The Indentured Queen
Page 13
“I can’t do that.” Could he?
“Why not? You said you want the people to like you better. It seems like something your father might have done. He was always out talking to people. Even if they don’t know it’s you, it’ll give you insight into how you can do better at that.”
She might have a point. That didn’t mean Benjamin was going to do it. He and his father weren’t the same. Never had been. He wished he was more like his father, but that didn’t mean he wanted to do everything the way his father had. She might be right in this case though.
Benjamin pressed the button on his desk phone. “Chamberlain, can you come in here?” He waited for the other man to enter his office. “Katrín and I have plans this afternoon. I need you to make sure it happens.”
He gave Chamberlain the details and told him to do whatever necessary. Chamberlain seemed skeptical but didn’t argue. That was a good sign.
Katrín left and went back to work, he guessed. He didn’t really know where she went. It could be one of her half days off, for all he knew. She had said she would meet him at four, though, because she had gone in early so she could get off early. The longer they were married, the better he got to know her, the more awkward he felt that she still held the same job. Should he try to get her something else? Or maybe she should do whatever it was a queen was supposed to do, at least for the next eleven months or so.
His family would be back soon. What was it Thor told him? Thor’s niece, who worked for Benjamin’s mother, was expecting her first child and the doctors had some concerns. Nothing too scary, but she might need to cut back on her work and only work remotely. Benjamin thought that wouldn’t go over well with his mother. Not because she didn’t like Clari but because she preferred her staff be present and not commute.
Benjamin didn’t have time to dwell on it at the moment. Instead, he had to turn his focus to the business at hand.
“Good afternoon.” Christiana’s voice came through his headset. He preferred it to holding the phone between his ear and shoulder. “I trust everything is all right in Eyjania?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” He leaned back in his chair and wished he dared put his feet up on his desk.
“You had to go so suddenly a couple of weeks ago, I was worried something else was going on with your uncle.” He heard hints of vulnerability in her voice. It had only been about a year since her own run in with the man she’d believed to be her uncle.
“No. It was a misunderstanding with security, but everything’s fine. It always was.” If one considered the new queen handcuffed and detained “fine.”
For the next two hours they discussed a variety of topics pertaining to the two countries and their trade.
As they wrapped up, Christiana issued an invitation. “Alexander and I would love to have you and Katrín for a visit. We would love to come there sometime, but we would rather not leave Baby Nicklaus just yet and don’t really want to travel with him at this age either.”
“I’ll talk it over with Katrín and see what we can work out.” He remained noncommittal. “Is there anything else we need to discuss?”
“Nothing in my notes.”
“Then I’ll talk to you sometime soon, I’m sure.”
“Big plans?”
There was no harm in telling her. “Katrín and I are going to attempt to go to the Festival this afternoon, while remaining incognito.”
“Oo! That sounds like fun! I should like to do that someday. You should shave your beard. That would help no one recognize you,” Christiana told him thoughtfully. “How long would it take you to regrow it? If you could have a reasonable one in a week or so, you could stay out of the public eye until it’s regrown enough that no one knows and keep the secret.”
Maybe she had a point, but Benjamin wasn’t going to try it now. Instead, he said goodbye to Christiana and headed upstairs. By the time four o’clock rolled around, he wore a pair of blue jeans and hiking boots, the baseball hat Darius gave him at Christmas in the States and held a pair of over-sized sunglasses.
“You know, if you really didn’t want anyone to recognize you for a few days, you’d shave your beard.”
Benjamin looked up to see Katrín walking out of her quarters.
“Christiana suggested the same thing.” He rubbed a hand against his beard. “You don’t like it?”
She shrugged. “Not my favorite. But Christiana who? I thought we weren’t telling anyone we were going this evening. But she’s right.”
“The queen of Ravenzario. She won’t tell anyone. How do you know I don’t have some hideous birthmark underneath here?” he asked with a smirk.
“We would have seen it before you were old enough to grow that thing.”
Why did he have a beard? His father never had. They never been customary for Eyjanian kings to have beards. His uncle had one. Could that be why? Some sort of subconscious desire to please Isaiah? To make Isaiah think Benjamin was worthy of being king? The longer he’d been gone, the more Benjamin realized Isaiah had sought to undermine or minimize Benjamin’s abilities. Since spending more time with Chamberlain and Thor, he was beginning to see the subtle ways Isaiah had manipulated him for years.
“Regardless, I’m not shaving my beard.”
“Fine. Are you ready to go?”
He finally took a good look at her. She wore the same skinny jeans she had to lunch when they got stuck in the elevator but a different shirt. He was pretty sure she wore the same dark brown knee boots. Her hair was also pulled up into a cap, but hers was simply solid black with no sports emblems on it like his had. His was Navy blue with a stylized S, T, and L and a red bird on it. He had no idea what team that was. He didn’t even know what sport.
“I’m ready.”
