It’s almost two in the morning when I’m finally able to sit down and have a moment to myself. I’ve spent a lot of time away from Montovia the past several weeks—and I’ll admit, it hasn’t all been bad.

For as much as I miss my husband, I hadn’t realized how much I missed working, too. Trying to balance my responsibilities as the wife of the heir to the throne with writing tactfully about the trouble his younger sister has found herself in has been more than difficult. But somehow, we’ve all managed to make it to the other side of the mess Sophia made. She’s caused quite the scandal with an American rock star these last few months.

If someone had told me two years ago I’d be married to the prince of a European country—to the heir to the throne, no less—I would have told them they were crazy. As an American tabloid reporter, it wasn’t exactly like I could get very close to Andrew at all. His brother, Prince Leopold, was always the one making headlines, but Prince Andrew… Our story has been a complicated one, for sure. I never realized how much my life would change when Andrew asked me to help him hold a pageant to find a wife. And I only could have dreamed of actually becoming his wife.

I haven’t seen much of Andrew the past few months, not that either of us chose for it to be this way. He’s been busy helping his father deal with the day-to-day running of the country, and I’ve been trying to help to mute Sophia’s scandal as much as I can. She’s gotten herself into a lot more trouble than any of her brothers every could have dreamed of, and she needs all the help she can get. Andrew still hasn’t warmed to the idea of me actually working, but we’ve all agreed that having me write the stories about Sophia and her new rock star boyfriend is the best thing for everyone.

Still, I’ve missed Andrew. And as my phone rings right on schedule, I can’t help but feel a warm longing to be in his arms again.

“Hello, my love,” he says before I can say anything. “Have you thought about what we talked about yesterday?”

“I haven’t really had a chance, yet. But I will.”

He’s silent for a moment. “I need you here. I know we’ve talked about it, and I respect what you’re doing for the family. But…”

Part of me understands how hard it still is for Andrew to show his feelings—even through the phone. “I told you, I’ll think about it. The logistics would be a nightmare, though.”

“Many women work from home, Victoria. I’m not asking you to stop working.” Something changes in his voice when he says the word working, almost as though it’s some sort of expletive. “But I need you here.”

“I know.” It makes my heart ache hearing the need in his voice. “I want to be there, too.”

He pauses. “How are you?”

“How…am I?” The sudden change of subject doesn’t make much sense. “I’m okay. Tired. I’ve had a little bit of a stomach bug, but I’m okay. Why? How are you?”

“If you’re ill, you should return to Montovia immediately—as soon as you’re seen by a physician, you need to return home.”

I let out a long breath. “What is this about? Really?”

“This is about…” He sighs. “Surely you can take a small vacation from this…whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Writing about your sister? Following her every move to be sure someone else doesn’t write about it first?” I lift a brow, even though he can’t see me. “Andrew, we’ve been through this all before.”

“I know.” I can almost hear his brooding frown through the phone. “It doesn’t change the fact that you should be here.”

I should probably be upset that he’s so focused on his own needs, but I love that he misses me. And he has no idea how much I miss him. “Have I told you how much I love you?” And I do love him. More than I can possibly say to him out loud. I love everything about being married to him—everything about being a princess—and I wish I could come home for good. But we both know that now is not the best time for that—not with everything else that’s going on with his sister. I wouldn’t be doing any of this if I didn’t love him—and his family—as much as I do.

“It can’t possibly be as much as I love you, Victoria.” He lets out a long breath. “I want you to be seen by a physician immediately.”

“Why? Because I’m tired?” I shake my head. “Andrew, I work twenty hours a day. Of course I’m exhausted—”

“All the more reason to be seen by a physician. I’ll expect a full report on your wellbeing by my suppertime.”

“You want me to go to the emergency room? Now? In the middle of the night? For being tired? You’re being ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous or not, I insist.”

“Why don’t I just fly home for a day, then? Sophia can avoid making news for twenty-four hours, hopefully. Will that get you off this doctor thing?”

He’s silent for a second. “Are you really ill?”

“I…” I can’t really explain it to him—I’ve just felt a bit off for the past few weeks. I’ve told myself it’s the long days and sleepless nights. And not being in my own bed, being held by my husband hasn’t helped anything. “I don’t know. I think I’m just sleep deprived.” But the more I’m thinking about it, the more I know something isn’t right. I spent most of the last six years sleep deprived, and I never felt this level of exhaustion. It’s just…different.

“If you’ll come home immediately, you can be seen by one of our physicians. Come to think of it, that would make me feel much better.”

“And then we’ll go through what we did last time I came home.” I have to bite my lip not to laugh—I know Andrew still doesn’t find it very funny. I’m not sure why I find it so amusing myself, given what happened.

“I can promise that will not happen again.” There’s not even a trace of a smile in his voice.

“You promise? Really?”

“Victoria…”

“Well, I mean it was pretty flattering, finding myself accused of being an escaped prisoner of Montovia who wasn’t allowed to leave the country. You know, especially after I was once deported…” I can’t help but giggle. My husband certainly knows how to woo a girl.

He growls under his breath. “Are we to relive this every time we speak?”

“Not every time.” I laugh. “It was pretty clever. Putting me on the no-fly list as an escaped convict.”

“Because I knew you were going to leave without saying goodbye—”

“Because I knew you were going to try to convince me to stay. And you’re always pretty convincing.” I pause for a moment. “It’s okay, Andrew. I just want to know that if I come home for a day, I’ll be able to leave without a…show.”

He growls again. “Fine. You have my word.”

“Then I’ll be on the next flight home in the morning.”