Royal Affairs. Rebecca Winters
Like an excited child she squealed over the varieties.
“I’m going to take a quick dip before we head back.”
Antonio couldn’t have stopped her. She was too anxious to get closer. Off came her belt and she lowered herself in the water. The sight of her going underwater made him nervous. He watched her like a hawk. To his relief she came back up a few minutes later, but she looked distressed.
“I stepped on something, but I don’t know what.”
Diavolo. “Does it sting?”
“No. It’s just kind of sore on the pad of my foot.”
Antonio leaned over and helped her into the boat. He set her down on the banquette so he could inspect it. “You made contact with a sea urchin, but luckily I only see two spines.” Thank heaven. “They’ll need to come out. Keep your leg on the banquette and I’ll get us back home.” He wrapped the life belt around her, kissed her lips and got behind the wheel.
“Do you think it’s serious?”
“No. I once got a whole foot full of them, but I was fine. Still, we’ll ask the doctor to check you.”
“Oh no—I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Accidents can happen anytime in the water, as you reminded me.”
The sky was darkening fast. He was glad when they reached their island. After tying up the boat, he undid the life belts and carried her from the deck into their bedroom.
After setting her down on top of the bed, he phoned Manu and asked for a doctor to come. “I’ll get you some ibuprofen after we’ve talked to the doctor.”
“Will you carry me to the bathroom? I need to get out of my suit and into a robe.”
“Of course.” He lifted her in his arms once more and let her hang on to him while he reached for her robe hanging on the door. “Can I help you?”
“I’ll be all right.” He waited until she said she was ready, and then he carried her back to the bed. In another moment he heard Manu’s voice coming from the main entrance. “The doctor is here.”
“Will you show him into the bedroom, Manu?”
Within seconds the two men came in. “Princess Christina? This is Dr. Ulani.”
He brought his bag with him. “Thank you for coming, Doctor. As you can see, my wife stepped on a sea urchin. She’s in pain.”
“Hush, Antonio. It’s not that bad at all. More of a discomfort.”
The native doctor smiled. “Accidents like this happen every day, even to someone like Your Highness. Let me check your foot. I’ll try not to add to your pain.”
Antonio placed a chair for him to sit while he worked on her. Relieved as he was that she was getting medical attention, it suddenly hit him how frightened he’d been when she first surfaced. In very little time she’d become so important to him that he couldn’t bear the thought of anything truly serious being wrong with her.
The doctor opened his bag and proceeded to get rid of the two spines. He put ointment on the sores and a dressing. “You’ll be fine tomorrow. Just make sure you wear some kind of shoe in the water if you’re not snorkeling with fins. I’ll give you a tablet for you to sleep that will kill the pain. Tomorrow if you’re still too sore, take some ibuprofen.”
“Thank you so much. It feels better already.”
“It’s a privilege to help you, Princess.” When he’d finished, he stood up. “Take care, now.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” Antonio muttered. He shouldn’t have let her slip into the water like that. The action had caught him off guard.
“Here’s the pill. Tomorrow you can take off the dressing.”
Antonio walked him out to the living room. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am you came.”
“It is my pleasure to wait on the future king and queen of Halencia. Our people are aware of your presence here and they are delighted. Don’t hesitate to get hold of me through Manu if you are alarmed by anything.”
Manu stood by. “You want your dinner in the bedroom, Your Highness?”
“Yes. Thank you. Will you bring a glass of water so she can take her medicine?”
He nodded and hurried to the kitchen. Antonio headed back to the bedroom. “Christina? It’s my fault you got hurt this evening.”
“Nonsense. I wasn’t thinking. When I saw those fish, I just had to get in closer.”
“Please tell me you’ll give me a heads-up next time before you do a disappearing act.”
His mermaid was resting against the headboard with a sore foot. “I’m sorry to be the one at fault for not having the sense to get in the water prepared. But, Antonio, you don’t have to try to be perfect with someone as imperfect as I am. I did a stupid thing, but the situation really is funny, don’t you think? Your parents planning for every contingency to bring us joy? And I blew it. At least for tonight. Now you have to give me my medicine and be stuck with your ball and chain until morning.”
“Don’t say that! Not ever! I don’t feel that way about you and never could. Promise me!” He sounded truly upset.
“I promise,” she said as Manu appeared with their dinner. Antonio thanked him and put the tray of food on the side of the bed next to her. He handed her the glass of water and the pill. “Take this first.”
After she did his bidding, he sat in the chair the doctor had used and they ate their dinner. He heard her sigh.
“It’s another beautiful night, so balmy. I’d wanted to go walking on the beach with you.”
“We’ll do that tomorrow night. For now, you need to try and fall asleep.”
“You won’t leave me?” Her eyes beseeched him.
“As if I would,” he murmured, experiencing a hard tug of emotion. It came to him that his new wife had become of vital importance to him. “I’ll join you as soon as I change out of my swimming suit.”
“Good. Don’t be long.”
Christina, Christina.
He put the tray on the table and went into the bathroom to change. After putting on a robe, he turned out the lights, then got into bed beside her. The pill must have been powerful, because her eyelids were drooping. Antonio rolled her into him and she let out a deep sigh. Soon she was asleep. Before long, oblivion took over.
Around six in the morning he felt the bed move. She’d gotten up to use the bathroom.
He eyed her through sleep-filled eyes. When she returned he said, “How’s the pain?”
“There’s hardly any at all. I can walk fine as long as I’m careful.”
“That’s wonderful news. Come back to bed and rest that foot some more. It’s still early.”
CHRISTINA EYED HER HUSBAND, who’d kept a vigil over her all night. She got back in bed, lying on her side so she could watch him sleep. He was such a gorgeous man. Dawn was sneaking into the bedroom with the morning breeze. Through the open windows she could see the unique shape of the mountains on Bora Bora. If she could be anywhere in the world, she wanted to be right here with the man she’d married.
When next she came awake, she found herself the object of Antonio’s blue gaze. She propped her head up with her hand. “How long have you been awake?”
“Long enough to watch my lovely wife. You’ve been sleeping so peacefully.”