AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Karolina nodded. “Your mother was a bright spark in the dark. You are, too. And I see the way Rick takes to you. It is beautiful. You are wonderful for him.”
“He is good for me as well. I am learning to stand up for myself and talk to people. I was raised very sheltered. He is the opposite. Maybe he can be too much, but I need an overcorrection to appear normal.”
“That is a good way to put it.”
“I suppose it’s like that for Mikkel and Marie.”
The Queen snickered, covering her face playfully to avoid my gaze. “Mikkel would do well to let her manage his social affairs, but he fights her. He struggles. It annoys her. Let Rick be the talkative one. Enjoy the work you don’t have to do,” Karolina said. “Don’t do it for the sake of control. Sometimes, it is nice to give it over.”
I admitted it sounded attractive to hand over some degree of control to Rick. I trusted him. I supposed if I trusted him, it made it okay. Back when I hadn’t, I worried he was out for anyone’s interest but mine. Now, I knew we were united against Celeste. That was all that mattered. Or so I thought.
Twenty-Eight
Rick
“Sir, Miss Morgen is on the phone for you. Should I patch her through?” A butler asked.
I was at my own home missing Alexandra when my ex rang me up, wanting to chat. It had been months and now I was engaged. She had no business calling. Struggling to resist, I agreed to take the call and waited to hear her sexy, husky voice on the other end of the line.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hello.” I tried formality.
“Well, I’m legally divorced now.”
“Congratulations?”
“Yes, indeed. I am free of the man who has made me miserable for years. Rikard, you know?—”
“Very little. Very little of you. And that is for the best.”
“Don’t you realise?—”
“Bridget, we aren’t together. I am engaged. I am living abroad—soon to move to Neandia permanently.”
“Are you? Because we could run away together. Wouldn’t you like that?”
It was so tempting. Even two months ago, I would have left forever. Now, I thought about my parents and their earned happiness. I thought about leaving my brother with an exploding box of kittens if I did that—the scandal that would haunt this court forever and a day. But mostly, I thought about breaking Alexandra’s heart in pieces. It hurt. I was sure if she knew I was speaking to my ex, she’d be upset.
“This is risky even—us talking.”
“Rick, I miss you.”
“Bridget, you must stop calling me, okay? Like… I don’t know how to put this. In my time of need, you hung up on me?—”
“My settlement was on the line!”
“Alexandra’s heart is on the line! She is a sweet, kind person who believes I am capable of being good deep down. I cannot hurt her, Bridget.”
I listened as she had a good belly laugh at my expense.
“Yes, poor little Alexandra. Baby Alexandra. I know you have no interest in her.”
“I do,” I said. “And we grow closer by the day.”
“Is she there then?”
“No. Official policy is the bride must stay separately. No concerns of impropriety.”
