The Princess (8 page)

“Did I see a Burger Haven on the way, Hank?”

“Yes. Does that sound good?”

“Yes, please,” she said very softly, sitting back with relief. Food was on the way.

Hank, who knew every foot of the drive into the palace, how things looked when all was calm, and every inch if there was a change, saw in an instant that the prince was waiting for his cargo. He also suspected that the princess hadn’t seen him at all. “Oh,” he heard her say softly as the door was opened and a figure loomed above her.

Indeed, it took Shelby a moment to even see who was giving her a hand out. Catching herself, she snatched her greasy hand back very quickly and explained without even looking up, “My hands are a bit messy. I don’t want to get you dirty. Oh,” she said again, this time looking up and recognizing her husband.

“Did you have a purse or a coat?” Nikolai asked softly.

“No. I don’t, I just—I don’t,” she finished lamely, glad for the cover of darkness on her red face.

The prince gestured to the door, and Shelby preceded him, asking herself the whole way if something was wrong. She didn’t think he had been around the first week they were married, but neither did she think it was normal for him to meet her when he was home.

“Did you have a good time?” Nikolai wasted no time in asking.

“I did, yes. I hadn’t met the Lindells before. They were very kind.”

“Who else was there? Do you remember?”

Shelby named a few couples and Lenore from her Bible study. As they talked, the prince moved them into one of the upstairs salons and directed Shelby to a chair. She found herself under his scrutiny for a moment and thought she was expected to fill in the silence.

“Did you have a good evening?”

“Yes,” Nikolai said politely. “I was invited to the Lindells’ as well, but I had a meeting I could not miss. Thank you for attending for both of us.”

Shelby nodded. There were questions on her mind, but she didn’t want him to think she was prying.

“The streets in Faraday are busier I think than those in Henley,” he said suddenly. “Are you careful on your skates?”

Shelby blinked in surprise but then nodded yes. “I try to be. It’s hard to find quiet streets, so I do try to watch out.”

The prince nodded. He didn’t even know this woman, but right now the thought of having her harmed was unbearable to him.

“I could drive to another area to ride,” Shelby offered suddenly, “if you would rather I didn’t ride in town.”

This gave the prince pause. Had she really just volunteered to adjust her plans on his say-so? This seemed unreal to him.

“Where would you go?” he asked out of pure curiosity.

“Right now I don’t know, but I could look around and find a place or ask Kris or Murdock. If it bothers you, I will.”

A moment later the prince frowned. She almost sounded as if she had rehearsed that line. Or did she hope to gain his approval by saying only what he wanted to hear? He worked to push thoughts of comparing Shelby to Yvette away, but it didn’t completely work.

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” he said at last, his voice a bit cool. “Just be careful.”

Seeing that he hadn’t cared for the idea, Shelby only nodded. His face had been so polite, but now he looked a bit testy. She watched him in uncertainty, just wishing she could go to bed.

“I’d best let you retire now,” the prince said formally. “Unless there was something you needed.”

“No, thank you. I’ll say goodnight.”

Like a perfect gentleman, the prince stood, but Shelby was only slightly relieved. Something had gone wrong; she just didn’t know what. She readied for bed, praying for wisdom all the while and wondering when she would know where she stood, or if she ever would. The idea was so depressing to Shelby that she forced herself to concentrate on sleep before the thought could blossom.

Had she known that for the next month she would see the prince only from time to time and find him little more than a polite stranger, she might not have been able to push the thought away. Indeed, the prince and princess went in different directions most of the time. Shelby had no reason to believe that this was not normal and carried on as best she could.

To the outside world all seemed well, but Nikolai Markham knew better. What he didn’t know was the high price he would have to pay, and that the day of reckoning was much closer than he would ever have imagined.

“Okay,” Shelby studied Fran’s bangs and bent to make another cut. “Check the mirror now.”

“Oh, Princess Shelby, you’re a dream. They’ve been driving me crazy.”

“Do they look even?”

“They look perfect. Where did you learn to cut hair?” the older woman demanded.

Shelby smiled. “My father’s a barber. I’ve always had the knack.”

“Well, I can’t thank you enough. The shop said they couldn’t fit me in until next week. The back I can live with, but not these bangs.”

“Do you want me to do the back? I’d be happy to.”

“No, this will be fine. Arlanda said you cut her hair yesterday and Gilbert’s last week. I think you’ve put in enough time for now.”

Shelby only smiled. She honestly didn’t mind. Some days she was so busy she couldn’t find herself, and other days, like this one, she found she had time on her hands. She left the kitchen porch just moments later. Her schedule was so clear that she was headed home to see her mother. They were going shopping and to lunch. She could hardly wait. Not 30 minutes later she made her way to the car barn, feeling as though she had the entire day at her disposal, climbed into her small green sports car, and headed toward Henley.

