The Royal Doctor's Bride. Jessica Matthews

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      “It’s a possibility.”

      “Bill is all bluster,” she told him. “He won’t make trouble if he suspects those two are hanging around. He’ll be too embarrassed, especially if he might be hauled outside like a bag of dirty laundry again. Frankly, after what I saw, I’d hate to run into them in a dark alley.”

      The corners of his mouth twitched. “Stay on Hugh and Joachim’s good side and you won’t have any problems.”

      “You’re already on a first-name basis?”

      “It seemed appropriate.”

      The dull throb in her cheek demanded a couple of acetaminophen, but she wanted answers more than she wanted a painkiller. “I can’t believe Bill’s gone. Do you know what prompted his sudden exit?”

      “I’m not privy to all the details, but your administration hasn’t been happy with the way he’s managed this department.”

      “They actually noticed?”

      “Yes, they did.”

      “When did they decide to take matters into their own hands?”

      “Apparently they began making discreet inquiries several months ago. I heard about the position and thought it would be a challenge, so I completed my other commitments and here I am.” His face darkened. “However, if I’d known he was such a volatile man, I would have arranged my schedule differently.”

      She hardly knew what to say, but a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through her. No one, since her father had died, had been so concerned about her safety. What woman wouldn’t feel flattered?

      “You, on the other hand,” he scolded, “shouldn’t have gone into his office when he was so upset.”

      “We’ve been over this before. I had to go in. There was no one else.”

      “There is now,” he stated firmly. “You won’t do anything like that again.”

      “Are you planning to go ballistic at some point in time, too?” she asked lightly.

      He smiled. “No, but one never knows what will happen. You’re too valuable to put yourself in harm’s way.”

      Why today’s incident bothered Ruark so much she didn’t know, other than he didn’t want to find a replacement physician. Even so, working in Emergency carried a normal element of risk and danger, especially if one considered some of the situations they handled on Saturday nights. Mentioning a few of those incidents seemed counterproductive, so she changed the subject.

      “You’re truly taking over the department?” she asked.

      “I intended to call a staff meeting as soon as Bill left, but we got sidetracked,” he said wryly.

      No doubt he referred to tending the scratch on her face. “We can call one now, unless you’d rather tidy your office first.”

      He glanced around. “From the looks of things, it will take a long time. I’ll meet our group instead.”

      “Good idea. I’d bet they’re all dying of curiosity.”

      A knock at the door interrupted. “Come in,” he called out.

      Lucy poked her head inside. “Is everything OK in here?”

      “It’s fine,” Gina responded.

      “Can I get either of you anything?” she asked. “Coffee, tea, or…?”

      “Thank you, but not at the moment,” Ruark answered politely.

      Disappointment flitted across Lucy’s features. “If you should change your mind…”

      “We’ll let you know,” Gina assured her.

      “OK.” The nurse disappeared and Gina faced Ruark. “The natives are definitely dying of curiosity.”

      “I’ll deal with them in a minute,” he said. “But before I do, I’d like to discuss a more personal matter.”

      Knowing she had nothing to hide, she shrugged. “Sure.”

      He studied her intently. “You truly didn’t know I was coming?”

      “Didn’t have a clue,” she responded cheerfully.

      “My name didn’t sound familiar?”

      She shook her head. “Should it?”

      “Really?”

      “Really. Have you been in the news?” She hoped not. If he was a household name and she didn’t recognize it, she’d feel horribly awkward.

      “Not lately.”

      She smiled. “Good, because otherwise I’d have to apologize. I rarely watch television,” she admitted.

      His gaze held hers. “What if I told you I’m originally from Marestonia.”

      Marestonia? A warning bell sounded in her head and her smile froze in place. Stay calm, she told herself. Lots of people lived in Marestonia.

      She pretended ignorance. “Someplace in Eastern Europe, isn’t it?”

      “Next door to Avelogne.”

      Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. She hadn’t heard the name of her father’s country since she’d turned sixteen and he’d told her the entire tale of his life.

      A life he’d given up rather than sacrifice his principles.

      A life where he’d gained a wife and daughter and lost everything else.

      “Your father and mine were friends years ago.”

      The past wasn’t supposed to surface after all these years. Her father had left that life behind, never to embrace it again. Acknowledging it now seemed rather disloyal to her parents’ memory.

      “Was your father an aeronautical engineer, too?” She sounded stiffly polite as she pretended ignorance of her family background. “Did the two of them do business together?”

      “Their friendship began long before your father moved to Seattle. Countess.”

      She drew herself up at the title she had a right to use but didn’t. “Do not call me that.”

      “Deny your heritage all you want, but I have the proof.”

      “And what if you do? It means nothing. I don’t have any official ties to Avelogne.”

      “Ah, but you admit you do have ties.”

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