Stay Forever (15 page)

Chapter V

It was dusk the following evening when Jacob woke again.  Jemima was still sat on the chair opposite the bed, though she was curled up asleep with a book on her lap.  She raised her head as she heard him stirring.

Jacob rubbed his eyes.  He saw her smiling at him.

“Hey.”

“Hey” she replied.

“Can I get you some tea?  Maybe some chamomile?”

“That would be lovely.  Thanks.”

Jemima went over to the kitchen counter at the back of the studio flat.  Jacob looked around him.  My, he had never seen a place so small.

“Do you live here?” he asked.

“Yes.  I have been here a few months now.  Originally I am from Sweden, but I had to leave for various reasons, so I chose Denmark.  It is a beautiful country.”

“Yes, yes it is.” Replied Jacob.  He had noted her accent was different and she did not speak the Danish language fluidly.  That would also explain why she did not know who he was.

“Why did you help me”” he asked.

“It’s not that I am not grateful, I am, of course.”

“How could I not help you?” replied Jemima.

“You were unconscious in front of my eyes!”

Jacob looked over at her, she did seem in fact like a genuinely very kind person.

“Really, I do not know how to thank you.”

“I did not do it for your thanks.”

“No, no, of course not.  I wasn’t suggesting,…” his voice trailed off.

Jemima looked over at him and smiled as she brought him his tea.

“So where do you sleep?” asked Jacob.  Jemima laughed and looked at the bed Jacob was lying in.

“Well usually…..” she didn’t finish.

“Oh my!” responded Jacob. “I’m so sorry”

“It is fine.  I have travelled so much I am used to sleeping on floors.”

“Quite. Of course.” Jacob replied, somewhat bewildered.

He sat back, propping himself up on the pillows on the bed.  He felt somewhat confused, he could not remember a time in his life when someone had helped him or shown him kindness unconditionally like this.  Especially in his position, it was always because someone worked for him, or some climbing socialite.  He wondered whether she really did not know who he was.  He felt so confused.  Surely she would have seen his picture in a newspaper or on a magazine.  Though he did try and avoid the press whenever he could.

“Do you not read newspapers?” he asked.

“Ha!  Not a chance!” replied Jemima emphatically.  “They are all bullshit, just designed to control your mind, and keep you like servants to governments or the bloody royals.  I read books!”  She proudly held up the book on the chair. ‘Bertrand Russell’s History of Western Philosophy.’

“I like to read things that make me more intelligent and make me think, not stupid!”

Jacob was stunned and somewhat taken aback.  He looked at her again.  She seemed completely genuine and innocent.  This beautiful little creature had started to amaze him.  He tried to remember the last time he had felt amazed by anything.  He couldn’t.

Chapter VI

Jacob and Jemima spent the next few days just that way, sipping tea, and discussing everything from politics to nature to travel.  Jemima had travelled extensively and her views intrigued him.  She was outspoken and intelligent, she told him what she thought in a defiant and fascinating way, she was passionate and kind. 

Jemima was gentle with Jacob, and nursed him softly.  He had never felt so loved and cared for in his entire life, except perhaps by his mother.  Jacob told her about the death of his mother, it was one of the few things he did tell her about himself.  He did not want her knowing that he was a prince, he felt so relaxed and happy with someone appreciating and enjoying him just for whom he was, without his title, and not agreeing with everything he said.  He had never had that before.

Jemima found him mysterious, somewhat timid and afraid, yet also strong and sure of himself. 

Without realising what was happening, they had found themselves falling in love.

Chapter VII

Over the weeks that followed, Jacob gradually healed.  He found that all he wanted to do was spend time with Jemima.  When she went to work (she told him that she did cleaning for different clients), he missed her terribly.

They were so close, and yet so far, for in reality, neither knew the other.  Jemima had no idea that Jacob was in fact royalty, and he had no idea what she really did for a living.  Yet they were both innocent of those facts, and believed that they were starting to know one another as they were falling in love. 

