She patted my hand, and closing my eyes, I allowed myself to lean into her warm strength. I hadn’t necessarily found Lady Marjorie a likable person when she’d been the one to train me in all things royal during my engagement, but now, I was pathetically grateful for her presence.
It seemed as though we’d waited there for an eternity, but it was actually only moments later that I felt strong hands framing my face.
“Kyra.” Nicky dropped to his knees in front of me. “Are you all right? Are you feeling sick? Should we see the doctor?”
With a sharp cry, I reached forward and clung to my husband’s neck. “Nicky. You’re safe. Thank God. Oh, thank God.”
“Of course, I’m safe. I’m absolutely fine—only worried for you.” Gently he drew me back so that he could look at my face. “Are you in pain?”
I shook my head. “I’m all right, too. I was just worried foryou.” Turning my head, I pressed a kiss into the palm of his hand. “Did they get him? Did they catch Scott Gorman?”
“I don’t know yet. Harold and a couple of the other officers moved me inside, and Simon went after him.” He stood up, glancing over his shoulder. “You’re certain it was him?”
“Very certain.” I nodded. “I wouldn’t forget his face. He scared me that night.”
“I believe you.” Nicky took my hand, threading our fingers together. “But it’s okay now. You can relax. We’re all safe.”
I peered around Nicky to the officers guarding the door. For the first time, it occurred to me to wonder about the other occupants of this building. “Where are the teachers and students we were meant to see here? What happened to them?”
Lady Marjorie answered me. “They’re in their classrooms, still waiting. The police went through to inspect again, and they’ve secured all the entrances, so no one can get in or out.”
I used Nicky’s hand to pull myself up. “Then why don’t we go visit them as we’d planned? We’re stuck in here anyway until we get the all clear from the police, right?”
Nicky hesitated. “The security officers are likely going to suggest that we return to the Prince of Wales’ home.”
I shrugged. “There’s no reason to disappoint the teachers and students. We can make it a quick tour, and then we’ll go back. They’ve already all been checked out. We’re as safe here as we are anywhere.”
Lady Marjorie sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.” She scrutinized me with eagle eyes. “You’re certain you’re feeling up to this?”
“Positive,” I assured her. When she’d moved away to talk to the officers at the door, I turned to Nicky. “Did you know that all the palace staff with us were aware of ...” I lowered my voice. “My condition?”
He winced. “Yes. It’s standard procedure—they had to know in order to protect us well and to have all the precautions in place, in case of an emergency. But I was sure it would make you uncomfortable if you realized they all knew, so I kind of kept that quiet.” He had the good grace to look contrite. “Sorry.”
“No, I get it.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “You were thinking of me. And it makes sense. And now I know I wasn’t imagining all their smug glances.”
Lady Marjorie returned to us. “They’re not happy, but they’ve agreed that you can stop in briefly at each pre-planned classroom. No long visits, and you must be prepared to be called to leave at any time.”
“Absolutely,” I promised. “Thank you so much, Lady Marjorie. I know this isn’t the way you prefer to do things. I know it’s not protocol.”
She regarded me silently for a moment. “Sometimes, ma’am, protocol gets shaken up a bit for a good reason. All things considered, I believe that you’re quite brave to do this. Her Majesty would probably do the same.”
As we made our way down the hall to the first classroom, I murmured to Nicky, “Mark this day on the calendar. Lady Marjorie complimented me. I might faint.”
Chuckling, he gripped my elbow. “Don’t you dare. I’ve had enough drama for the day.”
We had just come out of the final classroom back into the hallway when Simon and Harold came toward us. I glanced from one to the other, my anxiety returning in spades.
“Did you catch him?”
Simon nodded. “It wasn’t easy, ma’am, as he’d realized that you’d seen him and had attempted to rabbit, but this time, the thick of the crowd kept him from moving too fast.”
“And just when we thought we’d lose him, that he’d get away from us, a woman stood in his way. She nabbed him by the arm, and then she took him by the ear. Dropped him to the ground, she did, and kept him there until we reached him and had him in custody.” Harold grinned at me. “It was the lady whose daughter you’d just been speaking with. The one who said she has the Sight.” He lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know if it’s the sight or the touch, but she was a help today.”
Relief had me sagging against Nicky. “Thank goodness. So you have him? And it really was Scott Gorman?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Simon met my eye. “You were spot on. He’s being held at the local station as a person of interest in an on-going investigation, but Scotland Yard will take him in shortly. The hope is that we can use him to get information we need about this terror cell.”
“Was he going to hurt us?” I hated to ask the question, but I had to know. “Is that why he was here today?”
