Clearing my throat, I stepped back. “See you soon.”
He didn’t say anything, just nodded his head with a small smile.
“I’ve called and rescheduled the afternoon tea with Duke Challins.” Selene looked at me from the corner of her eye as we walked to the car.
“We’re running late?” I looked down at my ever-present watch and frowned. “We’re an hour behind.” I waved at the people outside as we walked down the steps.
“I didn’t want to interrupt while you were enjoying yourself.” She smiled as we slid into our waiting car.
“You?” I looked at her questioningly. “You thought I should skip an official event?”
“I did.” Selene shot me a look that only a mother should be able to give. “I thought you should be happy.”
“I’m happy.” I frowned briefly before schooling my features back into something content.
“No, you’ve been existing. You do what is expected of you, what should make you happy, and always put everyone else first.” She set her clipboard down and brushed at her skirt. “It’s time to focus on you, Cathy.”
“I’m in school for something I love. I’m reading a book!” I snorted. “I go shopping!”
“You’re going to school where there are expectations of your grades, assignments, and even what you’ll do with your degree.” Selene frowned. “You go shopping for clothes to wear to formal functions, to do charity work. You buy clothes that you won’t wear because you don’t go to clubs or parties anymore—not that I’m saying you should.” She sighed. “I’m saying you should have some fun, make some mistakes, live a little more.”
“You’re saying I should be reckless?” I almost threw my hands in the air. Hadn’t David just accused me of that, and now Selene—the Prim and Proper Fan Club president—was telling me to go be crazy. Okay, not crazy. But to cut loose.
“Absolutely not.” She shook her head. “No drugs, or craziness. Nothing that could hurt you. And by all means don’t get pregnant.” She looked at me over her glasses and I felt my eyes widen. I sputtered but she held up her hand. “While I have a feeling that David is a gentleman, it’s easy to forget yourselves when involved in certain things—”
“Selene!” I gasped. “We didn’t—I mean I wanted—it didn’t happen. Nothing happened.”
“Catherine.” There was that sharp mother tone again. I quieted instantly. No matter how old you were, it triggered something inside you that made you put your hands in your lap and look at the other person expectantly. “It doesn’t matter. No, that’s not true. If you’re saying what I think you’re saying then I think even more of your new friend. But what I said stands; be careful.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I took a deep breath. “Have fun. Don’t be reckless. Wear party clothes.”
Selene reached over and pretended to slap my knee, much the way she had when I was younger and refused to cross my legs. “Stop that. Have fun. Don’t overthink it. You loosened up a lot today. It’s good.”
“So, if I loosen up some more can we maybe cut some more appointments?” I wiggled my eyebrows.
“I think I’ve reached my quota of rule breaking for the day.” She sat back and picked up her clipboard.
“Well, a girl can dream.”
She shook her head but didn’t look back up at me. “You should be dreaming up things to say to Lady Nancy. She’s going to try to rope you into her charity auction again.”
“If I give her any more heirlooms my mother will skin me.” I sighed.
“You know that’s not what she wants,” Selene tsked.
“You just told me to live a little. If I donate any more of my time, I’m going to need a clone to brush my teeth and shower.” I sighed as I flipped through the e-mails on my phone. “You and I both know she just wants me to work with her oldest son.”
“Phillip wouldn’t be a terrible choice.”
“You say that like it’s the fifteen hundreds and I have to marry to support my family in some way.” I ground my teeth. “If I ever get married it will be for love. Something of my own—something that belongs to no one but me and the other person, but most of all not to the crown.” I frowned. “I give enough of myself as it is.”
“I only meant that Phillip is a very nice young man.” Selene rubbed at her chest briefly.
“He is nice. And boring.” I frowned. “Indigestion, again?”
“Yes.” She took a shallow breath and made an uncomfortable face. “It’s been bothering me all day, but don’t worry. I’m fine and won’t slow us down.”
I watched her without responding. I’d known Selene my entire life. She was the type of person who worked from home while sick with the flu, even though she should be sleeping. She never stopped.
“Maybe we should cancel today and head back,” I offered. “You don’t look like you feel well.” In fact she looked pale. As I watched, her clipboard fell from her fingers to the floor of the car and she slumped against the door, her eyes rolling backward. “Selene!”
I undid my safety belt and pushed her into a lying position. “Mark! We need to get to a hospital!” I pounded on the glass between the front and back. He rolled it down even as he accelerated.
“Are you hurt, ma’am?” His voice was calm, but nothing rattled Mark. That’s why he was my escort wherever we went.
“Something is wrong with Selene.” My fingers felt along her neck in an attempt to find a pulse. Panic gripped me as I cursed not having better medical knowledge. It felt like hours passed before I was able to find the thready beat of her heart under my touch. Her pulse was there, but it wasn’t good. She murmured something unintelligible to me, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. “I think she’s had a heart attack.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I could hear him talking into his communication device, letting the security guards in the next vehicle know what was happening. “Princess, do you want me to stop and let Jameson help? He was an EMT in the military.”
