The Princess (13 page)

Nikolai’s head was bent over the papers he was studying when Shelby appeared at his doorway. Thinking it was Murdock, who would know to come in if the door was open, the prince did not immediately look up. Sure she was being ignored, Shelby became all the more upset.

“I would like to speak with you,” she finally blurted, and Nikolai looked up in surprise.

“Come in,” he said as he stood, his expression open.

“You changed my schedule,” Shelby stated without preamble.

“Yes, I did, Shelby. I thought it was for the best.”

“What do you mean?”

“You looked tired to me, and we need—”

“
Tired!
” Shelby interrupted, sounding as shocked and angry as she looked. “Most of the time you don’t even know I exist, and now you say I’m tired.”

The prince looked surprised by this pronouncement, but Shelby, still feeling very upset, gave him no time to speak.

“I may be the princess, Nikolai Markham, but you don’t own me. I’m 24 years old, and I’m perfectly—”

“You’re 24?” the prince said with a frown. “I thought you were 23.”

“I had a birthday, and don’t change the subject! The fact is I’m not a child, and you had no right to change my schedule.”

For several moments the two stood in tense silence.

“As a matter of fact,” Nikolai finally began quietly, “as your husband, I have every right.”

Knowing how correct he was, Shelby’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Looking utterly miserable, she stood in subdued silence, her bruised heart making her feel pain all over.

“I do wish, however,” Nikolai went on, “that I had spoken to you. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“I’m sorry I spoke to you that way,” Shelby said in return, her voice soft. “I’ll leave you to get back to your work.”

Shelby was at the door before he called her name. She stopped but didn’t turn. Nikolai went to her, slipping around her in the doorway in order to see her face, but she still refused to look at him. Even the lowering of her eyes didn’t hide the moisture there.

“Oh, Shelby,” Nikolai whispered. Without giving himself a chance to reconsider, he took her in his arms. “I’m so sorry.”

“I just wish I understood,” he heard her say before she tipped her head back to look up at him. Nikolai stepped back until his hands were on her shoulders. She looked so puzzled, but he didn’t have the words to explain it right now.

“Tell Murdock I made a mistake about your schedule and to do whatever you think is best, Shelby. All right?”

“Okay.”

Nikolai studied her face a moment. “Are you all right?” he finally asked.

“Yes. And I am sorry, Nick.”

“As am I. We’ll forget it, okay?”

Shelby nodded, and he dropped his hands from her shoulders.

“You’re 24?” the prince said with a frown.” I thought you were 23.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“All right.”

Nikolai slipped back into his office, and Shelby went with Murdock, who had come to tell Nikolai that a call had come in. They met over her schedule for the next hour, a little longer than usual, and had things worked out by late morning. Shelby did leave some time open, thinking if she did get tired and the prince wanted to see her, she would need to be fresh.

The rest of the day was a blur of activity that lasted well past dark. That evening Shelby attended a birthday party by herself—the invitation had been for her alone—but her mind was almost constantly on her spouse. Nikolai was in the same boat and had gone to see a friend as soon as he finished his own dinner. He was there for one reason: to talk about his wife.

“I make such a mess of things, Ryan. It’s not as if I’ve never been married before, but I’m such a klutz around Shelby.”

“It’s not the same type of marriage, Nick. Surely you can see that. Stop expecting it to be the same.”

Nikolai only shook his head and told about what had happened that morning.

“But she seemed all right when you left her?” Ryan checked with him.

“As much as could be expected. I know she’s still somewhat frightened of me.”

“Why is she afraid of you?”

Nikolai told that story, and again his good friend listened quietly until the end.

“So what’s the plan at this point?” Ryan asked.

“Accountability. I’m here to ask you to check on me.”

“And what do you want me to ask?”

“
If
I’m talking to my wife. Not
if
I’ve asked Murdock about her, but
if
I’ve talked to her myself. I also want you to check with me about whether we’re doing things together. I’ve got things scheduled in such a way that it’s going to take some time to merge our calendars, but it’s time to start working on that.”

“And are you dreading this?”

“Yes,” Nikolai admitted. “She’s a very sweet woman, and she makes no demands on me, so it’s easy to forget she’s even there, but she’s not the woman I love. She is my wife, however, and I need to face that responsibility.”

Ryan looked at him for a moment before saying, “I’m proud of you, Nick.”

Nikolai shook his head. “I don’t think there’s anything to be proud of.”

