I’m waiting for her at the airstrip behind the palace, pacing back and forth as I watch the sky for any sign of her plane.

I never should have agreed to let her leave me for so long. So many times these past several weeks I’ve gone so far as to call for my private plane to be readied, been prepared to fly over to America and bring her back here myself. But if there’s one thing I know about my wife, it’s that she doesn’t appreciate being ordered around. She’d never forgive me if I dragged her unwillingly away from her work.

But why is she so determined to work on the other side of the globe? She’s a princess now, and her duty lies here. Why isn’t this enough for her? Why aren’t I enough for her?

I glance behind me, up at the royal palace of Montovia. It’s been my home for my entire life, and I’ve never had to imagine anything else—never wanted to imagine anything else. From the moment I was born, I knew my place in the world. I knew where my duty lay. As the eldest child, I will inherit the throne, and until that day my life is dedicated to preparing myself as best I can, to serving the people of Montovia with my heart, body, and mind.

The only thing that has ever made me question that is Victoria, the love of my life. For her, I was willing to give all of this up, but she wouldn’t let me. For her, I was willing to make room in my heart for something beyond my country. For her, I was able to accept that I wouldn’t be the one to provide the heirs who would come after me—because Victoria can’t bear children, that responsibility has fallen to my next youngest brother, Leopold, and my little nephew Matthew is as charming a child as I ever could have wished for.

But when I accepted all these things, I thought it meant I’d have a life with Victoria by my side—not a life with me here and her all the way over in America. Her happiness means everything to me, but how can she be happy so far apart?

She made me promise I wouldn’t try to keep her here if she returned for the day, but I’m not sure I can hold myself to that.

A moving speck in the sky catches my attention, and sure enough, a small plane is approaching. My stomach is in knots as I watch it fly nearer.

God, I’ve missed her so much. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m lost without her. The world holds so much less meaning when she isn’t here by my side.

By the time the plane lands, I can barely contain my excitement. When the steps are secured against the plane door, I’m there at the foot of them, waiting for her.

She steps out of the plane, and when my eyes land on her for the first time in weeks, it’s like the entire world stills for a moment. My breath catches in my throat.

I forgot how beautiful she was. I didn’t forget the brightness of her eyes, or the shade of her hair, or any of the details, but I forgot how much the sight of her could shake me to my very core.

I don’t wait for her to reach the bottom of the steps. I meet her in the middle, taking her into my arms and pulling her into a kiss. I don’t ever want to let her go.

She holds me close, kissing me back, then pulls away with a laugh.

“That’s some welcome,” she says, smiling.

“That’s just the start,” I say. “Wait until I get you back to our suite.”

First, though, there are other things to attend to. Now that I’m seeing her up close, I notice how much paler she is than usual. My insistence that she visit the royal physician was simply an excuse to get her back here, but now that I’m seeing her in person, I realize I have every right to be concerned.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her as I lead her down the rest of the steps.

“I’m managing,” she answers. “Being on a plane for twelve hours didn’t exactly help.”

“We’ll get you to the physician immediately,” I tell her. “She’ll help.” And God help me if I let her leave Montovia again before my wife is the very picture of health.

I take her arm in mine and quickly lead her over to the electric cart that will take us across the grounds to the palace.

I want to tell her how much I’ve missed her. How much I don’t want her to leave again. How she belongs here, with me. Why can’t she be happy by my side?

But I don’t want to start a fight, not moments after she stepped off the plane. And certainly not before we make sure all is well with her health. Right now, it’s enough to have her next to me.

I don’t let go of her arm the entire way to the physicians’ quarters in the palace. Part of me is afraid that if I release her, I’ll never get her back again. It’s foolish, I know, but I’ve always been a bit foolish around Victoria. I’m not sure how to stop it now.

When we arrive, the physician on duty comes rushing forward.

“Your Highnesses,” she says. “Is everything all right?”

“Victoria is ill,” I say.

“I’m not ill,” my wife insists. “I just feel a bit…off. I probably just ate something that isn’t sitting well.”

“Either way, we need to make sure everything is fine,” I say. “Run every test, make sure—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Victoria says.

The physician gives a warm smile.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” she says to me. “We’ll make sure she’s all right.” To Victoria, she says, “If you’ll come this way…”

I start to follow, but Victoria stops me.

“I’m fine,” she says again, giving me what I’m sure is supposed to be a reassuring look. “You don’t need to go back there will me. I’m sure she’s just going to run some tests and tell me everything is okay. I probably just need some more sleep.”

I frown. “I should be back there—”

“Actually, Your Highness, I ask to see patients on their own,” the physician says. “But you can wait here, if you like. I’ll come retrieve you if I find anything important.”

Part of me wants to order her to allow me to attend to my wife, but I’ve been trying to be less of a bully these days. With a sigh, I lower myself onto the settee beside the door, resigning myself to the wait.

“Come and get me the moment you learn anything,” I say.

“Of course.” Victoria steps close to me, leaning down to kiss me gently on the temple. A little lower, she whispers, “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” I say.

And God, you’ll never know just how much.