“No! Keep going.” My hands shook as I touched her face. Selene was like my mother in more ways than I cared to count. To see her so ill was killing me. “Put him on speaker in the car. Let me talk to him.”
“Yes, ma’am.” It only took a few pushes of buttons on his steering wheel before Jameson was piped in over the speakers.
“Your Highness, is she responsive?”
“She’s mumbling, but it’s incoherent. What do I do?” I could hear the panic in my voice, so I took a deep breath. Freaking out was not going to help Selene.
“There is a medical pack in the front seat. Mark, pass it back to Catherine, please.” Jameson’s voice stayed even, as if he was reciting instructions to a practice class. “Catherine, can you get her to take an aspirin?”
“Not sure, but I’ll try.” Taking the bag I dumped the contents on the floor and grabbed the small bottle of pills. I popped the lid and dumped two pills into my palm before grabbing my bottle of water.
I twisted the lid off and held the pills up to Selene’s mouth. “Open up. You have to take these.”
Selene shook her head, but I wasn’t about to back down. “Now! You’ll do it right now even if I have to pry your mouth open.”
“Annoying.” Selene’s voice was thick, but there was no denying the word.
“Yeah, I am.” I pushed the pills between her lips and held the bottle up for her to drink.
“Did she take it?” Jameson asked.
“Yes.”
“How is she sitting?”
“I’ve got her laid out on the front bench.” The car was a little larger than normal, with big windows so that people would be able to view us at one of the scheduled stops.
“Prop her up and bend her knees some. We want her heart to work as little as possible.”
“Got it.” Yanking my light jacket off I tucked it under her head and then lifted her feet; scooting them back so her knees were bent.
“Good. We’re not far from the hospital.” Jameson told me.
“What e
lse should I do?” I found Selene’s hand and squeezed it. Her palms were clammy and she was still so pale I worried she would die right before my eyes at any minute.
“You’ve done all you can at this point.” There was a muffled sound as Jameson spoke to someone in his car. “Mark, take the next turn. The authorities have cleared that one-way road for us.”
“Tell them thank you.” I said the words automatically. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate their help, but that my worry had stopped my brain. The only thing that mattered was getting Selene taken care of, and quickly.
“Please hang in there.” I brushed the hair out of her face. “You’re going to be fine. You’re too tough to let something like this get you down. Okay?”
“Fine.” Her voice was so weak I could barely make out the word, but I knew what she meant. She’d be fine. Selene was always fine.
God, please let her be okay.
ELEVEN
THE WAITING ROOM was bright and cheerful. Flowers sat on every table, surrounded by magazines about home decorating and health and fitness. Paintings of beautiful places lined the walls in an attempt to take away the worry of those left feeling helpless.
I wanted to rip every painting off the wall and stomp on them until they were unrecognizable.
Helpless was not a place I liked to be. I’d rather have been in the operating room passing scalpels than pacing back and forth between a painting of an Irish cliff and the image of a waterfall.
Max was watching me from his seat with a worried look, and that irritated me too.
“What?” I growled the word, stopping midstride to stare at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m worried about you.” He held a cup of hot tea in a white foam cup.
“Don’t worry about me. Worry about Selene.” I shook my head. “She’s the one whose heart is literally in the hands of strangers right now.”
“I checked, Cath. These doctors know what they are doing.” His words were quiet, soft, as if speaking to a person on the edge.
“I know.” I threw myself into a chair. “It’s just really frightening.”
“I can’t imagine how scary it would have been.” He reached out and squeezed my hand.
“It was.” Tears formed in my eyes and I sniffed. “I’ve never been that scared before. Not even with . . .” I couldn’t finish that sentence. With Dad there had been no fear, just pain and overwhelming grief. By the time we knew he had been thrown from his horse, he was already gone. It had been instantaneous.
“I get it.” Max kept hold of my hand. He might be the sibling that hid from our family the most, but he was still my big brother. And my big brothers were always there for me. In fact, we’d had to have Mother call Alex and tell him not to come home.
Excruciating hours passed as we waited. Mark had brought us dinner at one point, but neither of us ate much. When Tabitha, Selene’s secretary, showed up to help, it took all of my willpower not to burst into tears. I was relieved to have help with everything that had to be seen to, but at the same time, it was so very wrong to see someone else handling Selene’s clipboard.
When the doctor came out to speak to me, I could barely contain myself. I needed to know what was happening, how she would be—when she would be out.
“We’ve been able to clear the blockages and are closing up now. She did really well through the surgery and I think she will make a full recovery.” The doctor smiled at me. “I know you’ve been worried, but you did the best thing for her by bringing her here. She has a pretty long road to recovery though. This was a major surgery and she will need time off.”
“Of course. I’ll see to it that she wants for nothing.” I nodded my head.
“She will need to drastically cut back on her stress levels. I’m willing to bet that she is a workaholic.”
“We’ll make sure she’s not overdoing it.” Tabitha spoke up from beside me.
