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He’d done this before. He’d been up the stairs in the house after his father had died. He’d spent the night here before. Had he slept? Not a bit.
None of these were first times.
But he’d been so shuttered. It was almost like walking around in a plastic bubble, storing all the emotions inside so tightly it was almost as if they weren’t there.
Today his emotions were front and centre. There was no barrier. No camouflage.
His hand trembled on the rail. His feet started moving slowly and steadily up the stairs. There was nothing to fear up here. There was no bogeyman. No axe murderer.
There were just a million memories of a man he’d loved and adored.
A father who’d centred his life around his son. Who’d adjusted his career. Who’d told him a thousand stories about his mother to try and keep her memory alive. There had never been a step-mom. His dad had always said his heart belonged to one woman.
And Sullivan understood that now.
He’d met Gabrielle. The picture in his head was of her dancing in the tent in her cut-off shorts and pink T-shirt, shimmying to the music. Even now it brought a smile to his lips. He wanted to get to the point where he could tell Gabrielle what she was to him. That she was the sun, moon and stars—never mind a princess. He had no idea if she would find him worthy. He could only live in hope.
His feet were still moving, automatically taking him to the door of his father’s room. It was wide open, inviting him in.
There was no aroma of peaches and vanilla up here.
He moved slowly across the room. His hand shook as he reached for the handle on the wardrobe. He jerked it open and within seconds the smell hit him full in the face.
He staggered, not quite ready to deal with the overwhelming rush of feeling that flooded through his system.
There were all the clothes. Hanging there, waiting. Waiting for his father to reach out and pick something out to put on. The button-down shirts. The pants. The jackets.
And the uniforms.
He reached out and touched the blue sleeve. The feel of the fabric shot a pulse of memories straight to his brain. He could see his father’s smile and laughing eyes as he’d proudly worn the dress uniform. If he went downstairs right now he’d find a hundred pictures of the two of them in uniform together. His father had once made it out to Helmand Province. His all-time favourite picture of them both was one that a friend had snapped with a phone. It was of the two of them sitting on a block of concrete surrounded by the dirt of Afghanistan, hats at their feet and laughing as if a famous comedian was putting on a private show for them both.
One snap immortalised their whole relationship for Sullivan. Fun, love and mutual respect.
He staggered backwards and landed on the bed.
And then he sobbed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
HER HEART WAS wound so tightly in her chest it felt as if it could explode.
Three weeks. Three weeks of hearing nothing from Sullivan. She was pretty sure that he’d turned his phone off.
Arun had tracked his flights. She didn’t know how and she wasn’t going to ask any questions but Sullivan had gone to the place he should have—home.
Sleep had been a complete stranger these last three weeks. The first night she could smell his aftershave on the neighbouring pillow. She’d swapped it immediately with her own then had spent the rest of night hanging onto it for dear life.
She was determined. She had a duty, one that she would fulfil.
But she had another duty, one for herself and the man she loved.
Her rigid stance and feisty personality had meant that for the last few weeks her palace staff had seen a whole new side to Princess Gabrielle.
The advisors and lawyers were now firmly in their places.
But Gabrielle had discovered skills she hadn’t even known she possessed. She’d been determined Andreas was going to be held to account for his actions and, thankfully, the government in Bermuda agreed.
She strode through to the room that had been specially set up in the palace. Her dark curls were pinned back into a bun and she’d asked for her make-up to be heavier than normal. She wanted her appearance to reflect exactly how she was feeling. This situation was serious.
She nodded at Franz. ‘Everything ready?’
A look of panic crossed his face. He turned to the director. ‘Well, we have to practise lighting and sound checks and set-up and—’
Gabrielle held up her hand. She narrowed her eyes and looked at the director. ‘I expect all of these things to have been carried out. I’m ready. Are you?’
The room was silent. She walked around to the desk set up in front of the camera and sat down, taking a few seconds to adjust the seat and microphone.
