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“Okay, but I can’t guarantee my sister won’t buy one.”
“As long as she doesn’t wear it around me – I guess that’s okay.”
“That would imply you’ll be seeing Sarah Anne again.”
Elin’s smile dropped and she said, “Right.”
“She really likes you,” Ingrid added.
“Your sister?” Elin asked.
“Yes, she’s told me before she’s glad I work for you.”
“You don’t anymore,” Elin said.
“I know, Ma’am,” Ingrid replied.
“I just came out to you, Ingrid; I think you can lose the ‘Ma’am.’”
Ingrid gave her what she hoped was a warm smile.
“No one else knows. Well, Lillian and my mom; I told them recently. Palmer and Elizabeth know, but no one else. I hope…”
“I won’t say anything. I’d never do anything to hurt you; you know that, right?”
There was a knock at the door, and Ingrid wished they were alone back in the hot springs of St. Rais so they could have one full conversation without being interrupted.
“Come in,” Elin said.
“Your Majesty, we’re getting requests for an update on–”
“Yes, I have it here,” Elin replied, taking the piece of paper from Ingrid and making a couple of changes. “It’s ready.”
“I’ll send it over to Markus and Steven for their approval, Ma’am.”
Ingrid stood up and said, “TheQueenjust approved it.”
“Of course,” the staffer replied. “Your Majesty,” he added, bowed, and left.
“I should get going,” Ingrid said. “I need to clean out my desk. Steven told me it would be fine to work from home from now on.”
“You’re leaving?” Elin asked, turning back around and looking disappointed.
“It’s common for people who put in their notice not to come back to the palace. They don’t want to risk us hearing something we shouldn’t have right before we leave,” she replied, winking at the Queen for some reason.
“Ingrid, I–”
“Ma’am, I’m happy to help with anything else you might need from home until my last day, but now might be a good time for you to start working with Markus. He really is good at his job. There’s a reason he’s been at the palace for so long.”
Elin nodded and said, “I wanted to talk to you about something else. It’s why I came to your apartment last night.”
Ingrid stood there wanting to know more than anything what Elin wanted to say to her, but at the same time, she couldn’t know. She needed to go. She needed a fresh start at a new job. She needed to get away from Elin because she couldn’t be falling in love with the Queen. It was bad enough before, when Elin was an impossibility. Now, Ingrid knew Elin was gay. She was a possibility now. Ingrid could come out right back to her, ask her out on a date, and risk her heart, but then again, she really couldn’t because Elin was the fucking Queen of Norway, and Ingrid had been her secretary. She would soon be but a memory to the Queen. They’d lose touch and, likely, never talk again. She’d see Elin on TV one day with a gorgeous, perfect Queen Consort. They’d smile and wave at the crowds, and Ingrid would recall that time when she realized she hadn’t been on a date or had sex since she’d met Princess Elin;herPrincess.
“Elin, Lil and I are going to head over to the hospital now. Oh, and Father told Christian not to come, I guess. He’s being stubborn, but he keeps insisting he’s fine,” Mari announced, walking right into the open office door.
“I’ll go with you,” Elin replied, not looking away from Ingrid.
“Mom said they’re moving to Bygdøy permanently now?” Mari asked more than stated.
