Page 16 of Royally Drawn (Resplendent Royals #3)

Let Down Gently

INGRID

E veryone took their time waking up on the last full day of the trip—everyone but Keir and Leah, who’d already managed to work out on deck before anyone else even opened their eyes. I was mostly sad to hear I’d not been there to watch. I couldn’t stop staring at him. It was a problem. I tried hard to play it cool, but I was lousy at acting like he wasn’t a gorgeous, statuesque man who could melt me with little more than the stroke of his fingers.

And even after the chaos of last night, he’d only grown on me. He’d respected me, cared for me, and held me. My news took him by surprise but didn’t turn him off. Our world hadn’t imploded overnight like I’d feared. Instead, we packed out for a Jeep safari to a waterfall. Unfortunately, in my attempt to be “cool” or “chill”, I’d ended up in a car with Lars, Betty, and Ollie. Betty was insistent she wouldn’t go with any of the couples and was afraid of letting her eldest brother drive. I was also avoiding Keir, so I hung back with her.

“Don’t put me back here! The backseat makes me nervous!” Betty said as we mounted up.

“I’ll sit back here if you want to hop up front,” I agreed.

“Ollie’s driving,” Lars said in Norwegian .

“Damn straight. Because I don’t drive like an old woman,” Ollie said in English.

I giggled but soon found myself in the backseat with Lars on an incredibly rough road. To say it was awkward was an underestimation. I lurched around, Lars helping steady me at some point when I felt I might fly out of the jeep.

“Can you slow the fuck down?” Betty demanded. “Jesus fucking Christ! I didn’t want to go with any of the pilots because I thought they’d be too intense.”

“They’re more reliable, aren’t they?” I shouted. “Since they… I don’t know… fly things?”

“Leah is lucky to have a driver’s licence still,” Lars laughed. “Honestly, so is Keir. Why anyone lets them fly planes, I don’t know. Neither one is to be trusted—both are lead-footed.”

“I thought she didn’t drive now?” Betty said. “She refuses to.”

“Because she’s famous, and people chase her,” Lars said. “Famous people are always too busy to drive.”

I laughed. “She’s famous? And Keir isn’t?”

“It’s a different type of famous. The press doesn’t have to be kind to Leah,” Lars explained. “They don’t have to worry about Queen Natalie’s wrath with her wild, non-royal niece. You get special treatment due to a status Leah doesn’t have. We all do.”

I’d never considered that celebrities differed from royals. But I supposed we weren’t mere celebrities. At one point, all of us were believed to be ordained by God to command nations. Now, we were just dependable, unelected figureheads. Even as sixth-in-line—soon to be seventh—I was protected and in many ways beyond criticism.

“Even more, the British press is merciless,” Ollie said. “They’re dreadful there. Just the worst. This is why I prefer America and Norway.”

“It’s true. They hate the royal women. Thankfully, right now, there’s little going on there,” Lars said. “Duncan, Keir, and Nate aren’t doing shit on that front. No girlfriends to throw to the wolves.”

Thrown to the wolves ? Was it that dire?

“So, do you consider yourself more Norwegian than British?” I asked Ollie. “You realise you are British, right? ”

He looked back at me in the mirror. “On paper, but I don’t remember living there. Bestemor and Mamma raised Win and me with Lars and Betty in Oslo. Keir and Nate left to go to school in the UK. Do I technically report to Aunt Natalie? Yes. But who do I defer to? Uncle Olav and Aunt Kiersten. London doesn’t feel like home to me.”

Lars patted my knee. “You’re headed there next. You’ll get it after some time. Doesn’t your sister complain?”

“Astrid is a nerd, and Parker is a handsome hermit,” I laughed. “They prefer books to parties. She’s not exactly getting up to much in Edinburgh.”

Astrid and Parker had a lovely house in the Scottish countryside, complete with a beautiful garden and a herd of horses. The crown jewel of their listed Georgian house was the library—their most lived-in room. I loved to visit them there to escape the world. Compared to the highlands, London felt a million miles away.

“We’re not going to be in London anyhow,” Betty said. “We’ll be in Norfolk… wherever that is. I find the geography of that small island confusing. I go where I am told to and do not question much.”

Ollie answered, “Aunt Kiersten’s house is north of London, but it’s a quick train journey to the action. London is alright. It’s got everything. Norfolk is boring as hell.”

When we left this place, our marching orders sent us to a Scandinavian-owned training facility in the British countryside. The dressage, showjumping, and eventing riders converged. Cici called it Summer Camp. It must have felt as much. The massive stately home that occupied the place and its cottages was perfect for hosting large gatherings—including scrimmages with the British riders. It gave little teams and riders from tiny countries a leg up.

Cici’s mother was a full-fledged eventer-turned-dressage-queen. She’d competed only once in the Olympics—held back not by talent but status. She qualified but never attended her second Olympics because she was Norway’s newly crowned Queen. Instead, she devoted all her time to coaching Cici, her only child, and breeding horses to attend international competitions. Her breeding operation allowed riders to compete on horses they’d never be able to afford. There was a joke that Kiersten was Britain’s best gift to Scandinavian equestrians—its most prolific turncoat.

