‘There’s a meeting arranged for this afternoon at my charity’s offices. It’s only going to be for an hour, the construction company is going to update us on how things are going. If I asked everyone to come here instead, I’d find it less taxing.’
Hugo’s tone was almost contrite. When Nell looked up at him, there was a trace of concern on his face.
This was a start. ‘That sounds like a good idea, Hugo.’
* * *
Shame was something that Hugo usually tried to avoid. If he worked hard, and met the standards that he set, he generally found that he could live with himself. But now he felt thoroughly ashamed.
Being ill had made him crazy. It had stripped away the feeling that he was in charge of his life, and he was struggling to find the man he’d once thought himself to be. But in trying to pretend that it hadn’t happened, he’d hurt Nell, and that was unforgiveable.
He knew exactly where his parents would be during the week, they were creatures of habit. As he expected, he found them sitting at the twin desks, placed back to back to allow murmured conversation and smiles while they completed their correspondence for the day.
‘Mother...’ He smiled, and his mother rose for a hug, made awkward by his lame shoulder.
‘Hugo, darling. How do you feel today?’
‘Much better, thank you.’ Hugo’s relationship with his mother was an effortless synergy of respect for her position and warmth. The one with his father involved rather more effort. ‘I’d like to speak with Father.’
His mother sat firmly back down, waving her hand towards his father, who had looked up from the papers in front of him. Her smile told Hugo that she knew exactly what all this was about, and she wasn’t going to give either of them the chance to argue in private.
‘Go ahead, darling. He’s right here, in case you didn’t notice.’
Right. Hugo turned to his father, and found himself locked in the familiar combative stare that was their usual greeting to each other. He sat down, knowing that it probably wouldn’t defuse the situation. Pacing up and down wasn’t going to help much if he wanted to imply that he was taking things easy.
‘It’s not Nell’s fault, Father.’
His father turned the corners of his mouth down. ‘I’m inclined to agree with you. It is, however, Dr Maitland’s responsibility to make sure that you rest.’
‘And she’s doing that.’
‘I disagree, Hugo.’
The silence between them wasn’t broken by his mother’s voice. Usually her intervention avoided conflict between father and son, neatly suggesting a solution that everyone could live with. But this time there was just a silence.
‘My behaviour isn’t her fault. Nell’s a good doctor, and...she’s exactly what I need at the moment. In the future, I’ll follow her instructions.’ This was a climb-down of gargantuan proportions. But Hugo had seen humiliation and rejection in Nell’s face this morning, and they haunted him.
‘So things are going to change, are they?’
‘They will. Don’t punish her in order to get to me.’
His father leaned back in his chair. ‘You’ve seen the papers this morning?’
‘It’ll blow over. How many other young women have been photographed in my company in the last year?’
‘Goodness only knows. I don’t know where you get the time,’ his mother interjected suddenly, and both men turned on her, frowning. ‘It’s just an observation, darling. It would make things a great deal easier if you decided that your health wasn’t such a secret.’
‘I want it to remain private.’
That was one of the few things that Hugo and his father had agreed on lately, even if it was for different reasons. His father had always drawn a line between his family’s personal lives and their public duties, and that had allowed Hugo to grow up outside the glare of publicity. For Hugo, it was more a matter of not wanting to be seen as irrevocably flawed.
King Ferdinand nodded. ‘You know I have no argument with you there, Hugo. But you have a duty...’
Hugo nodded impatiently. ‘I know what my duty is. To be strong enough to serve the people.’
His father nodded. ‘I assume from your presence that Dr Maitland wants to stay.’
‘I have no idea. But she gets that choice.’ Hugo felt his heart quicken and he ignored it. He would have to stop gauging everything by the beat of his own heart.
‘There’s only one person who can make sure that Dr Maitland keeps her job. That’s you, Hugo.’
Hugo got to his feet, making an effort to swallow his anger as he turned to his mother. He bade her goodbye, omitting the same gesture towards his father, before turning and walking out of the room.
* * *
Hugo had been oddly compliant all day. It was as if he’d suddenly come to his senses, or at least decided that it was more politic to appear to have done so. He’d spent the morning reading through the reports from the construction company, and the meeting was a short one. Nell had been able to relax a little and take an interest in the plans for the clinic. She could see why the project excited Hugo, and why he was willing to give up almost anything to see it come to fruition.
‘What did Celeste say?’ Nell had gone to speak to Celeste alone, while he stayed in his apartment.
‘She said that last night, when the carer was with them, she got the first good night’s sleep she’s had in months.’
Hugo nodded. ‘That’s something. It’s working, then?’
‘It’s early days. But, yes, I think it’ll work very well.’
‘Good. I’ll speak to my father...’
‘Not yet, Hugo. I... I’ve already taken the blame for the other night, and I’m still in one piece. Let’s wait a week and make sure that the arrangement’s working for Celeste first. Then you can speak to him.’
‘He should know now. That you weren’t to blame for that either.’
Either? ‘You’ve already spoken to him, haven’t you?’
‘Yes. I told him that yesterday was entirely my fault and that it wouldn’t happen again.’
The sudden feeling of warmth in Nell’s chest caught her by surprise. Nell didn’t dare wonder if she was really that important to Hugo, that he’d comply with his father’s wishes for her sake.
‘You didn’t need to do that... But thank you.’
‘My pleasure. There are always plenty of other options when it comes to defying my father. You’d be surprised at the scope his position affords.’
He was making light of it, but the look in his eyes said something different. That she could trust him and he’d be there for her.
The sound of the bell, at the front door of the apartment broke the silence. It couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time, and Nell willed him to ignore it, but he didn’t, rising from his seat. Maybe he was glad of the interruption.
She heard voices in the hallway, and jumped to her feet when Queen Margaux entered the room. She was more casually dressed than in the pictures Nell had seen on the Internet, wearing a pair of tan trousers and a matching shirt, but she was still immaculate.
‘I’m glad to see that you’re here, resting, Hugo.’ Queen Margaux bestowed a smile on Nell that seemed to indicate she thought Nell had something to do with that. ‘Penelope. I’m very glad to meet