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“Yes, Ma’am.”
Ingrid looked on as Elin took care of her finger, even though it was the tiniest cut and didn’t require this kind of attention or treatment.
“There. Better?” Elin asked.
“Much,” Ingrid replied.
Elin nodded and gave her a soft smile.
“I’ll just put this away.” She held up the tube and the trash from the bandage in her hand.
She stood and returned to the bathroom. By the time she got back, Ingrid was finished with the dress. Elin went into the closet without a word to change back into it and came back out a minute later.
“Can you zip me up?” she asked, turning her back toward Ingrid.
“Of course,” Ingrid replied.
She approached, breathed in the Princess’s perfume, closed her eyes for a second, and zipped up Elin’s dress.
“Thank you,” Elin said.
“My pleasure, Your Royal Highness,” Ingrid replied, taking a step back.
Then, she swallowed hard.
CHAPTER 12
“Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the royal family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. Once the land was purchased, they decided to rebuild as the building was no longer adequate for their needs. Prince Albert decided to build a new castle as the current one was considered not large enough for the royal family. The foundation stone was laid by Queen Victoria herself on the twenty-eighth of September in 1853 and can be found at the foot of the wall adjacent to the West face of the entrance porch. The Castle was completed in 1856, and the old building was demolished. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, Balmoral Estates passed to King Edward VII, and then from him to each of his successors,” Mari read from her phone. “That’s what the official site says, anyway.”
“A castle wasn’tadequatefor their needs?” Lillian commented. “I guess that’s true when your wife is busy having nine kids.”
“Supposedly, they really loved each other. Even though it was the 1800s, royals still married to keep the royal blood pure back then,” Mari replied. “Listen to this. ‘He is extremely handsome; his hair is about the same color as mine; his eyes are large and blue, and he has a beautiful nose and a very sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of his countenance is his expression, which is most delightful.’ She said that about Albert before they were married. I think that’s pretty amazing. I mean, so what if they were cousins, right?”
“Aren’t we all pretty much just distant cousins thanks to those two?” Lillian remarked. “It makes it better, I think, to marry outside of a royal family. Elin, it’s one of the reasons I keep suggesting marrying someone with no title. You can be sure you’re not related to them then.”
“Oh, come on… We’re notallrelated, are we?” Mari asked.
“I’d imagine we’re at least second or third cousins with many royals,” Elin joined in.
“Even the ones from Denmark?” Mari asked.
“Oh, Iknewit!” Lillian slapped her younger sister on the shoulder playfully. “You’re into Erik, aren’t you?”
“I don’t want to be,” Mari replied, crossing her arms over her chest. “But he’s handsome and funny. He’s also really smart. I think he reads more than me.”
“Noone reads more than you,” Lillian stated.
“I’ll be right back,” Elin said, standing up.
The flight from Norway to Scotland wasn’t a long one, but she felt cooped up with her sisters and wanted to stretch her legs a bit before they landed. She found Ingrid sitting toward the back of the plane with her laptop open, likely working on something.
“Hi,” Elin said. “Mind if I join you? They’re talking about Mari’s infatuation with Prince Erik. They’ll be at it all week.”
“Of course, Ma’am,” Ingrid replied, closing her computer.
“You don’t have to stop working. I just felt a little claustrophobic over there. They have a way of making me feel that way sometimes.”
“How?”
