Page 22 of Royally Drawn (Resplendent Royals #3)

Guess Who’s Coming to Lunch

KEIR

W hen Her Majesty called you north, you went. I usually took morning meetings with my aunt when not on post at Buckingham Palace. However, she’d been in Norfolk for the weekend and didn’t want to leave. So, I took my plane to RAF Marham, dumped it, and climbed in the waiting Rolls. When I arrived at Sandringham, she was down at the barn with the horses. Why call me north if she wasn’t even going to be around?

This was my aunt in a nutshell—the world revolved around the Queen, and she could change her mind. Besides, what else was I up to besides thinking about Ingrid naked and kicking myself for not doing more with my time in paradise?

“She’ll be up soon,” my uncle Ed explained. “They had a foal arrive and something-something about a retained something, and she wanted to check in this morning. You know how they are.”

“Sure,” I sighed. “I do. All-too-well.”

I played polo as my late father had. I grew up hacking out and hunting with Auntie Natalie. Mamma rode growing up but wasn’t as horse-obsessed as everyone on my father’s side. Uncle Ed was not a horse person. He was petrified of them and stayed out of his wife’s way. He never battled over two issues—aircraft and equines. Reasoning with his former fast jet pilot wife over either was an exercise in futility.

“She said some people were coming for lunch,” Ed said. As usual, I know nothing.”

The butler arrived. “Your Royal Highnesses, Her Majesty has returned from the barn with The Princesses.”

Which princesses? That was vagu e. As we proceeded to the dining room, I was greeted by Cici, Betty, and Ingrid. Ingrid’s mouth dropped. I tried not to react. It would be true torture. I couldn’t get a moment alone with her. And she looked beautiful in whatever tight breeches she was in under this table. I’d miss out on her arse. Damn it!

“Long time no see, cousin,” Cici laughed.

“No one tells us anything,” Ed grumbled to his wife.

“You wouldn’t listen anyhow, Edwin.”

“You didn’t think to text me, Betty?” I laughed, giving her a big hug.

“I didn’t know. We had no clue you’d be here. Why the hell are you here?”

“Yes, indeed,” Ingrid said, suspect of my intentions.

Now, she thought I’d orchestrated it to see her! I wish I’d had that foresight. She gave me too much credit.

“Oh, I didn’t know if you’d make it out, so I didn’t tell your brother,” Aunt Natalie explained. “I stayed here on a wild hare and forced him to come to me. We’re checking in. Please don’t blame him. He’s not spying on you, Betty.”

Betty shrugged, also suspect.

“Are you just waiting for Mamma and Pappa to arrive?” Cici asked.

“What do you think?” Uncle Ed chuckled.

“Are they coming in?” I asked. No one told me anything, either.

“Yes,” Aunt Natalie answered. “Tonight, your aunt and uncle will be by.”

“For what?” I asked.

“Badminton, you idiot!” Betty laughed. “Good God, Keir! Catch up.”

“When is that?” I asked .

Complete with unison eye rolls, the girls answered, “This weekend.”

“Oh, apologies, ladies. I was unaware.”

“I was going, of course. So why not wait around for Kiersten? I figured Olav would prefer Ed to come with.”

“I do not care. My job is to be arm candy, darling.”

Ingrid giggled.

“Dear, Ingrid is a bit overwhelmed by us,” I explained. “We’re unhinged. She finally got a taste of all of us together last weekend, and I fear we might have frightened her.”

“Give me more credit than that, Keir,” Ingrid said, staring me in the eye with that intense, sultry stare she always gave.

Her gaze sent a shiver down my spine. We were still doing this, weren’t we? And why the hell was that jumper emphasising her tits? Even out on a hack, she looked goddamn perfect.

“We were a lot .”

“I assume Duncan and Leah outdid everyone in that competition?” Aunt Natalie sighed.

I wanted to say that her son was the worst behaved of all the lot, but that honour went to Lars. Of course, feeling guilty about what provoked our brother didn’t seem right. At the same time, Duncan didn’t deserve the blame for once. Betty spoke as I debated things, outing Lars.

