“I have time for you. She lives in Italy and understands I need to be with you.”
His anxiety crept up on him. “Where is Luna?”
“I have no idea. That’s why I’m here. To fill in for her and give her some space. My grandfather told me your grandparents are worried about both of you.”
Did Luna want space? Had she already told the family that? His fear that she might not want him to go with her grew worse.
“Tell me what you want or need, Rini. I’ll do whatever I can.”
Rini didn’t question the man’s sincerity. He saw it in his eyes and heard it in his expression. But he still couldn’t handle much more of this. The life of a royal was anathema to him, even if it would offend them if he expressed the sentiment. It was the last job on earth he could imagine wanting. He needed to talk to Dr. Tullia. Right now he didn’t want another person from the family involved in his life, no matter how well-meaning. The thought was making him ill.
“Luna says you run a timber business?”
“Yes, but your welfare is much more important to me. When I arrived at the palace, Carlo Bruno was there and told me about your beautiful wife and all she went through to find you. There’s a woman who lives by faith. She believed you were alive. How remarkable is that? I swear if my fiancée turns out to be a wife as wonderful as Luna, I’ll think I have died and gone to heaven.”
“I can tell you mean that, Vincenzo, so I have thought of one important thing you could do for me.”
“Name it.”
“Luna has explained to me what my princely duties consisted of before all of this happened to me. From what I’ve gathered, my grandfather has started to rely on you. Since I can’t be the person he used to depend on, I’m glad you’re the one he’s looking to now.”
Vincenzo shook his head. “Your condition isn’t permanent, Rini.”
“Maybe it is.”
“But it couldn’t be. Some of my friends who’ve had ski accidents have suffered memory loss, but it always comes back. Now that you’re getting expert medical care, you’re going to be back to normal in no time.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Vincenzo. Doctor Romano says I have a unique case called a fugue state. My amnesia is very different, and I mustn’t expect it to ever come back.”
His cousin’s expression changed to one of shock. “I don’t believe it. I bet Luna doesn’t believe it, either.”
“I’m afraid she’s starting to. We’re both doing everything we can to accept that our situation is permanent. My grandfather needs to accept it, too. I’m no longer able to fulfill my formal function in the monarchy. Therefore, by royal right, the role of Crown Prince has fallen to you. One day you’ll be ruling San Vitano.”
Vincenzo shot up from the chair and started pacing. Then he wheeled around to face Rini. “Does your grandfather know how you feel?”
“Not yet. But he will. That’s why I’m depending on you. I won’t need a translator when I’m released. While I’m here for the next few days, Doctor Tullia has this college teacher to serve as a translator for me. When I’m released, I’ll have Luna.”
“We all assumed you had temporary amnesia, Rini.”
“I hoped the same thing, but it’s not going to happen. Luna tells me my grandfather needs a man he can mold to be King. She says the family sings your praises and I take her word for it.”
Vincenzo’s blue eyes glinted from moisture. “You would have made a great king, Rini. I idolized you and still do for the way you’re handling your affliction now.”
“I’m trying to handle it, and I’m glad we’ve talked. I can’t be the Crown Prince. I don’t have any conception of what that would be like. I’m only glad that you are the designated one now. That’s a burden I willingly throw off without knowing anything about it. I wish you the joy of it. Does your fiancée have any idea you’re going to be King of San Vitano one day?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me about her.”
&nbs
p; “She’s Princess Valentina Di Fiore Visconti of Padua, the daughter of Count Giuseppe Visconti.”
“None of that means a thing to me.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“I’ve discovered it’s life. I was the only survivor of a quake that killed seven other men. For ten days I lay in the hospital, wondering if I would live to see another day.”