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“She could have been killed,” Elizabeth managed out. “My sister could have been killed tonight.”

“But she wasn’t, Lizzy. She’s okay. She’s going to be okay,” Palmer told her, lowering Elizabeth’s head to her shoulder and placing a kiss on the top of it, feeling immediately protective of this person she’d come to care so much about already. “Let’s get dressed, and you can go see her. I can ride back to the hotel in one of the other cars so you can get to her faster.”

“No. Please come with me,” Elizabeth requested, lifting up her head to look into Palmer’s eyes. “Please, Palmer.”

“Yeah, okay. I’m there. Whatever you need,” she said.

CHAPTER 15

“Victoria, are you okay?” Elizabeth asked, rushing into Victoria’s palace suite.

“Lizzy, I’m fine,” Victoria told her.

“The doctor gave her something for the pain,” David added.

Elizabeth moved to the sofa to sit down on the other side of her sister. David was on Victoria’s left and holding her hand, staring at his girlfriend with concern.

“What happened?” Elizabeth asked him.

“We were out at dinner. Security cleared it. They said they used the restaurant before, and it would be okay.”

“I wanted one lousy night out. We’ve been stuck inside because of these people, and I wanted a date night with my boyfriend,” Victoria said, sounding slightly slurred.

“While we were inside, people were gathering outside. Security interrupted us during the meal and said we needed to go. We tried going out the back way, but the protestors were there, too. A few of them started throwing things. I tried to shield her, but she got hit.”

“I’m fine. It’s just a little bruise,” Victoria replied.

“What is it really, David? Where’s the physician?”

“He left already. He said she has to take it easy for a few days but that she should be fine. He wants me to put ice on her shoulder a few times a day, but we got lucky, Your Majesty.”

“You’re going to marry my sister one day, David. Call me Elizabeth or Lizzy.”

“Elizabeth,” he said, nodding. “We got very lucky tonight.”

“Lucky? She’s high on pain medication. I’d hardly call that lucky,” Elizabeth replied.

“They could have had guns,” he added.

“I don’t want to think about that,” she replied. “Areyouokay?”

“I’m fine. I got hit in the leg, and when I realized she’d been hit, I went after the guys. But I only have a few scrapes on my arms; it’sherI’m worried about.”

“David, thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For protecting my sister. She’s all I have left. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost her, too.”

“Oh, youloveme, Lizzy,” Victoria said, giggling.

“Idolove you, you stubborn idiot. No more going out until we can get this whole thing sorted.”

“I don’t want to be caged up, Elizabeth. I hate it,” Victoria told her, turning her head to look at her now. “And it’s not fair.Wedidn’t do anything wrong.”

“I don’t think you should be at the coronation. You should move to the cottage as soon as you’re healed, or better yet, we can send you somewhere unknown for a bit. We have enough properties that people don’t know about.”

“What? No way. I’m going to be at my sister’s coronation.”