‘That is pretty much what I’m saying,’ said Kumari. ‘It’s not just me that it affects.’ She looked at her friend, lovely, kind Lucy. She hated the idea that her romance had the potential to harm Lucy too. ‘If the press works out who I am, it could make things difficult for you too.’
‘What? Everyone from work will buy me drinks to find out the gossip.’
‘No.’ Kumari explained what Ben and Anton had said about the press intrusion. ‘I don’t think you’ll be in any danger if I’m not here,’ she said.
‘But you won’t be here. I’ll be all alone!’ said Lucy.
‘It’s not that bad.’
‘And what do I do with your post and stuff . . . stuff like what that your friend Ruby dropped off for you?’
‘Wait, what stuff ?’
Lucy hauled herself off the sofa and found an envelope. ‘This. She’s popped round a couple of times in the past few weeks. Once because she was in the neighbourhood and wanted to talk to you about something. Once to drop this off.’
Inside the envelope were a couple of press clippings about the charity’s Change From Within fund, listing the Boost Her! proposal, and a tri-fold leaflet where Kumari’s vaccination programme was mentioned. ‘That was nice of her,’ said Kumari.
Lucy made a sceptical sound in her throat. ‘I think she just wanted to gossip about you and Benedict. She kept talking about how hard it was not to tell anyone and I was the only other person she could talk to about it. At one point I thought she was never going to leave.’
Kumari frowned. ‘I wonder how she knows about Ben. I didn’t tell her.’ She shrugged. ‘Since she set us up in the first place, it’s not surprising that she worked it out. I’m guessing we can rely on her to be discreet though.’
‘How come you didn’t tell her?’ asked Lucy. ‘I mean, like you say, she set you up.’
‘I don’t know. I didn’t really want to tell anyone. A secret isn’t a secret if you tell people.’
Lucy shook her head. ‘You Brits are crazy.’
Making Waves
Chapter 12
Pinnacle News
Scoop! Prince Benedict’s secret girlfriend identified!
A source close to the couple has revealed that the woman seen with Prince Benedict is Kumari Senavaka. You may know her as the woman who fell into the prince’s arms during a royal visit. The prince was so impressed by her exotic beauty that he asked her out. Our sources reveal that the couple have been dating for a few months now and that Prince Benedict has already introduced her to his sisters and his father.
Photo caption: Kumari Senavaka clasps Prince Benedict’s hand at a charity event. [Photo credit: Greg Frankish]
Photo caption: Prince Benedict leaves his private club with Kumari Senavaka.
What we know about Kumari Senavaka:
She’s a junior doctor at St Kildare’s Hospital. She spent a year as a medical volunteer in Lesotho, where she was involved in a vaccination programme run by Better For All.
She’s thirty years old and divorced from her first husband, a fellow medic.
Her parents are originally from Sri Lanka, but are now British citizens.
Senavaka was born in Yorkshire and lived there until she moved to Bristol, and then London for her medical studies.
She is an only child.
Kumari trudged up the steps out of the underground station, coffee in hand. It was her second long day shift in a row and she was starting to feel the tiredness in her bones. As she reached street level, her phone buzzed and pinged several times. Odd. She wasn’t normally this popular. She crossed the street in a crowd of pedestrians and pulled her phone out once she was on the other side. There were seven text messages and three voice messages.
The first was from Lucy saying: Have you seen the papers?
Kumari looked up. No. She hadn’t seen the papers. Perhaps she should pick up a copy from the newsagent kiosk. She wouldn’t get to read it until lunchtime. And if she went into the kiosk they were bound to have chocolate Hobnobs on special offer . . . which would be a terrible temptation when she was feeling tired.
She was still thinking about biscuits when she reached the main approach to the hospital. Her phone started to ring. Just as she answered it, she heard someone say, ‘There she is!’
Suddenly there were clicks and whirrs as people with cameras swarmed towards her. ‘What the—’
Someone thrust a camera in her face.
