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“Should I take the two of you to your room? Or would you like to start elsewhere?”
“Kamers,” I said.Rooms.
He stopped. In Dutch, I explained, “We will need two rooms.”
The butler nodded and looked back at Wyatt, confused. “Of course, of course. Does that suit you if I show you to your rooms?”
Two footmen took our coats, leaving me holding Grieg alone. I worried it might not be polite to let him roam.
“I think it’s best if Her Royal Highness sits down and relaxes,” Wyatt’s inflexion was protective and strong. “She has been knocked around a bit. I think she needs to take a load off.”
“Of course. I will have the staff put your bags in the rooms Her Majesty has assigned, and we will go from there. Can I get anyone a drink?”
“I will just take a soda. A Coke if you have one. I’m not drinking,” I said, feeling silly.
“Same for me,” Wyatt spoke up.
Jens looked offended but nodded at a maid standing by to bring usour soft drinks. Then, he led us into a cosy, simple living room. The Dutch Royals knew my sister and her children well. I didn’t realise The Queen had a house here.
“We have a guardian angel of sorts,” I said.
“It appears that way. Breaking down right by this place. Your sister called ahead?”
I nodded. “She didn’t admit it, but she did. You can do that when you’re a queen.”
Grieg sat on my lap. Wyatt plopped down next to me. “The Queen’s house, huh? So this is how the other half lives.”
“Says the tech billionaire,” I teased. “Wyatt, you’re American and may not be of royal blood, but you are far more thanthe other half.”
“You’re right, but Americans always think Europeans are more cosmopolitan.”
“Do you think that about me?”
“In twenty-four hours, I have heard you speak four languages. So, yes.”
I blushed. “It’s all I could do for years. I didn’t have a normal school day. I didn’t have a normal anything. Astrid was the general brains of the operation. Alexandra was a queen. Ingrid is the beauty. I had to distinguish myself somehow.”
A maid set down our drinks.
“Thanks so much,” Wyatt said with overwhelming kindness that frightened the poor girl. Americans and Brits could beaggressivelywarm. I loved it.
I took a sip, but Wyatt focused on me, his eyes never leaving.
“You can say what you want, Odette, but you’re gorgeous.”
“You’re too kind.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m the chubby one,” I said.
“Well, if you truly believe that, I prefer a woman like you. A woman who has hips and thighs and… everything else.”
He wanted to say more but stayed well-mannered.
I blushed.
“Who did this to you?”