From Doctor To Princess?: From Doctor to Princess? / The Doctor's Cinderella

‘He heard about you being up so late the other night. There was nothing I could say to him in response, without telling him about Jacob.’

‘So you took the blame yourself.’ His frown grew deeper.

‘What else could I do? He heard about my bidding at the auction as well. And there are photographs of me supporting you to the car in this morning’s papers.’

‘He can’t hold you responsible for that.’ Hugo pressed his lips together, obviously aware of the conclusion that the papers had drawn.

‘He doesn’t. But he holds me responsible for the fact that you’re doing too much. He says that things have to change and that from now on I have to submit a daily report to him.’

‘Nell, I’m sorry. I’ll make it right.’ His jaw hardened into a determined line.

‘No, you won’t. You can’t. But if you’re reckoning on carrying on like this, then tell me now, because I’d rather leave than be fired.’

‘No one’s going to fire you, Nell.’

She shook her head silently. Hugo didn’t understand, he’d never been squeezed out of a job or bullied by a boss. He was the golden boy, who everyone wanted.

Even Nell wanted him. Despite all her exasperation, she’d started to enjoy their battles, almost to look forward to them. And in doing so, she’d forgotten the reason why she was here.

‘There’s a meeting arranged for this afternoon at my charity’s offices. It’s only going to be for an hour, the construction company is going to update us on how things are going. If I asked everyone to come here instead, I’d find it less taxing.’

Hugo’s tone was almost contrite. When Nell looked up at him, there was a trace of concern on his face.

This was a start. ‘That sounds like a good idea, Hugo.’

* * *

Shame was something that Hugo usually tried to avoid. If he worked hard, and met the standards that he set, he generally found that he could live with himself. But now he felt thoroughly ashamed.

Being ill had made him crazy. It had stripped away the feeling that he was in charge of his life, and he was struggling to find the man he’d once thought himself to be. But in trying to pretend that it hadn’t happened, he’d hurt Nell, and that was unforgiveable.

He knew exactly where his parents would be during the week, they were creatures of habit. As he expected, he found them sitting at the twin desks, placed back to back to allow murmured conversation and smiles while they completed their correspondence for the day.

‘Mother...’ He smiled, and his mother rose for a hug, made awkward by his lame shoulder.

‘Hugo, darling. How do you feel today?’

‘Much better, thank you.’ Hugo’s relationship with his mother was an effortless synergy of respect for her position and warmth. The one with his father involved rather more effort. ‘I’d like to speak with Father.’

His mother sat firmly back down, waving her hand towards his father, who had looked up from the papers in front of him. Her smile told Hugo that she knew exactly what all this was about, and she wasn’t going to give either of them the chance to argue in private.

‘Go ahead, darling. He’s right here, in case you didn’t notice.’

Right. Hugo turned to his father, and found himself locked in the familiar combative stare that was their usual greeting to each other. He sat down, knowing that it probably wouldn’t defuse the situation. Pacing up and down wasn’t going to help much if he wanted to imply that he was taking things easy.

‘It’s not Nell’s fault, Father.’

His father turned the corners of his mouth down. ‘I’m inclined to agree with you. It is, however, Dr Maitland’s responsibility to make sure that you rest.’

‘And she’s doing that.’

‘I disagree, Hugo.’

The silence between them wasn’t broken by his mother’s voice. Usually her intervention avoided conflict between father and son, neatly suggesting a solution that everyone could live with. But this time there was just a silence.

‘My behaviour isn’t her fault. Nell’s a good doctor, and...she’s exactly what I need at the moment. In the future, I’ll follow her instructions.’ This was a climb-down of gargantuan proportions. But Hugo had seen humiliation and rejection in Nell’s face this morning, and they haunted him.

‘So things are going to change, are they?’

‘They will. Don’t punish her in order to get to me.’

His father leaned back in his chair. ‘You’ve seen the papers this morning?’

‘It’ll blow over. How many other young women have been photographed in my company in the last year?’

‘Goodness only knows. I don’t know where you get the time,’ his mother interjected suddenly, and both men turned on her, frowning. ‘It’s just an observation, darling. It would make things a great deal easier if you decided that your health wasn’t such a secret.’

