Page 31 of In Love After Office Hours

Egbert was surprised. “T-that’s it, Your Majesty?” Unspoken was his confusion as to why the queen, who was one of the most powerful women on earth, did not offer to take the children in.

The queen shook her head, saying softly “It’s a surprise to me how, after all these years of working for me, you are able to remain naïve and kindhearted.” Sighing heavily, she continued, “If it suits your conscience, you may ask him if he and his siblings would like to join me at the palace. You may even command him, but I will tell you now, my dear adviser, that boy will refuse.”

“He’d be crazy to,” Egbert argued.

“Not crazy, no, just raised differently. He knows that him and the other children coming to the palace would create a scandal, and he doesn’t want that. He knows where his duties lie.” Wilhemina’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s what makes him a true de Konigh, but I’m afraid it also makes him too much like me. Someone who does not – and will not – love too easily.”

Chapter One

PRESENT TIME

The barest amount of sun peeked behind Serenity as she stacked her bike’s wire basket with her essentials. Her bike was a black classic, old but well maintained, and a custom-designed pink-ribbon mask wrapped around the bike’s stem was the only clue to its owner’s feminine tastes.

Straightening when she was done, she ran her fingers over the handlebars and gave the seat a pat. “Ready for a run, Femke?” She closed her eyes and could almost imagine her bike nodding and humming serenely while waiting for her to get on.

A smile played on Serenity’s lips at the fanciful direction her thoughts had taken, but even so, she found herself nodding back as she straddled the seat and placed her foot on the pedal.

And then she was off.

Amsterdam in the beginning of winter was almost poignantly beautiful, especially in the early mornings. With the trees bare of leaves, they painted thin black lines on the pale orange skies that made one tempted to trace them.

Her favorite route started with a slow, leisurely pass by the canals, the early hours of the day ensuring that the roads weren’t crowded. From there, she made her way to Vondelpark, making sure to pedal faster as more locals cycled down the tree-lined paths.

After an hour, Serenity parked at her favorite spot, facing the sparkling waters of the park. Resting her bike against a sturdy tree trunk, she whipped out her blanket and laid it out on the grass before plopping down with her breakfast: cheese, bread, grapes, and her thermos, which contained her home-brewed coffee.

She ate in contented silence, savoring every bite. When she was done, she reached for her book, a dusty, pocket-sized tome that she had scored from a garage sale. Serenity opened it to the first page, and a handwritten dedication on its yellowed paper instantly caught her attention.

To My Childhood Friend

Ah.

Her lips twisted. Her smile faltered. Her eyes stung.

How sly and sneaky Fate was.

Her hands shook as she slowly closed the book and placed it on the blanket. She stared fiercely at her surroundings, willing herself to continue seeing its beauty. But it was too late. She was already blind.

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