“You’re wrong about that. You’re hurting and yet carrying on, and I don’t know how many men could do that.”

“I am hurting,” Nikolai admitted softly. “Some days I’m not even sure I believe Yvette is gone, yet I already have another wife. It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever experienced. I’d be ready to throw in the towel if it wasn’t for the woman herself.” Nikolai had been staring across the room but now looked at his friend. “It’s so easy to see people as less than they are, as less than people. Until our wedding day, Shelby Parker was just a name. It’s no longer possible to think that way. I see her, and I see the result of having her live at the palace. There’s no ignoring that this woman
is
in my life. Then there are times like this morning when she looks at me in confused vulnerability, and those are the times I no longer
want
to ignore her presence. Those are the times I finally see her as a person with feelings and needs and know that I have a job to do if I’m going to answer to God about the type of leader I’ve been in my home.”

Ryan smiled. “Like I said, Nick, I’m very proud of you.”

Nikolai left some time later, his heart encouraged. His parents were out of town, and for a time he’d felt at a complete loss as to whom he should counsel with. Talking to Ryan at this time had been like going to God for strength and encouragement, and Nikolai believed that God had used his friend. When he woke in the morning, the evening was still on his mind. He showered and dressed, hoping he hadn’t missed his wife for the day.

Her breakfast ignored, Shelby was buried in the newspaper when Nikolai walked into the kitchen. Fran smiled at him but didn’t speak, so Shelby had no idea that her husband had sat down across from her until his finger curled over the top of the paper and pulled it down just enough to peek at her.

“Good morning,” he said quietly.

“Good morning,” she returned, her face going pink when she realized she hadn’t even felt his presence. “I didn’t see you.” She folded the paper and set it aside.

“You must have been reading something interesting.”

“The cricket scores.”

“You follow cricket?”

Shelby nodded, now playing with the toast and melon slices on her plate. “My brother plays.”

“What school is he attending?”

“Milton West.”

“What day was your birthday?” Nikolai asked suddenly, not willing to beat around the bush any longer.

“Sunday.”

“What day shall we celebrate?”

“Oh, well, um, anytime I guess. Nikolai?”

“Yeah.”

“Were you around on Sunday, or were you busy?”

“I was here.”

Shelby sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t invite you home with me. My folks had some cake and gifts. I just didn’t think you would want to come. I’m sorry I didn’t check with you.”

“I understand why you didn’t, Shelby. We don’t see that much of each other.”

Shelby smiled at him, relieved that he understood. He had put his finger on it very well. It would have been like asking a stranger to help her celebrate.

“I think your parents still plan to have us over for dinner.”

“Yes, they do. They asked me on Sunday if I knew a good time, and I had to be honest and tell them I wasn’t sure.”

“Have them call Murdock. He has a finger on both our schedules.”

“I’ll do that.”

“So,” Nikolai said, coming back to the celebration. “What day should we go out?”

Shelby shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What type of celebration do you like—lunch, dinner, dressy or casual?”

Shelby’s head tilted in thought. “I have to dress up most days, so I guess I would go for casual, maybe something outside in the sunshine.” The words were no more out of her mouth than she thought she sounded presumptuous and blushed again. “But anything is fine,” she hurried to say. “We don’t have to do anything if you’re busy.”

“Leave it to me,” Nikolai said calmly, even though he recognized that he’d just seen through a small window into who she was. “I’ll get back to you or have Murdock put something on the calendar for both of us.”

“Thank you.”

Nikolai checked his watch but surprised the princess by not rushing away. He asked Fran for some breakfast and sat across the table from Shelby to eat it.

“May I share some of this paper?”

“Certainly.”

The two ended up eating to the rustle of the newspaper and the sound of Fran working on pastry dough. Shelby was the first to leave the kitchen. Nikolai told her to have a good day, but other than standing out of courtesy, he stayed where he was. Shelby was gone before he set the paper aside and ate in thoughtful contemplation.

Nikolai hugged his mother when she met him in the foyer downstairs. She had called to tell him she was coming over with some papers. Nikolai had wanted to stretch his legs, so he left his office and waited for her in the spacious foyer that was the hallmark of each of the quadrants.

“How are you, dear?” Erica asked warmly as she looked up at him.

“I’m doing well. How are you and Father?”

“We had a great time at the lake—so peaceful. Do you have plans to go soon?”

“I don’t think so, but it sounds wonderful. You look tan and rested.”