flareup, which caused you to momentarily lose your vision. I can’t guarantee how the police will respond, but I’d be hard-pressed to believe they’ll hold you accountable when any accident is involuntary. When you didn’t even know you’d caused that crash until a year ago. So, for the love of Christ, stop moping around here because some crusty old men told you to. Do you remember what happened the last time you stopped doing things the old way?”
I blink, not answering.
“People fell in love with Nora. The entire country went nuts over the idea of you two together. You may think your hands are tied, but I have no doubt if you broke a few more rules…” When he narrows his gaze, there’s no question he’s referring to sitting down for the interview with Carly Hart, “they’ll do so all over again. Everyone loves a story of redemption and forgiveness. And that’s certainly what yours is. Sometimes you have to break a few rules to break new ground. It worked before. It can work again.”
I look straight ahead, mentally going through everything that’s transpired since I left New York. The engagement leak. Being reminded of the laws of succession and the Royal Marriages Act. Nora agreeing to marry me in two months instead of next year, as we’d planned. Nora going through all her princess training without a single argument. Rekindling our romance, even with everything else going on. Taking her to Paris, where it all fell apart.
But despite it all, there’s no question my happiest times involved Nora. Making love to her at night after a long day of work. Waking up to her every morning. Photographing her on the balcony of our hotel.
She’s repeatedly told me she doesn’t care about my diagnosis. That she fell in love with my heart, not the body holding it. Hell, she’s shown that to be true. So why was I so eager to throw it all away, especially after everything she gave up for me?
The argument we had in the garden after I missed her first doctor appointment replays in my mind. She’d asked me what I sacrificed in order to be with her. To my utter dismay, the answer was nothing.
It still is.
But it no longer has to be.
A revitalized energy coursing through me, I jump up. For the first time in ages, I don’t waver on my feet, don’t have to hold on to some nearby piece of furniture to steady myself.
With determined strides, I stalk into the hallway, Creed close behind. As I turn the corner, I stop abruptly when I see my grandmother walking toward me.
“Your Majesty,” Creed says, bowing. I mirror his greeting and movement.
“Heading somewhere?” she asks, holding her head high, her shoulders squared, posture exuding the same distinction and poise one would associate with her title.
“I…,” I stammer, unsure what to tell her.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not planning on attending the dinner tonight?”
I look at her with an unwavering gaze. “It was just brought to my attention that I have somewhere far more important to be right now.”
She pinches her lips, her dark, analytical gaze tracing over me. I expect her to argue that there’s no place more important than being here and serving the Crown.
“It’s about time you pulled that enormous head out of your arse.”
Creed laughs, but quickly covers it with a cough.
I’m stunned. This is a woman who’s always followed every etiquette rule and royal protocol to the T, never straying for so much as a second.
“You are planning on going to America to patch things up with Nora. Yes?” she says when I don’t immediately respond.
“Well… Yes.”
“Then what are you doing still standing here?”
“You want me to go?”
She huffs. “Of course I do.”
“But you don’t even like her.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, I like her fine. Truth be told, I didn’t at first. It’s always been unheard of for someone in your position to marry an outsider. And for love, no less. But I must admit, the girl certainly grew on me, especially when I tried to pay her off to walk away and she told me to shove it.”
“You did what?” I blink repeatedly, not sure what surprises me more. That Nora told my grandmother to shove it, or that my grandmother attempted to bribe her to get her to leave. Actually, now that I think about it, neither should shock me.
“It was simply a test. I needed to make sure she wanted this. That she wasn’t