The Montrose Suite seemed like a small castle, with rising ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows facing beautiful gardens, and furniture that probably worth more than Lily's whole Boston apartment.
A huge four-poster bed, with its rich red canopy and sparkling white linens, occupied one side of the room and radiated old-world beauty.
Lily dropped her belongings and fell onto an ancient chair, startled. Clean white envelopes, each hand-calligraphed with a greeting card from the royal staff, lined a Louis XVI side table.
A soft knock interrupted her mounting panic.
"Enter," she yelled, expecting a maid or perhaps Marc.
Rather, a young woman who looked remarkably like Gabriel walked into the room. This woman moved with a contagious enthusiasm that instantly calmed Lily, in contrast to Gabriel and his father's deliberate royal reserve.
"You must be Dr. James!" Her smile was welcoming and sincere as she held out her hand. "My name is Elizabeth, Princess. "Call me Lizzy."
Lily stood, shocked for a time. "Hello."
The sound of Elizabeth's laughter felt out of place in this elaborate space, but it was so wonderfully typical. "Stop looking so scared. In this whole palace, I am the least royal person. She fell into the seat across from Lily.
"Everyone's been whispering about you since you arrived."
"Whispering?" Lily's scientific mind listed possible consequences right away. "About what, exactly?"
"Oh, the usual royal gossip." Elizabeth tossed her hand dismissively. "Where you came from, why you're here, how you managed to capture Gabriel's attention." Mischief gleamed in her eyes.
"Incidentally, Camille is furious. Which already makes me like you."
Elizabeth bent over. "You're a medical researcher specializing in Valois Syndrome." There was no question.
"I am." Lily looked closely at the princess. "You know about the condition?"
"Know about it?" Elizabeth stopped smiling. "Our mother was slain by it. Our father was almost ruined. For years, Gabriel has been keeping an eye on his own genetic markers. Her head was cocked. "You might be the first person who could actually help him."
Between them, the weight of anticipation settled. Lily was careful with her word choice. "My research is promising, but we're years away from a definitive treatment."
"But you're working on it." Lily was reminded of Gabriel by Elizabeth's earnestness. "And now you're here, in Vallémont."
"Temporarily," stressed Lily. "Just for a week."
Elizabeth gave a harsh laugh. "Dr. James, nothing in the royal world is temporary. Not even something as important as..." She pointed to Lily's still-flat stomach in a significant way.
A palace servant came in with a small bow. "Your evening wear has been ironed, Dr. James. Your presence is requested for a pre-dinner consultation by Her Royal Highness.
"Her Royal Highness?" Lily appeared perplexed.
"Duchess Kate," provided Elizabeth. "The sister of our father. She determines who is and is not acceptable in Vallémont society and manages royal protocol.
Deep emerald, green silk that seemed to shimmer with movement was the masterpiece of a garment that hung in the dressing room. The hanger had a note pinned to it.
The choice made by Duchess Kate herself. Don't say no.
"Subtle," said Lily.
The supper was a meticulously planned event. It was nearly intimate in the smaller royal dining room. At the head of the table was King Edward, with Gabriel to his right and Lily in a strategic position to Gabriel's left. Across the table from her, Lady Camille's smile was a well-planned weapon.
With a voice as smooth as aged cognac, King Edward said, "Tell me, Dr. James," "what drew you to genetic research?"
It wasn't a casual query. It was chat masquerading as interrogation.
Lily looked him in the eye. "A personal loss. A hereditary disease claimed my sister's life at a young age. I made the decision to make sure that no other family would go through such suffering.
The King's face flickered with something surprising? respect? "Admirable."
Gabriel said nothing, observing the exchange with cautious objectivity.
Lady Camille clattered her porcelain plate with her fork. She spoke the remark "How... compelling," with barely disguised contempt.
Gabriel finally said, "Dr. James's research has significant potential," in a tone that begged for no debate. "The Royal Medical Institute has already expressed strong interest in her work."
The subtext was obvious. Lily wasn't the only one involved. This has to deal with possible medical advances for the monarchy.
Duchess Kate arrived as dessert was served, an impossible-to-make-delicate raspberry soufflé.
She moved with the ease of someone who had spent a lifetime negotiating royal politics, and she was elegantly dressed in midnight blue.
"Dr. James." She had a sharp, aristocratic voice. "A moment?"
Centuries of family history and leather-bound books made the library a haven. With unblinking eyes, Kate examined Lily.
The Duchess said, "You're not what they imagined you to be," without introducing herself.
"I'm not sure who 'they' are," Lily said.
"The court." The advisors. "My brother." Kate grinned knowingly. "Yes, a commoner. yet not at all typical.
The alpine scenery was illuminated by the first evening stars beyond the library windows. Lily had promised herself one week. She had a week to comprehend this universe that had suddenly become an inexplicable part of her existence.
However, Lily realized that everything may change in a week when Duchess Kate started talking.
Unconsciously, her hand went to her stomach, a protective action that the duchess observed. Lily became aware that she wasn't merely here as a researcher or even as Gabriel's unanticipated friend.
She was present because she might become Vallémont's mother.