Jemima had been sleeping on the floor, yet now they shared a bed, yet they did not kiss or touch, or engage in any sexual activity with one another.  Yet they had found themselves waking wrapped in each other’s arms.

So what in fact did Jemima do for a living?  Well, she was a prostitute.  Though she longed for another life, she had found no other way to survive.  And she had a sick brother and elderly mother to take care of.  She made good money doing what she did; yet she sent it all back home to Denmark, to support those who needed her. Oh, how she cried lonely tears wishing for another life.

Jacob filled her days with joy.  She watched him get better, yet still he did not talk of leaving.  She didn’t want him to go.  Yet would he stay if he knew what she really did.  She shook her head in despair.

Chapter VIII

There was something about her smile, thought Jacob as he lay in bed next to her watching her sleeping peacefully.  The way her golden hair framed her angelic face with such beauty and softness.  He had certainly never met a creature so kind and considerate, and her intelligence astounded him.  My, my, he had never met a woman like her.

Jemima stirred beside him, and he got out of bed to make her a tea.  Or at least try to.  She had spent the last weeks caring for him and nursing him, yet now he just wanted to do the same for her.  Yet he didn’t know how.  He scratched his head in the studio kitchen as he wondered where on earth one would possibly keep tea bags in such a small space.  Suddenly he heard Jemima laughing.  He looked over at her.  She was lying in bed watching him with a big smile on her face.

“What are you looking for?” she asked.

“Well, ummm, to be honest…..” he stammered.

“I wanted to wake you with a cup of tea as you so kindly do for me every morning and in fact feel quite stumped and not getting very far in such a simple mission.”

Jemima smiled and pointed to the right hand cupboard.

“Right.  There it is.” Jacob replied as he set about making the tea.  Jemima snuggled back into the pillows, unable to take the smile from her face.

Chapter IX

Natasha sat around the dining table in the great hallway of the palace, discussing the different options with Jacob’s father.

“Listen Natasha, you have to understand that as difficult as it may be for all of us we have to face the very distinct possibility that Jacob may be dead. There has been no finding of him, even with the highest intelligence at work on the case.  I understand that your position in the palace is highly vulnerable without Jacob.”  He paused. “Yet we cannot delay some sort of media announcement forever.  At some point they are going to wonder why the Prince hasn’t been making his public appearances and it will look highly suspicious if we haven’t announced anything.”

Natasha sat on the velvet-covered chair, her head in her hands.

“I just can’t believe this.” She began sobbing uncontrollably.

“Please Natasha, this is difficult for all of us.”

The King, Jacob’s father, rose out of his chair and left the room.   He really did not like that woman.  He had never understood what his son had seen in her.  Sadly he thought of his son.  God he hoped he was all right.  The thought of him being gone so soon after the death of his beloved wife was too much to bear.

Chapter X

Jacob lay in bed wondering about his father, wondering about his life.  Occasionally even a thought about Natasha crossed his mind.  Of one thing he was now certain, he did not love her.  He did not even want to see her. 

Jemima, without even a kiss, had shown him love like he had never known, and he wanted to remain under the soft gaze of her eyes forever.  Yet he knew they could not live like this much longer.  It had been an acceptable form of life, his staying in bed and not leaving the home, while he was recovering from his wounds, yet now he was healing, he would have to start again to live a normal life.  Yet what was a normal life?  Would he return to life in the palace?

He so wished that he could discuss these things with Jemima, yet he did not want to ruin what it felt like they were beginning.  It felt so special. Would she accept him as a prince?   She had made it clear in their discussions that she did not regard highly the royal family of any country, even her own.  She was a power to the people person, and thought that they were the rich stealing from the poor.  He loved the passion she had about people.  It both intrigued and fascinated him.  He had been so sheltered from all these views all his life, and it made him wonder what else he had been missing.

