Page 70 of Royally Matched

Me:

Is it because it’s a whole day out of your busy schedule?

I don’t mention the other point, that she fears being alone with me for so long.

There are no dots pulsing on my screen. My heart sinks. She doesn’t want to spend a day with me, even if it means getting the translation.

I’m about to message her that I can go on my own when I get a reply.

Sofia:

I can clear my schedule tomorrow.

Happiness radiates across my chest, and I punch the air. I tell myself it’s because we’ll finally be able to solve this mystery. But I know it’s more than that.

Me:

We can drive there, meet the professor to get the scroll translated, and finally know what this “righteous heir” thing is all about. Won’t it be awesome to finally work this riddle out?

Energy surges through me, and I bounce on my toes to try to contain it.

Sofia:

I’ll drive.

That sounds like Sofia.

Me:

You… drive?

Sofia:

Of course I do.

Me:

Good to know.

Sofia:

Send me your address. I’ll pick you up at 7:00 a.m. That way we can get on the road before the rush hour traffic.

Me:

Very pragmatic of you.

I punch in my address details, my head abuzz. We’re going to get the scroll translated tomorrow, and more than that, I get to spend time with the woman I’m rapidly learning has grown to mean so much to me. The woman who fills my mind night and day.

The woman I’m beginning to fall for.

Chapter 19

Sofia

The door to my bed chamber opens and immediately, both Lemon and Pepper spring to life, their tails wagging as they bounce from their beds by the fireplace, and shoot across the floor to greet Dana, my lady’s maid. She’s wearing her habitual black-and-white uniform, and holding my breakfast tray in her hands.

“Good morning, Your Royal Highness,” she says with a curtsy, despite the fact I instructed her to call me Sofia within a week of her first joining thepalace staff. “And hello there, you two ragamuffins,” she says to the dogs, who respond with tail wags. “You’re up early.” She places the tray on the end of the bed I made when I arose a good hour ago.