“Are you kidding? You did great.” I smiled at him. “They thought you were charming.”
“Apparently, they weren’t the only ones.” Chadwick faked a cough. “Sorry, something caught in my throat.”
“Yeah, right.” I rolled my eyes, but David grinned at me. “You should get that checked out.”
“I did. It’s hereditary. Apparently my father is a smart-ass too.”
David choked on his soda and started coughing. I slapped him on the back and tried not to laugh.
“Catherine, are you about ready?” Selene asked. As much as I loved Selene, there were times when I wished I had someone younger working with me, like Chadwick. Someone who made me laugh and eased some of the serious strain on my everyday life. Naturally, trading her loyalty and dedication wasn’t an option.
“Of course.” When I got up, Chadwick and David both stood, which made me shake my head. “Sit down, you two. It’s not like I’m so frail I can’t walk to the door by myself.”
“It has nothing to do with being frail and everything to do with respect.” David moved so that he was standing next to me. “You handled those reporters with ease.”
“You didn’t do too shabby yourself.” I smiled up at him. “You think Sam chose the wrong person, but she got it right.”
“We’ll see.” He opened the door to the break room. “I think Chadwick is working with Selene to find us some free time.”
“Good.” It was so natural it happened without thought. I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. When the realization of what I had done hit me, I froze. He turned to look me in the eyes, my hand still on his chest, and I wondered if he was going to kiss me back. It was so easy, that sense of normal he gave me, but at the same time, electric and hot. It was real and unforced. Not like being with a boy in school because you traveled in the same circles or could understand each other’s lifestyles.
This was something else; this was honest-to-God attraction.
The moment probably lasted no more than just that—a moment—but it felt like an eternity as we stared into each other’s eyes. Somehow, this moment was even more intimate than having his head pressed between my legs. Of course, that thought sent shivers over my skin and blood rushing to my cheeks.
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 else 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.
T
HE 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.