Chapter 10 #2
Cap leaned back in his chair. "We're tentatively declaring it an accident. The glass shattered for no apparent reason. It does happen from time to time due to impurities in the glass or other reasons that have nothing to do with a threat to anyone."
Elise watched as Frederick's shoulders slumped in relief.
"That's a good thing, correct?" He sounded like he was trying to reassure himself that no one else had been in danger because he was nearby.
"Yes," Cap confirmed. "We're still checking a few things, but early indications show that it was simply an unfortunate coincidence."
"Thank you for your quick action to ensure our safety." Elise nodded his direction. "It is greatly appreciated." She rubbed her side. "I do hope it's not something that happens regularly though.”
“It’s the first time it’s happened to me,” Frederick told her. “I do apologize again for hurting you.”
She managed a smile despite the continuing ache in her side. “It wasn’t your fault, but I’d be okay if it never happened again.”
After reassuring them it was unlikely, the head of security went over a few more things with Frederick then told them they would be asked to confine themselves to the secure quarters.
Elise managed to keep herself from asking what that was but just barely.
She’d learned that, normally, Frederick didn’t have security with him at all times inside the palace.
To some extent it seemed to depend on where he was and what time of day, but for the most part, security didn’t follow him.
They probably kept him on camera most of the time, but he didn’t have a member of security with him.
Not so after a security scare.
Frederick held her hand as they walked, but they were surrounded by four members of their security teams.
They went down a corridor she hadn’t seen before then turned down the smallest one she’d seen in the palace and, while the walls weren’t rough-hewn, they definitely weren’t quite as polished as the rest of the building. A heavy door was set into the wall.
Frederick let go of her hand and placed his palm on a sensor that appeared. She didn’t see where it came from but felt certain it had been hidden a moment before.
With a click the door began to swing open.
A moment later, she and Frederick were alone in what appeared to be a suite. The room they were in held sofas and chairs while she could see a bedroom through the open door to the next room.
As she looked around, something struck her.
“There’s no windows?”
Frederick shook his head. “No. This is a secure room. The door is the main entrance, but there is at least two secret entrances that can be used to either get here in case of an emergency or to leave if security is breached.”
“How long do we have to stay here?” She set her purse down on one of the side tables.
He gave a shrug. “I have no idea. I’ve only been in here to check the place out or during occasional drills. I’ve never been moved here due to a perceived threat. I don’t think my father was either. It may be several generations back since it was used.”
Elise looked at her watch and stifled a sigh. Surely being the queen would allow her to arrive at the airport later than most people but if she didn’t leave soon, she would miss her flight and there wouldn’t be another one until the next day.
Keeping her concerns to herself, she wandered around the room trying to take it all in. “Is this what your quarters look like?” She still hadn’t seen them.
“Not really. I have what my sister likes to call Furniture of Historical Significance in my quarters. I don’t believe anything in here is.
Replicas perhaps, but not the actual items.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and wandered through the room behind her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever really looked at how it’s decorated. ”
It took them nearly an hour to look through both rooms. Elise asked questions about the paintings and portraits - all of which were likely reproductions - and found Frederick to be quite knowledgeable about most of them.
He had to have noticed her near constant checking of her watch, but he didn’t say anything. When he wasn’t looking, Elise slipped it off and into her pocket to keep the temptation at bay.
She wasn’t going to make her flight. Not unless it was already delayed for other reasons.
As they neared the other side of the main door, Elise stopped to look at a painting of the view out of one of the windows she’d seen during her stay. It wasn’t the same as a real window, but at least an attempt had been made to give some semblance of the outside.
Frederick stepped to her side. “I’m sorry about your flight. I’ll make sure you get to Europe as soon as possible. I’d send a text now to put things in motion, but there’s no communication in here except a land line for communicating with security.”
Elise looked up at him and gave him the best smile she could. “It will be all right. It’s no one’s fault.”
She went back to staring out the faux window and leaned her head against Frederick’s shoulder. This time, she didn’t try to stop it as a deep sigh made it’s way out.
The time with Frederick would be nice.
Putting the entire production behind schedule would not.