Damien is watching her with crossed arms, his right foot tapping in front of him. He gives her a pointed look and Celia smiles coyly. She finally stands and wraps her hand around his arm. She’s as tall as he is, with the same skin coloring and they both have that aura of wealth and power around them. Damn! They do look spectacular together. Ignoring the sharp pang in my chest, I wrap my jacket and shawl around myself before following them out.

Pushing open the café doors, I walk into a huge crowd gathered outside with Damien at the center. Hordes of reporters surround him, their cameras busily clicking and the sound of their footsteps echoing as they follow him. His arm is around Celia, shielding her from everything. Raised voices continue to ask him questions, to which he doesn’t reply. A man in a suit clears the way forward for Damien and Celia as the questions still fly from all directions.

Your Grace, why are you still a mystery?

Why are you refusing to speak to the press?

Did you meet with an accident?

Tell us about your memory loss.

How soon do you think you will get your memory back?

My nostrils flare and my skin tightens in rage as I see the media pursue him. Hell! Why can’t they leave him alone? These people have no humanity at all. Already in the last week since I’ve arrived in London, his picture has appeared twice in the papers with articles speculating about him. And now they’re shooting questions at him like bullets out of a gun. Every part of me aches for him.

Damien suddenly turns towards the crowd, inspecting them. Celia whispers a few words in his ear, but he shakes his head and takes another step forward, keeping her behind him. The man in the suit, who is escorting him, takes a protective step by his side, his eyes alert. Shit! He has a bodyguard.

Just when that thought settles in my head, Damien starts to speak. “I’m going to do this once and never again, and after this I request you all to leave me be. Yes, I did meet with an accident two months ago and yes, I have suffered memory loss. As of now, I have no replies for any of your questions simply because I don’t know the answers. I don’t remember. I’m trying my best to deal with this and hence I request your support through this phase. If and when my memory returns, I promise you all that you will be the first to know and we can have a conference then. Thank you.”

Lady Celia what do you feel about His Grace’s return? A reporter asks.