6. Ellie
“That”s enough TV for today,” I say, legs folded beneath me on the couch. My arm stretches towards the clicker on the coffee table when a breaking news report grabs my attention.
The first sentence immediately stills my breathing.
“We interrupt this program to inform you that His Majesty, the King, has been hospitalized for a very minor fainting episode. This is a developing story and citizens will soon receive an update on the state of his health.”
He was the picture of health when I saw him a few days ago. What could have caused him to faint?
My phone interrupts my thought process so I stand up to find it. The ringtone comes from my hand bag on the kitchen counter. I retrieve the device.
“The palace switchboard? I wonder what this is about.”
“Dr. Eleanora Lawson?” asks the direct sounding voice before I even say anything.
“This is she.”
“This is Constantin, one of the King’s aides.”
My heart catapults upward and my mouth becomes arid. Is he alive? And why would they be calling me when there’s a health emergency?
“Pleased to speak with you,” I say, feigning nonchalance. “What’s this about?”
He continues. “He had an incident earlier in the day. You may have heard.”
I sit up straight, my stomach dropping. I hope he’s okay.
“I just watched the news report. Is everything okay? How is his condition?”
“Stable, it seems, fortunately. But he requests your presence.”
“My presence? When?”
“Immediately.”
There’s a pause, and I assume he’s waiting for my response. Instead, Constantine reels off instructions, although they might accurately be described as orders.
“You can come through and use the same procedure to enter as the last time you were here.”
“Um. Okay…”
“And you’ll be here within the hour?”
“I’ll try my best.”
“Please do. He’s counting on it.”
The call cuts off, and I’m left with a whirlwind of questions.
If he”s stable, why does he need me there? I was under the impression I’d be coming to the palace next week, or maybe next month, if the King even remembered inviting me. But immediately, in the aftermath of a medical incident?
This is strange. And terrifying. My eyes fall down to my clothes, which are slightly too casual for a royal audience. But I decide that they”re good enough.
I quickly freshen up, grab my bag, and leave.
When I arrive, the palace gates are more harried than usual, with a flurry of activity among the people in the guard house, suggesting a heightened state of alarm. I notice more security officers wandering the perimeter compared to before.
“Greetings. What is your business?”
“Um. I’m Dr. Eleanora Lawson. The King invited me.”
“Ah, right, yes, Dr. Lawson. One moment.”
I wait while they go into the guardhouse and process my ID and credentials. About a minute later, the guard comes back.
“Dr. Lawson, you”re clear to go. They’ll be waiting at the grand entrance. Do you know how to get there?”
I nod. “Mm-hmm.”
He nods, and the gates open. A member of security dressed in regalia lets me in and leads me to the King’s palatial room with a bow.
He”s propped up against huge silk pillows in possibly the largest bed I”ve ever seen. A whole wall of windows framed by plush drapery brightens the room.
I curtsy as soon as our eyes meet.
“Ellie, don”t worry about the formalities. Please come closer. You”re a sight for sore eyes.”
I walk over to a loveseat near the bed. “I’m glad to help the sore eyes. But I’m more worried about your heart. How are you feeling?”
“Please, take a seat,” he says calmly. And nothing about his almost jovial face betrays that he was recently under intensive medical care.
I oblige, place my bag next to me, and fold my legs at the knees. “What happened, King Francis?”
“Oh, I got a little worked up, that”s all. Got into a bit of a heated argument and that caused my blood pressure to shoot all the way up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you’re feeling better. And calmer.”
He chuckles. “Turns out the rush of emotions affected my blood pressure. Blame it on the heart.”
“I’m glad you’re back in your quarters and not in a hospital. That’s good, right?”
“They did give me a pretty stern warning to keep calm and avoid stressful situations. But what do you recommend, as a doctor?”
“Well my expertise is obstetrics and gynecology, but I”d say they are spot on.”
“I appreciate your coming so promptly.”
