Sullivan couldn’t help it. His mouth hung open. ‘You have got to be joking.’
‘What?’ She smiled.
He held out his hand. ‘A hidden door, a secret passage? No way.’ He kept shaking his head but couldn’t stop smiling.
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘The palace is hundreds of years old. There are numerous plans. What you find depends on which set of plans you look at.’
‘This is like something from a movie.’ He stuck his head into the dark corridor and pulled it back out in wonder, squinting at the dimensions of the room they were in. The wooden panels were deceptive. He was still frowning as he walked back out into the corridor to check the overall size of the rooms.
‘Stop it,’ hissed Gabrielle, laughing and pulling him back inside. ‘You can think about all that later. Now we need to go.’
He was still shaking his head as she led him down the twisting and turning dark corridor. ‘Phwoff!’ he said, wiping the cobwebs from his face. ‘I take it no one else has gone down here in years.’
She couldn’t stop grinning. ‘Probably not. Andreas used to sneak his girlfriends in and out this way when we were teenagers.’
He squeezed her hand. ‘Just Andreas?’
She gave him a smart glance. ‘Can I pretend I’m an American and plead the fifth?’
He rolled his eyes as they turned a corner with a chink of light at the end. She pressed her hands up against the door and pushed. Nothing happened.
He put his hands next to hers. ‘You’d better tell me now, are we going to end up in that place in the kids’ story where they go through the back of the cupboard?’
She shook her head. ‘No. Just Mirinez. But who knows? It might already feel like Narnia to you.’
‘Narnia. That was it.’ He pushed hard alongside her and the door creaked open slowly.
Long grass and a tall hedge were impeding the doorway. Gabrielle flattened her back and slunk along behind the hedge out into the palace gardens, Sullivan followed suit and looked around, trying to get his bearings.
‘Where are we?’
‘Opposite side of the palace from your apartments.’
He looked back at the hedge. The door was completely hidden. He put his hands on his hips. ‘I honestly can’t believe there’s a door there. I also can’t believe you just didn’t tell Security you were going out without them.’
Gabrielle shook her head. ‘Where’s the fun in that?’ She waved her hand. ‘Anyway, do you really think Arun would let me get away with it?’
She skirted along the hedge until they reached a large security gate, which she opened with an old-fashioned brass key.
It opened out onto the road and they walked half a mile to the nearest tram stop. Gabrielle pulled her hat down. ‘Hope you’ve got plenty of money. I eat a lot of popcorn.’
He patted his pocket. ‘I think I can manage to keep you in popcorn.’
They settled into a seat on the tram. No one even looked at Gabrielle and Sullivan pulled his hood up. As the tram travelled through the city she pointed out different areas to Sullivan. ‘This is Felixstock. It’s one of the city suburbs. Houses are cheaper here and a lot of the locals stay in this area. There are a few community clinics as a lot of the residents of Mirinez don’t have their own health insurance. Some get health insurance through their employers.’
‘But the rest don’t?’
She shook her head. ‘No, it’s a bit of an issue. I’d really like to do some shifts in one of the community clinics.’
Sullivan gave her a smile. It seemed that he wasn’t going to have to persuade her to continue being a doctor after all. The seed was already planted and growing. ‘I think, once you get over the chaos period you’ll be able to balance things to your advantage.’
He could see her biting the inside of her cheek. She let out a long slow breath. ‘Here’s hoping. I can’t imagine reaching that point right now.’ Then she wrinkled her nose. ‘The chaos period?’
He nodded. ‘Sorting out the disaster your brother left behind.’
There was the oddest expression on her face and he knew instantly that there was still something she wasn’t telling him. Something coiled up low in his gut. He’d thought they were getting closer. Thought that she trusted him. But there were obviously some things she still didn’t want to share.
What did he know about running a country? There could probably be a million things that Gabrielle could never discuss with him. He shifted in the tram seat.
As the city passed by outside he sucked in a breath. Something was eating away at his brain. Thoughts of Oregon, going back home and his father. He’d ignored another call from Gibbs. A call that would doubtless have offered a chance for the next mission—another chance to avoid going home.
He pushed those thoughts away as Gabrielle tugged at his arm and jumped up. The cinema was at the end of the street. They walked hand in hand, past the restaurant they’d eaten in the other night, and joined the queue outside the cinema.
The doors opened and they filed in. Gabrielle tried to melt into the background as he bought the tickets and the popcorn and soda. The cinema was dark when they entered and the adverts were already playing. ‘Where do you want to sit?’ he whispered to Gabrielle.
She winked at him. ‘How about the back row?’
‘Your wish is my command.’ He gave a mock bow and led her up to the back row.
They settled in their seats. He slung his arm around her and she settled her head on his shoulder. Two minutes later she pulled her hat off. Her soft hair was just under his nose. The aroma of raspberries drifted up around him. As the film progressed Gabrielle tilted her head up to him. ‘What do you think?’
