The hospital was three stories of white stucco, with black doors and window trimming, looking rather worn after decades in the sea wind. Someone had gone ahead to warn them of our approach, as the hospital director, lead surgeon, and head nurse all waited on us.
I offered a hand to Director Ruth Jaehart. “Director, thank you for the welcome.”
She was accustomed to my direct ways, having sat through four meetings with me in this life, and immediately shook hands with me. “Thank you so much for following through on your promise, Your Highness. It means the world to our veterans.”
“Of course. I’m sorry it took this long to get people proper help. Helena you know, of course, but have you met Royce?”
“I have not.” She smiled prettily, showing off dimples, and dipped into a shallow bow. Probably the best she could do with aging knees. “Your Highness, you’re very welcome.”
Royce nodded in return and looked vaguely uncomfortable being here.
I completed the introductions. “This is Abby Elmstone, Head Nurse over the hospital—”
Nurse Elmstone bowed deeply. She was a veteran herself—an army nurse who had gone into civilian work—and absolutely behind the program. This was the neatest I’d seen her. Normally she wore work pants and a stained shirt. Today, every brown hair was in place, her formal white-and-black uniform clean and starched.
“—and Les Greensmith, head of the surgical department. Use they/them for Doctor Greensmith, please.”
Royce shrugged agreement and awkwardly ducked his head to them both.
Yeah, he was still trying to figure out a way to get out of this. I’d better reinforce. I sidled in next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders, all the better to keep him right where he was.
“Royce, you’ve got wonderful government funding here, and they’ve set up a lab so you can work on your own project while also helping them. I understand from Director Jaehart that you’ll get three lab assistants as well?”
She smiled again, grey eyes crinkling up at the corners. “Indeed, you will. We’ve made sure everything is top of the line for you, plus we have fresh specimens from some of the patients we’ve had this past week.”
Royce heardfunding,lab assistants, andspecimensand nothing else. I would swear on Vuheia to this. He perked right up. “That sounds amazing. I can’t wait to see the lab myself.”
Doctor Greensmith extended a welcoming arm in the direction of the hospital. “Please, let me show you. I’m quite anxious to see your work, Your Highness. I’ve read your latest paper on salence, and it was astounding, truly. Surface contact is how it’s carried, you said. I’ve been cleaning everything, sterilizing as much as I can between patients, and have had a thirty percent decrease in infection with my patients. Just in the past two weeks.”
“Really?” Royce nearly bounced, eagerly following Greensmith. “Astounding! I haven’t had a chance to really put my findings into physical practice. Can you show me what methods you’re using?”
“Yes, of course…”
I lost the rest of the conversation as they entered the building, door closing behind them with a snap, no doubt because of the wind.
“Well”—Helena’s voice was filled with mirth—“I think Royce just found a kindred spirit.”
Thank all the gods and goddesses.
“We’re very eager to have him,” Director Jaehart assured her. “Prince Royce brings a breath of fresh air into medical research that’s truly necessary. He’s in good hands here, I promise you.”
“Oh, use him as much as you like,” Helena said with a laugh. “Just make sure he eats. He tends to work straight through meals. Okay, we’re going back to the seawalls. Pleasure to meet you, Director, Nurse Elmstone.”
“Likewise, Your Highness,” they both returned in near unison.
I offered Helena my arm and we headed off at a walk. Edwin and Captain Rowan were with us, keeping one step back, Sir Pedan and Helena’s knight in front of us.
It was a rare moment having Helena mostly alone, so I decided to capitalize on it. “With one thing and another going on, I haven’t updated you much on Gillespie.”
“You’ve found things, then?”
“Yes, indeed. Stedman told me he’s found so much that he needs the remaining two weeks to gather up the right evidence and begged for patience. I granted it, as I’d rather come in fully prepared than half-cocked.”
Helena made a face. “Let’s not give them any wiggle room. As long as we can break up this engagement before the Founder’s Ball, I’m fine. I can’t stand having him as my partner.”
“That’s a while off, yet. We’ll get you free of him in time, I promise.”
Our sibling relationship this time around was so much better, and I loved it. Reaching out, supporting her, had absolutely been the right thing to do.
