by Romancing the Crown Series (13-in-1 bundle) (v1. 0) (lit)
But instead of going through the hospital's doors, the woman stopped beside the low stone planter that jutted from the hospital wall and set her bundle on the flowers.
A gurgling wail came from the bundle.
The woman brushed off her palms. Her voice, dry and harsh, carried clearly on the breeze. "Go ahead and cry. Someone will hear you soon."
Kate scowled and jogged up the hill. "Excuse me, do you need some help?"
The woman snapped her head up and glanced over her shoulder. Instead of retrieving the baby, she took a step away.
Kate was close enough to see a tiny fist poke out of the bundle of blankets. It waved in the air, as if to punctuate its displeasure.
The woman's response to the infant's distress was to take another step away.
Kate's chest heaved, not only from the exertion of her run but from a growing sense of outrage. This woman acted as if she intended to leave the child where it was. "What are you doing?" Kate demanded. "You're not really planning on abandoning your baby there, are you?"
The woman glanced around, her gaze as furtive as her movements had been. In the bleak glare of the streetlights, her plain, pinched features and her mousy brown hair gave her the look of a rodent. "Keep out of this. It's none of your business."
"A child's welfare is everybody's business. If your baby is ill—"
"There's nothing wrong with the baby. He's fine. I just can't keep him anymore."
The resolution in the woman's tone deepened Kate's outrage. Nevertheless, she tried to reason with her again. "Ma'am, if you need help caring for your child, there are agencies that you can go to—"
"You know nothing about it. Get out of my way."
It took no more than a heartbeat for Kate to assess her options. As a U.S. naval officer and a foreigner in Montebello, she had no authority over this civilian. Yet turning away, continuing with her run, was out of the question. No matter how tired she was, no matter what flack she might take from her base commander for interfering, she had a clear duty that transcended the rule book and the need for sleep. Before the woman could take another step, Kate grasped her wrist. "Sorry, I can't let you leave."
"What do you think you're doing? Let go of me!" The woman yanked her wrist, a surprising amount of strength in her wiry frame, but she couldn't break Kate's hold. Muttering a curse, she aimed a kick at Kate's shin.
Kate neatly sidestepped the kick as her training took over. Without loosening her hold, she used the woman's momentum to spin her around, then twisted her arm behind her back. Exerting just enough pressure to hold her in place against the low stone wall without injuring her, Kate turned her head to look at the infant.
He had managed to kick off the blankets altogether and lay on his back with his feet and fists waving in the air. His cries had stopped, as if he preferred the cold embrace of the flowerbed to being held in his mother's arms. His face was flushed from crying, and tiny shudders rippled over his body, but his blue eyes were bright with interest as he gazed around him at the crushed flowers.
How could anyone discard their child like this? Babies were so precious, their lives so fragile, what kind of monster would abandon, with such indifference, the life she had carried? Didn't she fear the nightmares that would follow? Didn't she realize how the cries would haunt her?
"Let go," the woman repeated. "Ow! You're breaking my arm!"
Kate wrenched her attention to her duty. Turning toward the hospital doors, she raised her voice to the level she'd learned to employ on the deck of a battleship and called for help.
After ten seconds the hospital door swung open and an elderly white-clad nurse peeked out. Her eyes widened when she saw Kate and the struggling woman.
Belatedly, Kate realized how the situation must look. Dressed in her sweat-damp T-shirt and running shorts, her face bare of makeup and her hair a windblown mess, she probably appeared like some kind of female mugger who was overpowering this hapless, mousy woman. Before the nurse could jump to the wrong conclusion about which one of them was calling for help, Kate spoke up. "I'm Lieutenant Kate Mulvaney, U.S. Navy," she said. "I'm making a citizen's arrest. I need you to call the police and tend to—"
"No! No police." The woman renewed her struggle to escape Kate's hold. "I didn't do anything!"
The nurse ducked inside before Kate could tell her to see to the baby. Lying in the planter the way he was, he wouldn't have been visible from the door. Now that he'd stopped crying, no one would notice he was there unless they were looking. If Kate hadn't witnessed what had happened, how long would the child have gone undiscovered?
