“And now,” he said, turning to address the assembled group. “I would like to show Her Highness some information in my office. As you all know, there is no space in there for more than two.”
The hospital staff tittered with laughter, and Doctor Schultz joined in. Chloe liked him. Some of her anxiety ebbed away as she realised she had the good fortune of having happily fixed upon someone who was kind and nice to be her light in the dark.
The various heads of the hospital departments said their farewells, moving back to their duties, leaving only Chloe’s staff.
“My office is in this direction,” Doctor Schultz said, nodding down the corridor.
They began to move towards it, and Chloe worried over how she would manage to get rid of her own staff, but Doctor Schultz answered that question.
“I was not exaggerating about the size, or lack thereof, to my office,” he said with a grimace. “And I would like to discuss some confidential donor strategies with Her Highness. If she has no objection, I wonder if you’d excuse us?”
“I have no objection,” Chloe was quick to interject. “I’m grateful you’re willing to be so generous with your time.” She met Aysha’s eyes, her expression regal and firm. “Thank you.”
It was obvious that Aysha disagreed, but she didn’t – couldn’t – do so publicly. “We will be just here.”
“Very well.”
Chloe preceded Doctor Schultz into his office and lifted her brows at the smallness of the space. There was room for a desk, a small armchair and two seats.
“The third floor is being renovated; my office is a little bigger, though not much.” He gestured towards the seat opposite his desk. “Please.”
“Thank you.” She settled herself into it, looking every bit the Princess of an important country, save for the obvious concern that lined her eyes.
“You wished to speak with me?”
She nodded. “You know who I am,” she said and then laughed, a brittle, desperate sound. “Obviously you do. But I mean, you know who my husband is, and his father? You know his father is ill?”
“I didn’t. I’m sorry to hear it.”
Chloe sighed. “You and me both.”
Doctor Schultz’s expression shifted. “I’m not sure of His Highness’s illness, but you know we are a pediatric hospital? Our specialty is on obstetrics and pediatrics. I cannot say I, or my staff, would have the gerontology experience your father-in-law might require.”
“No, no,” she shook her head. “It’s cancer, anyway.” Chloe drew in a deep, steady breath. “My point is that my husband and I would like – need – to have a baby.” She was grateful then that she wasn’t prone to blushing. “I needn’t tell you how confidential this conversation is,” she said softly. “If it became public that we haven’t been able to conceive, it would be very dangerous for the country’s stability.”
“I see,” the Doctor said sympathetically. For this was now within his realm of experience, and he knew what to say and how to act to reassure a young woman who was struggling with the visage of potential infertility. “You say you haven’t been able to conceive. How long have you been trying?”
“Six months,” she said. “And I know that’s too soon to worry, and I’m sure everything will be fine, but if it’s not, it’s something I would need to know sooner rather than later.”
“I see.”
Chloe doubted he saw anything to do with the perilous state of her sham marriage, and the ramifications for Chloe if no child was produced but she nodded anyway.
“There are some reasonably simple tests we can do.”
“I thought there would b
e,” she interrupted. “But what’s not simple is how to make sure no one outside this room ever finds out.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re asking me to hide the fact you’re a patient?”
“Yes. The tests will need to be put under a different name. My staff cannot know; my husband doesn’t even know I’m speaking to you.”
“To get a full understanding of the situation, it would be better to examine you together.”
“If my tests show that I’m fine, I’ll speak to him about it,” she lied, knowing that while Amit’s identity was hardly a secret, it was ostensibly something the palace denied. Raffa could have children. He’d had a child. It was Chloe that was the problem, she was sure of it. “I don’t want to worry him yet. Please.”
“Very well, your highness.”