Katrin smiled at him in a way he’d never seen her smile at him before. “Then let’s go.”
If no one knew who they were, maybe it would be easier for Katrín to relax and be herself. Maybe Benjamin could, too. She kind of liked the man she’d seen in the elevator. The one who wasn’t a completely cold fish.
The car took them to a hotel parking garage near the Festival. They emerged into the lobby through a side door and merged with the crowd. Thor and the rest of the security team stayed back a bit until they knew if the disguises would work.
No one gave them a second glance, so she decided it must be working. Once outside, the crowd thickened, so she grasped his hand to make sure they didn’t get separated.
Fortunately, Benjamin just curled his fingers around hers and didn’t make a big deal of her staying directly at his side. At times, she was forced so close, she practically hugged his arm.
“Where do you want to go first?” she asked him.
He looked down at her, though she couldn’t see his eyes behind the mirrored sunglasses. “I have no idea. I’ve never been before. What’s your favorite part?”
“The food, but it’s a bit early to eat. The good stuff doesn’t come out until later.” She looked around. “There’s shopping and rides.”
“How about a ride?”
Katrín winced. “These aren’t the kinds of rides your friends would be okay with you going on. They’re taken down and put up every few days. While I’m sure they’re reputable, they’re probably also a bit too rickety to be really safe.”
“I’m sure my friends appreciate your attention to my safety. What else is there?”
“Carnival games.” She actually hugged his arm, surprising herself with her own forwardness. “You can win me a prize.”
“I’d be happy to try.”
Katrín steered them toward the midway. “I want a giant stuffed panda if they have them still.” One year she’d managed to win one for her brother. He’d loved it, but it had gotten ruined when the car window had been left open and it rained.
“What game should we try?” he asked.
She looked around. “How’s your aim? There’s a ball toss thing over there.”
“We’ll find out.” He let go of her ha
nd and stepped up to the counter. “I’d like to try.”
The barker had a gleam in his eye that Katrín wasn’t crazy about. He named a price which startled Benjamin.
She jumped in and pulled some cash out of her pocket. “I got money from the bank, sweetheart. I knew you wouldn’t have time after work.”
He looked relieved. “Thanks. I had a business call to Ravenzario that took a lot longer than expected.”
Katrín wasn’t sure she believed him, but it sounded plausible enough.
The barker handed him the first ball. Benjamin turned it over in his hands a few times, then threw. He hit the bowling pins and knocked four of them over.
“One more try.” The barker handed another ball over.
Benjamin threw it again and got the last two to fall.
Katrín jumped up and down clapping. “You did it.”
With a grin, Benjamin pointed at the prizes. “Which one do you want?”
The barker made sure to point out that she could only pick from the smallest of the prizes. Katrín picked a small penguin. This booth didn’t have the pandas anyway.
For the next half hour, they wandered along the stalls, with Benjamin playing one game after another. Katrín waited for one that she wanted to try, but none appeared.
“This is fun.” Benjamin handed her the most recent prize. He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers as he’d done a few times before as they walked between games.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“Of course I am. It’s just the two of us and not my... friends or family.”
That wasn’t strictly accurate. Katrín could see two members of the security teams from where she stood and others were around. She’d bought an oversized bag from a San Majorian vendor. The Caribbean colors made her happy and her prizes all fit inside.
“Is it time to eat yet?”
“We can.”
“Let’s go that way then.” Benjamin let go of her hand, but slid his arm around her waist. “What’s your favorite food?”
“They usually have traditional Eyjanian food. That’s my favorite.”
“Then let’s go find it.”
A few minutes later, they were in line at one of the vendors. Benjamin moved slightly behind her, something she was certain he’d never done in his life, and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“I have to admit, I’m not crazy about the standing in line part.”
Katrín grinned. “You’ll be fine.”
“I know, but I still like the part where I don’t have to.” His arm slid further around her waist, his breath still warm on her ear. “But if it’s part of doing this then I’m okay with it.”
They shuffled forward a few steps and started discussing the menu. Once they had their food, Katrín looked around at the nearly full eating area.
“A place to sit would be a bonus.”
“That’s not how it works here. Come on.” She started for a table with a couple of empty seats. “Hi,” she said as they reached it. “Can we join you?”
“Of course.” One of the young women scooted her chair over a bit. “Have a seat.” The two couples looked to be in their early or mid-twenties, just like Katrín and Benjamin.
“Are you certain?” Benjamin asked. “We wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Katrín joined the others laughing as she set her plate down. “He’s never been to the Festival before. This is how it works, sweetheart. You find empty seats and make new friends.”
Benjamin shrugged. “All right.” He set his own plate down. “Then it’s nice to meet all of you. I’m James.” One of his middle names. “And this lovely lady is my wife, Kat.”
Close enough.
The other four introduced themselves but the girl next to Katrín narrowed her eyes then pointed her fork at Benjamin. “Has anyone ever told you how much you resemble the king?”
