The Princess (26 page)

Shelby nodded and moved off. Julie had already picked up the wig and taken it back.

About 15 minutes passed before Nikolai heard his name. He set the newspaper he’d found aside and headed toward the door. Julie stood off to one side and the princess, already a bright pink, waited just out of sight. Nikolai stepped around the corner, took one look at her, and smiled hugely.

“She’ll take it,” he told Julie before stepping close to Shelby.

Julie took her cue and exited.

“Your ladies are going to love this.”

“I don’t know.”

“Trust me.”

“You told her I would take it.”

“Because you should. It’s perfect.”

“I look like that little cartoon character with the big eyes.”

Nikolai laughed but still said, “Take this home.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. If you want to give it to me, I’ll purchase it. As soon as you’re ready, I’ll take you to lunch.”

Shelby pulled the wig from her head and handed it to him. Without looking back she slipped back to the dressing room to fix her hair. By the time she came out, the wig was in a box and Nikolai was waiting. Shelby had little appetite but accompanied
her husband to lunch anyway. It was time to ask some questions, and she was going to make herself start now.

“Nick, may I ask you a question?”

“Yes, anything.”

“You seem to be home a lot right now. Is this a slow time of year for you?”

“No. It seems slower to you because I was so deliberately busy right after we were married, but the main reason you’re seeing more of me is because I’ve cut back on my engagements.”

“Can you tell me the reason?”

“You’re the reason.”

Shelby stared at him.

“To be with me?” she said at last.

“Yes. Our relationship got off poorly, and I’m trying to do what I should have done weeks ago.”

Shelby nodded. They didn’t talk like this very often, and it took some getting used to. She saw him as a busy, important man, and he was, so his taking time to be with her felt a little odd. It didn’t occur to Shelby that as his wife, she was more important than his work, and Nikolai was just starting to see this.

“I’m going to ask you a question now, Shelby. It’s a normal husband/wife type of question.”

Shelby nodded. “All right.”

“What did you find when you shopped today?”

Shelby swallowed but managed to answer. “I found some panties and nylons and a new nightgown. Then I bought those bike shorts I was looking at and the T-shirt you liked.”

“All right. Is there more on your list, or are you just going to browse?”

“I need to find a gift for one of the women in my Bible study and a card for your great grandmother’s birthday.” She hesitated
but then admitted, “If I see some dresses or shoes that catch my eye, I’ll look at those too.”

“Good” was all he said, and Shelby had a thought.

“When do you shop for yourself, Nick?”

“I usually wait until I’m at the lake house. There’s a small shop up there that carries a lot of things I like. They also have mail order, so I take advantage of that.”

“What size are you?” Shelby asked before she thought.

Nikolai laughed. “Large, Shelby, very large.”

The waitress came to take their order, and Shelby felt instantly sorry for her. She could not take her eyes from the prince. Nikolai didn’t seem to notice in the least and gave his order in a kind but impersonal manner. Shelby couldn’t stop her compassionate smile when the woman walked away.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“That smile doesn’t mean nothing, Red—now give over.”

Shelby shook her head. “I was just taking pity on the waitress. She was quite taken with you.”

Nikolai stared at her and then looked in the direction of the kitchen. When he looked back, his face told Shelby that he was completely at sea.

“You didn’t notice the way she stared at you?”

He shook his head no.

“It’s nice to know you’re not conceited.” Shelby went ahead and said what she was thinking.

“About what?”

“Your looks.”

In an instant Nikolai realized he wanted to know what Shelby thought of his looks but also saw that asking would make him seem full of himself. He had to let it go, but Shelby’s opinion of his looks and all else concerning his life lingered in his mind for a long time afterward.

Shelby was not certain how she would be received at the care center, but she went anyway. Her change in procedures made it difficult to visit unless it was in an official capacity, but knowing that she could brighten the day of some of the residents sent her on. It wasn’t as bad as she might have expected. Mrs. Radford’s manner was a bit cool, but she did greet Shelby respectfully and even thanked her for coming.

Shelby had some papers to return to one of the secretaries, and finishing that task, she set out toward the recreation hall to visit for about an hour. As Shelby hoped, Mrs. Rose was there. Mrs. Rose was from Shelby’s neighborhood in Henley, and the younger woman was always glad to hear stories about when she was growing up. Mrs. Wills, her roommate, was also in attendance this day, and the three of them settled in for a visit.

“I remember when the factory that makes those baked goods was built,” Mrs. Rose said with a nod. “We all would stand in the street and just smell the goodies they made. And when they had the parade during Henley Festival Days, they would drive trucks down the street and hand out little cakes and such.”

“I could live on Fairy Cakes,” Shelby admitted, and the older women smiled at her.

“How is life at the palace?” Mrs. Wills asked, as she always did.