‘I want it to remain private.’

That was one of the few things that Hugo and his father had agreed on lately, even if it was for different reasons. His father had always drawn a line between his family’s personal lives and their public duties, and that had allowed Hugo to grow up outside the glare of publicity. For Hugo, it was more a matter of not wanting to be seen as irrevocably flawed.

King Ferdinand nodded. ‘You know I have no argument with you there, Hugo. But you have a duty...’

Hugo nodded impatiently. ‘I know what my duty is. To be strong enough to serve the people.’

His father nodded. ‘I assume from your presence that Dr Maitland wants to stay.’

‘I have no idea. But she gets that choice.’ Hugo felt his heart quicken and he ignored it. He would have to stop gauging everything by the beat of his own heart.

‘There’s only one person who can make sure that Dr Maitland keeps her job. That’s you, Hugo.’

Hugo got to his feet, making an effort to swallow his anger as he turned to his mother. He bade her goodbye, omitting the same gesture towards his father, before turning and walking out of the room.

* * *

Hugo had been oddly compliant all day. It was as if he’d suddenly come to his senses, or at least decided that it was more politic to appear to have done so. He’d spent the morning reading through the reports from the construction company, and the meeting was a short one. Nell had been able to relax a little and take an interest in the plans for the clinic. She could see why the project excited Hugo, and why he was willing to give up almost anything to see it come to fruition.

‘What did Celeste say?’ Nell had gone to speak to Celeste alone, while he stayed in his apartment.

‘She said that last night, when the carer was with them, she got the first good night’s sleep she’s had in months.’

Hugo nodded. ‘That’s something. It’s working, then?’

‘It’s early days. But, yes, I think it’ll work very well.’

‘Good. I’ll speak to my father...’

‘Not yet, Hugo. I... I’ve already taken the blame for the other night, and I’m still in one piece. Let’s wait a week and make sure that the arrangement’s working for Celeste first. Then you can speak to him.’

‘He should know now. That you weren’t to blame for that either.’

Either? ‘You’ve already spoken to him, haven’t you?’

‘Yes. I told him that yesterday was entirely my fault and that it wouldn’t happen again.’

The sudden feeling of warmth in Nell’s chest caught her by surprise. Nell didn’t dare wonder if she was really that important to Hugo, that he’d comply with his father’s wishes for her sake.

‘You didn’t need to do that... But thank you.’

‘My pleasure. There are always plenty of other options when it comes to defying my father. You’d be surprised at the scope his position affords.’

He was making light of it, but the look in his eyes said something different. That she could trust him and he’d be there for her.

The sound of the bell, at the front door of the apartment broke the silence. It couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time, and Nell willed him to ignore it, but he didn’t, rising from his seat. Maybe he was glad of the interruption.

She heard voices in the hallway, and jumped to her feet when Queen Margaux entered the room. She was more casually dressed than in the pictures Nell had seen on the Internet, wearing a pair of tan trousers and a matching shirt, but she was still immaculate.

‘I’m glad to see that you’re here, resting, Hugo.’ Queen Margaux bestowed a smile on Nell that seemed to indicate she thought Nell had something to do with that. ‘Penelope. I’m very glad to meet you.’

‘She prefers Nell, Mother. Nell, meet my mother.’

Nell wondered whether she should curtsey, and remembered she didn’t know how. Queen Margaux held her hand out and gave Nell’s a surprisingly firm shake.

‘I’m very glad to meet you, Your Majesty.’ Nell hoped that was something close to the right form of address.

‘Margaux, please.’ The Queen dropped a slim file that she was carrying onto the table and sat down.

‘Would you like some tea...?’ Hugo’s mother was obviously here to speak to him, and it was a good means of escape. It might be rude not to address the Queen by name, as she’d instructed, but Nell couldn’t quite bring herself to call her Margaux.

‘Thank you, but no. I’ve come to speak with both you and Hugo.’

‘What about? If you’re here to try and talk some sense into me, Nell already has that covered.’

Margaux flashed another smile at Nell. ‘Then I won’t go to the trouble. Anyway, this is far more pressing. I think you should both read this.’

She slipped two sheets of paper from the folder, holding them out. Hugo took them both and started to read.

