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“Let’s do it, then.”

Elizabeth pressed a few buttons, causing the machine to bring down the pins. They each selected a ball. Elizabeth helped Palmer, who had initially chosen one that would be too heavy for her, and she lent her an old pair of bowling shoes that fit okay. Then, Elizabeth demonstrated good form and let her first ball roll down the lane, hitting eight of the ten pins.

“A little rusty, huh?” Palmer teased.

“Oh, shut up,” Elizabeth said, chuckling. Then, she promptly knocked down the remaining pins and added, “Your turn,”

Palmer stood, picked up her ball, lined herself up, and waited. Elizabeth came up behind her and placed her hands on her hips. Softly speaking into Palmer’s ear, she gave her instructions and then took a few steps back. Palmer missed her touch instantly, but she refocused on the pins ahead of her and rolled her first bowling ball in nearly a decade. She knocked down four pins, which wasn’t terrible, but when she turned around to smile at Elizabeth at her success, Elizabeth wasn’t smiling back. She’d moved to sit in one of the chairs and only gave Palmer a nod. Then, she forced a smile. Palmer turned back, a little defeated but determined not to let that get her down. She bowled again, hitting another three pins. When she turned around again, the woman still had that forced smile on her face.

“Well done,” she said, but it wasn’t the happy woman she’d just been talking to a minute ago.

“Your turn,” Palmer said, sitting down next to her.

Elizabeth stood without a word, waited for the pins to drop, and bowled.

CHAPTER 23

Elizabeth didn’t sleep well that night. Palmer had offered to stay again, but she’d thought it wrong to ask Palmer to share her bed solely for the purpose of her getting a decent night’s sleep and not crying again at her loss. Palmer had already done so much for her. Elizabeth owed at least three nights of good sleep to her as is. The first night, when they’d ended up in Palmer’s bed, was one. The second came with their hours-long phone call, and the third had been the previous night, when Elizabeth had woken up holding on to Palmer from behind, wishing she had the courage to just be herself for once in her life.

“Hey, do you think we can avoid getting married at the cathedral?” Victoria asked her. “I think, if I was still sixth in line, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now that I’m next, technically, the tradition is that I get married there.”

“You can get married wherever you want, Vicky,” Elizabeth said without much energy.

“Don’t sound so enthusiastic,” Victoria replied.

Elizabeth sighed and said, “I’m sorry. I’ve had a weird couple of days.”

“Weird how?” Victoria asked.

“I don’t know. Just weird.”

“That’s helpful,” Victoria said sarcastically. “Is there anything I can help with? I know the coronation is pretty much set, but is there anythingyouneed? Besides the wedding, Lizzy, I’m kind of in limbo here. I’m not used to this, honestly. I was supposed to go to graduate school, but–”

“You should. You should go to school.”

“I’m getting married, Lizzy.”

“After the wedding, you should go back to school. I mean, if that’s what you want to do – you should do it. Don’t let this get in your way.”

“This? You mean losing our entire family?”

“I meant you being second in line.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me? Got your eyes on someone who’s going to help you make anewsecond in line so thatIdon’t have to do the job?”

“What? Of course not,” Elizabeth said loudly. “When would I have even found the time? I’ve hardly been able to breathe these days.”

“You’ve found time to hang out with the reporter.”

“Palmer; I know you know her name, Victoria.”

“I do. And you’ve found time to be with her.”

“She’s only here for a few more days. I–”

“Have to spend as much time with her as possible before she goes?”

Elizabeth cleared her throat, leaned forward on her sofa, and said, “Yes, something like that. Can you fault me for wanting a friend, Victoria?”