Page 68 of Royal Reluctance

Hettie seems to relax when Stella arrives. Stella is Duncan’s daughter and grew up with us until Duncan divorced her mother and moved into the castle full-time with Spencer. She’s only two years younger than Hettie, and the two of them, along with Abigail, spend most of dinner talking about people from high school.

That is when Abigail isn’t laughing with Spencer.

“I thought Spencer and Lyra—” I overhear Stella say to Gunnar.

“Spencer,” Gunnar corrects under his breath. “Never been sure about Lyra.”

“You don’t know that,” Edie says from beside me.

“No one knows anything about what Lyra thinks.” Kalle shakes his head.

“And whose fault is that?” Edie chides. “She’s your sister.”

My sister is the one topic Spencer and I have never talked about, mainly because she’s my sister and, as much as I love her, she’s high-maintenance. Plus, I’ve seen Spencer with Abigail, and I’ve always liked what I’ve seen. It’s easy with the two of them. Comfortable. And, selfishly, it works with Hettie and me.

When there was a Hettie and me.

Tema sits on the left side of Dad and basically holds court at the end of the table. She’s smart and quick and so funny. Polite, but speaks her mind, whatever might come into it. I’ve never really spent much time with children, and neither have my brothers, and all of us seem to watch the little girl with a sense of awe.

For me, there’s a new feeling of pride toward her, at how she gets Duncan Laz not only to talk about his time in the rock band Kraftiig, but to also give a demonstration of air guitar.

I thought Stella was going to spit wine all over the table when he did that.

Hettie asks Edie about her wedding plans. Stella grabs Tema’s attention when she tells her about her animal rescue in town, and the two plan a visit. Gunnar and I talk planes.

It’s like a normal family sharing a meal together.

No mention is made of the fact Hettie has been gone for eight years.

Not until the end of the meal.

The plates have been cleared and Kalle refills the wine glasses. Tema is wide awake and still has both Dad and Duncan completelyunder her spell. I like the way Hettie manages to keep watch over her as well as focus on the conversation.

“So, Hettie,” Kalle begins with a sideways glance at Odin. “Now that you’re back, what does that mean for the two of you?”

“That’s none of your business,” I jump in quickly.

“Oh, I think it is,” Kalle says mildly. “The whole monarchy thing makes it my business.”

“We’re not talking about it now. Or here.”

“When do you propose we talk about it then? When she disappears for another eight years, taking the third in line to the throne with her?”

“Kalle—” I growl, but Hettie holds up her hand.

“It’s okay, Bo. Kalle is right—we do need to have this conversation but I would appreciate doing so when my daughter isn’t within earshot. Her listening skills are very well developed, especially when the topic is something she shouldn’t be hearing.”

“What shouldn’t I hear?” Tema calls from her seat at the other end of the table.

“Fair enough,” Kalle has the grace to look mollified.

“And I do realize your responsibility to the throne, but I’d like Bo and me to be able to talk first, if that’s all right. All this has been rather sudden—”

“Eight years,” Gunnar coughs into his hand, and I glare at him. “Sorry, Hettie.”

“It’s complicated,” I say through gritted teeth. Yesterday, I told them what I know. There hasn’t been time for anything to have changed.

That’s not entirely true; what hasn’t changed is the fact that I still might be completely in love with Hettie Crow, only I’m determined not to mess it up like I did before.

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