The king, watching her leave from an upstairs window, knew it was time to speak with Nikolai about the relationship. He had been hesitant to probe too deeply before now, but it had been more than a month, and the loving father in him had to know how his son was doing.

However, the time to speak with him didn’t come for another 24 hours. Nikolai came to see his parents, and when Erica was called away to the telephone, Rafe suddenly felt the time was perfect.

“How is Shelby?”

“She’s fine,” Nikolai spoke quietly.

“Do you know that personally or from Murdock?”

Nikolai looked at his father a moment before answering.

“I keep track of her. She seems content with her schedule and such.”

“Any chance she’s expecting?”

Nikolai blinked. Did his father really think . . . He then caught the older man’s eye.

“I don’t care to joke about it, Father.”

“No, I don’t suppose you do. I’m sorry. I do wonder, though, how long you’re going to wait to get to know her.”

“It’s only been a month.”

Rafe nodded. He knew only too well how one month could turn into six, and then six months into a year, but he kept silent on this.

“You said you knew it would be hard, Nick. Has it been better or worse?”

This really was the last subject Nikolai wanted to discuss, and the short answers he gave his father told the older man as much. The king did not grow angry, but he knew very well what his son was about. He debated just how direct his next words should be, but before he could speak, Erica returned. While remembering the patience of Jesus when it came to working with the disciples, Rafe reminded himself that not everything needed to be covered in one day. He continued to pray, content to wait on God for a better time to discuss the princess.

Rafe would never have let his son go had he realized how much he had upset Nikolai or how dark the storm was that brewed inside.

With a schedule change that would be easier to discuss with both the prince and the princess, Murdock had asked Shelby to wait in Nikolai’s office. Shelby had never been in this room before and wasn’t even comfortable sitting down, but she liked the colors
and the way the prince had things arranged. She stood just five feet inside the door and let her eyes do the walking. Some of the bookshelves were full of leatherbound volumes, and there were tall oak file cabinets too. It all looked so neat and important that for a moment, Shelby felt a bit insignificant.

“What are you doing in here?”

The prince’s voice startled Shelby so much that she jumped and spun, her face looking guilty for no reason. She watched the prince come into the room, his face showing his disapproval. Her thoughts scattered, Shelby began to back toward the door.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, bumping into the doorjamb before she found the actual doorway to the anteroom. Once outside, the office door was shut, and Shelby looked around in dismay. She knew she’d handled it badly, but he had so taken her by surprise. Debating what to do next, Shelby decided to take a seat in the anteroom and wait for Murdock. She had been waiting only a few minutes when the office door opened.

“You could have told me Murdock asked you to wait here,” the prince began without preamble, his voice still agitated. “He just called to explain he would be late.”

“I’m sorry,” Shelby said again, and without thinking the prince took his anger out on his wife.

“Are you always such a little doormat?” he asked suddenly.

Shelby blinked. “No.”

“You could have fooled me,” Nikolai muttered as he turned away, shooting an angry glare in her direction.

At a loss, Shelby moved against the wall and stood still.

What in the world have I done? What am I doing here? I don’t even know this man.

Working hard not to overreact, Shelby wished she could stop shaking. She heard a phone ringing and started to move but realized she was headed back toward the office door. She had just begun to head in the right direction, toward the door to the
hallway, when the prince spoke her name again. Shelby turned swiftly to see him coming toward her. She froze, not knowing if he was still upset, but he didn’t even notice her stricken face.

“Murdock has been tied up and needs to meet us in the kitchen.” Nikolai said these words without even looking at his wife. He simply led the way, and Shelby, not knowing what else to do, followed in his long-legged wake.

“Thank you for coming,” Murdock began the moment he saw them. “Let’s see . . . Friday night—” the house minister began but stopped suddenly. “Princess Shelby, are you all right?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice unnaturally pitched.

“Are you certain?” he asked, bending a little to look into her face.

Shelby could only nod, and although she didn’t look at Nikolai, he noticed her face for the first time. Her lipstick stood out like a child’s crayon mark, so pale were her features. She kept her eyes glued to Murdock or the floor as the minister told of the weekend plans, but the prince could barely take his eyes from his wife’s face. What he saw alarmed him. He had done this. He had frightened her. He knew he had to make it right. He determined to do so the moment Murdock was finished, but that man had a few more details for him. By the time he was finished, the princess had slipped away. Nikolai went to her room to speak to her, but Arlanda was there alone and told him the princess had remembered an appointment and left immediately.

Nikolai could have kicked himself. He had appointments of his own and knew he would be tied up for the rest of the day. The next day was no better. Nikolai was determined to see Shelby in person but was told she had gone out of town.