‘What is it?’ Nell reached across, and he threw the papers down on the coffee table.

‘It’s rubbish. Outrageous... You don’t need to see it.’

‘If it’s rubbish then it can’t do any harm to look.’ She picked up one of the sheets.

‘You have to understand, Nell, that the papers will pay for stories, and people will make things up. It gives them a misplaced sense of importance.’

‘All right. Let me read it, will you?’ How bad could it be? Nell turned her attention to the paper and started to read. She immediately recognised the name involved. Three sentences in, she realised that it was worse than she could have possibly imagined.

‘This is a request for comment.’ Queen Margaux’s voice broke through her horror. ‘It’s from one of the more responsible papers, and if I speak to the editor I can refute the claims and at least delay publication. If they can’t get any corroboration then it’ll stop it completely. But if the man making these claims goes somewhere else, that might not be so easy.’

‘Is...there any indication he might?’ Nell felt her cheeks redden at the thought.

‘I had my secretary examine his social media pages, and it seems he’s already shared the story that was in the paper this morning and made a few comments. Nothing of any substance, they’re more of the I know something you don’t variety, but it shows an intention. But you know this man, Nell, he’s your ex-boss. What do you think?’

‘I don’t think he’s going to give up.’ Nell shook her head miserably. The one thing that neither Hugo nor Queen Margaux had asked yet was whether the allegations were true. It didn’t appear that Hugo was going to, and his mother was clearly taking his lead.

She took a deep breath. ‘I want to say...that it’s not true. I didn’t make any passes at my former boss, he was the one who propositioned me. And I’d never offer sexual favours in return for covering up my mistakes. The previous Head of Department knew me well, I worked for him for three years, ask him—’

‘Don’t, Nell.’ Hugo interrupted her. ‘You shouldn’t have to defend yourself.’

‘I want to. It’s the truth.’

Queen Margaux turned to Nell, laying her hand on hers. ‘I didn’t doubt it, Nell. But thank you for clarifying things. This is a situation where we must be clear and direct in all of our dealings.’

‘Yes, we can be clear and direct in completely refuting these allegations.’ Hugo’s brow was still dark.

‘Of course, Hugo. But if you’d read the whole piece, you’d see that there’s a reference at the end to a romantic entanglement between the two of you. If Nell’s real relationship with you were known, then it might well defuse the situation.’

Nell shook her head. ‘I’m sorry but...no. I’m Hugo’s doctor, and it’s my responsibility to make sure that if he wants to keep the details of his medical condition private, that’s what happens. I can’t allow it.’

‘Nell, that’s up to me.’

If Hugo was about to make an abrupt about-turn on the question of his own privacy, Nell wasn’t. ‘You’ve already expressed your wishes, Hugo, and while I don’t altogether agree with them, it’s my duty to uphold them. I won’t have it.’

‘But—’

‘There’s always the Royal Agreement,’ Queen Margaux cut her son short.

‘That doesn’t apply here, Mother.’

‘It might. Since the papers seem already to be jumping to conclusions...’ Queen Margaux reached for the folder, taking off her reading glasses. ‘I’ll leave you both to consider the options. But in the meantime, Nell, I want you to understand that you have my full support in this. We will do whatever it takes.’

Nell stammered her thanks, and Hugo rose to see his mother out. While they were gone, Nell concentrated on keeping breathing. Because it appeared that was about the only thing that Martin could never take away from her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘I HAVE TO EXPLAIN.’ Hugo had returned to the sitting room and was regarding her silently.

‘No, you don’t. I don’t make a habit of explaining what the papers say about me...’ He broke off, seeing the tears that ran down Nell’s cheeks.

‘I do...really.’

Hugo came to sit next to her on the sofa. ‘If you want to tell me something about this, then I’ll listen. All you need to say is that you want this stopped.’

‘It’s good of you to say that. I want to tell you.’

‘Okay.’ He was sitting close, but still not touching her. The temptation to ask for Hugo’s comfort was almost too much to bear, but Nell couldn’t do that. Not until he knew all the facts, and he believed her.

‘When I was a student, Martin was a visiting lecturer. He was brilliant, he has a very fine mind.’

‘Okay. I’ll take your word for that.’ Hugo didn’t look very convinced.

