‘My mother was talking to a friend of hers who was at the gala we went to at the weekend. She said that I hardly looked at you all evening.’
Nell grinned. ‘Perhaps we’d had an argument.’
‘Perhaps. Maybe I was just looking the other way, trying not to imagine what you were wearing under that dress.’
‘Oh. So you can do that, can you? Look the other way and get your imagination under control.’
‘No, not really.’ He took a step towards her, laying his hand on her waist. ‘What are you wearing under this dress?’
‘What if I said long johns?’
He laughed, taking the near-empty glass from her hand and putting it on the kitchen counter. Nell backed away from him and he followed, closing in on her.
‘Long johns would be fine. Just as long as you’re in them.’ He wound his arms around her waist, pulling her against him, his body suddenly taut.
‘Ah. What about something in stout cotton? Plenty of buttons and safety pins.’
‘Wonderful. They’d take a bit more concentration to get off. I might just faint from anticipation while I do it, and then you can revive me.’
Nell laughed. Hugo loved the act of undressing her. Made an art of it, as if he were slowly unwrapping something precious. She loved it, too. It was one of the ways he made her feel special.
‘I’ve been wanting you all day...’ Every time she touched Hugo, she wanted him. That was probably why she studiously avoided touching him in public.
‘I’m glad to hear that. You want me now?’ His hand slipped beneath her jacket, moving towards her breast. Nell began to tremble and she felt his lips curve into a smile against hers. ‘You do want me. I can feel it.’
‘Come and find out how much...’
* * *
Nell couldn’t remember being any happier than she was now. Hugo was becoming stronger and the scar on his chest was fading. It felt as if maybe the scars in Nell’s heart might be finally fading, too.
They reached their fundraising target, and celebrated it with champagne in bed. All that mattered in these early days of their heady romance was that every moment spent alone was spent in each other’s arms.
They sat on the patio, eating breakfast, and Nell tore open the thick envelope, drawing out the heavily embossed paper. Hugo was watching quietly. He knew it must be a letter from the legal team he’d persuaded Nell to use in her complaint against Martin.
‘What do they say?’ He gave her time to read, hope kindling in his eyes when he saw her smile.
‘Four other women have come forward and said that Martin made persistent and unwelcome advances towards them. Apparently one of them had the presence of mind to record him on her mobile phone.’ She grinned at him. ‘He used exactly the same phrases as I wrote in my complaint.’
Hugo chuckled. ‘Open and shut case, then.’
‘I think so. The hospital have suspended him, and there may be criminal charges in connection with one of the complaints.’ She slid the letter across the table so that Hugo could read it all. ‘Thank you.’
He shook his head, laughing. ‘You did it all. I just...watched and admired.’
‘Well, thank you for watching and admiring. You do it so well.’
They finished breakfast and drove to the hospital. Hugo had a planning meeting to attend, and Nell had decided to spend the time in the ward, helping the children’s play specialist.
‘It’ll be great when we have more space.’ The young red-headed woman grinned at Nell.
‘Did Dr Bertrand tell you? We have the money now, and the work can go ahead again. There should be some progress during the next few weeks.’
‘Yes, he did. We’ll be able to watch it go up. I’ll take pictures for you every day, so you can see what’s happening.’
It was a nice thought, but Nell wondered why Louise thought she wouldn’t be able to take pictures for herself. ‘Thanks. I won’t be here every day, so it would be good to have those.’
‘You won’t be here at all, will you? What about the celebrations?’
‘I forgot about those,’ she hedged. Maybe this was something that Hugo hadn’t told her about?
‘Well, once you’ve been, you won’t forget them for next year. Montarino’s royal anniversary fortnight is a bit special, there’s always lots to do. I expect you’ll be really busy.’ Louise’s voice rang with anticipation.
‘Mmm. Well, yes. It would be great if you could take some photos. While I’m busy.’ Nell turned her attention to the little boy who had just been wheeled into the playroom by one of the nurses, gathering up some bricks and putting them on the table in front of him.
* * *
‘Montarino’s royal anniversary fortnight.’ Nell couldn’t help keeping the sharpness from her voice. Over the course of the day, she’d made discreet enquiries about it, as well as looking it up on the Internet. Apparently the whole royal family took part, and there were concerts, exhibitions and other events over a full two weeks. Why hadn’t Hugo told her about it?
A small voice at the back of her head told her why. But Nell was trying to ignore it.
‘Ah. Yes.’ Hugo put his car keys down on the table. ‘I was going to mention that.’
His tone had a guilty ring to it. The small voice got louder.
‘Okay. It’s just that one of the play therapists at the hospital mentioned it. She says it’s really good fun.’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘And that the whole royal family takes part?’
‘Yes, we do. It’s a tradition dating back hundreds of years. It’s said there used to be a banquet that lasted two weeks, but we’ve skipped that bit now.’
‘And it’s in two weeks’ time.’ Nell was getting a very bad feeling now.
‘Yes.’ He paused, frowning. ‘Nell, I think... Maybe we should give it a miss.’
