âERIC? Will you forgive me for calling you this late?â
âMaren?â
Thirty-year-old Eric Thorvaldsen, fifth in line to the Frijian crown, a fact that pleased him no end because he was almost a hundred percent certain heâd never have to rule, jackknifed into a sitting position on the bed. The black Lab Thor lying at his feet lifted his head before putting it down again.
A quick glance at his watch told him it was four in the morning. âHave you made me an uncle?â This would be his sisterâs first child.
âNot quite yet, brother dear. I had contractions and Stein took me to the hospital, but they finally stopped. Our babyâs going to be born prematurely no matter what. But the doctor is hoping I can last one more week, so he has ordered me to bed.â
âFour more days and itâs Christmas!â
âWouldnât it be something if my little baby were to have a birthday on the most wonderful day of the year?â
If that were the case, Eric already felt sorry for the baby who would be his nephew. Heâd be cheated out of his own special birthday, one he shouldnât have to share with a holiday, but Eric kept that thought to himself.
âItâll be wonderful anytime.â
âI know. I canât wait. Anyway, because Iâve been put on bed rest, I have a favor to ask of you. Please donât say no before you hear what it is. This is really important!â
Everything was important to his compassionate sister who championed a dozen causes in the name of the homeless, the sick and aged, orphans, abused animalsâ¦. The list went on and on.
âI would have asked Knute or mom, but heâs out of the country attending that economic meeting in Hamburg and wonât be back for a few more days. Mother went with him to do some shopping. That leaves you.â
Since their fatherâs death from a fatal heart attack last year, their older brother Knute was now king. By Maren mentioning his name, it meant this favor had something official about it. âOfficialâ was a word Eric shied away fromâwhenever it was possible.
âEric? I can tell youâre cringing.â
He chuckled. âAm I that bad?â
âYouâre worse! Seriously, this is so important Iâll have to risk the baby coming early and take care of it myself if you canât.â
He blinked. âWellâyouâve put me in a position where I can hardly refuse now, can I,â he drawled.
âI love you.â
âI love you too.â
They were like twins, only a year apart with her being the elder. They were their parentsâ second family.
Knute was seven years older. Thank heaven he didnât know any better than to do his duty. With two sons who were being raised to succeed him if anything happened, followed by Maren and her soon-to-be-born-son whoâd be third and fourth in line to the throne, Eric had been left free to pursue his work as an oceanographer.
âDo I have to come to the palace?â Thorsvik was only a half hour away from where he lived.
âNo. You can stay right there in Brobak.â
âThatâs a plus.â
When he wasnât working in the city or attending oceanographic seminars around the world, he preferred to spend what little free time he had at his home in the little village south of the capitol. On a steep slope far away from other people, he could look down on the Oslo fjord and feel rejuvenated.
âIâll ask someone from the palace to bring your ceremonial suit to you in the morning.â
Ericâs brows met in a frown. He hadnât had to look official since a family photograph had been taken at the time Knute became king.
âThis is something I have to do tomorrow?â
âYes, but let me explain. A year ago the Chocolate Barn in the market square decided to expand their Christmas exports to include a hot chocolate mix.
âInstead of putting the traditional gnome on the packaging, they ran a contest to find the right little Frijian girl to display on the labeling around the can. Theyâre hoping sheâll become a recognizable icon throughout the world.
âA child in America, of Frijian descent won the contest. Her prize was a trip to Frijia before the Holidays with her family andââ