He leaned closer. ‘I think I need a distraction.’ She tasted of popcorn and lemonade as her lips parted easily against his and her hand slid up around his neck. Even fully clothed he could feel her curves against him, reminding him of their night together. He slid his hand under her top, her silky skin warm beneath the palm of his hand. He sensed her smile as they kissed. ‘You make me feel fifteen again,’ she whispered as his hand closed over her hardened nipple. Her kissing intensified, her hips tilting towards him and one hand running along the side of his jaw. Her other hand slid over the front of his jeans.
‘Is this how you behaved in the cinema at fifteen?’ he growled.
‘Always,’ she teased, before she pulled her lips from his and settled back to watch the film.
Sullivan glanced sideways at her and adjusted his position in his seat. ‘Now, that’s what I call a distraction,’ he said as he glanced at his watch. ‘This is going to be the longest ninety minutes of my life.’
‘Here, have some popcorn.’ She dumped it in his lap with a cheeky glance.
* * *
The next morning the papers seemed to have changed their mind about her delinquent doc.
There was a fuzzy picture of them locked in each other’s arms in the cinema. It seemed her disguise hadn’t gone unnoticed. Arun gave her a stern stare as he handed over the morning’s papers. ‘Don’t do that again.’ He narrowed his gaze and raised his eyebrows. ‘I wanted to see that movie.’ He strode off down the corridor.
She smiled as she settled down to check the press. Her staff knew she wasn’t particularly adept at translating languages so they’d translated all the headlines pertaining to Gabrielle and Sullivan.
This time they’d actually found out a little more about Sullivan. They named his father and his great service as an admiral in the US navy. They’d found a photo of Sullivan from a few years ago. She had no idea where it had been taken—but it could have been used for an action movie. He was in uniform with a desert background. His face was smeared with dust, but he was on the ground, attending to a patient. He was clearly focused on the job.
He was pointing to som
ething in the distance and shouting. The sleeves of his uniform were pushed high up on his arms, revealing his defined biceps. The intensity in his face seemed to emanate from every pore on his body. He hadn’t noticed the photographer—or he wasn’t bothering with them. He was totally in the moment.
The photo would stop just about every woman in their tracks. And if the photo didn’t, the words underneath might: Hero Doc.
The press had certainly changed their tune.
Beneath the article was the statement she’d released via the Palace press office yesterday.
Princess Gabrielle has arrived in Mirinez to take up the role of Head of State after the abdication of Prince Andreas. She is ready and willing to take up this position, serving the people of Mirinez to the best of her ability.
Princess Gabrielle makes no excuses for the fact that she is a doctor. Her experience served her well following the recent mine explosion, and she will continue to serve as a doctor, in a community setting, as well as carrying out her state duties.
Princess Gabrielle was accompanied on her return home by Dr Sullivan Darcy, a surgeon who has worked for Doctors Without Borders and served in the US military. His skills proved vital in dealing with the victims of burns from the mining explosion and Princess Gabrielle is grateful to have his expertise at this time.
Everything would be almost perfect if it wasn’t for the slightly grainy picture underneath of the two of them locked in each other’s arms. It made it look as if she were trying to keep him a secret. As if she was ashamed.
The hardest part of the statement had been the part about Sullivan. What should she call him? A friend? A boyfriend? A colleague?
In the end she’d taken the easiest way out and not called him anything. Just using the words that he’d ‘accompanied’ her.
She was so torn. Her heart was going one place and her head another.
She looked at the list of responsibilities that she still needed to tackle as Head of State. As time progressed it was gradually reducing. There were still a number of critical issues to be dealt with—not least the one about the missing money. There were also a number of duties she still had to fulfil.
Duties were always the things she’d hated most as a child. Being forced to dress up and behave at certain state events had never been her favourite way to spend time. But now her childhood days and teenage rebellion years had long since passed, she could look on them with adult eyes.
Tomorrow night there was a state banquet. It had been arranged when Andreas had still been head of state. With everything else that was going on, she hadn’t even given it a moment’s thought.
As she looked at the guest list now, she could see the names of dignitaries, members of other royal families and members of parliament. Several of the people on the guest list were also featured on her list of responsibilities as Head of State. Talking in person was always so much better than talking on the phone. There were a few essential conversations she could have that evening to mend bridges or smooth over troubled waters that her brother had created.
She licked her dry lips.
Maybe this was a good way to hint at something else. To the press. To the people of Mirinez. And to the members of staff in the palace. If she invited Sullivan to the event as her partner—officially—that would send a message.
Her heart fluttered in her chest. Was this the right thing to do?
She walked over to her closet and pulled open the doors, running her eyes over the clothes. It had been such a long time since she’d been to anything officially ‘royal’ that she really didn’t have much suitable. Franz had arranged for a few suits and work clothes to be available to her as soon as she’d arrived.
A banquet was something else entirely. And Gabrielle didn’t spend hours deciding what to wear. As long as it was suitable, covered everything it should, and felt good, she would be happy. She’d never been the type of girl that was a clothes horse. She picked up the phone. ‘Franz, I’ll need something to wear for the state banquet—can you arrange that? And can you let people know that Dr Darcy will be my guest and find something suitable for him too? Thanks.’
