Page 57 of Ascending

She responded to Anna’s email and added a few more pages to the story she’d be turning in to the paper once complete. Then, she thought about what Elizabeth was doing at that very moment. Dinner was probably over by now unless it had gone long. Maybe the woman was working in her office. Maybe she was lying in bed. Was she thinking about Palmer? No, she was probably thinking about the family she’d lost along with the life she would have had, had some horrible person not killed most of her family. Palmer wished she had Elizabeth’s direct number. She wanted to call her, to talk to her until she fell asleep if that was what Elizabeth needed to get through the night. Palmer, however, wouldn’t dare call or email Rebecca to request that information. It would likely only end with yet another warning from the secretary.

Her phone dinged from its position next to her on the bed. Palmer reached for it, thinking it was likely someone from back home, given the late hour here. She was pleasantly surprised to see a private number with a text message. She opened the app and read it. Then, she clicked on the number that had been included with it and listened to the ring.

“Hi,” Elizabeth greeted.

“Is this the personal phone number of the Queen of St. Rais?” Palmer teased.

“It is, but if you give it to anyone, I can have it changed in a heartbeat.”

Palmer laughed and said, “I wouldn’t dare. How was dinner?” She relaxed against her flattened pillows.

“David asked me for Victoria’s hand in marriage. It was quite sweet. He was very nervous.”

“And you said no, obviously,” Palmer teased.

“I said yes.” Elizabeth laughed. “He loves my sister, and she loves him.”

“I guess that’s a good enough reason.”

“It’s theonlyreason, in my opinion,” Elizabeth replied.

“I agree,” Palmer said, thinking about the faceless man Elizabeth would likely soon marry and trying to shove that thought out of her mind and just focus on this conversation. “So, how areyou?”

“You just saw me this morning. I’m the same,” Elizabeth said.

“Are you? It’s late. I assume you’re in bed.”

“I am, yes.”

“Are you going to be able to sleep?” Palmer asked.

“I hope so,” the woman replied. “But I was hoping I might see you tomorrow. That’s why I called.”

“Yeah, I’m free.”

“Palmer, I know you have an article to write, but I meant as a friend. I’d like to see you again as a friend.”

“That’s what I meant, too, Elizabeth.”

“Am I hindering your ability to do your job by asking for that?”

“Yes, but I don’t care,” Palmer said honestly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’re more important than a story, Lizzy,” she replied. “I have a job to do, yes, but I don’t know how long I’m going to be here for, and I can work on my story from anywhere. If I’m only here for another few days, I’d rather spend them with you.” Palmer swallowed. “As friends.”

Elizabeth was silent for what felt like a full minute.

“Would you be able to stay in St. Rais for my coronation?”

“Your coronation? That’s in a couple of weeks, right?”

“It’s in ten days,” Elizabeth replied. “I would love it if you could stay and attend. I understand if you have to get back; your life is in New York. If you can stay, though, I’d be happy to pay for–”

“No, it’s fine. I can stay,” Palmer interrupted.

“You can?”