time, which was why he’d planned and orchestrated the proper timing.
He clicked his heels together and bowed slightly. “Ruark Benjamin Mikael Thomas, Prince of Marestonia.”
“Prince?” she asked on a near squeak. “I thought you were a physician.”
“They aren’t mutually exclusive. I happen to be both.”
“What brings a physician slash prince of Marestonia to Belmont Memorial?”
“To work, like everyone else,” he promptly answered.
“Since when do princes need to earn a living?”
“It’s called serving the people,” he said lightly. “As the third son, I was free to choose my own career, and I chose medicine. Just as your cousin, Leander, did.”
Curiosity flashed in her eyes at the mention of a cousin who shared her interest and her profession, but a few seconds later indifference appeared, as if she simply refused to acknowledge any sort of connection between her and her father’s family. “And you chose to work in the US?”
“When I’m not involved in relief work.”
“How noble.”
“Please, feel free to tell me what you truly think.”
His gentle rebuke brought color to her face. “I apologize,” she said stiffly. “As a physician, I was out of line to say something so unforgivable.”
“Apology accepted.” Gina was many things, but she didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, he decided. From the reports he’d read about her, he hadn’t expected her to do otherwise.
She crossed her arms. “OK, you’re a prince who works for a living, but out of all the hospitals in this country, what made you choose Belmont?”
“Because you’re here,” he said simply.
She scoffed. “Oh, please. You can’t be serious.”
“It’s true,” he insisted. “I came as soon as a job was available.”
She looked puzzled. “But why? We don’t know each other.”
“Your grandmother and my father sent me.” He reached into the left inside pocket of his suit coat, retrieved a white envelope and held it out to her. “The Queen Mother asked if I would deliver this.”
Recognition flashed in her eyes as her gaze traveled from one corner emblazoned with the royal crest of the House of Avelogne to the middle where her name appeared in large, beautifully precise script. “Why would the royal family send a letter to me?” she asked suspiciously.
“You’ll have to read the explanation for yourself.”
She eyed the envelope as if it were a pure culture of Hantavirus, but indecision flickered across her face. He hoped her curiosity would overrule the hard feelings she so plainly felt.
Reluctantly, she accepted the offering and hefted it in her hand before tapping the long edge against one palm. “If you wanted to be the Queen Mother’s errand boy, you didn’t have to accept a job at Belmont to do so.”
Although amused by her bluntness, he hid a smile. “For the record, your uncle is now King, which makes your grandmother the Queen Mother, but to answer your question, no, I didn’t.”
“Then why did a Prince of Marestonia, a Doctor Prince no less, move here just to deliver her mail?”
“You’ll understand when you read what your grandmother has to say.”
“If this is a ‘hi, how are you’ note, I’m not interested,” she warned.
“Read it,” he repeated. “I’ll answer your questions after you read the letter.”
“All right, I will.”
Suspecting she’d leave under the guise of needing privacy and then, when she was alone, she would destroy her grandmother’s letter unopened, Ruark positioned himself in front of the room’s only exit. “I’ll give you all the time you need, without saying a word.”
She clutched the envelope until it wrinkled. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Of course you can. You’re not afraid, are you?” he asked, hoping she’d respond to the challenge in his voice.
She did. She squared her shoulders and met his gaze as she defiantly slid her finger under the glued flap and pulled out a piece of expensive stationery. “Happy now?” she asked crossly.
“Not until you read it.”
“Then stop hovering,” she snapped.
Once again, he hid his amusement and moved closer to the door. “Sorry,” he said, unapologetically. It was clear she was as irritated with him as she was at her grandmother for breaking years of silence, but a journey began with a single step and Gina had taken hers.
Gina took a deep breath as she unfolded the single sheet. The words written in the same beautiful script as on the envelope jumped off the page.
Greetings, dearest Granddaughter,
We trust this letter finds you well. Although we have never met, we still consider you an integral part of our family.
Gina inwardly scoffed, but read on.
You will never know how much I deeply regret the family differences that have separated us all these years, but I hope you will find it in your heart to put the past behind us and look to the future.
Avelogne needs your help, my dearest Gina. Its alliances with Marestonia are threatened and neither country can afford to lose the goodwill we’ve enjoyed for centuries. We realize your loyalties do not lie with us, but your parents are at the heart of the matter and I hope you will find it in your heart to honor them by being part of the solution. Prince Ruark shall relay all the details and explanations necessary.
We know our request will come as a great surprise, but your decision will affect countless people. You are a woman who chose a profession because you care about others and we are confident you shall follow your nature and choose the right course of action.
We shall look forward to hearing from you and soon meeting each other face to face.
With best wishes,
Your Grandmother, Juliana
“What does she mean, my parents are at the heart of the matter?” she asked.
“Today’s problems are linked to the government’s decision to withhold approval for your parents’ marriage.”
Her father had mentioned something about that, but had glossed over the details. “Sounds to me like the government made its own dilemma, so they can fix it.”
“My family was involved, too.”
“Then you
