A Royal Kiss and Tell

“No, Caroline,” Beck said sharply. “I am sorry, darling, I know you love him. I’ve suspected it for some time, really. But you mustn’t ask about him, you mustn’t think about him. He is sailing tomorrow and he will not be back. His reputation is in worse tatters than yours.” He surged forward and grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I understand, darling. I’ve known heartbreak. But it will ease with time and a change of place. You will gradually think of other things.”

Caroline didn’t believe him. She couldn’t imagine she would ever think of anything but her prince.

HOLLIS CAME THE following morning. Beck met her in the grand hall and told her that now was not a good time.

“It’s never going to be a good time, Beck,” Hollis said. “Move aside.”

“Do you really think you’re in a position to come into my home and order me about, Hollis Honeycutt?”

“I do, Beck! I do! She is a sister to me and I will not allow you to stand in my way.”

Beck huffed. “Why is it that you are incapable of listening to me?” he demanded. “Why are you all incapable of listening to me?” he called as she marched past him and up the stairs.

Hollis ignored him. Her face was upturned to Caroline, who had watched it all from above. “Darling!” she cried. “Oh, Caro.” She reached the first floor and looped her arm through Caroline’s, whirling her about and pulling her into Caroline’s sitting room, where dresses in various states of construction were lying and hanging about. She pulled Caroline down onto the settee, took both hands in hers and said, “Caro...he’s gone. He boarded the royal Alucian ship this morning with three maids and a boy.”

She gasped with relief. At least they’d managed to do that. “How do you know?”

“I sent Donovan to help them all. No one else would.”

Caroline couldn’t breathe.

Hollis squeezed her hands. “He told everyone the truth before he went,” she said low. “He called the Alucian ambassador to him as well as the men from the foreign secretary’s office. Mrs. Parker was at the Clarendon Hotel with her husband when it happened, and she said that he explained to them that he’d discovered a nefarious plot. She didn’t hear all the details, as her husband sent her from the common room, but she heard enough to know it involved young women. She said the government men didn’t believe him, and wanted to question him further, but the tide was going out soon and he said if they didn’t have cause to detain him, he was leaving, and that he did. He boarded a ship for Alucia with the rest of them. Donovan said he’s a hero.”

Caroline felt herself choking on her breath. He was a hero. He was kind and compassionate and he felt things, and made her feel things, and Caroline couldn’t breathe. “I’ll never see him again, Hollis. And if I do, he’ll be a man with a wife and children and I... Oh my God.”

“Darling, he tried to see you, but Beck wouldn’t allow it. He told him he’d done enough and it wouldn’t do.”

“He was here?” she cried. While she’d been sobbing herself sick, he’d come.

“But this morning, a man appeared at my door with a letter. One of his guards, I think. Anyway, he said the prince asked me to see it safely delivered to you.” She pressed the folded paper into Caroline’s hand. Tears began to fill her eyes, and she stood. “I must be gone. I mean to expose this corruption.” She leaned down to kiss Caroline’s cheek.

Caroline didn’t know what she meant by that and lacked the energy to ask. She stood woodenly and followed Hollis out onto the landing, the letter clutched in her hand. She watched her dear friend rush down the curving staircase, watched her speak to Beck, then surprisingly, watched them embrace. It was as if she’d died.

She returned to her sitting room and shut the door, staring at the letter. She drew a breath. Then another. And then she read it.

Darling Caroline, by the time you read this letter I likely will have set sail for Helenamar. Given events, I am obviously no longer welcome in England. I have agonized for you and regret that there wasn’t a moment to speak.

There seems quite a lot that should be said, but time restricts me, so I will write this: I never believed love would find me. I never believed that in my position, I would know the luxury of love. My world was a fog of pleasure and privilege, but then you came along and pierced that fog.