The King’s Innocent Bride

“I want everything there is to know about Kate Eldor,” I tell John as I stride past him. I want to get to the future queen of our country.

Chapter Five

Kate

I roll over, snuggling deeper into the warm bed. I just had the best sleep I’ve ever had in my life. It feels like I’m on a cloud. I let out a small moan, wanting to sink even deeper into the bed and never move again. I feel weightless. My eyes fly open when I hear a stifled laugh. The big white sheer canopy over me reminds me where I am. Sitting up, I look to my right to see a woman sitting in a chair next to the bed, sipping tea and smiling at me with her legs crossed.

“Hi,” is all I can think of to say. She smiles even bigger, setting down her cup of tea on the nightstand. She looks elegant. Her dark hair is streaked with gray and is pinned back with a diamond clip.

Her makeup is done flawlessly, like everything about her. Even her outfit is perfect—cream-colored slacks paired with a deep navy blue button-up silk blouse. “I’m so glad you have finally woken. My son was going to lose him mind soon if you hadn’t,” she says with the smile still on her face as if the idea of her son losing it is amusing to her. “He paced at the end of the bed for a few hours after the doctor left until I talked him into finding something else to do.” She rolls her eyes like he’s here to see it.

I lick my lips, wondering if she is talking about the king. It dawns on me that I actually don’t even know his name. “Here.” The woman stands, picking up a glass of water and handing it to me. I greedily take it and chug it down. The cool water is an instant relief for my dry mouth.

“Thank you,” I tell her, handing back the empty cup.

“You must be hungry,” she says, picking up the phone. I nod and watch as she makes a call for food before sitting on the side of the bed next to me. I pull the robe that I have on tighter when I see it came undone while I was sleeping.

She reaches out and touches my cheek. I flinch. “Sorry. It’s looking a lot better. The cream the doctor put on there looks to be doing wonders.” I reach up myself, touching the sore spot. I forgot about being hit. This is all starting to feel a little crazy. I’ve been plucked from one world and put into a completely different one in a matter of hours.

“A doctor came?” I ask. I don’t remember that. The idea that people have been coming and going from the room while I slept is a tad unsettling. I must have slept deeply. I’ve always thought of myself as a light sleeper, but I do remember when I closed my eyes I’d felt safe for the first time in a very long time. Maybe that’s why I slept so well. My body thought it finally had a chance to.

“Yeah, but she was only here for a moment. She said she’d come back when you woke. We thought it best to let you rest.” The woman folds her hands in her lap, locking her fingers together like she is trying to keep herself from touching me. She almost seems excited.

“I’m Kate,” I tell her.

“Oh my goodness.” She lets out a laugh. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m Cecily, but you can call me Cece for now. I can’t believe I didn’t introduce myself. I guess I’m used to people knowing who I am.” She studies me for a moment. “But you don’t know who I am, do you?” I shake my head. With the way she is dressed and how she holds herself, I’m guessing someone of importance.

“Did you know who my son was before you met him here?”

I shake my head again. I’d definitely remember that man.

“I don’t know many people here. I wasn’t allowed to go far from my uncle’s home. I knew of the king from hearing my uncle talk about him,” I admit. I lick my still-dry lips. “Please don’t make me go back to him.” I drop my eyes down to my hands.

“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart.” She places her hand over mine and gives it a small, reassuring squeeze. I look up into her warm eyes that have become soft now. She reminds me of my grandma, and a pang of longing hits me. I miss having someone who actually cares about me.

“Where is he?” I ask. I wonder if it’s really that easy. Where will I go from here? I’m not sure that it matters too much at this point. That had been my plan—to get away—and it looks like I’ve done it. Now I need to figure out what to do next. If I could pick, I would fall back into this bed and not move for a week.