They finished eating. Elise took their dishes and cleaned up.
Frederick convinced himself to push the blankets off and move so his legs were dangling over the side of the bed. He propped himself with his hands on the edge of the mattress and closed his eyes.
Time to move.
He managed to stand, but the yacht rolled suddenly.
Not overly much, but in his weakened state, enough that he began to topple.
“Whoa.” Elise hurried to grab him and help stabilize him. “You okay?”
He nodded. “Just not very steady on my feet at the moment.” By the time he moved carefully to the bathroom, he’d taken a mental inventory of his body.
No pain. Discomfort in his abdomen, but the upset stomach could explain that.
His personal aide met him in the dressing area.
Accepting help getting dressed in casual clothes took some convincing, though the argument took place only inside his own head.
Once dressed, he decided to lay down again until it was time to disembark.
It only took a few minutes for him to fall asleep. When Elise woke him gently, he felt somewhat better than he had when he awoke the first time.
The island was secluded and private. From the dock closest to his mum’s house, they were driven in an electric golf cart.
Once inside, his mum disregarded his directive given many years earlier and curtsied.
He rolled his eyes and held his arms open for the hug he knew would be coming.
Remembering his conversation with Elise on the plane after right they met, Frederick closed his eyes and let himself just enjoy the moment.
His mother released him and greeted Elise before turning back.
She gave him one of those looks only mothers have mastered. “What’s wrong?”
Frederick just sighed and shook his head. “I was a bit under the weather yesterday, but I’m doing much better this morning.”
The look relaxed only slightly. “You wouldn’t lie to me?”
“No, ma’am.” Frederick put his arm around his mum’s shoulders. “I promise I’m feeling much better.”
“Very well.” She put her arm around his waist. “Let’s go have a seat and talk for a bit.”
Frederick walked with his mum into the other room and sat in his favorite chair. Reaching down to the side, he pulled the handle and flipped the foot rest out.
He’d let his mum and his wife do the talking.
He just might take another nap.
When Elise looked at Frederick,she realized he’d fallen asleep in the recliner at his mum’s living room.
“Is he feeling all right?” the Queen Mother nodded toward her son.
“He seemed off last night, said his stomach was a little funny, but he felt better this morning.” She remembered how he stumbled when he stood and the yacht hit a wave. “His balance seemed off, but he’d just stood up for the first time so it could have just been his equilibrium was still catching up to beingawake. I know mine does that on solid ground sometimes, much less at sea.”
The Queen Mother nodded. “I suppose, though I’ve never known him to have trouble with his sea legs.” She frowned as she stared at her son then reached for her phone. “I’m going to have the resort doctor come over to look at him.”
Elise didn’t know Frederick well enough to know for certain what he’d think about that, but she felt pretty certain that he wouldn’t be crazy about the idea.