Chapter XI

Jemima got dressed and ready as Jacob slept beside her.  He stirred.

“Are you going?” he asked.

“Yes, I must work.” She got ready to leave.

“Jemima…” he could not hold it in any longer.

He stood up and walked over to her, tilting her head back in his hands. Gently he leant forward and kissed her, sucking her top lip slowly.  The passion that ran threw their bodies was electric.  Slowly, sensuously they removed each other’s clothes and made passionate love like neither of them had ever known.  Sunlight streamed through the window, and they both felt blissful ecstasy as though they were in heaven.

Chapter XII

As they lay in each other’s arms after what had turned into three days passionate love making, Jacob could hold it in no longer.

“Jemima” he said. “There is something I have to tell you.”

“No wait.” She said.

“I must tell you something first, because it may change what you say, and I cannot lie to you any longer.”

“Nothing could change what I have to say.” replied Jacob.

“Okay, anyway, you first.” He continued.

“I am a prostitute.” She said.

“What?!” he asked incredulously.

Jemima turned her head away sadly.

“I knew you would feel this way.” She said quietly, and got up to get out of bed.

“Jemima, no, wait.”

He held her back.

She turned to him in tears.

“You don’t understand, my brother is ill, my mother is old and cannot work, and I have never known who my father is.  They need me.  There is no work for people like myself, not enough to support two other people.  I don’t like what I do, but I do it for them.”

“You must stop.” Replied Jacob.

“Don’t you understand?  I have to.  I need to support my family.”

“I will help you.” Replied Jacob.

“How?  You have told me you have no money.”

“That isn’t exactly true.” Jacob responded.

“You see, this is what I have to tell you.  I am a Prince.  I am Prince Jacob of Bulgaria.  I am engaged to be married to a woman I do not like, let alone love, and I am destined to be King of this country.”

Jemima looked at him as though he had just landed from Mars.

The silence was deafening.

She was totally stunned.

“You must be joking.” She said.

“Ha my darling, no, no, strange as it may seem, I am certainly not joking.”

“Right, so I have just been taking care of a Prince, who has fallen in love with me, and is going to look after me for the rest of my life.”

Jacob smiled.

“It looks that way.” He said softly taking her hand.

Chapter XIII

Jacob took a deep breath before phoning his father.   He hesitated and then dialled the number of the palace with his father’s private extension.

The phone in the King Alal’s room rung.

“What the devil?” the King thought.

“Only Jacob and his mother have that number.  Jacob!  Oh my God!”

He rushed to the phone.

“Hello!  Hello!”

“Father.  It is me Jacob.  Look, there is something I have to tell you.  I have fallen in love.  Her name is Jemima.  I do not want to marry Natasha.  I don’t care what anybody says, but I am not returning to the palace unless Jemima is to be my bride.   I love her.  She has shown me kindness like I have never known.  This may sound crazy, but I mean it.”

“Jacob!” his father cried.

“You are alive!  Oh my god, I am so happy!”

Jacob paused.  His father was normally strict with him, and he had never known if he cared about him or not.  It had only been his mother who had shown him love.

“Yes father, I am alive.”

“Oh my!  Son!”  The King wiped tears from his eyes.

“Of course!  You can marry whomever you like!  Please please!  Come home immediately!”

Arrangements at the palace were soon made for Natasha to be removed from the quarters of Prince Jacob.  She was told nothing.  She was given no information that any news had come in from Prince Jacob, yet she was asked to leave the palace, and given a sum of €75,000 for her speedy and quiet departure, upon signature that she would disclose no information and remain quiet and cause no interference at the palace from then on.

There was little else she could do, so Natasha signed the piece of paper and soon left the palace quarters, a heaviness and despair in her heart.  Though it was true she had never really loved the prince, she did so dearly want to have been Queen.  As she exited the palace, she took one last look behind at its grand walls, and got inside the waiting chauffeured car.

“To Paris.” She told the driver. 

Perhaps she would find love there.