‘That’s entirely up to you, Hugo. But shouldn’t you be with your family?’ Hugo seemed to be getting on so much better with his father these days. They still occasionally had their ups and downs, but Nell had encouraged Hugo to voice his affection and respect for his father. No doubt under similar pressure from his mother, Hugo’s father had begun to voice similar feelings about his son.
‘Well... I’ll have to go to some of the events. Now that I’m back to full health, I should start taking on some of my royal duties again. I may have to stay at the palace for...a few nights. Maybe more.’
This wasn’t like Hugo. He was usually so decisive. Nell knew for sure now that something was up. ‘Hugo, just say it. What’s going on? Don’t you want me to go with you? You know I’ll support you, in whatever you want to do.’
He sat down at the kitchen table, tracing his fingers across its surface. Then he seemed to come to a decision. ‘I don’t want you there.’
‘Okay. Fine.’ Nell swallowed the feeling that suddenly the world was turning in the wrong direction. It was making her feel a little sick.
‘It’s not that I don’t want you with me. I just...’ He shrugged, letting out a sigh. ‘I don’t want you involved with my official duties. These two weeks are always really busy and... I promised you that you’d never be just the woman on my arm. That you’d always have your own career.’
Nell didn’t remember him promising her that. Maybe he’d just promised it to himself. ‘I can see why you’d say that. But I don’t mind. If you want me to be there, I’ll happily support you. That’s what we do for each other, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, it is. And my way of supporting you is to draw that line and stick to it. You...you’ve only been to one official function and that seemed...stressful for you.’
‘Yes, it was stressful. You got hit with a stun gun.’
Hugo shrugged. ‘I meant the bit before that. The dress and everything...’
‘It was my first time, of course I was a bit
stressed.’ Nell frowned. ‘This isn’t about me, is it?’
‘It’s all about you, Nell. It’s about my not taking you for granted, and giving you the room to have your own career.’
‘It’s about Anna.’ His real fiancée. Nell felt a sudden stab of jealousy, knowing that the ring she wore was the symbol of an agreement, not of love.
‘Anna’s in my past. We’ve been finished, in every way, for a long time.’
‘Yes, but what happened isn’t finished. You can’t let go of the idea that Montarino is your duty, and that you can’t escape it. Or that your duty is incompatible with having a partner who has a career.’
‘No, I can’t. Because that’s the truth of it, Nell. Believe me, I’ve tried and it doesn’t work.’ His voice was suddenly cold. Nell knew that she was pushing Hugo too far, into places that she’d resolved never to go with him. But if that could break them apart then maybe it should. Because it was an issue that they could only avoid for so long.
When had she started thinking about the long-term? Their engagement was one of convenience, and they’d agreed that three to six months would be enough. They’d decided to part after that.
But that was before they’d slept together. They’d promised that it would change nothing, yet it had changed everything. And suddenly Nell saw that while Hugo was kind and honourable, and Martin was neither, she would still always have to play the mistress with Hugo. His first loves were his work and his country, and he would never truly believe that there was room for her in that situation.
Nell deserved more than this. At the very minimum, she deserved his honesty. Hugo had almost deceived himself into thinking that it could work between them, but in truth he’d been careful to show her only one side of his life. Just as their engagement had sheltered her from the press, he had sheltered her from the realities of sharing her life with a prince.
Much as he wanted to, he couldn’t do this to her. He couldn’t take away her independence, and her career, and watch her fade and wilt in the bright light of his responsibilities.
‘Nell, we agreed.’ He didn’t want to say it, but he had to.
‘Yes, we agreed. A three-month engagement and then we go our separate ways.’ As usual, she was ahead of him. The connection between them, which up till now had been a conduit for love, seemed now to be pushing them inexorably towards a parting.
‘I’m fit and well now. And you’re safe from the lies.’ Was that really all there was to their relationship? A convenience? It had started out that way, and it seemed that it was going to end that way.
‘So you’ll go back to your life, and I’ll go back to mine.’
‘I think that’s best for both of us.’
She turned away from him suddenly. As if she didn’t want to even look at him any more. ‘Fine. We’ll do that, then.’
‘Nell...’ He hadn’t wanted things to end like this. Maybe he should have thought about that when he’d first reached out to touch her. ‘Nell, you can stay here for as long as you want. I’ll go to my apartment at the palace...’
She faced him, her cheeks flushed red. Even now, if she had cried, Hugo could never have let her go, but she didn’t. ‘I’m not your employee, Hugo. You don’t have to give me a notice period, I can leave whenever I like.’
Anger started to mount in his chest. If that was the way she wanted it. ‘Fine. I’m going to the palace anyway.’ He picked up his car keys and walked back outside to the car. Starting the engine, he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
HUGO BROODED ON the matter for two weeks. Then he got on a plane and flew to London.
Nell’s flat was in a nice road, with trees on each side of it. As he got out of the taxi, he noticed that her front gate needed mending, and that the brass on the front door had been recently polished. It felt as if everything had suddenly shot into sharp focus.
A young woman answered the door and stared at him blankly.
