* * *
ETHAN
One year ago…
Vallerian Royal Palace, Royal Wing
Family Dining Room
Before dinner that night, Ethan cornered Nate and whispered low. “Why haven’t you told them about the wedding yet?”
Nate crossed his arms and shrugged. “There hasn’t been time. Surely, you don’t expect me to do it now?”
“You’re playing a risky game, and I’m stuck in the middle.”
More family started filtering in and Nate didn’t respond.
“Did you at least do the ceremony again in Valleria?”
“No need. I confirmed with our lawyers that it was legal and they are discreet. They won’t cross me and tell Papa.”
“They could and he should hear it from you first.”
Nate’s lips tightened. “When Papa’s better. We’ll do it then.”
Ethan sighed and shook his head as Nate walked away.
Nate wasn’t going to tell their parents, not until he was forced to for some reason.
Shit.
He watched the others enter, but didn’t catch sight of Alex until he entered with Rebecca after dinner had begun. So, Ethan waited until they’d all finished the meal and asked Alex for some time.
Ethan had thought long and hard about what he was going to say, and the words came as he’d rehearsed them in his head. “I’m sorry about my behavior earlier, Alex. You know I’ll do what you tell me to do. I’m not going to argue with you, not now, not later.”
Suddenly, all the other words he hadn’t rehearsed, all his frustrations over the last day, came to a head. “Goddamn it, I know how Arianna feels. How do you think I felt for twelve fucking hours stuck on a ship at sea with a patient I couldn’t leave, while both my father and sister lay in hospital beds?” He’d been torn between helping the woman he loved and his family, and he was feeling guilty that he’d chosen Anda. He shouldn’t, he knew that, knew it had been the right decision, but that didn’t make it any easier for him.
“Ethan—”
“No, it’s my turn to talk. What good is it being a doctor if you can’t help your family during a time like this?” He ran a furious hand through his hair. “We’ve all got our duties, Alex. It’s not just you. You’ve got the most, but you’re not the only one with responsibilities pulling him away from family.”
Alex jerked Ethan to him, and locked him in a hug. “I’m sorry, Ethan.”
Ethan wrapped tight around Alex, loving the feel of his biggest brother’s arms around him. “Christ. I’m sorry, too.”
They pulled back. “So, Papa was looking good when you saw him?”
“As well as can be expected. You know, I’m used to seeing patients hooked up to all sorts of things, but I’m not used to seeing my father that way.” He paused, then added softly, “He looked frail, but he’s in good spirits.”
“Hopefully, Arianna will be the same.”
“Speaking of, we’re off as well,” Ethan said, pointing to himself and his sister, Carolina, who was going to Brazenbourg with him. “I’ll let everyone know once I’ve touched base with Arianna’s doctors.”
“She was doing okay last I spoke with her,” Rebecca said as she neared Alex again. “Still no more bleeding, though her pains started up again for a while.”
“When did you last speak with her?” Grace asked. “I called her about an hour ago.”
“I spoke to her about forty-five minutes ago,” Rebecca replied.