“Just fine. The prince is meeting with the Council today, as are the king and king regent.”

“So what do all the ladies do on those days?”

“Well, I came here to the care center, but I haven’t talked to anyone else.”

“Don’t you remember what she told us, Ida?” Mrs. Rose put her oar in. “The palace is all split up like apartments. They don’t see each other unless they purpose to.”

Shelby only smiled. If the north quadrant was an apartment, it was the largest in the world. She knew, however, that the best part of discretion would be to keep this to herself.

“Princess Shelby,” Kris said, suddenly at her side. “May I see you a moment?”

“Of course. Excuse me, ladies.”

Shelby rose and moved to the edge of the room with him without question but found his behavior rather confusing.

“What is it, Kris?”

“There is a fire in the kitchen.”

“Oh, no.” Shelby grabbed his arm. “What can I do?”

“What you can do is leave with me immediately.”

“That’s out of the question,” she said, blinking in surprise. “We’ve got to help.”

“The prince would not thank me if you were harmed, Princess Shelby. We need to leave.”

“Why aren’t they moving the residents out?”

“They will if they can’t contain the fire, but right now it’s small. We must go.”

Shelby looked him in the eye. “We’re not leaving until we learn what’s going on.”

The words were no more out of Shelby’s mouth than Mrs. Radford stepped in the door and blew a whistle.

“I need everyone to come into the hallway please.” Her voice was raised in order to be heard. “If you can move yourselves, do so in an orderly manner. If you need assistance, someone will be with you shortly.”

Shelby was off like a shot. She made it to Mrs. Rose’s side in a moment and began to wheel her to the hall.

“Kris, get Mrs. Wills’ chair, will you please?”

That he was not happy with her was more than obvious, but he followed close behind, wheeling Mrs. Wills’ chair as he went.

“Go ahead and move them to the front lawn,” Mrs. Radford directed as she passed, and Shelby made a beeline for the front door.

“Shelby,” Mrs. Rose said when they were outside. “I didn’t want to come outside. It’s too cold these days.”

“I’ll get you a blanket.”

Shelby found her wrist caught in a steel grip.

“You’ll do no such thing,” Kris commanded in a voice Shelby hadn’t heard before.

“Kris, I might be needed inside,” she began, but he only shook his head.

With one hand he held her, and with the other he reached for the phone at his waist. He could have howled with frustration when it didn’t work. He pushed several buttons, but the phone was dead. His next thought was to check the batteries, something he proceeded to do. It took less than a second to see his mistake. The moment he let go of the princess, she headed back to the door of the care center. Thinking he would have plenty to answer for, he put the phone back in its holder so his hands would be free and went after her.

Not in all the years he’d lived in the north quadrant did Nikolai ever remember Murdock coming to get him from a Council meeting. The man’s face gave nothing away—it never did—but Nikolai couldn’t help but be alarmed.

“Yes, Murdock, what is it?” Nikolai questioned as soon as they were in the hall.

“I thought you should know that we just heard a news report. There is a fire at the care center.”

“Is Kris with the princess?”

“He is, but we can’t raise him on the phone.”

Nikolai thought fast. “Get word to my father, explain to him what you’ve heard, and tell him I’m headed there.”

“I’ll do it, sir.”

Nikolai moved for the front door, thankful for Murdock’s efficiency. Ivan was already waiting with the car, and a moment later he was on his way.

It was tragic that it sometimes took an emergency to show people what they needed to do. Mrs. Radford had meant well, but by not evacuating everyone as soon as the fire started, they now had a full-blown panic on their hands as they rushed the old and infirm to the doors, working as they went to keep everyone calm.

Kris was not a lot of help, as all he would do was shadow Shelby. She was quite exasperated with him, but knowing what his job required, he ignored her frustration. He had only just stopped wasting his breath telling Shelby to come with him. When the firemen would allow no one else in, he simply followed her as she moved about the lawn, calming fears and giving away her coat and anything else she had to make people more comfortable. This was the way Nikolai found her. She was bent over an old man who was crying for something he’d been forced to leave behind. She had no coat, vest, or shoes, but seemed otherwise unharmed.

“I think it will be all right, sir,” he heard her say. “The fire is under control. I don’t think it touched your wing.”

Shelby spoke to the man for several minutes before she noticed her husband. She had not been aware of him or his conversation with Kris but had been very glad to see him. On Nikolai’s
part, he was so glad to see she was safe that nothing else mattered—almost nothing.

The next two hours were spent helping out wherever they could, but many people had to be transported to other facilities, and there was little the royal couple could do. When Nikolai finally said it was time to go, Shelby was ready. For the moment Nikolai just wanted to see her safely home—something he did without fuss. He made a call to his father to inform him of the situation and then asked him to pray.

“Can you be specific?”