The Wild Heir(91)

“Oh, come now,” Jane says, coming over to me. “Keep your chin up.”

I look at her fearfully. “I am nervous, obviously. It’s not just this whole family drama. It’s the fact that this is a wedding, my wedding, and there’s a lie underneath this whole wedding and then there’s the fact that it’s going to be televised! I mean, people in Norway have the day off today because of this! This lie is a fucking national holiday!”

“Calm now,” she says, taking the coffee from my hands and putting it on the tray. “You’re spilling your drink.”

“I am calm,” I try to say, but the words come out shaking.

“Yeesh, I shouldn’t have asked you. But listen, now that we’re talking about it I just want you to remember one thing. This isn’t a lie anymore, Ella. You love Magnus. He loves you. You are getting married now because you love each other. It may have not started that way, but that’s what it’s become. There is no shame, no wool over the public’s eyes. Maybe you have to lie about how you met, but you will never ever have to lie about the way you feel about him. You got that?”

I nod. I know she’s right. I know we love each other. Ever since he opened up and told me how he really felt while at King Aksel’s in Copenhagen, I’ve fallen even more madly in love with him. And he, well, he loves me with the same kind of focus and intensity I’d come to expect from him. Every day we’re together he’s making sure I’m a part of his world, a part of his heart. Even now, being away from him this morning, feels unbearably wrong.

But even with all that, there are some things I’m having a hard time letting go of. The fear that the truth might one day be exposed. The fact that I’m about to enter a life that I’ve had no preparation for. And, unfortunately, his mother’s words to me. That there already seems to be a time limit to this relationship, and it’s not a question of if, but when, his intentions begin to wander.

“I suppose this isn’t the time to tell you some bad news,” Jane says.

“What?” I whisper. My heart feels like it’s getting a workout lately. “What bad news?”

Oh my god. Today? She’s giving me bad news today?

“It’s about the guest list,” she says, cringing as she looks at me.

“What about it?”

I didn’t have a hand in the guest list. I mean, I did but there’s really only my father, my brothers who declined, some cousins who I think are showing up, and Jane. It’s sad that my side is so lacking, but that’s the way it is. The rest of the list was handled by the Queen.

“I only found out this morning while talking to Her Majesty,” she says. “But Heidi will be there.”

“What?!” I nearly knock over the tray. Jane quickly removes it before I can do any damage. “Heidi Lundstr?m, that crazy bitch of a prime minister’s daughter?!”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“No!” I cry out, throwing back the covers and getting out of bed. “She can’t be there! She’s going to try and ruin the wedding! Why would the Queen invite her after everything? Doesn’t she know how that looks?”

“I guess she didn’t really have a choice. Heidi is the prime minister’s daughter and he will obviously be there.”

“But the sex video! Everyone will be talking about it!”

“Everyone will be talking about how gracious you all are for allowing it. The Queen thinks it will make us look like there are no hard feelings, and we’re taking the high road.”

“Fuck the high road! And there are hard feelings. Jane, that bitch leaked that sex tape, I know it was all her. She’s crazy, she’s obsessed with him, she’s going to do something.”

“Your language has really become quite colorful after meeting Magnus.”

“Jane!” I point at her. “This is serious.”

Jane tries to smile. “I know. I know she’s daft and I agree she shouldn’t be there after all that. But there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“I can talk to the Queen.”

She gives me a caustic look. “Oh really. You know this is more about the Queen today than it is you? It’s about her son getting married and stepping up in his role as heir apparent. You aren’t going to win arguments today.”

I growl angrily, snatching the cup of coffee off the tray and downing it. I think I need something a lot stronger than this.

“You know I’m right, Ella. So instead of being angry about the things you can’t control, why not just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

“Enjoy the ride? This is a wedding, not a theme park.”

“Actually, I’d say it’s closer to a rollercoaster.”

“Closer to a shitshow.”

“I mean it,” Jane says sternly, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Look, you’ve got me, and I’ve got you. You’ve got Magnus. You’ve got the man you love and you’re about to become the Princess of Norway, a title you can wear proudly. You’re about to embark on a new life, one that you do have control of. So just sit back and relinquish what little control you have over today. Let everyone else worry about everyone else.” She cracks a smile. “You don’t think that the Queen hates the idea that Heidi will be there? Believe me, it’s going to eat her up. Today all eyes are on the Norwegian royal family, on Magnus. They know nothing about you, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So just let it play out and have faith knowing that everyone else is trying to make this the best day possible. For crying out loud, you get to be paraded in a horse and carriage around the streets of Oslo.”