Kumari set her sights on the entrance to the hospital and pushed through. Behind her, an ambulance turned on its siren.
Inside the hospital, people kept staring at her. Rather than wait for the lift, she walked up the stairs and arrived at the ward hot and out of breath. Her phone rang again. She ducked into a corridor to answer it. ‘Ben?’
‘Thank goodness. Where are you? Are you OK?’
‘I’m at work. Ben, what’s happening? There was—’ She looked up as a nurse went past, eyeing her curiously.
‘There was a small mob outside the hospital waiting for me. Photographers and some reporters, I think.’
‘Already? I’m afraid this morning’s papers had a clear picture of us. They know who you are. I was hoping that the time of day would put them off.’
‘What?’ It was a quarter to five in the morning.
‘Never mind. The thing is, are you safe where you are?’
‘I’m going into A & E in a minute.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question.’
‘I know, but that’s the only answer I have. I’m working, Ben. I have patients to see. I don’t have time for this.’
‘What time does the shift finish?’
‘In twelve hours.’
‘I’ll send a car to get you after your shift. Is there a side entrance you can use?’
The concern in his voice made her bite back the sarcastic comment that immediately sprang to mind. ‘Yes. Gladwell Street. There’s a small courtyard with bins in it.’ It was where the smokers went. She’d been out there once to cry when she lost a patient. It was a place that was small enough and miserable enough to be empty in the middle of a busy day.
‘We’ll find it. I’ll see you later. Have a good day. Stay where you’re safe, OK? Don’t go outside.’
‘I will.’
She put her phone away and changed into her scrubs.
*
It wasn’t until late morning that the first comment came. She was assessing a man who had had a suspected heart attack. The nurse helping her had been called to another patient, so she was taking a blood sample herself. She talked to him gently, while she located a vein in his arm. His wife was sitting next to him on the bed.
‘Sharp scratch,’ Kumari said, as she pushed the needle into the vein. She watched as the blood flowed into the Vacutainer.
‘I suppose you’re not allowed to say “just a little prick” anymore?’ said the man.
Kumari smiled. ‘Not really, no.’
‘Pity. Used to make me laugh, that.’
‘OK.’ She withdrew the needle and pressed a cotton ball to the puncture mark. ‘Can you hold this please, firm pressure.’ She turned, double-checked the labels and bagged it to send to the lab. ‘We should have the results back within the hour. Are you feeling well enough to sit in the waiting room? It’ll be at least forty minutes before we call you, if you want to go and get a cup of tea.’
The man nodded. ‘I am feeling a lot better now.’
‘But we need to work out what happened. If it was a heart attack, we’ll have to get you seen to.’ She smiled and stood up to leave.
‘Um . . . Doctor?’ said the wife.
She turned, expecting a medical question.
‘You’re her, aren’t you?’ the woman said, her face going bright pink. ‘You’re the doctor who’s dating Prince Benedict.’
She didn’t know how to respond. ‘I . . . have to get this to the labs.’ She grabbed the blood sample and ran, leaving a nurse to usher the couple out of the
bay.
Kumari kept working, focusing on the cycle of briefing, examining and updating the computer file. She worked through one break and was told off by one of the senior nurses and shooed out of the room on the second one.
She went into the break room, where two nurses and another doctor were standing over a table, looking at something. Oh no.
Kumari got herself a glass of water and a cup of tea and sank into one of the plastic chairs. One of the nurses came up to her and pulled up a chair. ‘What’s he like?’
‘What?’ She really hoped they weren’t talking about Ben.
‘Prince Benedict. You’re a dark horse, aren’t you? All this time and none of us knew.’
Kumari rubbed her face. ‘It’s not exactly something you can go around talking about.’
‘I would!’ said the younger one.
‘Maybe that’s why you’re not going out with him,’ said the other. ‘No discretion. Kumari went out with him for months and not a peep. That’s how it’s done.’
‘Is he as dishy in real life as he looks on telly? Have you been to his place yet? Is it huge?’
