Royal Heir (Westerly Billionaire #3)(30)

“You don’t know what I’ve seen.”

True. I don’t. And I can’t admit to what I know. “Okay, then, tell me, are you a good actor?”

“As a water bear?”

“No, I don’t mean in the movies you make, I mean in your heart. Mom says you wanted to be taken seriously as an actor when you first started out.”

“I did.”

“So, you’re talented?”

“I used to think so.”

“When you were your best onstage, what was it like?”

Eric sighed and walked away to look out the window as if he needed to spend a moment back in that time before he could describe it. “Like nothing else. I’d spend weeks, sometimes months, studying a character. Then practice my lines until I could say them in my sleep. When I took the stage on opening night, it was magic. For a short time, I wasn’t me. I was Hamlet, Prospero, Valjean. So I suppose you could say that me at my best is someone else.”

I hope one day you realize how untrue that is, but for now, maybe believing that can help you. “Then tomorrow, imagine the hospital is a stage, and become a character who brings joy to those children. I’ll let you in on the secret to getting children to like you—simply like them. That’s it. It’s easy. You can fool them about a lot of things, but they know who doesn’t like them. It’s like a self-preservation sixth sense.”

“That might work. Thanks.” He looked toward the door of the drawing room. “It’ll be interesting to see what the kids think of your prince.”

“I’m sure they love him,” she said in a positive tone, even though she had no idea how they saw him. She hoped his first visit hadn’t been quite as bad as he’d described it, but so far Magnus had been brutally honest about everything else. She believed that he’d brought a clown and raised his voice in frustration, yet somehow that had led him to promising one of them that he’d deliver the impossible.

Magnus had gone to a lot of trouble to fulfill one child’s wish.

That didn’t sound like a man who hated children.

But how well do I really know him? Her instincts told her he had a good heart, but she’d let the children’s reactions to him prove her right or wrong.

Yes, tomorrow will be interesting.





Chapter Ten

The next morning at the hospital, Rachelle walked into the children’s wing flanked by Magnus and Eric. Her stomach did a nervous flip. So far, the day had all the elements of a first day at school. Eric was defiantly refusing to wear his costume, stating that football players did not visit in their gear. Magnus had had his men bring the costume and was doing a poor job of concealing his disgust with Eric’s decision. The two were in a pissing contest of royal proportion. Rachelle was ready to tell them both to grow up and remember that the visit was for actual children.

“Your Royal Highness, we are so pleased to have you with us again,” the hospital administrator said—tall, thin, and stern-looking until she smiled. “I heard you have brought a stuffed animal for every child. Would you like us to distribute them, or will you be doing so?”

“We will, right, Magnus?” Rachelle asked.

The administrator’s mouth rounded in surprise before she composed herself like lightning.

Magnus smiled at the flustered woman and spoke as if Rachelle hadn’t. “Since Mr. Westerly is not encumbered by his costume, I’m sure he would like to do the honors himself.”

Eric growled.

“It’s a pleasure to have you here, Mr. Westerly. The children have talked about little else since we made the announcement this morning.” With a bow of her head, the administrator added, “Please consider accompanying Mr. Westerly, Your Royal Highness. There will be a great number of children who will be disappointed if you don’t. Tinsley in room five plans to propose to you.”

“Propose?” Magnus’s head snapped back.

“She’s three,” the administrator said with a smile. “And she believes you also have a palace at Disney. It’s where she dreams of going when she feels better.”

Magnus’s expression sobered. “Will that be soon?”

“She’s very ill, but we see miracles here every day.” The woman looked at Eric. “Your presence is surely one of those. I did not think even our prince could convince you.” As if realizing what she’d said, she quickly added, “No offense, Your Royal Highness.”

“None taken,” Magnus said. “It was not an easy feat.”

The woman turned and greeted Rachelle. “And you are?”

Rachelle opened her mouth to answer and then didn’t know how best to refer to herself. Eric’s sister? Or simply Rachelle, the woman who had almost had sex with a prince in his garden last night? I could probably leave that last part off.

Magnus stepped forward and placed his hand possessively on Rachelle’s back. “Miss Westerly is Eric’s sister and a friend of mine.”

“It’s a pleasure to have you, Miss Westerly.” She looked as if she wanted to ask about Rachelle, but didn’t. “Why don’t we stop in and see Finn first? I’ve never seen him so excited.”

She led the way into the room of a young boy. Though thin and frail-looking, he was smiling. His smile faded somewhat when his gaze settled on Eric. “You’re Water Bear Man?”