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Elizabeth laughed and said, “No, you’re safe.”

Palmer ran a hand through her messy hair, which somehow still looked good.

“I’ll just get packed up and join you,” she said.

Elizabeth smiled at her and then closed the door between them; not for Palmer’s sake, but for her own. She needed a minute to herself. The past few weeks had been overwhelming and terrible, but the past several days had been surprisingly pretty good; still overwhelming, but in a completely different way.

???

“The doctor said it’s fine. It’s a pretty massive bruise, but no internal damage,” Victoria replied. “I only needed the meds yesterday because I was a little in shock.”

“I imagine so,” Elizabeth replied, taking a drink of her rich red wine. “And he’s sure there’s nothing beyond the bruise?”

“X-rays were taken. Nothing else,” Victoria assured.

“I guess that’s something.”

“They arrested everyone that was there. Some people are now protesting the protestors getting arrested,” David said. “Victoria could have been killed.”

“They don’t care about that,” Victoria replied. “They don’t want us here anymore. There’s been a lot of anti-monarchist influence coming from the UK in recent years. More and more nations with remaining monarchies as well as a Parliament are eliminating the monarchies altogether.”

“That makes sense in nations where the taxpayers fund the monarchy and their economies are declining,” Elizabeth explained.

“They don’t trust us anymore,” Victoria stated. “As much as we disclose to them about how we take the taxpayer money thatisassigned to us, if you can even call it that, and give it all back to the country, they’ll never believe us.”

“What are you supposed to do if you’re already telling the whole truth?” David asked as he finished his own wine, reached for the bottle, poured more into Victoria’s glass first and then his own, noting with a nod that Elizabeth’s was already full.

“Let’s talk about something a little more positive, shall we?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, let’s.” Victoria leaned over the table toward her sister. “So, I heard from a little birdie that something rather interesting happened this morning.”

“Who’s your little birdie?” Elizabeth asked, pushing her plate away.

“Jenny.”

“Jenny wasn’t even here this morning.”

“She wasn’t, but Bridget was, and she heard from someone who heard from someone else that you woke upwitha certain someone this morning.” Victoria lifted an accusing eyebrow at her sister.

“And you didn’t help the situation by putting an end to the gossip?”

“No, but I didn’taddto it.”

“Should I maybe run to the loo?” David asked.

“No. If you’re going to be part of this family, you might as well stay,” Elizabeth replied. “And on that note, don’t we have somethingelseto talk about at this dinner?”

David nervously cleared his throat and said, “Yes, but I was hoping to speak with you alone if you don’t mind, Ma’am.”

“Oh, he gave you theMa’am… He means business,” Victoria teased and took David’s hand. “David, she knows.Iknow. Just ask her.”

“Don’t ruin the man’s plans, Vicky,” Elizabeth said, smiling at her sister. “But yes, we do both already know, David. And this family could do with some good news, so out with it.”

He cleared his throat again and said, “Well, Your Majesty, I would very much like to marry Her Royal Highness, Princess Victoria, and–”

“Oh, my God! Just ask her, David!” Victoria laughed out.

“I’m trying to do this the right way, Vicky,” he argued and then wiped his now sweaty brow.