‘Never mind his house. What else is huge?’
‘Guys,’ Kumari said weakly. ‘I’m knackered. Do you mind?’
‘Oh, come on!’
The doctor redid her ponytail, in the manner of someone going back into a fight and said, ‘I’ve got to go back in now.’ She pointed at Kumari. ‘You’re going to have to tell me all about this when I see you next.’
The two nurses had apparently just started their break. They looked at her expectantly.
She sighed. She wasn’t going to get out of this. ‘Yes, he is as handsome in real life as he is on telly. And he’s really nice. He’s . . .’ The phrase, ‘a little bit goofy’ drifted into her mind, but luckily she was not so tired as to say it out loud. Ben probably didn’t want to be the goofy one. ‘He’s kind and sweet.’
The younger nurse sighed. ‘Imagine that. Going out with a prince.’ She perked up. ‘Has he given you some fab presents?’
‘Not really.’ He had given her a couple of thoughtful gifts. A scarf, some audiobooks, things she’d actually use. Nothing frivolous. Unless you counted the insane holiday to Africa . . . that she couldn’t mention. ‘A few things, but nothing major.’
‘No jewellery? What’s the point of going out with a prince if there’s no jewellery?’
Kumari laughed. ‘You’re right. I feel cheated. I’ll have to work on that.’
The other women laughed too. ‘So, is it serious? Have you met his family?’ The younger one was clearly a huge fan.
‘I . . . I don’t think I can answer that yet,’ Kumari said carefully. ‘Sorry. I know you wanted more juicy gossip, but I can’t really tell you anything.’
‘What? Did you have to sign the Official Secrets Act or something?’
‘No, but . . .’ she said. ‘Discretion, you see.’
‘Aww.’
Kumari took a sip from her tea. She had a sandwich in her bag, but she was too tired to go and get it. She was really wishing she’d been able to buy that packet of Hobnobs now.
*
By the time she ended her shift, she felt like she’d been fielding questions about Ben for hours. Whenever she had two minutes between patients, someone would try to pump her for some gossip. She made her way down to the back of the hospital and, after checking that no one was following her, stepped out of the building. There was a car with darkened windows waiting in the small space. She took a step towards it.
What if it was a trap?
She hesitated, half scared, half amused by her paranoia. The front window of the car rolled down and Dave waved at her. She had never been so relieved to see anyone in her life. As she approached, the back door pushed open.
She hurled herself in and straight into Ben’s arms.
Dave shut the door behind her and the car pulled out. For a few minutes, Ben just held her. She said nothing and breathed in the woodland and summer smell of him.
‘You’re shaking,’ said Ben.
‘I’m just tired.’ Except it wasn’t that. It was the strain of being asked questions. It was knowing dozens of reporters were piled up outside the hospital, blocking the entrance to A & E, and all to get at her. It had suddenly brought home to her just how far she’d come from her normal life. Until now, being with Ben had been a lovely secret. A fairy tale. But now . . . people knew. She wasn’t going to be able to slide between his world and hers anymore. Shit had just got real. She wanted to curl up in his arms and hide, but, she reminded herself, she was made of sterner stuff than that.
She took a deep breath. ‘What now?’
‘Seat belt?’ said Ben.
‘Right.’ She strapped herself into the middle seat, so that she was as close to him as she could get.
‘We can’t use that exit again,’ said Dave. ‘We were spotted.’
Ben cursed under his breath.
‘Where to, sir?’
‘I’d like to go home, please,’ Kumari said.
‘You’d be safer at mine.’ Ben took her hand. ‘Are we being followed?’
The driver, someone Kumari hadn’t seen before, said, ‘Yes.’ He slowed to a stop at some traffic lights. ‘I can try and lose them.’
‘Yes, please.’ Ben turned his attention back to Kumari. ‘Kumari, please. If they figure out where you live, there won’t be any peace for you at home. Or for Lucy. Come back to mine. I’ll send someone over to check on Lucy and pick up anything you need.’