17
Benjamin froze at the woman’s words, but Katrín just laughed.
“He gets that all the time. And since I have a passing resemblance to the new queen and my name is similar, you wouldn’t believe the comments.” She took a sip of her water. “I think we should talk about doing those look-alike appearances where they say the king is going to be there, but really it’s someone who’s five-foot-two, has the same color hair and no other resemblance.”
Relief washed over him. The girl was quick on her feet.
She leaned in closer. “Besides, I can’t imagine the king actually wandering around here without eighty-four security guards. And I happen to think my guy is a lot cuter than the TV king.”
The girl with the fork stared at him in a way that unnerved Benjamin like few other things ever had. “I think you’re right. He is cuter than the king.”
Benjamin wasn’t sure if he should be insulted or flattered.
“You definitely look like the new queen though. Not from the wedding or on the way to that trip they took, but when she was out by herself that day.”
“I never saw the video from it.”
“I did.” Benjamin jumped in. “She looked great, but I think you look better.”
Katrín turned three shades of red and their new friends laughed.
“How long have you two been married?” one of them asked.
“Just a few weeks,” he told them.
“So newlyweds.” One of the men nodded knowingly. “We’ve all been there.”
“You should totally do the look-alike thing. You both look close enough that you’d do really well.” She studied Benjamin. “Except the king doesn’t smile nearly as much. He’s always so serious, almost grumpy. I guess losing a parent so young and then having so much responsibility will do that to someone.”
Benjamin forced a smile on his face. “I would imagine so.” Was that really how the people saw him?
“You know...” One of the men turned to the group as a whole. “I think that’s part of why the family isn’t nearly as popular. I remember the former king and queen being out and part of life for a long time, even with their kids. But after Benjamin became king, there was really nothing for years. I get he was a young teenager and the Queen Mother was grieving, but out of sight out of mind, right?”
His wife nodded. “Prince Isaiah the Elder was the only one really around when I was in high school, and I always thought he was slimy. If the king and his new queen really want to get back in the good graces of the people, they should look at how his parents were.”
“Princess Genevieve has done better, somewhat.”
Benjamin listened as the other four, with occasional input from Katrín dissected his family and their public image. Everyone liked the charity work and visits to hospitals and such that his next younger siblings had started doing as they turned eighteen. They wanted to see more of him, even if not in the same capacity, and all of the family to at least seem more accessible.
“Who is that on your hat?” one of the men asked Benjamin.
He took it off and looked, trying to remember the design. “Honestly? I have no idea. My brother gave it to me when I went to see him in the States where he’s attending university.”
Katrín reached up and ruffled his hair. “I kind of love your hair all messy.”
Was that her way of reassuring him taking the hat off wouldn’t lead to being truly recognized? He tugged it back on. “Thanks, I think.”
“Would you two like to join us wandering around? We’re going to play some games.”
Everyone stood up and began clearing their plates. Benjamin followed their lead and looked at Katrín. “What do you think?”
“I think I still want a giant panda, and I haven’t seen one yet. All of the prizes seemed pretty small this year, but I haven’t been in a while.”
“It’s this way.”
Benjamin berated himself for already forgetting the woman’s name.
“They have two sections this year. The kid-slash-small-prize-cheaper-games section and one with slightly higher stakes.”
They reached the first booth and Katrín was nearly giddy to realize there were pandas. He needed to win her one.
But as he played and spent time with the not-quite-strangers, Benjamin found himself feeling differently than he ever had before. Included and accepted for himself rather than because of the titles he’d been born to. It was different. Intriguing.
Katrín told them he was an executive, having inherited the business from his father a few years earlier. Not an outright lie, but not quite accurate either.
“And what about you, Kat? If he’s the owner of a successful business, you must be able to do whatever you want.” The woman sounded envious.
“Actually, I have the same job I’ve had for a few years. I promised I’d stay for a while longer.”
“What do you do?”
Katrín glanced up at him. “I’m a dishwasher in a family business. My mother worked for them for years, but needed to take care of my brother. They gave me a job, with compensation I couldn’t say no to. I promised to stay for another year. After that, we’ll see.”
“Like you hand wash dishes?” one of the guys asked.
Katrín shook her head. “Some, but mostly I use one of the giant conveyor belt dishwashers.”
One of the men winced. “That’s a hot, miserable job,” he said.
Benjamin had never really thought about that aspect of it.
“What do you want to do when you’re done there?” his wife asked.
“I don’t know. I still haven’t really thought about it.” She sighed and a dreamy look crossed her face. “Maybe I’ll go to San Majoria or Islas del Sargossa and sit on one of the beaches and stay there until everyone who knows me, except this guy of course...” She pointed at Benjamin. “...thinks I’ve been gone so long I must have died.”
Katrín began mentally beating herself up as soon as she said it. She felt Benjamin tense at her side.