Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(57)

Tears start to course down my cheeks. Oh, God, how horribly did I treat Edward! Edward, who thought I’d be lost to him forever, and is now desperately trying to keep me at his side. I had known the reasons he wanted me to stay. I had felt sorry for him, but now, with every detail of our past crystal-clear in my head . . . it is now that I can truly put myself in his shoes and fully realize how my initial rejection and hesitation must have hurt him.

“Edward,” I gasp.

He looks up at me, puzzled. “Was the binding too tight?”

“No . . . oh, Edward, I’m so, so sorry.”

I fling my arms around his neck and bury my face in his shoulder.

“Kat?” he says rather awkwardly. “Will you tell me what happened?”

I shake my head, still unable to stop the tears. Tightening my arms around his waist, I wish I could turn back time and save him these weeks of pain.

“Is there anything I can do?”

Again, I shake my head. His gentleness, under normal circumstances, may be soothing, but now, it only makes me sob harder.

“I . . .” I hiccup. “I’m sorry, Edward. I’m so, so sorry . . .”

He seems to understand, even though I didn’t tell him anything about my memory returning. He strokes my back and whispers gentle endearments in my ear while I struggle to tamp down my emotions and stop crying.

I take a deep breath, intending to tell Edward that I’ve recovered all my memories, but there’s a tightness in my chest and I feel like I can’t breathe. Then everything goes black and I slump against him.





28





When I open my eyes, I’m lying in bed, and Edward is staring at me with a worried look in his eyes. When I let out a noise of frustration, he immediately sits up and comes to my side.

“Kat! Finally you are awake.”

Another man approaches me from the other side. It’s Dr. Jensen.

“Your Highness.” He bows slightly. “Due to the unfortunate fall, I would ask that you allow me to examine you.”

He performs a checkup on me, taking my pulse and asking me questions, but when it’s over, he draws his eyebrows and tells me he cannot find fault with my body.

“Perhaps your gown was too tight and you spent too much time dancing with so many people around,” Dr. Jensen finally says.

Edward looks alarmed. “I’ll order the maids to re-adjust her clothes right away.”

Dr. Jensen nods, but he doesn’t budge from his chair. He stares at me as though I am a mystery he cannot fathom.

“My apologies for the sudden request, but I wanted this opportunity since we’re all frightfully busy,” Dr. Jensen says. “It has been nearly three months since the wedding. Have you not shown any signs of pregnancy?”

I think my jaw hit my collarbone. Okay, so that is kind of extreme, but geez, Dr. Jensen sure doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Most women conceive within a few weeks after marriage.”

That soon? From what I remember in health class, three months is more like it. Maybe the bodies of Athelian women are more fertile.

“Have you been sleeping badly? Are you under any stress? This could make it less easy to conceive.”

Yes to those questions. Oh yeah, and the fact that Edward and I never had sex.

“Dr. Jensen,” Edward says, and he lays a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We appreciate your concern, but currently, it is unnecessary. Should we actually need to consult you, we shall not hesitate to make an appointment.”

Dr. Jensen adjusts his spectacles and stares at my face. “Perhaps I am overly hasty. However, I have been perplexed about the princess’s health condition since the wedding day.”

Edward’s hand tightens on my shoulder.

“You fainted in the wedding ceremony, despite sufficient food and water and a gown that is tailor-made to your figure. Second, you suffered a pain attack in the head and suffered from memory loss. Third, you fainted at the dance. Now, three months since your marriage, you are not yet pregnant.” Dr. Jensen frowns, looking genuinely concerned, but how can I tell him the real reason? That the fainting and pains were caused by goblins, and I’m not pregnant because the prince and I aren’t sleeping together?

“Frankly speaking, I’ve been wondering if I may introduce a foreign specialist, especially since the Moryn emperor’s physician is here. They do have a more advanced history in the field of medicine—”

“That is for my wife to decide.” Edward squeezes my shoulder. “Do you wish to see another doctor, Kat?”

I touch his hand on my shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin. “Thank you, Dr. Jensen. But currently, I feel fine. I’m sure my conditions are only temporary. I promise you, however, that I’ll seek your help if I need advice.”

Dr. Jensen lets out a sigh. He turns and jams his bowler hat onto his head.

“Very well, Your Highness. I apologize if my questions have caused you concern. I hope there is no need for the occasion for medical advice, but if there is, you know where to find me.”



* * *



Later that night, I toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep, despite the lavender-smelling sheets and soft, cuddly pillows. Now and then, I cough, feeling a tightness in my chest, but I don’t have a headache. Dr. Jensen didn’t find anything wrong with me. I hope that it’s just a weird aftermath of the exhausting State Visit.