Page 48 of The Wrong Royal
“Whoa,” I muttered, my eyes wide with amazement. “This place is incredible!”
Jack chuckled, his enthusiasm matching my own. “This is the guest house? Imagine what the main house looks like.”
We explored the house and quickly picked our rooms from the seven available. It was as if the place could accommodate a small village. There was a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The kitchen was updated, equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and a large island.
“Look at this,” Jack said. He was standing at glass doors and smiling at a massive indoor swimming pool that stretched between our house and the one Emilie and Astrid were staying in.
“Wow,” I said. “It’s weird to see the clash of modern and ancient.”
Jack turned to me, a mischievous grin on his face. “What do you say we unpack, go for a swim, and then surprise the girls with some delicious Norwegian takeout for an unexpected date night at their place?”
I laughed at the suggestion, loving the spontaneity of it. “You think they’ll let us in if we show up with food?”
Jack nodded confidently. “Absolutely. No one can resist the power of good food.”
“How do we get food out here?” I wondered aloud. “Do they do food delivery?”
“We’re not in the outback,” he said, laughing. “Astrid told me about a restaurant Emilie loves. They order from it often when they are in residence.”
“I’m not sure I should,” I said. “Emilie has made it very clear she doesn’t want to be around me.”
“You’re not going to give up that easily, are you?” Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. “Emilie will have to give in eventually.”
“She might end up resenting me.”
“Look, I’m going to tell you something I probably shouldn’t, but Astrid told me Emilie is feeling very torn.”
“About me?”
“You and just her life in general. This is all still fresh for her. She was on the road she thought was going to be her life, and in a matter of hours, she was swooped up and dropped into a life that wasn’t her own. She’s struggling to adjust to the way things have changed.”
I nodded, understanding the weight of what Jack had just revealed to me. “I had no idea,” I said softly. “I don’t want to add to her struggles.”
“You won’t,” Jack assured me. “Just give her some time. She’ll come around.”
“I don’t know her well, but I believe she is the kind of woman that sticks to her guns. She’s decided she will not love anyone.”
“Don’t give up,” he said. “Let’s enjoy the beauty of this place. I can’t wait to go for a swim.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” I said.
With our plan in place, we quickly unpacked and changed into our swim trunks. I followed Jack along the cobblestone path toward the pool. The moment he opened the door, I felt the warmth and smelled the chlorine. I imagined an indoor pool was pretty much a necessity in the northern country.
Jack and I spent the next hour swimming and laughing, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the indoor pool. It was the perfect way to relax after a long day of traveling. As we got out of the pool, I glanced over to the main house. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I didn’t find it.
As we dried ourselves off, Jack suggested we take a stroll around the estate. I agreed, eager to explore the sprawling property. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the gardens and the fields beyond. We walked in comfortable silence, taking in the sights and sounds of the countryside.
As we rounded a corner, we stumbled upon a small pond. The water was still, reflecting the orange and pink hues of the sunset. It was gorgeous. Very peaceful and it felt healing. Like I could feel my soul singing.
“Just think, this could be your summer home,” Jack said.
“It definitely sweetens the deal,” I said, laughing. “And lucky me, there’s a house for each of us. She’ll never have to see me.”
“Stop,” he chided. “She’s going to come around.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” I said.
“Come on, let’s order dinner before they have a chance to do it and ruin our plan to crash their party.”