“I am looking forward to it,” I said. “But I will enjoy going back to Oslo off and on.”

“You’ll have to come sail with us,” Lars said. “We have big plans before the wedding. I assume you can come out?”

I smiled. “Yes, I think so.”

Secretly, though, I wished it was with the other brother—not Lars.

We arrived at the elusive waterfall. Unfortunately, only a few were brave enough to jump after staring down at it. After my tragic bikini experience on the yacht, I’d decided to wear my one-piece suit this time. I was going to jump off that waterfall, and my boobs weren’t going anywhere .

“I promise I won’t throw you off,” Duncan joked. “Truce?”

“Truce,” I agreed. “If you try something, I will put you on blast.

Cici stood atop the cliff, ready to dive in. She gave a little flourish.

“Just fucking jump, bitch! You’re not a fancy diving girl!” Leah shouted from down below.

“You shut up!” Cici said, hands on her hips.

She then took a moment and dove in flawlessly. Cici was so athletic. I wished I was anything other than a gigantic disappointment at sport. Edina came next. One Crown Princess refused to be outdone by another.

“See, Isak, your sister can do it, can you not?” Cici called up to her fiancé.

Isak was the calm dressage rider to Cici’s insane eventing persona. His expression suggested fear, not excitement.

“I love you, but I cannot,” Isak said in Dansk.

His sister taunted him. I didn’t understand the words, but the context was clear.

“Nei!” Isak shook his head. He left, walking down the stone path to get into the pool the longer way.

Keir stood atop the ledge now, looking fucking gorgeous. I marvelled once more at his shoulders and how the indents in his lower back moved as he stretched. The man practically glistened. I tried not to drool. How the hell had he been naked in my bed last night ?

He dove in, looking like he did this every day. Duncan and Nate followed him in quick succession. This left Ollie, me, and Lars since Betty noped out immediately. She wasn’t about to dive in anywhere in her tiny bikini. Instead, she’d already popped a beer and was swimming below.

“Come on, Ingy!” She called up. “You are next.”

I stood on the ledge, looking way down. I wasn’t much of a diver, even if I was a competent swimmer. I knew I’d be safe, but damn, it looked intimidating!

“You can do it, Ingrid,” Keir said. “It’s not that bad.”

“Better than being thrown off a yacht, right?” Duncan joked.

Leah smacked water at him.

I snickered. “Okay, here goes nothing.”

I held my arms out over my head and leaned forward, pushing off towards the water. I dove down into the waters below, then popped back out, the mist of the beautiful waterfall hitting me in the face. I spun around to spy the others swimming over.

“See?” Cici laughed. “Look at you, darling!”

“I did it,” I said. “Finally! It was nervy.”

Lars dove in next and swam over before I could reach the others. It was another awkward moment. He was still trying. I felt terrible knowing there was not a chance in hell he’d land me. Part of me wanted him to find out so he could move on. If he knew I’d been with his brother, there was no way he’d want me, right?

“Hard to believe this is all the time we get in paradise,” Lars said as we swam toward a rock.

“I know. I don’t want to leave. Especially when you’ve made England sound awful.”

“Ah, it’s not so bad. I was planning to dip down. And maybe… help you all… if you don't mind.”

I pulled myself onto the rock into a little ray of sunshine, unsure what to say.

“I think I’m just trying to settle in, honestly. Coming all that way?—”

Lars followed me. “I don’t mind. Honestly.”

I wanted to let him down gently. Saying anything else felt wrong. Lars was a sweetheart, a good friend, a lovely big brother, and a kind soul. He deserved better than me to lead him along—even to spare trouble for Cici and Isak. I’d take my lumps with them if I had to.

“Uh, Lars, I think there’s… I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

He furrowed a brow.

“I like you… a lot—as a friend. And I get a feeling you might feel like you… like me more than that. If so, I’m flattered. But I cannot return that. I’m sorry.”

His face fell. “Oh… I…”

“Don’t apologise, please. Don’t. I just wanted to be precise. I’m… flattered. I do care about you. I value your friendship, and you’ve always been so well?—”

He hopped off the rock. “Well, that’s fine. Thanks for letting me know.”

I watched him swim away in a huff, but trying to fix it was useless. Lars needed to calm down. I felt eyes on me and looked over to see Keir with a curious look on his face. I gave him a little smile, then turned back. I didn’t want to be obvious about it. Betty swam over and hopped up on the rock next to me.

“What is going on with you and my brother?”

“Uh… I…” I panicked. Shit!

“He seems like he’s in a horrible mood. Is he being nice to you?”

She meant Lars. I was relieved. Too many brothers!

“He has a crush on me. I like him, just not like that.”

“Oh, thank God because… ick!” Betty said. “You’re my friend.”

She squeezed my hand. “And men are dumb.”

“That they are.”

I felt even guiltier. Betty was my friend. And here I was, dying to shag her other brother again. Why was I so intent on continuing despite the risk of a rift? I knew better.