She put down the phone and gave a nervous smile.
Finally, she had something to look forward to.
* * *
The surgery had taken longer than expected. His back ached. It had been a long time since that had happened. In Helmand Provence he’d frequently been on his feet in surgery for sixteen hours at a time. But it was odd. The heat of the environment that normally caused so many other issues had seemed to relieve any muscular aches and pains.
He strode down the corridor towards his apartments. The surgery seemed to have been successful. He’d had to graft a large piece of skin onto the hand, ensuring there was enough elasticity to allow adequate movement and dexterity for the fingers. Hand surgery was one of the trickiest, particularly around burns. But he’d review how things looked in the morning to ensure the best outcome for his patient. Surgery was only the first step. This miner would have months of physical therapy ahead. It would be a long, hard road.
It was unusual. The palace seemed busier than normal. More staff. More cars in the courtyard. There was a buzz in the air.
He opened the door to his apartments and stopped. A few suits were hanging from the outside of the wardrobe, along with a variety of shirts and ties, a military dress uniform and a variety of shoes.
Was he going somewhere?
Mikel, the security guard, appeared at his shoulder. ‘Dr Darcy, I was looking for you.’
‘What’s up, Mikel? Why has my room turned into a department store?’
Mikel smiled. ‘There’s a state banquet tonight. It had already been arranged before you and Princess Gabrielle arrived—it will be the first that she’s officially hosted.’ Mikel pointed to the clothes. ‘Anyway, you are the Princess’s guest. Arun arranged for a few choices of clothes for you.’ He gestured towards the uniform. ‘He wasn’t sure what you would want to wear.’ He gave a cheeky grin. ‘And don’t worry. This time everything will fit perfectly.’
Mikel turned and headed for the door. ‘Banquet starts at seven. You’ll be expected at Princess Gabrielle’s apartments at six-thirty.’
He disappeared out the door and Sullivan sank into the armchair next to the window. He was exhausted. What he’d really like to do was lie on top of the bed and search TV channels for a baseball game—the one thing he actually did miss while away on all his missions.
There was a tray on the table next to him. With a pot of coffee and...he lifted the silver dome...his favourite sandwich, a Philly steak cheese. He shook his head as the smell drifted around him. The palace staff were completely obliging and had obviously read his mind. He poured the coffee and tore into the sandwich as he looked at the suits hanging outside the wardrobe. He didn’t even want to think about how much they had cost.
His eyes flicked to the dress uniform. He moved over and fingered the gold braid on the navy jacket. The cap was sitting on top of the nearby table. Would he be comfortable wearing his dress uniform? He had an honourable discharge from the US Army. If he had permission, he could still wear his dress uniform. The question was—did he want to?
While his time in the military had been an intense but enjoyable experience, just looking at the uniform reminded him of his father. He had numerous photographs of his father in his own dress uniform. As his father’s whole career had been in the military, his uniform had almost been like his second skin.
He dropped his hand and moved over to the nearest suit. The first touch of the fabric told him its quality. He pressed his lips together. He didn’t need to deal with the other stuff tonight.
It was eating away at him. Things only seemed to be intensifying as his relationship with Gabrielle blossomed. They were always there, always burning away at his soul—probably creating an ulcer in h
is stomach—always letting him know that he had unfinished business. The wall he had created around himself was starting to be eaten away by little chinks. Chinks he still didn’t know if he could accommodate. One of the black suits would be fine. He walked into the bathroom and flicked the handle on the shower.
What was a state banquet anyway?
* * *
She opened the door as soon as he knocked. ‘Wow, so that’s what you look like when you actually wear the jacket as well as the shirt and trousers.’
He smiled. ‘Hey.’ He looked down. ‘This is actually a different pair of trousers and a different shirt from the other night. I did contemplate the jeans from the cinema.’
She gave him a gentle shove. ‘Don’t go there.’ She stepped forward and pretended to straighten his tie. Anything to get up close and personal.
His hand went straight to her hip. She could feel the heat from his palm instantly through the fine satin of her dress. He rubbed his palm gently up and down the curve of her hip and waist.
‘If this is what we wear to state banquets then I’m all in.’
She gave a little groan. ‘Behave.’ She’d picked a demurely styled navy blue satin dress. The bodice was also covered in lace and scattered with sequins that showed the tanned skin on her shoulders and around the top of neckline hint through the lace. In her ears she had large diamond and sapphire earrings and her hair was pinned up.
‘How can I behave when you look like this?’ he whispered.
She was wearing heavier make-up than normal, a little glitter enhancing her dark eyes and a brighter red lipstick. She licked her lips as she glanced at him. ‘You’ll have to behave. Haven’t you heard? You’re my official date. One day a delinquent doc, the next day the hero doc.’ She stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, ‘Who knows what tomorrow will bring?’
The Doctor and the Princess Page 12