“You mean the hotel?”

Funny, how her every instinct urged her back to Brodie. She shook her head. The bunkhouse. She needed to see his reaction when she told him she was staying in town a little longer. He revealed so little, but if he were as excited as she, it would mean the world to her.

“Rosalina,” her mother said with urgency.

“If I come home right now, how many times over the next six weeks would I be in front of the people?”

“Well, the Jubilee, certainly.”

“Okay, so the rest of the time I’ll be unseen, in the background.” It won’t matter where I sleep at night.

“The rest of the time you’ll be attending meetings, choosing which causes you’ll support, launching your philanthropy.”

She understood, she really, truly did, and she hated to let her parents down. “I love you and Papa so much, and I’ll do just about anything for you and my country.” Anything except give up who I am.

Fear stomped on her nerves. Am I being too selfish? Or is taking the first step the only way to effect change? “Anything except marry Marcel.” She hated saying the words out loud but knew she had to. “So, we won’t be sending out invitations.”

“You’re telling me you’re ending the engagement and staying in America during the time when your family needs you the most?”

Rosalina wavered. How did she give her loyalty to her family but also stay true to herself? It seemed an impossible task to meet all her responsibilities—to her family, her people, and herself. “I respect the people of St. Christophe too much to pretend I’m marrying that cheating bastard just so we keep our seats in parliament. And I just don’t believe it’s the best solution to the problem. You keep saying we need to show strength and continuity.” Once she pushed aside the fear, the answer became clear. “So, really, the emphasis needs to be on the value of the royal family. Not on our ability to produce a male heir, but in what we do for our country. I won’t send out invitations, but I will come home in time for the Jubilee.” She’d probably be able to stomach standing by Marcel at that point.

“One sighting of the princess is hardly going to be enough.”

“The only other sightings they’d get is me in the backseat of the car, waving behind a tinted window or a paparazzi shot of me buying tampons. Besides, it’s more than just showing up in a fancy gown. I’m going to announce my philanthropy at the Jubilee.”

“You don’t have one. And, in order to create one, you need to live here, see what’s needed, in order to provide something meaningful.”