She wanted to argue. That flat was her home. Lucy was her friend. If the paparazzi were invading there too, she needed to know that Lucy was OK, but what Ben said was true. If she went home now, she was sure to give away where she lived. Whereas Ben’s apartment – well, they knew he lived there. As much as she hated the idea, it was a practical suggestion. And she was always practical.
She nodded. Inside, a little bit of her died.
‘Thank you,’ said Ben. ‘My place, please, Dave and Joe.’
Chapter 13
Cause Celeb Magazine
Is that the sound of a million hearts breaking?
Prince Benedict has long been the nation’s most eligible, and most determinedly difficult to catch, bachelor. His poster has adorned many a teenager’s wall. But it seems that Prince Benedict has finally fallen in love. This rumour was prompted by a photograph of the prince solicitously helping an unknown woman into his car. His expression, as he holds the door for her, is nothing short of adoring. Just look at it. What girl wouldn’t want a man to look at her like that!
The mystery of the identity of the woman had whipped social media into a frenzy. Now, finally we have an answer. Dr Kumari Senavaka – junior doctor and humanitarian. She was at the Golden Globe Awards last year, raising awareness for better healthcare for girls in the developing world. Dr Senavaka is thought to have met the prince at a pitch event where she caught the public’s imagination by being so taken with him that she fell into his arms. Clearly, the prince felt the same way.
Prince Benedict’s former girlfriends have included high society ‘It girls’, a popular Swedish actress and several women of aristocratic descent. Kumari Senavaka is a clear departure from the glamorous women the party-loving prince usually dates. At the same time, he seems to have taken on more royal duties and we haven’t seen photos of him leaving nightclubs in some months. Perhaps this new girlfriend signals a more serious and mature phase for the prince.
Kumari was still lying in bed, half asleep, when the phone rang. She didn’t recognise the number so she sat up in an attempt to sound more awake when she answered it.
‘Dr Kumari Senavaka, please?’
‘Speaking.’
The voice was male and familiar. Someone from the hospital, not one of her colleagues.
‘This is Francis McGregor, Deputy Director of St Kildare’s Hospital.’
Ah. Yeah. That was who it was. She had met him a couple of times.
‘I’m phoning about what happened yesterday.’
‘I’m so sorry about that. There was nothing I could do about it though. I—’
‘It’s happened again today. We have had to call the police in to escort some press people off the premises. This is a hospital, Dr Senavaka, not a resort.’
‘I know that. I didn’t ask for any of this.’
There was a pause at the other end of the line. When he spoke again, his tone was slightly softer. ‘This is a difficult time,’ he said carefully. ‘We think it may be best if you stay off work for a few days, until the furore has died down. We’ve reallocated your shifts for the next two weeks—’
‘Hang on, am I being disciplined? But I haven’t done anything wrong. I turned up to work. I did my job. You can’t—’ Her throat closed up.
‘I have to,’ McGregor said. ‘I have to put the needs of the hospital first. I’m sorry. There has been no criticism of your work, Dr Senavaka, but we can’t let the situation continue. Ambulances and patients can’t get to the hospital easily and the triage nurses have reported a large increase in spurious visits to A & E. We can schedule a time next week to discuss your return. Consider it . . . compassionate leave.’
‘But you’re short-staffed. You need me at work.’
‘This is true, but we also need to be able to function properly to begin with.’ He paused and cleared his throat. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, this is not a threat or anything of the sort, but if in due course you decide to hand in your resignation, we would consider letting you off your notice period.’
‘What—No. You can’t do that.’
‘As I said, it’s just a suggestion. Not a threat to your employment or anything like that. It’s just that given your . . . circumstances, if you decide you no longer want to work . . .’
White-hot fury made it difficult to breathe, let alone speak.
‘I’m sorry,’ McGregor said. ‘Someone will contact you next week to discuss your return. If I don’t speak to you again, best of luck with . . . everything.’
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