“Oh, no. I mean, Leah was Leah to the nth degree, and Duncan was an ass to Ingrid at the beginning, but it was Lars who took the cake.”

“Poor Ingrid. What did our son do?” Uncle Ed asked.

“Shenanigans,” Cici sighed. “He threw her overboard.”

“He felt it was a joke,” Ingrid said, blushing.

“Not a funny one,” Cici groaned. “But Lars nearly ruined everything.”

“Lars?” Aunt Natalie was surprised. Yes, even perfect Lars could misbehave.

“He had a crush that got out of hand,” Cici said. “And we’ll leave it there.”

Betty didn’t pipe up, and I said nothing .

“Fighting over women. Men are daft,” Aunt Natalie sighed. “Neither of you should argue with me.”

My uncle shook his head.

I raised my hands as if backing out. “I won’t argue with you. I can get quite whipped up against my own better judgement.”

“You’re young. I wish you would get whipped up over someone—anyone right about now, Keir. Duncan, as well. See your cousin. Is she not deliriously happy with Isak? Could you boys not stand to try ?”

No pressure, Auntie!

Ingrid flushed bright red. I wish she hadn’t. It telegraphed everything. I hoped no one noticed.

“No one in their right mind would bother to settle down with him. He’s all planes, planes, planes,” Betty laughed. “Poor woman!”

“He’s old enough to retire. Mark my words, Keir, it will get old,” Aunt Natalie said.

“I have two years. And then I can decide what I will do. I agree it’s not an easy life.”

“Never fall in love with a pilot,” Uncle Ed said. “That’s my advice, ladies.”

“Says the man who has been happily married to me for thirty-three years.”

“Look, I didn’t say I was clever.”

“You have a degree from Oxford. Two, actually. Hush.”

As long as I could remember, they argued like an old couple. Both were competitive, but my aunt had my Olympian uncle beat in her love of competition. It surprised people. Uncle Ed was still the most decorated swimmer in British history. I appreciated the banter because it gave me more time to sit quietly. Unfortunately, it also gave me more time to look at Ingrid and think about her.

“So, you’re going with Cici to support her?” I asked, trying to distract myself. “Betty and Ingrid, I mean…”

“Ingrid is riding,” Betty said. “I’m going to watch and be moral support. She and Cici are riding.”

“It’s Ingrid’s debut at a five-star,” Cici said proudly.

“I am nervous,” Ingrid said. “Don’t remind me.”

“Don’t be,” Aunt Natalie said. “Kiersten says you’re a brilliant talent, a little prodigy. Own it. Never make yourself smaller, darling.”

“Well, that’s lovely,” I said. “Exciting.”

“You won’t come with?” Betty pouted. “What are you even doing, brother?”

“She has a point. What are you doing?” Natalie asked. “You wouldn’t want to support Cecilia?”

Cici glared at me. “He’d never care so much about an event.”

I turned to Ingrid, expecting something .

“I suppose I could go, but I doubt I’d be all that helpful.”

“You can tack horses and hold them, yes?” Ingrid asked.

“Of course!” I was offended by the question.

“Then you can play groom for us,” Ingrid said. “Unless that’s too much?”

If it meant I got the chance to shag Ingrid, I’d toil day and night right about now.

“Come on, it will be fun,” Betty said.

Oh, dear Betty, if only you knew! She was the worst cockblock. Still, I figured I could swing it.

“It’s dreadful to wander around looking at women in breeches, right?” Aunt Natalie joked. “Oh, come on! Your Aunts and Uncles would like to see you. You can stay with us.”

“You’re all staying in one place?”

“Yes,” Aunt Natalie answered. “Good God. We always do. If you ever came to watch your sister and cousin compete, you’d know, Keir Robert!”

Betty crossed her arms. Who was I to deny her?

“Well, if it wouldn’t be too annoying for you all, I can come and play groom,” I sighed.

Cici laughed, “You and Isak are so fucked. We’re going to be relentless and annoying.”

“I can handle it,” I said, meeting Ingrid’s gaze again.

It was on.