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I was surprised. I truly believed in the sanctity of the club. “Wow. I guess I’ll have to watch what I say.”
“I don’t listen to gossip,” she said. “Probably because no one really tells me anything. And that’s probably because I don’t associate with many people from the society. I prefer to avoid all of it.”
“I know that feeling,” I said, feeling like we finally had something in common. It was a start.
16
EMILIE
It was very difficult to dislike him. Theo was very charming. He wasn’t like a lot of the other guys I went out with. He wasn’t arrogant or pompous. He seemed to be exactly as he presented himself. I liked that he didn’t brag about his castles or titles.
I had made a conscious effort to keep our interaction focused on practical matters. I didn’t want to get into the personal stuff. It was easier to keep him at arm’s length. We weren’t going to be friends. We weren’t going to fall in love or share our life stories. It was unnecessary.
Theo’s mesmerizing green eyes kept connecting with mine. I had to look away. It was like being caught in a web. If I looked too long, I wasn’t going to be able to get away from him. I tried to remain aloof.
“It’s clear that you take your role as a future queen seriously, Emilie. I admire your commitment.”
“Are you being sarcastic?” I asked.
He laughed. “No. I’m stating a fact. You are really taking it seriously.”
“Is there another option?” I asked. “I’m the only one left to carry on my family’s legacy. If I don’t ascend to the throne, it goes to my cousin. No one wants that to happen. He would ruin everything my father and his father worked so hard to build.”
“Worked so hard to build?” he asked. “I understand your family’s legacy is on the verge of collapse.”
I scowled at him. “It’s not like it’s going to collapse completely. Yes, it could be better, but we’ve gone through some tough times. The country itself is surviving but it isn’t thriving. My father made the mistake of trusting people. The business deals went horribly bad. It was a mistake, but it’s a mistake he hasn’t been able to recover from.”
He nodded as I talked. “I get it. I did a little research.”
“On me or Nora?” I asked.
He smiled. “Nora.”
“And then you got me,” I said. “The runner-up.”
“I don’t see it that way,” he said. “It’s not like I knew your sister. I might have dodged a bullet. I don’t know.”
“She was supposed to be the next queen,” I said. “Not me. I never imagined this would be on me.”
“What did you want to do?” he asked.
I understood he was trying to get to know me. But I knew that personal stories and shared interests had a way of forging connections, and I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. I liked Theo, there was no denying that, but emotions had a tendency to complicate matters.
“I’m dedicated to my nation, Theo,” I said, maintaining a business-like tone. “My responsibilities as a queen-in-training leave little room for personal pursuits. It doesn’t matter what I liked to do. That was in my past. Now, I’ll be busy with charities and seeking out new deals that will infuse our nation with cash. We need infrastructure and new hospitals. I have a lot to get done. Hobbies are really not important.”
His expression remained understanding, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “In this scenario you’re plotting, where do I fit? Yes, I know I’ll be writing a lot of checks, but where do I fit into this life you’re planning?”
I heard his irritation. I couldn’t really blame him. “You won’t be prevented from living your life.”
“Good to know,” he said with sadness in his eyes.
I wiped my hands on a napkin. “My mother wanted me to ask you to dinner tomorrow night. Are you available?”
“Do you want me there?” he asked.
I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what I want. My mother wants you there. I’m doing what she told me to.”
I wasn’t going to beg him to come. If he didn’t want to go, there was nothing I could do about it.
