AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But the knowledge didn’t feel as certain as it once had. The future he’d mapped out no longer felt so safe or so desirable. Instead it felt empty. Lonely. His girls were everything, but they would grow up and have their own lives and that was how it should be. And when they were gone what would he have? A white box on the top of a cliff, a self-made fortune and no one to share either with.
Rosy’s speech was coming to an end. Her pace had quickened, her tone reaching an emotional peak before calming once again as she laid down her notes and gazed confidently into the camera, just the pink in her cheeks betraying her nervousness. There was no need as the chamber erupted into applause and a few whoops. She bowed her head respectfully to the chamber of men—and it was still all men—before retaking her seat. Jack could see her father—King Zorien—in the background, also clapping along, his face red with pride, but as he struggled to his feet the colour seemed to drain from his face and, to Jack’s horror, he sank back down again, hands pressed to his chest.
Time seemed to stop as the applause stilled and all eyes focused on the clearly struggling King, the camera cutting away as Arrosa sank to her knees beside her father, fear evident on her face.
And Jack knew one thing. None of the barriers or problems or reasons to keep his distance mattered. Rosy needed him; it was as simple as that.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ARROSAHADNEVERspent much time in hospitals before, apart from as a royal visitor, there to cut ribbons and talk to pre-selected patients, and she was more grateful than ever for the presence of Clem and Akil. Thanks to their volunteer work, they were both well-known and familiar with the city hospital and on friendly terms with many of the staff.
Her father had been rushed to the private rooms reserved for the Royal Family and other VIP patients but, even with the comforting décor and peace, it was clear that this was a medical facility not a five-star hotel. The lingering smell was one of boiled vegetables and antiseptic, there were medical instruments evident all around and she knew that, even though she was in a plushly furnished sitting room, the tight ball of dread preventing her breathing properly was the same as that in the chests of everyone waiting in the wards and family rooms across the wider hospital.
Her father had been rushed straight into emergency surgery. Arrosa had tried to take in the words from the family liaison nurse, words likeheartandbypassandserious, but she couldn’t concentrate. Her mother had been at a prearranged event at the other side of the country. Although Arrosa knew she was sorry to have missed her speech, she hadn’t wanted to let the school down, duty as important to Queen Iara as family. She had been informed about the incident straight away and was on her way back, so all Arrosa could do was pace and sit, pace and sit and let the various hot drinks cool untouched.
‘Go home and rest,’ Clem said, taking her hand. ‘Or at least change.’ Arrosa touched her hair, almost surprised to feel the cold of the platinum crown on her head. The morning’s speech felt like a lifetime ago. She removed it with shaky hands, her head instantly lighter, and pulled out the hairpins keeping her hair confined in the intricate knot, pulling it back into a loose ponytail instead.
‘I can’t leave him.’
‘Then at least try and drink something.’
And to please her sister Arrosa managed a couple of sips of coffee before her stomach tightened and she couldn’t swallow any more.
She paced over to the window and stared out at the hospital grounds, the trees now turning to orange, red and yellow, seeing her sister and Akil reflected in the glass. They were sitting together on the sofa, Clem leaning into Akil, his comforting arms around her shoulders. For one brief, shameful moment she felt a pang of such pure envy it shocked her out of her stupor. Not for Clem’s happiness, that was something that filled her with joy, but because she wanted something similar for herself. Because she’d been so close to having something similar, but life and obligation and cowardice had pushed it away.
At that moment the door opened and she whirled around, expecting to see a doctor. Instead, Henri walked in, followed by the one person she realised she needed more than anyone else.
‘Jack?’ Had she dreamed him? But no, he felt solid enough as she ran to him, and he pulled her against him. ‘You came.’
‘I didn’t want to intrude,’ he said, looking uncharacteristically diffident, and she reached up to touch his cheek.
‘You’re not intruding, you never could.’
He led her to the sofa opposite Clem and Akil and pulled her down to sit next to him. ‘How’s your father?’
‘It’s not good, Jack. They rushed him straight in for bypass surgery. It’s his heart.’
‘I see.’
‘Hisheart, Jack. It’s like history repeating itself. You know his father abdicated because ofhisheart and then he died anyway, just a couple of years later. What if...?’ She broke off, swallowing back almost hysterical tears. ‘I can’t lose him yet. I’m not ready.’
Then Jack’s arms were around her, pulling her in tight, holding her, allowing her the freedom to let go, to be supported. She was dimly aware of Clem and Akil muttering something about going to get coffee and food and then she and Jack were alone and for the first time in a long time she allowed herself the luxury of tears. Once she’d started, she couldn’t stop, all her fears and worries and regrets mingling with the shock and worry for her father’s health and what that meant for the whole family, for her.
Arrosa had no idea how long she cried. When she finally choked back a last sob she was cradled in Jack’s arms, his shirt wet through, a damp tissue clasped in her hands.
‘I’m sorry. Look at your shirt,’ she said, pulling back a little.
‘I’m used to it,’ he said, and his smile was tender. ‘I have a six-year-old.’
‘I didn’t mean...’
He shook his head. ‘Never apologise to me for having emotions, Rosy. You’re allowed to be scared and upset and all that entails.’
‘My father has dedicated his whole life to duty. He needs more time to live, not just be. He and Clem have only just started building a relationship. It would break her heart if anything happened to him before she really got to spend time with him.’
‘And what about you?’
‘Me?’
