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“How can you be sure?”

“I’m taking precautions, Victoria,” she replied.

“Precautions? Has Thomas approved her?”

“He has.”

“Who is she?”

“Her name is Palmer Honeycutt. She works forThe New York Courier, not some tabloid magazine. And it’s an article, not a TV interview. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure, Lizzy?” her sister asked, looking concerned. “I think it’s too soon.”

“It will always be too soon, but we have to move forward however we can, Vicky. If we were any other family, we could take as much time as we needed to grieve and mourn, but we’re not any other family. We don’t have that option.Wehave to put on brave faces, keep our chins level with the ground, and not show emotion out there.Wehave to support the nation that supports us.”

“I guess so.” Victoria glanced out the window. “Should I be there with you? I can, you know.”

“I’ll be okay, but thank you. I’d prefer you spend your time with David, planning for the move to the cottage and your future.”

“They’re worried about me even being at the coronation. Did Sven tell you?”

“It’s not an option. You’ll be there, Vicky.”

“I know; that’s what I’ve been saying. But they haven’t caught the guy they’re looking for. They’re worried he’ll try something there, and if he does, it could take both you and me out.”

“There’s always cousin Ernie,” Elizabeth said of her second cousin and only other member of their family that was still aliveandof ruling age, meaning he wouldn’t require a regent.

“He lives in Greece now. People can’t stand him.”

“He’s still technically next up after you. He has two young sons.”

“They’ve never even set foot on St. Rais’s soil, Lizzy,” Victoria objected.

“All I’m suggesting is that if, heaven forbid, something did happen to both of us before there are heirs, there are other options.”

“Ernie isn’t an option. He sells yachts to rich people.”

Elizabeth laughed and said, “I’m aware.”

“Are you really sure about this interview thing?”

“I am,” she replied, nodding confidently.

“Okay. IfIcan’t talk you out of it, and Rebecca can’t, then no one can.”

???

“Your Majesty,” Palmer greeted her with an awkward curtsy when she entered the room behind Rebecca, Thomas, and two security guards.

“It’s nice to see you again, Miss Honeycutt,” Elizabeth greeted, holding out her hand for Palmer to shake.

Palmer gave her a relieved expression and took it.

“We have two chairs set over here for the interview,” Thomas spoke, moving into the room and over to the chairs that had been placed across from one another in front of her desk. “You’re allowed to take notes but not record the interview in any way. We reserve the right to review your notes prior to your departure. Any questions?”

“No. I understand the rules,” Palmer replied.

“We’ll be just down the hall if you need anything, Ma’am,” Thomas said.