Reclaiming the Prince's Heart

It killed her to leave him when she’d just found him, but she did as the doctor asked. Her heart was thudding too hard to be healthy. The three of them walked back to the doctor’s office.

“So your husband is the Crown Prince of San Vitano.”

“Yes!” she cried, overjoyed to the point the tears were gushing. “Here.” She pulled the wallet out of her purse and handed pictures of him to the doctor to prove it.

He studied them and nodded. “I’ll inform the staff and the police. They’ll inform the prime minister. Now that we know his identity, he’ll be released to you. But we must talk fast, Princess Baldasseri. I need your input.”

“Of course. Go on.”

“Besides the deep gash on his arm, my examination has revealed he suffered a blow to the back of the head. He also lost a great deal of blood and is still recovering. But I am only a general doctor. This village hospital doesn’t have the sophisticated equipment to diagnose him. When you get him home, he needs all kinds of care and must see a neurological specialist right away. You will need a medevac helicopter to transport him back to San Vitano.”

“I understand and am so thankful you’ve been here to take care of him. There are no words to tell you how grateful I am.” She turned to Carlo. “I’ll call the King and Queen to let them know he’s alive. Leonardo will send a medical helicopter immediately.”

She pulled out her cell and phoned Rini’s grandparents, who were speechless with joy when they heard the news. They all wept for a long time.

“I’ll explain everything later. Right now Carlo is here with me and we’re at the hospital with the doctor treating Rini, who has a deep cut on his arm. It’s infected and they’re giving him an antibiotic.” She heard Antonia cry out in pain. “Can you send a neurosurgeon with the helicopter? We also need to know how soon to expect it.”

“It will arrive there within the hour,” Leonardo promised. “A miracle happened today, and all because of you. You have no idea the measure of our gratitude for you.”

“I love you both. We have our Rini back. It’s a glorious day.”

“Indeed it is. Come home safely, my dear. We’ll have everything ready for you at the hospital.”

She hung up and related the news to the doctor. “Can I sit with my husband until he’s transferred?”

“I don’t see why not but realize he’s very nervous and trusts no one. We can’t communicate with him. When you get home, he’ll need medical help to see to his immediate needs.”

“Thank you for taking such wonderful care of him, Doctor Miakar. We’ll make sure you and the hospital are recompensed for all you’ve done.”

“It’s an honor.”

“We’re going to be here for a while,” Carlo murmured to her. “I’ll have the driver take me to the helicopter and tell them to fly home. Then I’ll return for you and we’ll wait for the other helicopter. It will land here at the hospital.”

“You’re a treasure, Carlo. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

After he left the hospital, she turned to the doctor. “Can I see my husband now?”

He indicated she should follow him. Luna was living to see Rini again and just fill her eyes. The wonder of his being alive consumed her.

When she went back to his room and sat down by him, she realized he hadn’t moved. It gave her the opportunity to feast her hungry eyes on his face and body. The first time she’d met him, she knew the tall, hunky, black-haired Crown Prince had to be the most attractive man alive.

“Rini—” she sobbed his name quietly, unable to imagine how horrible his life must have been since the earthquake. Why couldn’t he speak or understand anything? They said he spoke a strange language. She couldn’t get over it.

Luna walked around to see the top of his head. The doctor said he’d received a blow. She couldn’t detect anything with all that black hair covering his scalp. Who knew what horrors he’d had to live through?

He was hooked up to an IV, and one of the nursing staff was checking his vital signs. After a while Luna could tell he was coming to because he moved his strong legs and turned his head to the other side of the pillow.

She moved to the other side of his bed to be close to him. Without thinking, she whispered, “Jeu carezel tei, Rini,” in her native language. It meant I love you.

Suddenly, he opened those translucent gray eyes she’d thought she’d never see again. They stared at her without recognition. She assumed it was because he was still sedated. “Ti discurras rumantch?”

Her heart turned over because he’d heard her outpouring of love and understood. He’d just asked her if she spoke Romansh. That was the strange language no one understood?

“Gea. Yes, yes, yes.”

“How come no one else can communicate? Where am I? I’ve been going insane that no one understands me. But you do. Why? Do you know me?”

His questions were fired one after another. The last question shocked her, but now was not the time to try and understand what was going on.