‘I’m looking for Nell. Nell Maitland.’
‘Oh. She’s not here any more. Sorry.’ The woman made to shut the front door and Hugo wondered if he should put his foot against the frame. Probably not, it might scare her.
‘Please...’ The door opened again, and Hugo breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Do you know of any way that I might contact her?’
‘No, I’m sorry. We’ve been here for three months and we’ve just signed another lease. The agent said that she was going abroad again.’
‘I don’t suppose you know where?’
‘No. She didn’t go back to...’ The woman clicked her fingers, trying to recall the name.
‘Montarino.’
‘That’s right. The agent did say that she wasn’t going back there.’
Okay. That was Montarino ticked off the list. It was a start. All Hugo had to contend with now was the rest of the world.
‘Would you be able to give me the name of the agent, please? I’m trying to get in contact with her.’
The woman looked him up and down, seeming to come to the conclusion that it would be okay. ‘It’s Green’s in the High Street. You know it?’
‘No, I’m sorry, I don’t. Which way is that?’
‘End of the road, turn left. Walk down to the very end of that road and then turn right along the High Street. You can’t miss it.’ The woman shrugged. ‘There’s a big green sign.’
‘Thank you.’ Hugo smiled. It seemed as if this was going to be a long journey, but this was at least the first step.
The woman smiled suddenly. ‘Good luck.’
‘Thank you.’ He was going to need it. He had to fly back to Montarino tonight, but he had time enough to speak to the estate agent and if Nell was still in London, he might be able to see her today.
* * *
This was Nell’s third job in a few weeks. Maybe this one would be a keeper.
She’d told her employment agency that she’d take any job anywhere, as long as it wasn’t in London and they would guarantee absolute discretion as regards her whereabouts. They’d taken her at her word. The first job had been a week or so as a supply doctor on nights in a busy Huddersfield A & E department. The second had taken her to Manchester for a few days, and the third had brought her to Northern Germany, where she was helping an overworked and understaffed clinic that had been set up to cater for refugees.
It might be classed as overkill, but you didn’t just walk away from Hugo. He had contacts everywhere. If he missed her one quarter as much as she missed him, he might try to get in contact. And if he did, she couldn’t trust herself not to respond.
It was better not to give him that chance. Not face the dilemma of his having tried to find her, and not to feel the heartbreak if he hadn’t. This way she could draw a line under their affair and find a way to start again. Let him start again, and have the life he deserved.
The clinic was hard work. Nell’s German wasn’t up to scratch yet, but it was improving every day, and her French and English were both useful. The families under her care tore at her heart, but it was work that was important. The director of the clinic had already asked whether she was available for another month, and she hoped that might be extended even further.
It was late, almost nine o’clock, when she finally packed up her things and grabbed her coat. Tomorrow was her one day off per week, and she might just spend that sleeping and eating, since she hadn’t had a great deal of time for either in the last couple of days.
‘I’ll see you on Thursday.’ She smiled at the receptionist, who nodded back. Pulling her coat around her against the first chill of winter, she walked outside, nodding to the security guard at the gate and making for her car, which was parked some way down the road.
He was under a lamppost, next to her car. Huddled in a thick jacket, pacing back and forth to keep warm. Hugo must have been waiting a while. Nell had one
moment to escape, but then he saw her. She saw his face in the light of the lamp, and there was no running away now. He waited, suddenly still, as she walked towards him.
‘Hugo.’
‘Nell.’ His voice was thick with emotion. It carried with it the long weeks of running and the inevitable search he must have made to find her. And suddenly that was all nothing. She wanted to fall into his arms and kiss him.
‘It’s cold.’ There wasn’t any point in asking him what he was doing here, that was obvious. And Hugo was shivering.
‘Yes. They wouldn’t let me into the clinic.’
‘Security’s pretty tight there. How long have you been waiting?’
‘A couple of hours.’
Nell unlocked her car and opened the passenger door. ‘Come and sit in the car.’ If she switched the engine on, the heater might warm him a little.
‘Would you mind coming to mine? I’m parked just around the corner.’ He gave a hesitant smile. ‘Heated seats.’
He’d found her. He’d come for her and had stood in the cold for hours, waiting for her. And despite everything, that unspoken connection between them was still as strong as it had ever been. This was like walking on the edge of a precipice in the darkness, but Nell couldn’t stop herself. She took his arm, and Hugo started to walk.
‘What’s the clinic like?’
‘It’s tough. There are a lot of kids who are sick and have been through a lot. Adults, too. Any progress is hard won, but it’s rewarding work.’
‘Do you think you’ll stay?’
If what he meant was would she forget about all this and come back with him to Montarino, the answer was no. Not to see their relationship crumble once more and feel that heartbreak all over again.
‘Yes, I’m thinking about it.’
‘Good. I’m glad you’ve found this.’
What did he want? To sit in the car and reminisce about old times? It didn’t really matter, whatever it was, Nell knew she’d see it through to the end. He stopped beside his car and opened the passenger door. Nell got in.
From Doctor to Princess? Page 16