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“You need to keep an open mind,” she advised.
I took the juice while she hung the dress on a hook.
“You know I can’t love anyone,” I said. “Not when it’s forced. I thought I might fall in love one day, but not like this. I’m not going to get my hopes up for anything. It’ll just be a huge disappointment when it doesn’t work out.”
“Or it might work out,” she replied with a smile.
Just when I was about to reassert my claim that love wasn’t for me, there was a soft knock on the door. I sighed and rolled my eyes, expecting it to be my mother barreling in and demanding to know all the details. I managed to sneak up to my room before they had a chance to question me last night after the ball.
Astrid opened the door. It was one of the housekeepers holding a bouquet of flowers that was almost bigger than she was.
“For Princess Emilie,” she said, her voice trembling a little.
Astrid took the vase, stems poking her as she did. “Thank you.”
The room was immediately enveloped in the sweet scent of roses and lilies.
I looked at Astrid, who was watching me with a small smile on her face.
“What?” I asked, knowing that I was probably blushing.
“For the most beautiful girl at the ball—Theo,” she recited.
For a brief moment, I felt a flutter of flattery, a softness I hadn’t expected. Theo’s gesture had been thoughtful, his words sincere. But I quickly quashed those feelings and replaced them with the resolve I had set for myself.
“Send them back,” I declared, my tone firm.
Astrid blinked in surprise, clearly taken aback by my response. “Emilie, are you sure? They’re lovely flowers.”
I nodded, unwilling to let sentiment cloud my judgment. “Yes, Astrid. I can’t afford to let such gestures sway me. Duty comes first, and I am determined to remain focused on my mission to restore my country’s finances and secure my place on the throne. Love and romance are distractions I can’t afford.”
The look on her face was one of disappointment, but she simply nodded. “I’ll get rid of them. Do you want breakfast here or will you be going downstairs?”
“Just some toast please. I’m going to shower, assuming we have hot water.”
“I’ll be back to do your hair.”
She left with the flowers. The smell of roses still hung in the air. It was a romantic gesture. One I should have expected from Theo. I had picked up on that romantic vibe from him last night. I felt bad, but he needed to understand the situation. I didn’t want to give him false hope.
I went into the attached bathroom that had been remodeled sometime in the seventies. It was old and needed updating, which was just another reminder I had to marry well. I showered in lukewarm water and thought about the night before. It would have been magical if it wasn’t so clinical. It was part of a process. It wasn’t spur of the moment or organic. It was forced. That wasn’t exactly romantic.
As Astrid helped me into my chosen dress for the tea, our conversation shifted to the events of the day. The ladies’ tea was a time for networking, strategizing, and discussing potential matches. It was all about dipping our toes into society and making connections that would grow and strengthen over the next twenty years. We would one day be matching our children. It was a chance for us to get to know each other so we could decide who we wanted in our circle.
“Thank you, Astrid,” I said after she finished with my hair. “Wish me luck.”
The ladies’ tea was a lavish affair, with an air of elegance and sophistication that permeated the room. As I entered, I was greeted by a sea of envy. The whispered conversations ceased momentarily as I took my seat, and it didn’t take long for me to understand the source of their fascination.
I didn’t know most of them. I knew the scandal was hanging over my head. I was the hot story of the season even though I hadn’t done anything. It was guilt by association. If I did get to see Nora again, I was going to let her know just how pissed I was.
I tried to smile at the ladies I was seated with at one of the round tables in the solarium. Pink and white flowers were on the tables and all around the room. Pyramids of small cakes were on every table. It was a very elegant affair, but I couldn’t say I was surprised. Lady Hamilton was all about extravagance and setting the right tone.
One of the girls at the table, her tone laced with snarkiness, couldn’t resist making a comment. “Emilie, darling,” she began, her words dripping with sarcasm with her lips curved in a sneer. “Wasn’t Theo Ashford matched to your older sister? Is he okay with the change of plans?”
For a fleeting moment, I felt offense at her words. It was true. Obviously everyone knew Nora had chosen a different path, abandoning her duty and running off with the man she loved, leaving me to fill the void in the match.
I took a deep breath, pushing aside the discomfort and the implications of the girl’s words. “The match was adjusted as circumstances required,” I replied calmly, my voice steady. “Theo and I are here to fulfill our duties and responsibilities.”
The girl’s snarky comment had hit a nerve, but I wasn’t about to let it undermine my determination. I didn’t need their approval. It wasn’t like I was shopping for friends. I didn’t need them at all. Once I was married, I was going to be so busy, I wouldn’t have time to worry about their opinions.