She looked straight into the camera. ‘There’s no rehearsal. I don’t need one. Let’s begin.’
There was a flurry of activity. People took their places instantly. She wasn’t trying to be scary. She was just trying to be direct. Her patience was spent.
After a couple of minutes the director gave her a nod. ‘Princess Gabrielle, if you’re ready, we’re ready. I’ll count you down.’
She nodded. The director gave a wave and spoke loudly. ‘Three, two, one and go.’
Gabrielle took a deep breath. Her heart was thumping wildly but everything in her head was crystal clear.
‘Good evening, citizens of Mirinez. As you know, I’m Princess Gabrielle, your new Head of State. You are all aware that this role is new to me. I’ve spent the last three years working as a physician specialising in TB medicine for Doctors Without Borders in various places across the world. I never thought the role of Head of State in Mirinez would be one I would have to fulfil. However, with the abdication of Prince Andreas, I have been called into service—this is a role I take seriously and am fully committed to.
‘On my arrival back in Mirinez I discovered that a number of duties normally carried out by the Head of State had been neglected. I want to assure you all that since I’ve arrived, all outstanding matters of state have been dealt with. Unfortunately, I also discovered that some funds had been misappropriated and some national treasures belonging to Mirinez had disappeared. A full inventory has been taken. I’ve also requested a full and independent investigation of all accounting irregularities. After taking legal advice, a warrant for the arrest and a request for the extradition of Andreas Cartier was made to the government in Bermuda.’
Gabrielle stopped to take a deep breath.
‘The warrant was served a few hours ago, the request for extradition granted and arrangements are now being made for the return of Andreas Cartier to Mirinez. A number of items missing from state have also been recovered.’
She kept her back ramrod-straight and didn’t let any emotion show on her face.
‘Andreas Cartier will be held to account for his actions, just as any citizen of Mirinez would be.’
She licked her lips.
‘When I returned to Mirinez many of you will know that I had a friend—a companion—with me. Sullivan Darcy, a respected surgeon and colleague at Doctors Without Borders, helped with this transition in my life. He also assisted at the mining accident, operating on a number of patients. It is my intention to continue working as a doctor, as well as functioning as Head of Stat
e. I think that the two duties complement each other and will allow me to keep in touch with our citizens in the most fundamental way—by serving them at one of our community clinics.’
She felt her muscles relax a little, her expression soften.
‘I will be gone for the next few days. But I can assure you all matters of state are in hand. What I need to do now is personal. I need to deal with some affairs of the heart.’
She couldn’t help but give a small hopeful smile as she ignored all the chins bouncing off the floor in the room around her.
‘When I return I will make arrangements for my dual role. And perhaps I will have some other news for the citizens of Mirinez. I ask you all to have patience with me in my time of transition and know that I am committed to doing the best job possible.’
Gabrielle stood up and walked out. Questions raged all around her. But Arun was waiting at the door.
She had one thing on her mind. She’d more or less just worn her heart on her sleeve for the entire world to see.
But she’d meant every word.
It was time to put her heart first. It was time to reach out to the person she loved and be there for him. She’d no idea what he’d say when she got there. She’d no idea what she’d find. But it was time to find out.
Three long weeks. That’s how long it had taken to get to this point.
And it had been the longest three weeks of her life.
All the arrangements were in place.
She met Arun’s gaze and he gave the briefest nod of his head, and spirited her away.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HE’D STARTED TO appreciate the silence. He’d spent so much of his life surrounded by noise and confusion that the silence of the lake was washing over him like a soothing balm. He’d spent the first night sleeping in his father’s bed. What amazed him most was that he’d managed a few hours of actual sleep. But he’d woken with the biggest crick in his back in the world. It was clear the mattress needed replacing.
Yesterday he’d managed to take a few things from the wardrobe and chest of drawers and pack them up for goodwill. That had been hard. Every cardigan, every shirt brought back a flash of memory. The uniforms still hung in place. He’d get to them. He would. Just not yet. He wasn’t quite ready.
