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“You think so?” I can feel my entire face arc into my smile.
“I know so, Ellie. She was always talking about your achievements. How you earned a perfect score on the medical entrance exam. That fellowship that you got, where you were picked out of a group of 10,000.”
“Well, they gave out a few fellowships…”
“It’s an achievement. And it’s one my son didn’t even attain.” He raises his eyebrows, and I can’t believe there’s something I’ve accomplished that one of his children hasn’t. “And with your research, you’ve accomplished more than some people in a lifetime.”
My eyes widen. “You know my research?”
The King snorts. “I have very thorough information-gathering. Anyone connected to the royal family, we keep tabs. With you, it’s just awards and accolades. You work in reproductive medicine, yes?”
I shift in my seat, not sure if I should ask why he brought me here exactly. The King must have a purpose to everything he does, right? So what purpose could there possibly be for me making chit chat with the most powerful leader in Solvaria?
He must be able to sense my uneasiness.
“Are you hungry, dear?” He snaps his fingers, and two attendants come. “Please get me and Ms. Lawson luncheon.”
They nod and march over to the table, where they begin to let out a cornucopia.
The King turns back to me. “Your mother had an incredible work ethic. You get that from her. Yet she made sure that she was with you. Well, unless I kept her overtime.”
He flashes the megawatt smile again. “But tell me about you. Do you have time for outside pursuits? Social pursuits?”
“I try, especially with charitable causes. But you know… the life of a doctor.”
He sighs. “Unfortunately. If you ask my son, medicine is the only life he needs. Actually, no.” He shakes his head. “Medicine is his wife. And I don’t like it. Doesn’t have time for his father, either.”
“It’s hard. I haven’t even been back to Solvaria since…well…” Since the funeral two years ago. I'm desperate to change the subject. “Which of your sons is the physician?”
He looks at me as if I’ve asked what planet we live on.
“Cedrick. Of course.”
“I forgot that that's his real name. He's always just Ricky to me.” My heart jumps at using his nickname. “I've worked with his charity, actually. But it didn't dawn on me until later that it was him.”
“And what did you think?”
Is this a lunch or a job interview? Maybe he misses my mother so much, he wants to employ her offspring to write his royal orders and sign his royal name.
“Of the charity? They do amazing work.”
I can't quite gauge the look King Francis gives me, as if he's expecting me to say more. As if he's weighing my answers. As if this is a test, and I'm not sure whether I'm failing miserably or passing by the skin of my teeth.
“Does your career leave any room for a life of your own? What about a family one day?”
“Well, that's actually one of the reasons I'm here…”
His face is a question mark. “To have a family? Do you have a…”
“No, no, just me. I'm starting fertility treatments. I want to make sure I have children, regardless of whether a suitable candidate for a father comes along.”
“Interesting. Interesting. You’re a wise girl, considering my boys have all kicked and screamed every step of the way to the altar.” He has a sly expression. “But their father has some tricks up his sleeve. It’s good to start.”
He winks. “And in the meantime? What occupies your day besides the drudgery of patients? I cannot imagine… all of that… contact…”
“It may sound silly…”
“I don’t think gibberish could sound silly coming from you, Dr. Lawson.” He crinkles his face in a smile.