I turned to look at her, surprised that she had said anything. Selene would never have interjected during a conversation that didn’t directly relate to her. Then again, Tabitha was much closer to my age and not as formal. Knowing that she had worked closely with Selene for two years now kept me from becoming angry. She was probably just as worried as I was about Selene. I should have asked how she was handling the news, not just worrying about myself and my friend. Tabitha had just been called on to fill some very big shoes.
“You’re absolutely correct, Doctor. Selene works in her sleep. But we’ll find a way to keep her calm and in a place where she can heal.” I held my hand out to shake. “Thank you so much for your great care. I can’t begin to explain how much I appreciate all of your time and hard work. Selene is like family to me.”
“I’m happy to help, and even happier to be able to report good news.” He shook my hand and smiled warmly. “The worst part is over. Now you just need to keep her in bed so she can heal.”
I almost snorted. He was right, but he was wrong. Selene was out of danger’s direct path, but I was about to be in for the fight of my life. Keeping that woman down and relaxed would be a near-impossible job.
As the doctor left I slumped back into a seat as relief washed over my body like a tidal wave. Every muscle went limp and I could barely hold my eyes open.
“Tabitha, can you find me a hotel room nearby?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Tabitha picked up her phone and began pressing buttons on the screen. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go back to D’Lynsal? It’s only an hour away by helicopter.”
“I think my sister wants to be near her friend.” Max touched my shoulder in support. “Plus it would be irresponsible to use the helicopter just because we were tired.” The reprimand in his words was gentle but clear. We were a wealthy family, but that didn’t mean we didn’t have to answer for the use of certain things.
“Of course. I apologize.” Tabitha bent her head. “I was just thinking of what was best for Princess Catherine.”
“Thanks, but I want to be near Selene.” I couldn’t help the yawn that followed my words. “And could you make sure someone takes care of Xavier, my dog, while I’m here. I had planned on going back to the palace tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am. And I’ve found a suitable establishment a few minutes from the hospital. I can have the team check it out right now.”
“Send one car ahead of us.” Max pulled me to my feet. “Please make sure that there are rooms for me and my team as well. I will be staying with my sister.”
“Of course, sir.”
I waited until I had seen Selene before I would leave. She was still unconscious, but knowing that she was stable and in good hands helped me let go for a while.
Max was waiting for me outside the hospital room when I was ready to leave. “There are reporters outside.”
“Of course there are.” If I’d had the energy I would have snarled, but at this point I just wanted to sleep and to be left alone. “They just can’t wait to get more pictures.”
Max wrapped his arm around me and squeezed me against his side. “Keep your head down and I’ll get you to the car before making a statement.”
“No, you don’t have to do that.” I shook my head. Talking to the press was physically painful for Max.
“Hush.” He leaned down and whispered in my ear as we walked past hospital staff. “I can handle this, Cath. I’m not twelve anymore. Stop being so damn tough and let someone else take care of things for a little while.”
I looked up at him and felt my eyes well up for the eighteenth time that day. Max might be my older brother, but for all royal duties, Alex and I tended to keep him tucked safely away. That’s what happens when your brother finds out about his father’s death during a press conference. But right now, it wasn’t surprised and hurt green eyes looking at me. It was the eyes of a grown man ready to protect his sister. And right now, I felt like I needed a little protecting.
“Okay.”
“I’d rub it in that you let me win, but I think I’
ll let it slide this time.”
“Oh yeah. Way to let it slide.” I elbowed him in the ribs. “I’ll see you at the hotel.”
“Be safe.” He let his arm drop from my shoulders and met the press as I made a quick getaway with my security team.
Jameson moved so quickly past the cameras and reporters that I had to lengthen my stride. The car ride was silent, except for Tabitha tapping on her phone. There was no small talk, no friendly glances or comforting words—and I was thankful for that. I had nothing left to give, much less to build a relationship of any kind with Tabitha.
The hotel was large and the doormen didn’t blink an eye at royalty entering their building. Tabitha took care of the check-in and led our group up to a penthouse. I looked around the entryway blankly. I had seen everything in the apartment before to some extent or another. Three bedrooms; a small, boring living room; a kitchen and eating area. Nothing exciting.
“I thought you might like the bedroom off to the right. There is a large tub and I had the maids draw you a bath.” Tabitha walked over to the door and opened it with a flourish. “I sent Mark to D’Lynsal to bring you some clothes. If there is anything in particular you need, let me know and I will pass the information along.”
“There is always a bag of extra clothes in the car.” I sighed quietly. “But thank you. This just means I won’t have to worry about ironing.”
“I went through the bag and you only had one dress, and a pair of jeans.” Tabitha frowned. “I thought we might be here longer than a day.”
“You’re right.” She had gone through my bag? Without asking? My instant ire probably had more to do with my sleep-deprived state than anything else. I reeled in my anger and counted to five. “But next time, please ask before you go through my things.”
“Of course, ma’am. I apologize.” Tabitha bobbed her head. “I was just trying to not bother you with unimportant things.”
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