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“I am going to have to take you up on the offer. You have no idea how much self-control it’s taking from me not to rush around like a crazy lady. How long does it take to get there? I have to be at rehearsal right at 3:00. It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m performing on the Royal Ballet’s stage tonight,” Clara’s words stumbled out of her mouth. She scrambled to her feet testing the tape job Dr. Evans did for her just before David entered the room.That didn’t come out the way I wanted it to.
David chuckled. “It’s 2:10 now. Without traffic, you can be there in ten minutes. Why don’t we have Michael take you straightaway and come back for me and Dr. Evans,” David offered. “I have no qualms with leaving Eddie alone for a short while longer.”
That’s only something a prince would offer me.“Are you positive you can spare your car?” Clara wanted to confirm.
“So long as you don’t mind me and Dr. Evans waiting in your living room for Michael to return,” David teased Clara.
My living room? Wow. I’ve certainly moved on up in the world.Clara thanked Dr. Evans and turned to David. “I’ll be sure to see you tonight. And David… I owe you one.” Without missing a beat, she scooped up her costume and her bag and awkwardly paused, unsure of what to do.
“George, could you see Clara down to Michael and the car? I’ll be here catching up with Doc Evans.” David’s request was more of a command. George took Clara’s bag and escorted her out of the room.
The two menentered the living room and took seats on the sofa across from the television as Clara and George departed. David’s security team exited the suite to the hallway. Only the head maid of the Rose Suite remained, waiting for instructions from David, “Nancy, please have a maid look in on our guest later this evening when she returns. I expect the staff to remain discrete as always and for Clara to want for nothing.”
“Of course, Your Highness. Will there be anything else you require?” Nancy added, ready with her tablet to take note of any specific requests.
“Fill the room with fresh wildflowers and have a breakfast tray ready for her tomorrow morning.” David paused. Should he request a dinner tray too? He didn’t even know what she liked to eat.I hope I don’t muck this one up.David commanded, “That shall be all.”
Nancy politely excused herself. Dr. Evans shook his head.
“Fill me in, Doc? How is she?” David asked once he was sure they were quite alone.
“I believe you’ve taken care of the basics, Leeds. Everything else you’ll have to let the staff take care of. Miss Little is fully aware of what her options are, she’s a professional dancer. I suppose you have quite a few questions you want me to answer. Please remember, I will not breach my patient’s confidentiality. Even for you.”
“Can you tell me more about Miss Little and her career?” David asked. He’d never felt so unprepared for dinner with a woman. They usually knew everything about him; he never took the lead. Was he truly such a boring person?
Dr. Evans’s eyes sparkled in amusement. “Mrs. Evans is the clear expert in this area, but I’ve been privy to a wee bit of information here and there. What would you like to know?”
“Everything.” David was tempted to take notes on his cell phone. As it was, he was resisting the urge to pull it out and catch up on the many messages he was sure were being sent his way. He needed to learn to delegate some of his contacts to his secretary. How embarrassing would it be if his mobile wasn’t set to vibrate?Why am I such a stubborn bloke?He needed to learn he couldn’t do everything on his own as much as he may have wanted to.
David offered Dr. Evans a cup of coffee. He declined as he answered a few basic questions. “Miss Little is twenty-six years old and is a new soloist at the Los Angeles Ballet Theater. She was schooled at the Seattle Ballet Academy, and if what Mrs. Evans tells me is true, Miss Little should be promoted to the rank of principal dancer before long. The rest, you will have to discover for yourself.”
One of David’s security team members knocked on the door to let them know the car had returned from taking Clara to the Royal Opera House. The two men took their leave of the Rose Suite and rode the suite’s private elevator down to the underground garage. Being able to discreetly arrive and depart from the hotel was one of the many reasons the royals patronized the St. George.
When they had reached Kensington Palace, David and Dr. Evans stopped in front of the entrance to the royal apartments 1A and 1B. “Please ring me when you’re done. I need to phone my mother about Eddie and inquire about her plans for this evening. Wish me luck, Evans,” David lamely explained.
“I’m sure you don’t need me to remind you that your mother’s social engagements were announced to the press last month. She’s had the gala on her diary for quite some time. You’ll need to come up with some sort of explanation for your sudden interest in ballet.” Dr. Evans laughed. He left David to his own devices as they parted ways. David stood dumbly for a moment and slowly strolled up to his flat’s front door.
Bugger. He couldn’t even convince himself he didn’t seem out of place. Mother was going to see through this charade. How could he spin it so he sounded like he was doing her a favor? Could he use Eddie as an excuse for once? Eddie always used David.
David let himself inside. He pulled off his tie and undid the top two buttons on his dress shirt. He plopped down into his favorite wingback chair in his common area. Pouring himself a shot of brandy for courage, David drank it down in one gulp and dialed his mother’s private secretary before he talked himself out of it. He was put through straightaway.
“Hi, Mother. How are you this afternoon?” His voice was a slightly higher octave than normal. He cleared his throat and attempted to make it sound closer to normal.
“David! Well this is a surprise. Are you alright? Your voice sounds funny. To what do I owe this surprise?” asked his mother.
“I just swallowed some water the wrong way. Can’t your only son call you just to see how his mother is doing?” David stood and began pacing the room as they conversed.
“David?” she asked in an accusing tone. “What did Edward do now? I hope he hasn’t gotten himself into trouble again.” His mother always seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her young nephew. “The press has finally stopped writing about his last little charade in Paris. I hope we won’t be reading about whatever it is this time. Dare I even ask?”
David remained silent. His mother knew him all too well. “Eddie has had a rough go of it this time around. Sophia ended her relationship with Eddie rather abruptly. I’m afraid he didn’t take to the news too well,” David confessed. She’d get the gist of it. Maybe he could use the press angle to his advantage, though.
His mother let out a sigh. “I suppose this was his latest love interest. That boy has had more girlfriends than I can keep up with. Do I need to make myself available to soften Reginald up before Edward is summoned to see him?”
“That would be the wise thing to do. There was an incident this afternoon. I’m fairly certain the press hasn’t gotten wind of it. I was thinking, however, that perhaps I might offer myself up as tribute to the press to soften the blow if anything gets out about Eddie.” David held his breath, hoping his mother would take the bait.
“I see. And what exactly do you propose?” she slowly asked.
David released the breath he was holding. He needed to make a show out of this. “My plan was to clear my schedule and attend the Royal Opera House performance this evening. If I made a rare appearance in public at an official engagement, I presumed the press would run that as a story.” David waited. The gauntlet had been dropped.