‘I went to speak to him after the lecture and he asked me for coffee. One thing led to another...’ She glanced at Hugo and he nodded. ‘I was dazzled. He was older than me, of course, and very handsome. He knew about loads of things that I didn’t. Introduced me to a lot of new experiences.’

She expected Hugo to nod and understand. Instead, he rolled his eyes. ‘I’ve seen that type. No feeling of self-worth, so he has to pick on someone in a subordinate position to impress.’

His words chipped away at the dream. The feeling that Martin had been all-knowing and that it was she who’d done the wrong thing. She had done the wrong thing, and maybe Hugo would think a little differently when she told him.

‘He was based in Newcastle, and he came down to London every couple of weeks. I saw him then and I used to count the days...’ Nell shook her head at her own stupidity. ‘It went on for six months and then he told me that he was married. He said it didn’t matter, that he and his wife had some kind of understanding, but I broke it off immediately.’

Nell looked into Hugo’s face, wondering if he could understand. ‘I thought he loved me. And even though I loved him, I couldn’t do it.’

‘Sounds as if you were the one who was the adult in that relationship.’

He thought so? Nell had always considered herself as the silly little girl, blinded by love. Slowly Martin was developing feet of clay.

‘I don’t know about that. But I stuck to it, even though he contacted me a few times afterwards. Finally he left me alone, and I reckoned that it was just a life lesson and I should chalk it up to experience. I graduated, and got a job at the hospital and things were going well. Then the head of department retired, and...’ Nell felt herself start to shake. That feeling, that she couldn’t escape and that her mistakes would always come back to bite her, had turned out to be about the only true thing in this whole business.

‘And when the new head of department showed up, it was him?’ Hugo was filling in the gaps now. ‘Any reasonable man would have spoken to you privately, admitted that he’d acted very badly and hoped that you might find the goodness of heart to draw a line under the whole business. I’m guessing he didn’t do that.’

Nell shook her head, finding herself smiling grimly. ‘No, he didn’t. There were a couple of weeks of extreme awkwardness, and then I couldn’t bear it any longer. I spoke to him and apologised...’

‘You apologised?’

‘It seemed reasonable. I had been one very willing half of the affair.’

Hugo let out a short, sharp breath. ‘Are you saying it was all your fault?’

‘No, I...’ In truth, after the last six months, Nell had been reduced to not knowing what was and wasn’t her fault.

‘We talked a bit and I thought we’d come to an understanding, but the following day he said he wanted to talk a bit more and could he meet me for coffee that evening.’

Nell still didn’t understand how she could have been so stupid. But when she looked at Hugo, there was no sign of reproach in his face. Perhaps he was just waiting to hear everything before he made a final decision on that.

‘I went, and he started telling me about how his marriage had broken up because his wife had found out about our affair. I don’t know if that was true, but I was horrified. Then he said that the least I could do was give things another try. I said I didn’t think that was a good idea and he offered to take me home. He walked me to my door and then he told me he knew I wanted it really and pushed me inside. Somehow I fought him off...’ The words had tumbled out, and Nell was suddenly breathless with shame.

‘I hope you hurt him.’

‘I... Actually, I had a copy of Welman’s Clinical Procedures in my bag. I managed to get free of him and hit him with it.’

Hugo grinned suddenly. ‘Good girl. The full edition, I hope.’

‘Stop it, it was the abbreviated edition. It still hurt him, though. He made some comment about my obviously not being in the mood tonight and left.’ She was shaking. Not so much as she had that night, but she still couldn’t stop.

‘Did you report him?’

‘No, I...’ Nell shrugged miserably. ‘I was the one who asked him in. And it wasn’t as if we’d just met, we had a history.’

‘No means no. Nothing trumps that.’

It seemed so simple when he said it like that. Hugo’s sense of honour made it simple. She wished that he’d reach out to her, but knew that he wouldn’t. As far as Hugo was concerned, one touch now would make him as bad as Martin and she wished she could find a way to tell him that wasn’t true.

She had to finish the story. Get this over with as quickly as possible. If she could do it without breaking down, that would be a bonus. Nell squeezed her hands together in her lap, feeling her nails dig deep.

