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“I didn’t call you to break–”

“Maybe not, but it’s what’s happening either way, Anna. I want someone who wants me;onlyme. I tried this open thing, but it’s not what I want. I want a commitment. If you don’t want that, or if you want that with someone else, it’s just better to end things now.”Shesighed this time. “I’m here for a story for the next few weeks, most likely. Can you just grab whatever I have at your place and take it to mine? You can pick up your stuff there and leave the key on the way out.”

“Sure, whatever you want,” Anna said softly. “Palmer, I’m sorry. You know I love you, right?”

Palmer closed her eyes at those three words and replied, “Yeah, just not enough.”

CHAPTER 5

“They want you to meet with the Prince of Denmark?”

“Yes,” Elizabeth replied.

“And?” Victoria asked.

“And, I’m not doing it.”

“Lizzy, what are you going to do here? It’s not like you’ve ever looked for a boyfriend. Now, people are throwing single, suitable men at you. If you don’t want a Prince or a Duke, you’d have to find a commoner on your own. No one’s going to throw one ofthoseat you.”

“Don’t say ‘commoner.’ It makes you sound–”

“Like a Princess? Iama Princess. That’s how we sound,” Victoria interrupted. “Lizzy, if you don’t find someone, settle down, get married, and pop out a kid or two, you know what happens, right?”

“Yes, you’ll become Queen when I die,” Elizabeth replied. “Youaregetting married and popping out kids. The country will have an heir.”

Victoria reached for her sister’s forearm as they walked the private garden at the back of the palace property and stopped their progress.

“Are you really not going to even try?” she asked. “You knowIdon’t care, right? The country won’t care, Lizzy.”

“Maybe it’s better if I help get us through this period of instability, wait until you and David are married and you have your first baby, and then abdicate.”

“What?” Victoria’s expression showed shock. “No! Why would you do that? I’m evenlessprepared for this than you are. I am convinced the country forgot I existed until this happened. Most people in the UK couldn’t name all of Queen Elizabeth’s children. It’s the same here. It’s like, ‘There’s Martin, Alexander, Elizabeth, and the fourth one. Who’s the fourth one, again? Therewerefour of them, right?’”

Victoria’s imitation of a St.Rais citizen probably wasn’t far off, but Elizabeth wouldn’t be tellingherthat.

“Vicky, you know I…”

“I know. I know.”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Elizabeth said as she looked around the garden. They were walking alone, but security lined the solid fence on the inside and, likely, around the outside as well. “Dad should still be here.”

“They shouldallstill be here, Lizzy.”

“I’m supposed to be at school. You should be introducing Dad to David and trying to convince him you should marry a Brit.”

Victoria chuckled a little and said, “He’s coming next weekend. We’re going to talk about the future then.”

“I’m glad you have him, Vicky.”

“You need someone, too, Lizzy. You shouldn’t have to do this alone. Even if you never get married or have kids because the country needs heirs, you should think about finding someone foryou.”

“I have to get through a coronation and an investigation into the bombing first. Then, maybe I can think about figuring out what comes next.” She sighed as they resumed their walking. “I knew Dad worked hard, but I had no ideahowhard. I have so many meetings already, and I know people are going easy on me because of what happened.”

“You’ll get the hang of it, and I’ll help you however I can,” Victoria promised. “If you need to delegate something to me, do it. I’m kind of hoping David proposes soon. And if he does, we’ll be married. He’ll be part of this family, and I’ll put him to work, too, Lizzy. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.”

“God, we’ll have to plan a wedding, too, won’t we?”

Victoria stopped walking. Elizabeth turned around and returned quickly to her.