Page 17 of Reign

“Visiting hours are over for the day.” Anju sounded genuinely sorry as she added, “I promise you can go first thing in the morning. Her Majesty’s condition is still unchanged, so a few hours won’t make a difference.”

But they’ll make a difference tome,Sam thought, her heart aching. Aloud she said, “Can’t they make an exception, just this once?”

Anju hesitated in a way that made Sam suspect the hospital had already made a lot of exceptions, perhaps for their mom, or Teddy.

“I’m supposed to take you straight to Loughlin House,” the chamberlain told her.

“To Grandma Billie’s?” Sam asked, confused. Then comprehension settled in. “You don’t want anyone to know I’m in town, do you?”

Anju sighed. “Samantha, do you have any idea what people are saying about you? That you’re suicidal, or on drugs; that you and Marshall eloped, or that you’re pregnant. You’re not pregnant, are you?” she added. “Because I really can’t deal with another pregnancy right now.”

Sam blinked. “Anotherpregnancy?”

“Never mind,” Anju said quickly. “But please, come to your grandmother’s house for a little while, just until we figure out how we’re handling everything.”

Nina, who had been watching their conversation, wrapped an arm around Sam’s shoulder. “Anju, what if Sam stayed the night at my place?”

“Yes,”Sam said automatically. Much as she loved her grandmother, she would rather be with Nina right now.

Anju twisted her torso so that she was staring back at both of them, and narrowed her eyes. “You want Samantha to stay with you at King’s College?”

“She’s done it before—”

“Oh, fantastic,” Anju muttered, which Nina ignored.

“And both of my roommates have signed NDAs. We’ll be very careful, I promise.”

Half an hour later, Sam was in Nina’s common room, watching her friend bustle around making powdered hot cocoa.

She glanced around the room: at the desks scattered with laptops and photos, the calendar tacked to the far wall with notes written in colored marker. A shelf in the corner served as a makeshift pantry, stocked with granola bars and cans of diet soda. On the wall behind her hung a poster of the new Mr.Darcy, from the most recentPride and Prejudiceremake.

“I met him, you know. At Aunt Margaret’s film premiere,” Sam remarked, gesturing to Darcy.

She knew she was stalling, but to her relief, Nina let her stall.

“What was he like?”

“Sadly, he was a pretentious jerk.”

“Sounds like he was well cast, then.” Nina handed Sam a hot chocolate, in a mug that was printed with tiny cartoon cheetahs, and Sam took a grateful sip.

It wasn’t until they were both seated on the L-shaped couch that Nina cleared her throat. “Sam…are you going to tell me where you’ve been?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Marshall is still there,” Sam added quickly. “He wanted to come with me, but I told him not to. Once he’s in America, his family will take over his life again.”

“You really love him, don’t you?”

When Sam nodded, Nina let out a breath. “Makes sense. You’re only ever this protective of the people you really love.”

Sam struggled to explain. “Being away, off the grid…it’s been good for Marshall. He’s become so confident there, and so happy; I can’t let him walk away from that. Once he does, there’s no going back.”

“What aboutyourfamily? Have you talked to them?”

“Not yet. You were the only person I called from the plane.” Sam stared into her hot chocolate as she added, “Everything I need to say to Jeff and Mom is better said in person.”

“You’ll see them tomorrow,” Nina assured her. Her phone pinged, and Nina glanced down at the screen, distracted.

Sam had a sudden thought. “Has Jeff said anything toyouabout it?”