Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
ALEXANDER
Ihad never driven so fast before, not even at the tracks.
I was just thankful I hadn’t even gotten halfway to London before I got the call from Elena that Ella had passed out and was heading to the hospital.
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to think.
She looked fine today, tired but fine. She hadn’t said anything about feeling poorly.
I pulled up at the hospital, jumping out of the car. “I’ll call you,” I told Jones.
I really admired Jones for one reason, and he knew when to not get in my way. And for that, he was always going to be my number one guard.
I ran into the hospital, heading to the accident and emergency department. I knew many people were turning to look, but I didn’t care or that mattered was Ella. “Hi, where can I find Melinda Brown?”
“You can visit—” the woman looked up from the computer, and her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Erm, your Highness. I apologise. Erm, what was the name again?”
“Melinda Brown.” I had no bother about using my title and privilege to get me in to see her. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate without knowing she was okay.
“Follow me.”
I followed the lady. and she brought me to a room, I opened the door and walked in. Ella was lying on the bed and throwing up into a bowl. “Ella.” I rushed to her side holding her hair as she threw up.
She finished throwing up, and a nurse came and took the bowl away from her.
“Are you okay?”
She crinkled her eyebrows in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“Ella, you got rushed to hospital. There is nowhere else I’d rather be,” I told her, sitting on the bed. “What happened? You seemed fine all day.”
“I had a headache. I blame Megan’s ridiculous early wake up call,” she shrugged. “The room started spinning, and my vision went a little blurry. The next thing I know, I wake up here with the worst headache ever. I felt like a hippo sat on me.”
“A hippo?” Elena said.
“Yeah, I feel like it’s quite a heavy animal, and you’d get a headache if they sat on you,” she said.
I took a deep breath in, shaking my head slightly. I had to wonder where Ella’s mind was sometimes. “What has the doctor said?”
“I don’t know. I was asleep,” Ella said in a duh tone.
“They’re running some tests to see what the cause of her passing out was,” Elena said. “They’ve just taken her blood. They are making sure she has no concussion, and then I’m pretty sure they’ll let us go home.”
I nodded. “You didn’t feel sick last night?” I asked her again.
“Nope.” She shook my head. “The only thing that made me feel sick was that horse giving birth, still scarred for life.”
I laughed. “Miracle of life, Ella.” I couldn’t get the picture of her face out of my head. It made me wish I had a camera that I could have taken a photo of that moment.
“Potato, potato,” she said with a small grin.
The door to the hospital room opened again, and I looked to see the doctor enter. “Melinda, we are just waiting for your blood test results to come back, but we’re pretty confident that the lack of fluids is running you down. I’d recommend rest and drink plenty of water.”
“Thank you,” Ella said.
“You can be discharged, and you can go home,” he said.
The doctor left the room, and I pulled my phone out of my pocket, checking the time. It was 2:00 a.m. and I knew that meant waking up for meetings tomorrow well today would kill me.
“Alex, you should go,” Ella said.
I frowned. “Ella no—”
“Alex, you have meetings in a few hours. You still have to get back to London. You’re going to be way too tired. I’m fine, I promise,” she said.
I shook my head.
“Mum, can you give us a minute?” Ella asked, looking at her mum.
The door opened and shut again. I never took my eyes off her. She climbed onto my lap wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’m fine, Alex.”
I rested my head on her forehead. “You worried me, Ella. I hated getting that phone call.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” she said softly. “Also, I need you to take care of yourself, too. Are you driving back or is Jones driving you?”
“Jones is driving us back. I mean, I’d say if he’s finished throwing up,” I said sheepishly.
“Throwing up?” She asked, confused.
“I may have broken several if not most road laws to get here,” I said quietly.
She shook her head. “Well good job. You’re royal and probably will never get arrested for it. Seriously Alex, I am fine, but you need to go home. You’re going to be so tired, you need to take care of yourself.”
I snorted. “Pot, kettle, black.”
“Point taken.”
I pressed my lips to hers, kissing her. “I love you, Ella.”
“I love you, too. Seriously go. Message me when you get home please.” I nodded, giving her one more kiss.
God, I was addicted to her.
I stood up, pressing another kiss to her lips.
“Go.” She pushed me away.
“Message me if you need anything, ok? I will get you whatever you need,” I told her.
She nodded and waved goodbye to me as I walked out the room.
I found Elena talking to a man, and the conversation looked intense. I bypassed her, not bothering to say bye.
I headed towards the front of the hospital. It took me five minutes before I found Jones waiting by the car.
“How is she, Sir?”
“She’s okay. Apparently, she’s dehydrated and overworked. Hopefully she will take it as a warning to slow down,” I said, biting my lip.
Jones let out a sigh. “Oh, Sir. You have much to learn when it comes to females.”
I got into the car, ignoring his comment, because deep down he was right.
I also knew Ella would have no intention of resting. I also couldn’t force her to stay rested. I wasn’t sure how well she would take to kidnapping. Probably not well. I mean, I could try.
I shook my head.
No Alex, that wasn’t the answer.
I looked at my phone seeing the photo of Ella and I from the ball. I loved how we looked at each other in these photos. I was fighting every part of me to not go back and stay by Ella’s side.
The trip back home was faster than normal. Although, I suppose it helped that it was the middle of the night. Jones pulled up, and he got out of the car, opening the door, “Thank you, Jones.”
“Good night, Sir.”
I entered the palace.
“Alexander?”
“Mother,” I said, following her voice into one of the many living areas. “Why are you still awake?”
“You were meant to be back a few hours ago. “Have you been racing?”
“No.”
“Alexander, what have I said about racing?”
“Mother, I haven’t been racing. Ella got rushed into hospital. I went back to see her,” I said. “She passed out and 999 said to take her to the hospital.”
“Is she okay?” Mother asked, standing up and rushing to my side.
I let out a yawn. “Yeah, apparently she was just dehydrated, so she needs rest. They took some blood, and she’ll get her test results soon. I’m going to sleep. I’m beat.”
“I love you, Alexander.”
“Love you, too.”
My alarm was blaring way too early for my liking.
I groaned, turning it off. I slipped out of bed, getting ready.
And before I knew it, I was back in parliament listening to their agenda for today. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, sending a text to Ella to see how she was feeling.
I stared at the message, waiting for a response, but it still said delivered.
“So, we’ll stay for an hour and discuss what to add to the next meeting, and then we’re done for the day,” John said.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
What a waste of a day.
I could have stayed in bed or gone to the farm again. I wanted to check on the foal that was born last night.
I felt my phone buzz and looked at the message.
It was from Ella.
I’m good. Do some work, baby xx
I rolled my eyes.
The fact she thought I could focus on work right now instead of her really blew my mind.
I looked at the people in front of me. “I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to leave right now. Something has come up. Thank you so much,” I said, standing up. I walked out of the building, going straight to Jones and getting into the car. “To the farm, Jones. I need a day away from all this.”
“Certainly, sir.”
“Wake me up when we get there,” I said, putting the belt on and reaching for the blanket.
I closed my eyes.
I needed to catch up on sleep because I was too tired.
Far too quick, we had arrived at the farm and Jones had woken me up.
I headed over to the stables, walking in and picking up a brush instantly to brush the horses.
If I wasn’t a prince, I think I’d become a vet or work with animals. There was something so peaceful about animals. They were beautiful, honest creatures and in their world, there were no worries, and that was what I loved about them the most.