She thought of what might have happened to the helpless infant and had to restrain herself from giving the woman's arm an extra twist.
A security guard emerged from the hospital. He was a large man with a generous belly that stretched his light gray uniform to the limit of its buttons. "What's going on here?" he asked.
Kate identified herself once again and guided her prisoner toward him. "This woman was abandoning her baby."
"Baby? What baby?"
As soon as the guard took the woman's arm, Kate released her and turned to the planter. "This baby," she said. Leaning over, she carefully picked up the child. "I'll bring him into emergency. I think a doctor should have a look at him..."
Kate's words trailed off. Too many sensations were hitting her at once. The warmth of the infant, the way he felt, so light, so vulnerable in her arms, the powdery baby smell that rose from his dark hair, all of it slid right past her defenses and stirred up the old yearning—
She should have kept on running. And she would, as soon as she had done her duty. She would hand the child to a doctor and stay until police arrived so she could answer their questions, but after that, there would be no reason to hang around any longer. The situation was unfortunate but under control. Whatever the woman's story, it wasn't Kate's concern.
But oh, how sweetly the baby nestled to her breast.
Damn.
"I didn't do anything wrong." The woman's voice was shrill as the guard ushered her through the hospital entrance. Several nurses had gathered in the corridor, evidently drawn by the commotion. The woman dragged her heels, appealing to her audience. "That's not even my baby. I've been taking care of him since his mother died. I was bringing him to his father, I swear, but I couldn't get into the palace and—"
"Lady, I don't know what you're talking about," the guard said.
"Did she say palace?" someone asked.
"I shouldn't be treated like this," the woman persisted. "I should get a reward. That's no ordinary baby. He's the son of Lucas Sebastiani. Prince Lucas Sebastiani. That baby is the royal heir!"
* * *
Sam took the corner on two wheels and floored the accelerator. The jeep leaped up the hill and skidded to a stop outside the hospital. Word must have already leaked out, judging by the crowd that was gathered near the doors. The security guards and Montebellan police quickly cleared a path when they recognized Sam's passengers.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Coburn." The deep voice came from the rear seat. "I like a man who can follow orders."
Sam had only begun his assignment in Montebello a few hours ago, so he was still unaccustomed to dealing with royalty. He was never sure whether to salute or bow. The moment he hopped to the ground, he turned to offer his hand. "I apologize if the ride was rougher than you're accustomed to, Your Highness."
King Marcus smiled and shook his head. "Believe me, I've had worse. You got us here faster than any of my drivers would have." He got out with an agility that belied his sixty-odd years and reached for the petite blond woman who was swinging her legs toward him. "Gwen, are you all right?"
"Heavens, yes. It was rather exciting, don't you think?" Blue eyes twinkling, Queen Gwendolyn smoothed her husband's white hair and placed her hands on his shoulders. She permitted him to lift her to the ground, then tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. Despite their casual attire, the couple's bearing was unmistakably regal. "
Lucas?" the queen asked. "Aren't you coming?"
Sam turned to look at the third member of the royal family who had accompanied him on the wild midnight ride. Lucas Sebastiani, Prince Lucas to the people of Montebello, hadn't exhibited the same excitement as his parents over the news of his possible child. He had been silent during the journey from the palace to the hospital, but Sam didn't mistake his stillness for indifference.
He'd seen this reaction before, when something was so important, the consequences so huge, a person couldn't dare to hope it was true. What was going on behind those tightly controlled, aristocratic features?
How would it feel for a man to suddenly discover he was a father?
Like all navy SEALs, Sam was accustomed to thinking on his feet, to adapting quickly to changes whenever he was on a mission, but this assignment was rapidly taking more twists than the cobblestone streets he'd just navigated. He was supposed to be advising the Montebellan police in their search for the woman who had murdered the king's nephew, Desmond Caruso. It wasn't a typical assignment for a SEAL who was trained in counterterrorism, but King Marcus had wanted someone with an objective viewpoint, someone with a reputation for success.
