Chapter 53
fifty-three
PARKER
Celeste was nightmarish. Astrid’s assessment of her grandmother paled in comparison to the vile reality. When she called her a “cunt” earlier in a breakdown while trying on dresses she said would all make her look “fat,” I’d been confused. Now, I understood. That wasn’t a word I threw around, but it applied. The woman claimed she needed to meet her cherubic great-granddaughter but disregarded and called her fat! A child! Even my mother wouldn’t stoop so low.
Thankfully, the Belgians saved us. Queen Margaux was the spitting image of her Queenly cousins—our Queen Natalie and Queen Kiersten of Norway. She was also ebullient and free. She announced she would take Linnea, and Alexandra agreed. A flip switched. Prince Al followed, happy to ride in his wife’s wake.
“Yes, well, I am her godmother, so it makes sense she should love me,” Queen Margaux said. “She just gets lovelier every time I see her, Alexandra.”
“She grows too fast,” Alexandra said.
We remained standing, waiting for our Queenly host to sit .
“Oh, how rude I’m being!” Alexandra said. “You have not met Parker Westfall, Duke of Westnedge. Astrid’s boyfriend.”
“Oh, yes,” Queen Margaux said. “You did say she had brought a young man with her for the holiday. Lord Westfall, will you be joining us tonight?”
“No, ma’am,” I answered. “Astrid and I will not be tempting fate with a surprise appearance tonight.”
“Because he’s not serious,” Celeste said.
Everything she said had me on edge. Alexandra and Astrid warned me this is what she did. However, I was unable to help myself. Astrid was mine to defend. I couldn’t let Celeste cast doubt and make her granddaughter feel out of sorts.
In quick French, I responded, “That’s not true, Celeste. But she has requested peace and calm. Can we focus on that? I do love your granddaughter very much. I respect her wishes.”
Je t’aime ta petite-fille.
The words fell out—in another language—unexpectedly. It wasn’t as if we were in a place where I could clarify or pull Astrid aside to lay a big kiss on her lips. No. This was the worst-case scenario! Helpless, I squeezed Astrid’s hand to show my genuine feelings. She stared back at me, bemused.
I tried to ignore it, but my words were the truth. I loved Astrid. She’d pulled me in—this invisible string connecting us since day one—and I could not separate myself from her. I loved her to bits. It may have taken me slightly longer to admit how much, but I loved this woman. I did wild, mad things for her. I would do anything I could to protect her—in the rare case that she couldn’t sufficiently defend herself. This was what it was to be in love.
“Well, I am surprised. Should we be booking a church?” Celeste asked.
“I think it’s good for her to finish her education first, yes?” Rick asked.
I was impressed by how protective the man was of this group of girls. You’d tangle with Rick first if you wanted to tangle with them. He looked ready to launch into battle with a slightly rude look. He’d taken over the role of father even if he wasn’t much older than me. I admired his degree of care. Astrid deserved more people in her corner.
“Certainly. And I hear she has a bright future,” Queen Margaux said.
“She does. They would like to keep her on as a doctoral student,” I said.
Astrid flashed me an even more surprised look.
“And she’ll be doing it,” Alexandra added.
“What does that mean?” Ingrid asked.
“That Astrid will be a doctor,” I answered. “She will have a Ph.D.”
“Well, just as you will. We shall see ,” Astrid said, understated.
“That is my goal this spring,” I admitted. “And I will defend by March, but Astrid, don’t downplay how massive this is! She’s brilliant. That’s why they want to keep her.”
“And what will you do then? If you are graduating?” Celeste asked.
“I’m trying to sort that out,” I said. “Academic employment is much more complicated than applying for a job. And I have the estate to worry about. My mother would like me to return to Devon, of course.”
“And will you?” Celeste asked, waiting for me to say yes and break Astrid’s heart.
“No,” I answered. “I couldn’t.”
Astrid beamed, my answer pleasing her beyond measure. I’d won this battle but must follow through. It was one thing to tell Astrid this. It was another thing to stick to the plan. I needed to stay near Astrid.
We left the drawing room for dinner. I took Astrid’s hand.
“What was that, Parker?” Astrid asked.
“I’m sorry that’s how it came off, but I love you. And I wouldn’t let her suggest I was wishy-washy about you or using you. I do love you, Astrid. It just happened to drop out like that.”
She stopped, pulling me back to her. Grabbing me by my jacket lapels, she pulled me close and wrapped me up in a tight kiss. It wasn’t proper or polite, but it was honest. Sometimes, honesty was best. Not everything could be perfect or proper, but if we could stay honest, we’d be all right.