Still the images of her swaying through the orbs and beams in the Heart of God would forever live in his mind. The light loved her. He loved her.
He retreated and bowed to his parents, who moved forward to pay their respects, Mum leaning on Dad.
John stood with Gus and Daffy. Since the day his brother had shown him the video, they’d not spoken of it.
Gemma slipped away five days ago without a word. A footman confirmed she left out the southern gate. Were all the women in his life to harbor some dark secret? Holland. Gemma. Even Mum, who concealed Scottie for thirty-five years.
He’d been tempted to text Gemma. But what could he say?
“Is this what you didn’t want to tell me?”
Maybe their friendship wasn’t as deep as he believed. Perhaps his feelings were all one-sided.
John smiled as Mum approached, leaning more on her cane than Dad. She faced a long recovery, even with treatment. Still Guillain-Barré had never gone to war with Queen Catherine before.
Dad proclaimed Scottie’s visit as Mum’s number one tonic. She’d returned home yesterday but she and Mum seemed to have a constant text running.
When the last song was played, John returned to his car and waved to the roto—which was made up of familiar faces. Men and women he knew well. They’d be kind today, speaking of Holland’s accomplishments and avoiding the latest news.
He paused for a few questions, Gunner and another protection officer by his side. The questions were soft and friendly. Until John said he must move on.
“Was Holland involved with the Reingard scandal? Did she ever say anything to you?” Once Perry Copperfield breached the barrier, everyone started talking, firing off questions about Lord Cunningham, Holland’s involvement, the reality of conviction.
“Let’s wait to see what the lawyers have to say, shall we?”
“What about the woman in the videos? Gemma Stone. Are you romantically involved? Is she a fit future queen?”
“Prince John, did you know about her Vegas career?”
He answered with a wave and ducked into the car with the flapping royal standards. As they cleared the garden gate and moved into Port Fressa traffic, Gunner tapped something into his phone, then tucked it away. John gazed over at him.
“Do you have something to say?”
“It wouldn’t be proper.”
“Say it if it’s worthy.”
Gunner fixed his attention beyond the window to the passing buildings and shops on the western side, the oldest side, of the city.
“Don’t give up on her.” He gave John a look. “I watched her in Hearts Bend and again when she was here. She’s the real deal, sir. I know you see it because I observed you with her. I know the recentfindingsput her in a bad light, but whatever made herperformin that video is not who she is now. We all make mistakes.”
“I’m not judging her for it, Gunner. By the vacant look in her eyes, she didn’t want to be there. But will the Family, the country, accept her? Does she want this little bit of information following her the rest of her life? We’re talking the House of Blue and the monarchy. We may live in a world where morals are wide and varied, but there are some lines that cannot be crossed.”
“If Princess Holland were alive and you learned the truth about her misconduct, would you toss her aside?” Gunner was finding many worthy things to say. “She’d have broken some moral code. Corruption, insider trading, malfeasance.”
“If we were already married, no. Besides, Gunner, Gemma has made the decision for me. She doesn’t want to marry me. Now I know why.”
“She left to protect you,” Gunner said. “That makes her a hero in my book.”
“No one is asking for your book.”
“If she’s your friend, if you care about her at all, you must reach out. She’ll think the videos have disgraced her in your eyes. Or that you’re turning your back on her. Show her you love her and forgive her.”
“You sound like the reverend at the Christmas Eve service. And what’s for me to forgive? What she did in her life before me is not my concern. She didn’t cheat on me or lie to me.” No, lying was all Holland.
“Do you love her?” Gunner fearlessly crossed the boundaries between royal and staff.
“You know as well as I do if we married the video will haunt her the rest of her life. Do you want to subject her to scrutiny and ridicule for the next fifty years? Even beyond her natural life, in the history books.” John held up his palm as if reading from some book. “‘Before becoming a princess and queen of Lauchtenland, Gemma Stone was an ambitious actress. She eventually took a role as a stripper, which came to light when King John invited her to attend the stupid NSINS Ball with him.’”
