Page 148

Emil, Diarmuid’s butler and assistant, brings in a tea service and sets it on the low coffee table in front of the couch.
It’s early June and in D.C. that means the weather is nice and warm, but here in Cara, it’s still cool and today is a cloudy day with wind and rain, so there’s a low fire burning in the stone fireplace.
Diarmuid takes a seat in the chair perpendicular to where I’m seated on the sofa.
To keep busy, I sit forward and begin preparing our cups the way we both take our tea.
I’m glad the king wanted to chat. I love our talks and it gave me a reason to stay today. Jonah and I have discussed how it’s going to be more difficult to see one another now that we’re back. I live two hours from the palace and though I do spend a lot of time here, it is usually at the request of the king.
Torin needs to start asking me here more often. It will start to show Diarmuid that he and I are working together on projects.
Of course, we need to figure out what those projects will be.
"How was D.C.?" the king asks.
This is the first I’ve seen Diarmuid since Jonah and I returned yesterday. I don’t know what Torin has told his grandfather about the trip, so I smile and say noncommittally, "Very nice."
Diarmuid lifts his cup to his lips and takes a sip. Then he says, "I have to thank you."
I sip, trying to figure out what he might be talking about. I swallow and ask, "For what?"
"For representing us so well all the time."
I smile. “You know I love doing it."
"And you’re a natural. I also know that we haven’t always given you a choice."
I sit a little straighter. Diarmuid and I have never discussed my role in terms of choices. In fact, he’s never asked me to do anything. It’s just always been assumed that I would. He has simply informed me of what needs to be done.
"It’s never felt like a burden," I tell him honestly and it hasn’t until recently. Maybe at times in college when I was irritated with the indecision and lack of specifics around my future. But I had never not expected to be a part of the palace.
"Well, I have to thank you for your approach to everything with Torin. I know that hasn’t been easy and we haven’t discussed it and I’ve never thanked you.”
I try not to show my surprise. I take another sip of my tea. Then set my cup on its saucer on the table. "What do you mean?"
He gives me an affectionate look. “I know very well how frustrating my grandson can be. But you have been patient and gracious waiting for us to announce the engagement."
I feel my spine stiffen and work to not show my sudden tension.
"Christian and I got off the phone about three hours ago and I had no idea that you would handle that situation the way you did. But I thank you."
The mention of Christian starts my heart pounding. But not in a good way. Christian knows about me and Jonah. He’s the only person we’ve told besides Torin in fact. And that’s just now occurring to me. Someone does know about Jonah and me. Someone who talks to people we don’t want to tell yet.
I wet my lips. "You and Christian were talking?"
"Yes. Torin told me that James Hill has decided to take his research facilities to Canada. Torin has invited the senator to visit, and I decided to call him ahead of that visit and see if he could give us any assistance in making Cara more appealing to the professor. Thought maybe there was something that could be added to sweeten the deal. I knew the men got along well when they both traveled here a few months ago."
I blow out a tiny breath, feeling a little bit relieved. That all makes sense, though I wish that it was Torin who had made that call to Christian asking for help. "What did Christian say?"
"That he believes there are things Cara could offer that Canada can’t and that the U.S. would like to be involved. Canada is an ally to the U.S., but Cara can be as well. We’re smaller but easier to work with."
I nod. “Less red tape is what James and I spoke about when I had dinner with him as well.”
Diarmuid smiles. “Wonderful. Perhaps we’ll invite Dr. Hill again as well.”
“That might be a good idea.” I pause. “The conversation with the senator was productive? Friendly?”
“Very much so.” Diarmuid smiles. “And when he told me that he was looking forward to working closely with you, I wasn’t surprised. However?—"