Scottie stared at her plate—fish and chips, gravy, and mushy peas.It was late, and she was more tired than hungry, despite the divine aroma.
“Do you think they’re okay?The woman and her daughter?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”Michael raised his pint.“Why’d you need air, Scottie?”
“I don’t know.I felt overwhelmed.Kate was so weak she could barely eat.I was spoon-feeding her.”Scottie dipped a fry in gravy.“Please keep that between us.Also, I told her I forgive the past.We’d agreed to move on from it when she just…collapsed.I called for help, and two nurses rushed in and dismissed me immediately.Michael, the queen has two nurses on staff.Doesn’t that mean her Guillain-Barré is serious?”
“No, it means she’s the queen of Lauchtenland.”
“I finally have a mother, and she’s gravely ill.”Scottie looked away.“Sorry, I’m being dramatic.”
“You’re being a daughter.”
“When I went for air, I heard the music, so I followed it.”Scottie broke off a flaky corner of fish.“The music was good.It felt like home.Then someone recognized me.I tried to deny it.”
“Scottie, how did you even sneak out of the palace?None of the cameras caught you.”
She grinned.“It’s a secret.A Blue family secret but Prince Gus roped me in.”
“I see.I presume you also know the gate code?”
“Obviously.”
He smiled despite himself.“Can you remember how you happened to lunge for the woman?”
Scottie thought for a moment, replaying the scene in fragments.“I saw a break in the crowd and was about to run when I felt a large, warm hand on my shoulder.I turned and saw the woman falling over the edge.I jumped, barely catching her arm, which yanked me to the ground.I grabbed hold with my other hand, trying to pull her up.I kept thinking someone would help but no one did.I was so grateful for the man holding my legs.”
“What man?There was no one holding your legs.”
“Yes.A man, with very strong, warm hands.Just like the one that touched my shoulder.”She closed her eyes.“I wasn’t afraid.”
“I didn’t see anyone holding you, Scottie.It looked to me as if you were about to go over yourself.”
“Maybe he left when you got there.But why didn’t he help?When I felt him let go—that’s when I was afraid.My arms started to shake.”
“I see,” Michael murmured, glancing about the pub with a curious expression.
“What are you looking for, Michael?What are you not saying?”
“Nothing.Just interesting.Eat.You’ll feel better.Stella puts peace in her food.”
Scottie looked down at her overflowing plate.She’d eaten here before, and while the food was good, she didn’t remember it ever tasting like peace.Yet the next bite of flaky fish, dipped in gravy, tasted like Shug’s kitchen.Like home.
Across the pub, a table of locals caught her eye and gave a thumbs-up.
“Saved life.Two!”someone called, and a ripple of applause went around the room.Ernst watched from behind the bar with a guarded expression.
Michael leaned closer.“Don’t respond with more than a smile.”
“They think I saved her life.”
“Because you did.But you also put yourself at risk.”
“Excuse me?”She pushed aside her plate.“How do you make that out?”
“You’re a blooming stir stick, Lady Royal.More than any royal in decades because you’re a mystery.People are curious about you, the secret daughter of our queen.They gravitate to the scandalous, to what makes them gasp.Your story is the plot of every silly LTV1 film.So mind yourself.You’re not free to wander about like a normal lass.”
“Two lectures.One meal.”She sighed, suddenly drained.“Can we go so I can tuck my silly life into bed?”
