with members of the royal family in the event that we need to take care of you,” Ingrid explained. “I know we’re not supposed to use ice or any kind of ointment.”
Elin made a face of disgust and said, “I hate that word.”
“What word? Ointment?”
“Oh, Ingrid, stop,” Elin said, laughing. “It’s a terrible word.”
Ingrid laughed and said, “Let’s get you to your room. I’ll fill a bowl with water, and you can keep your hand in it for a few more minutes. I’ll get some ibuprofen for you for the pain.”
“I can’t just leave the party. They’re in there talking about how I’m about to be Queen. I think they’re having a debate about whether or not I’m ready, trained enough, or the right person for the job.”
“That’s why you came in here,” Ingrid stated, pulling Elin’s hand out of the running water.
Elin nodded.
“I can ask Katrin to go in and excuse you; tell them you’re not feeling well.”
“I don’t think a Queen gets that luxury,” Elin sighed.
“Good thing you’re not Queen yet, then, Ma’am,” Ingrid replied.
Elin gave her a soft smile and said, “I’ll be okay.”
“Can we have a moment, please?” Ingrid asked the two staff members who were in the kitchen. “Just a moment.”
They nodded at Elin and left the room.
“Are you sure?” Ingrid asked.
“I’ll take some medicine when I go upstairs if I need it later. I’ll be okay.”
“Ma’am, even Queens have to take care of themselves,” Ingrid suggested, looking down at Elin’s hand and noticing the red spot was turning darker still. “This looks painful.” She wished in that moment that she could take away all of Elin’s pain; not just in her hand, butallof it. “You should at least put something to cover it. You’re supposed to use a burn bandage. I’m sure there are some in here.” She pointed to the first-aid kit. “Put it back under the water until I find one, okay?”
“Okay,” Elin agreed, sounding almost defeated.
Ingrid went to the first-aid kit mounted to the kitchen wall and quickly located the large burn patches made specifically for her purpose. She returned to find Elin staring down at her hand under the water. Ingrid lifted Elin’s hand, dried it gently with a clean cloth, and then opened the packet of the burn bandage. She carefully applied it and looked up at Elin.
“Better?”
“A little,” Elin said.
“You should keep that on tonight and change it tomorrow. I’m going to ask the doctor to stop by your room tomorrow morning just to check on you, okay?”