With little more than an artist's sketch of the murderer to go on, the search would be challenging, to say the least. But Sam thrived on challenges. He had been in a strategy session with the king when the call from the hospital had come in.
An abandoned baby? A possible royal heir? The news was a shock to everyone. And from the information the hospital staff had relayed, the woman who had attempted to abandon the child apparently had proof of its parentage. Moreover, she had some connection with the murderer Sam was seeking. With the swift decisiveness that was typical of his leadership, the king had terminated the meeting. Rather than taking the time to form a convoy of palace staff and bodyguards, he'd commandeered Sam and Sam's military jeep to take the fastest route to the hospital.
"Son?" Marcus laid his hand on Lucas's shoulder.
Lucas got out of the jeep, his movements stiff. He nodded to Sam to lead the way.
The hospital lobby was bustling with activity, yet silence spread as people recognized the royal family. A portly man in a gray security guard's uniform hurried forward, his face flushed. "Your Highnesses," he said, bowing to each of the royals in turn. "This is such an honor."
"Where's the child?" Lucas asked. His voice was hoarse, as tightly controlled as his features.
"The baby? He's in the emergency ward." The guard gestured toward a corridor on their right. "The doctors are checking him."
"If any harm has come to that baby—" Lucas paused, his jaw clenching.
"No, no, he seemed fine." The guard looked at Sam, his gaze flicking over his dress blue uniform. "Another American Navy officer found him. She has been seeing to his safety since we learned who the baby is."
"Where's the woman who tried to abandon the baby?" Sam asked.
"She says her name is Gretchen Hanson. We're holding her in the security office in the north wing."
"Good work," King Marcus said. "Lieutenant Coburn and I will want to question Ms. Hanson before you turn her over to the police, but first things first." He patted Queen Gwendolyn's hand and gave his son an encouraging nod. "Let's take a look at this baby."
Apart from the thick stone walls, vaulted ceilings and arching doorways that marked its centuries-old architecture, the King Augustus Hospital was a modern medical facility. The lingering scent of aged stone was overpowered by the smell of disinfectant. Sounds that could have been heard in any hospital—the squeak of crepe soles on tile, the beeping of a monitor, the metallic rattle of a gurney—echoed in the background as Sam and his group headed for the emergency ward.
It was easy to determine which examining room the child was in by the crowd of hospital staff gathered outside the door. The hush that had marked the royals' arrival in the hospital spread through the ward. Sam realized it wasn't awe, it was respectful affection. The Montebellan people genuinely cared about their monarch, and they all wanted to be part of the drama that was unfolding. As one, the crowd moved from the door.
In a circle of light, a trio of doctors was bending over an examining table. Sam focused on the tiny form at the top. The baby was lying on its back, gurgling softly as it clutched the end of a stethoscope.
"Oh, my Lord." Queen Gwendolyn drew in a sharp breath. "Marcus, look."
The king stared at the baby. In silence, he slipped his arm around his wife's shoulders.
"Look at his hair, look at his eyes," Gwendolyn went on. "And that chin. Do you see it?"
"Yes, Gwen," he said softly, pulling her close to his side. "I see."
Sam studied the child for a minute, then moved his gaze to the prince. What the queen had meant was clear. Lucas and the child shared the same dark brown hair, the same blue eyes, even the identical stubborn chin. The resemblance was so strong, it was unmistakable. A DNA test would undoubtedly have to be performed, considering the importance of proving the royal heir's identity, but to anyone with eyes, the paternity was obvious.
Like a man in a trance, Lucas moved forward. If he noticed that the child on the table was a younger version of himself, he gave no indication. He was holding onto the tight control he'd been exhibiting since they left the palace. "Is he all right? Is he healthy?"
One of the doctors stepped aside, allowing Lucas to reach the table. "Yes, Your Highness. We've done a thorough examination, and the infant appears to be in good health. His heart is strong, his lungs are clear and his reflexes are normal, although he's somewhat underweight for a child of three months."
