At the banquet, Eddie proudly introduced me to everyone as his fiancee. It was an exhausting afternoon of acting like everything was fine between me and Eddie and acting very happy. In reality, I just wanted to go back to my room, hide under the covers, watch TV and cry. I felt this incredible pressure to charm everyone there.
After the luncheon, Eddie and I went off to a separated room in the hotel, away from the rest of the guests.
"I'm exhausted," I commented as I sat down on a chair in the room. It was so nice to get away from the commotion for a few minutes.
"It's been a long day," Eddie commented, sitting at a chair next to me. I think we were in the hotel conference room.
"Yeah, and I didn't sleep last night either," I said. "Not even for a minute..."
"Why didn't you sleep well last night?" Eddie asked me.
"Because I was upset...after our fight," I said solemnly, looking into Eddie's blue eyes
"I was too..." Eddie said looking at the table.
"Christian said you had another breakfast meeting this morning..." I began. I wanted to address it with him since he didn't mention it to me, but I didn't want to start another fight.
"Yes, it was very last minute. I just got a phone call about it when I woke up. We had a big group meeting about the opening procedures today," Eddie explained.
"I was looking for you this morning. You couldn't have texted me about it?" I asked calmly.
"Yes, I could have...I should have...I'm sorry about that, Paige."
"We need to work on our communication skills," I said. "It meant a lot to me what you told the reporters this morning," I said, changing the topic.
"I mean every single word of it. You are my life, Paige Morgan," he said taking my hand and squeezing it. "I'm sorry that I haven't been good at communicating lately, and I'm sorry that we haven't spent a lot of time together. I promise that we will in the future," he said taking my hand.
Tears welled up in my eyes as he said those words.
"What's wrong, Paige?" he asked concerned.
"I just...I've just felt so disconnected from you lately. It's been killing me because I love you so much. I try so hard to act like a royal and to please Parliament, please your parents, please Denmark, please Christian and Desiree and even please you. It's taken such an emotional toll on me...all of this. I just feel that I am letting everyone down. And I felt like when I needed you the most, you weren't there for me. This past week as has been a awful. I've had paparazzi following me at school, made a fool of myself on national television, my facial expression has become a national meme and I have the press watching my every move. And I've had the pressure from school as well. It's been hard," I said wiping the tears away from my eyes.
"I love you, Paige. And I'm so sorry that I haven't been there for you this week. I promise that we will make time for each other each night. Even if I just watch you study," Eddie said and I laughed. "Don't worry about what other people say. To me, you are perfect.
"Come here," he said, pulling me into for an embrace.
"I've missed you and your smell," I said snuggling my face into his chest.
"My smell?" Eddie asked.
"Your cologne. You always smell good," I said chuckling.
Eddie put his cheek on top of my hair and squeezed me.
"And I have always loved the smell of your shampoo. Don't ever change it," he said and I laughed again.
We looked up at each other and kissed each other deeply for the first time in over a week. It was a real kiss and not just a simple peck when we would run into each other.
Eddie began to kiss me harder, crushing my lips against his and pulling me in, crushing his body against mine. His kisses were slow, deep and full of passion and love. I put my arms around him and began to run my fingers through his hair. Eddie moved his lips to my earlobe and slow down my neck, planting passionate kisses.
I moaned quietly, leaned my head back and pulled his head closer to my neck.
Eddie moved back up to my lips and began to kiss me forcefully and passionately. My heart was racing, and Eddie's touch of his hands on my back were sending shivers down my spine.
Suddenly, there was a gentle knock at the door, interrupting us and causing Eddie and I jumped a part.
"Yes, come in," Eddie said as we put some space between us.
"Your Highness," Soren said bowing slightly. Desiree was with him, which caused him to be formal with us. "The banquet it wrapping up so I'd recommend coming back out to mingle," Soren said.
"Yes, of course. Thank you, Soren," Eddie replied, and Soren closed the door behind us.
"I guess we need to go back out," I said getting up.
"Just one more kiss," Eddie said standing up and pulling me into his chest, kissing me forcefully and passionately.
Eddie smiled at me as we broke a part.
"Let's go say good-bye to the guests," Eddie said taking my hand as we opened the door, went out into the hallway, and back to the reception.
There, a member of Parliament came up to Eddie and asked to speak to him privately, leaving me alone with several Dukes, Duchesses, and other very rich people. Back in Wisconsin, I would have never associated myself with these people. As an American and as a commoner, I felt so out of place. I looked for a familiar face, but only found Rosalind and Haarold. I wasn't sure if they would want me to join their conversation. I assumed Haarold would be okay with it, but I wasn't sure about Rosalind.
"Miss Paige Morgan," I heard a voice behind me say. I turned around and saw a male member of Parliament behind me.
"Hello Mr..." I said, trailing off since I didn't know the name.
"Frandsen," he finished for me.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I said nodding at him.
"May I have a moment with you?" He asked me.
"Certainty," I told him.
He lowered his voice and moved slightly to the side and I followed his lead.
"Miss Morgan, I understand that King Edvard is discussing abdicating the throne to be with you," he stated factually. "I wanted to advice you that this isn't the wisest decision on his part," he told me. "The only life King Edvard knows is this one...his royal life. Have you given any thought to what life would be like for him after he gives up everything for you?" He asked me.
"I believe that what King Edvard and I discuss privately should remain private," I said.
"Since you are associated with the royal family, nothing you ever say or do will ever remain private," he told me. "The Danes take their royal family very seriously. It has been the way things are done here. King Edvard renouncing the throne to marry a commoner would not only upset the royal family, it would also upset several Danes. They are proud of who they are and their culture. You wouldn't want that on your hands, would you?" he asked me.
"If you are trying to talk King Edvard out of abdicating the throne, I believe you are talking to the wrong person," I replied calmly.
"Yes, but King Edvard will listen to you before he will listen to anyone else," Mr. Frandsen said.
"I don't quite understand what you want me to do or say," I began to say.
He sighed heavily. "Miss Morgan, with all due respect, you need to take into consideration that you messing with the Danish monarchy that has been established for more than 1000 years. King Edvard leaving the throne to marry a commoner would cause chaos amongst the monarchy and the Danish people. The Danes love their royal family. It was cause an unbalance in the Danish government. The Danish king stills plays an important role in the Danish government. Are you prepared to be responsible for all those negative effects?"
"Again, if King Edvard decides to abdicate the thone, I believe that is out of my control," I repeated.
"If you left him, then he would not leave the throne," Mr. Frandsen told me.
I look up surprised at his frankness.
"If you are so considered about the possibility of King Edvard abdicating the throne, perhaps you should speak to your fellow members of Parliament about giving us permission to marry," I said firmly
"I didn't want to say this, but people are concerned about your past and your past history with drugs and alcohol..." he said quietly but I knew it was a way to throw one more thing my way.
I opened my mouth and then I closed it. I needed to choose my words carefully.
"The issue is that people, especially the members of Parliament, have not wanted to take the time to know me...the REAL me. The only have found the time to read the lies printed in the tabloids. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are other guests I need to attend to," I said walking away with my head high.
The nerve of him! How dare he come and tell me not to marry Eddie! I couldn't wait till we left the country. I was tired of always being under scrutiny of the public eye. I loved Eddie with my entire heart and soul but the truth was part of me wondered if he was right...if everyone was right. If Eddie and I married, we would be setting ourselves up for a lifetime of unhappiness due to his position as the King of Denmark.