‘He...tried it on a few times after that. I rejected him and started to make sure we were never alone together. Then one day he called me into his office, and went through a very comprehensive list of all the things I was doing wrong. All from a clinical point of view, there was nothing personal.’

‘Payback time?’

‘Yes. That went on for a few months, and I started to wonder whether there really was something wrong with the way I did my job. Then he blocked my promotion.’

‘On what grounds?’

‘He said I was an excellent doctor but that realising my full potential meant staying in my current post a little while longer.’ If Martin had criticised her performance, Nell could have fought it. But this had been impossible.

Hugo thought for a moment. ‘He’s done this before.’

‘What? What makes you say that?’

‘He always put you in a position where you felt you were in the wrong, he was married, then his divorce was because of his relationship with you. And he was always in a position of power, your teacher, and then your boss. I’m not saying he engineered all that, but he exploited it. He’s an abuser, and he probably didn’t just do it to you.’

‘But...’ Nell had thought she was alone. The idea that Martin might have done this to other women was horrific, but it did make her feel as if it wasn’t so much her fault. ‘Maybe you’re right.’

Hugo got to his feet, starting to pace. ‘We’re going to stop him, Nell. My mother will refute the allegations and we’ll release the details of my operation. That’ll keep the papers busy for a while, and in the meantime we’ll find a way to shut him up permanently.’

‘No, Hugo. I know that’s not what you want, and this is my battle. You shouldn’t be dragged into it...’ The heat in her heart, at the idea that Hugo was prepared to defend her, was burning too hot and threatened to consume her. He couldn’t be allowed to do this.

‘It’s what works.’ Hugo had obviously made his mind up about this.

‘No, it won’t work. Martin will just find another way to make these allegations...’ If Hugo was so determined to make this sacrifice, Nell needed to find a different approach.

‘If he does, then we’re in a good place to refute them.’ A grim smile quirked his lips. ‘You underestimate the power of good contacts.’

‘It’s not about having power, Hugo, it’s about what’s right and wrong.’

He shook his head slowly. ‘It’s about picking a side, Nell. Allow me to pick mine.’

She stared at him. Hugo was on her side. The thought that he would protect her washed every objection she had to the idea away for a moment. He took full advantage of that moment, turning and walking out of the apartment.

* * *

It was done. Hugo had spent an hour with his mother and the palace press advisor, and a call had been made to the managing editor who had contacted them for comment. The promise of a press release within the next twenty-four hours had oiled the wheels, and Martin Jarman’s story was suddenly dead in the water.

‘I’m proud of you.’ His mother had stopped him as he’d gone to leave, murmuring the words.

‘It’s a matter of principle.’ Hugo had been telling himself that. He was doing this for everyone caught in this kind of situation, and not just for Nell. Not because he wanted to hold her close and keep her safe.

‘Yes, it is. Anyone in your position has a duty to defend someone who...’ His mother paused. ‘You are quite sure that Nell is innocent of these allegations, aren’t you?’

‘Of course I am. I’m perfectly capable of noticing when a woman is trying to seduce me. Nell’s a good doctor, and she acts appropriately.’ His thoughts might touch on the delights of the inappropriate from time to time, but that was his business.

His mother nodded. ‘Your judgement is always sound, Hugo. And whatever you say, I’m still proud of you.’

That was something. Hugo reflected that he wasn’t all that proud of himself at the moment. The idea of having his most humiliating secret blazoned across the front pages of the papers was something he was trying not to think about. While he was still obviously recovering, people might look at him with sympathy. But sooner or later, they’d come around to seeing him as a hypocrite. How could he advocate for a heart clinic when he—a doctor no less—hadn’t seen the signs of his own heart issues?

That was just something he’d have to put up with. Maybe Nell was right. Maybe an admission that he’d made the mistakes that he was urging others not to make would emphasise his human side. But right now Hugo’s human side was cowering somewhere in a corner, and it felt far more comfortable to pretend that there was nothing wrong with him.

He walked back to his apartment, pondering the question. Things had to change—there would be no more battles of will with Nell, no more creative solutions. Even though the alternative sounded dull in the extreme, their relationship from now on would be entirely professional. If he were blameless, that would give Nell the opportunity to prove herself blameless, too.