“Of course. You’re my King. You request my presence, I have to comply.”
The King raises an eyebrow.
“No?” I prod.
“If only my sons had the same sense of duty as you.”
“It’s different when they’re your children, I imagine.” A smile of understanding passes between us. I stand up, spotting a fruit display.
“Could I peel you an orange? It’s good for you.”
“I”d appreciate that very much. A natural bedside manner.”
I wash my hands with a separate bowl and jug then pick up the fruit and a knife.
“Ah, Cedrick, fine of you to join our little party.”
I drop the knife and turn. “Oh my gosh, Ricky. You have not changed at all!”
The same face I remember. The same piercing blue eyes. He looks incredible. He was always dashing, but now he’s a heartthrob. Not just hot but an altruist, too. Those deep blue eyes have developed streaks of lighter blue, and it’s hard to keep from staring.
He moves a lock of sandy hair out of his face and smiles. “Ricky. No one has called me that… in… I don’t even know how long. Ellie, it’s so good to see you.”
He shakes his head slowly, and I take the opportunity to admire his full lips and chiseled jaw.
King Francis puts extra emphasis on my first name for some reason.
I look over at Ricky… Ugh, I have to get used to calling him by his full name. Prince Cedrick’s eyes are trained on me. Drinking me up. I shift from one foot to the other as he comes over to where I”m standing and gives me his hand.
His eyes are so focused on my face, and mine so focused on anywhere but his eyes, but definitely his body, I almost trip over my still feet.
“I would say you look the same, but you don’t. Not at all. You look…”
“Older?” I offer.
“No. Transformed into a woman overnight.”
“It took a few years, actually.” I can hear my voice quivering as he reaches out to touch my hand.
An electric impulse surges through me at his touch, and I search his eyes to see if he felt it, too.
“Quite the pleasure,” I say and look down at his beautiful hands.
They”ve helped so many people, I”m sure. They’re strong, like marble, and I think about how it would feel for him to put them past my hand, to my shoulders, my waist, pushing me up against the wall….
Get a grip, Ellie. He’s a royal. You’re not.
He makes no move to let go of my hand. I glance up at his face, thinking maybe he’ll get the message to give me back my hand. I feel like I’ll be the next one to faint if I keep touching him.
His face is literal perfection and I want to jump on it. I can”t be here right now. I pull my hand back.
“I really should be going, I don’t want to impose…”.
“I insist you stay,” King Francis pronounces officiously. “I”m sure Cedrick would love to catch up with an old friend. Isn”t that so, Cedrick?”
Cedrick murmurs something, and I flee to my loveseat, as far away as I can be. Except seating is limited, and he comes over and sits next to me.
I feel like the loveseat will tip over from my trembling.
“I didn’t realize that when the preeminent Dr. Lawson was performing surgeries and teaching at World Clinic, it was you. Little Ellie.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I was so busy, it barely registered that you’d be there. There are so many locations. And besides, it seemed crazy to assume that little Prince Ricky would be head of a huge NGO. I figured you’re hands-off anyway.”
“I wish,” King Francis interjects.
“It’s hard to leave such important work day-to-day. I like keeping my hands busy.”
I think of how I’d like him to use those hands on me, providing a different kind of healing. Ellie, shut up.
I can feel a wave of heat seizing me, starting from below.
“I know the feeling. As I advance in my career, I just get busier because I don’t want to leave the other work behind.”
I smile and instantly glance down. But the pull of his eyes brings my head back up. I catch him smiling at me with that steady gaze. I lean back further from him, afraid of what I’d do if I get too close. And he leans in toward me.
“So are you based in Solvaria?” I ask.
“No. I never stay in one place long. I always say ‘I’m a citizen of the world.’”
My jaw drops. “Me, too. I say that all the time. I have fellowships and research, but I can do that while going around the world seeing patients.”
“I get it completely.”
We exchange smiles, and it feels like meeting a kindred spirit. No. Remeeting.