It was clear to Sam that Lucas was no longer listening. The prince leaned over the table, his entire body brittle with tension as he regarded the baby.
The child stopped gurgling and met Lucas's gaze with a disconcerting solemnity. Then suddenly the baby smiled.
Lucas closed his eyes and tipped back his head, inhaling unsteadily. He was silent for a moment, his shoulders shaking with emotions Sam couldn't begin to imagine. Finally, Lucas blinked and touched his fingertips to the baby's cheek. "Jess," he whispered. His eyes gleamed with tears. "You have Jessie's smile."
The doctor cleared his throat. "Apparently the child's name is Luke, Your Highness. We'd like to transfer him to pediatrics as soon as possible. We need to run some more tests and we'd like to get his weight up...."
"He has Jessie's smile," Lucas repeated, looking around as if the doctor hadn't spoken. An expression of wonder was dawning on his face. "Jessie's dimples. She always smiled like that. I thought I'd never see it again. I thought—" He clamped his jaw shut, his words choked off.
Sam didn't know all the details about the prince's story, but he did know the man was mourning the death of the woman he loved. And now Lucas saw his lover in his child.
Once more, Sam couldn't imagine the emotions Lucas must be going through. What was it like to love a woman that strongly? Love wasn't something Sam thought much about. With the demands of his career and the danger each mission entailed, he didn't have the opportunity or the inclination for serious relationships.
At least, that was the excuse he'd always given himself. Except for that one time five years ago...
Without warning, an image rose in his memory. Long auburn hair, green eyes, the sound of laughter, the feel of skin sliding over sun-warmed skin. The image was so vivid, he could swear he caught her scent.
Gardenias. Passionate and feminine.
And fleeting.
Sam rubbed his face, trying to concentrate on his duty.
"I want to thank you and the hospital staff for your diligence." King Marcus shook hands with each doctor. "My family and I are in your debt for your care of our newest member."
Evidently the king didn't need to wait for the test results to confirm what he saw, either. He had publicly recognized the baby as a Sebastiani. Queen Gwendolyn was at Lucas's side, her elegant features lit in a grandmotherly smile as she cooed over her grandson.
&nb
sp; "I'd also like to speak with the person who found him," the king said. "I understand she was a Navy officer?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
At the soft voice from the shadows in the corner of the room, Sam's mouth went dry. No, it wasn't possible. He had just been thinking of her, so he must be imagining her voice. How could she be here? Why now?
A woman moved into the pool of light, her jogging shoes padding quietly on the tile floor. A pair of running shorts bared her long legs. A black T-shirt molded her breasts, and a gold chain with a tiny charm circled her throat. Her auburn hair was a short-cropped mass of finger-combed tufts.
It hadn't been his imagination, Sam thought. Somehow, she really was here.
When had she cut her hair? When had she taken up jogging? Did she still cry over old movies? Did she ever think of him when she was alone at night and the sound of the waves were like sighs from the past?
Kate. His Kate. In the flesh, and close enough to smell.
And beautiful enough to make him want to forget the promise he'd made her five years ago.
Chapter 2
Kate couldn't meet Sam's gaze. Not yet. Not with this lump in her throat from the emotional scene she had just witnessed.
But oh, God, he was more handsome than ever. She'd studied him when he hadn't known she was in the room. There were sun streaks in his brown hair. There were new lines around his amber eyes. His cheeks were leaner, his shoulders broader. His entire bearing radiated the mature confidence of a man who knew what he wanted and had the strength to get it.
He had once wanted her.
That's over, Kate told herself. Don't think about the past. Concentrate on your duty.
Despite her lack of uniform, Kate drew herself to attention and snapped up her hand in a salute. "Lieutenant Kate Mulvaney, Your Highness."
As diplomatic as he was reputed to be, King Marcus ignored her dishevelled appearance and her lack of military attire as he returned her salute. "I gather you were jogging past and witnessed what happened?"