Page 54 of Hidden Dane
Henry closed the door and Brady took a seat on one of the visitor chairs against the wall of her hospital room as he asked, “Have either of you heard the news?”
Emily scooted to the edge of the bed as they waited for discharge papers. Dane stayed next to her and asked, “No, what’s going on?”
Henry guarded the closed door like a sentinel. “Alexandre’s been caught. The French police will be returning your property to you. The British royal family have extended you both an invitation to Buckingham Palace.”
She yelped with joy.
Everyone glanced at her, but she didn’t care.
Staying with Michael was nice, but to actually meet the Queen? She would need a dress for the occasion. What was the protocol when invited to the palace? She had no idea, but the hum in her veins only grew stronger. She’d absolutely look it up. Her smile widened. “We’ll see the Queen. I’m so excited.”
“Emily looks well.” Brady nodded. “Guess that was all it took.”
Dane hugged her. “The bullet grazed her skin but didn’t pierce through her in any way.”
Because her boyfriend had saved her life. She had a bounce inside her that didn’t allow her to sit still. “Doctor wanted to release me right away, but Dane convinced them to keep me overnight, which is why we’re still here and waiting to go now. The nurse said I’ll be up to speed in a week or two.”
Both men nodded at her.
Dane let her go but asked, “Henry, can you ask Buckingham to hold off for two weeks so Emily can walk?”
Now she had even more reason to heal fast.
And maybe she could write a paper on the Irish Crown Jewels for a history journal. No one would have a better story than her on this one.
Researching the past and putting it together with the known facts of now would weave quite a tale. She’d have to figure out what happened, when the box was opened last, when the Paris and London accounts were founded. How the jewels had survived two world wars.
Basically she had tons of research—which she loved.
Henry nodded. “Of course.”
Her mind buzzed as Brady then said, “Your father called a few minutes ago. He wanted permission to come see you both.”
Now she stilled—waiting. If Michael had called, then it was up to Dane on how he wanted to proceed.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t want to disappoint her family, but she’d deal with her sisters no matter what. Dane’s decision mattered so she glanced up at him with support. He told Henry, “Can you book us rooms at a hotel and tell my father we’ll meet him for dinner?”
Good. She used his hand to stand, then his arm as a crutch. “Really?”
Brady fixed his glasses with his left hand, stood from his seat and waved at them as he said, “We’ll leave you two alone.”
They didn’t talk as Brady and Henry filed out. She swallowed and patted the bed beside her. Dane sat once the door closed.
She waited for him to say something but he was silent so she broke the moment with a sigh. He kissed her hand. “You said you’d be beside me when I see my father again.”
She kissed his cheek and rested against his shoulder. “I didn’t know you’d just forgive like you did—thank you, Dane.”
Another knock sounded, so she held back the rest of what she wanted to say.
It was the nurse with the paperwork so she could leave. Yeah. She jumped as the door closed behind the nurse. Dane picked up her pocketbook and handed it to her as he asked, “Was I supposed to hold a bad night where we were both exhausted against you?”
“I don’t know.” She took his hand and squeezed as she said, “Let’s just get out of here. The doctor said I’m not bleeding and don’t need stitches.”
He walked beside her and reached for the door as he said, “You were lucky.”
She bounced into the hall, though she knew tomorrow once the pain meds wore off she’d feel more pain. She limped a little as they headed out and the memory of Dane chasing Alexandre came to mind. She winked at him as they made it to the elevator banks. “No. Not luck. You were blocking him.”
“I couldn’t let anything happen to you.” He pressed the button.
