“I’d almost had what you, both of you, are about to discard so easily, due to a childish spat. I’m asking you, not for myself, but for Albert, and for the countless men and women who’ve been denied your opportunities, or been punished for them—let love, and not pride or position, be your only guide. Don’t abandon each other. Or I will wring your vile little necks.”

Abby’s car was already double-parking in front of the cathedral as she leaned out the window, asking, “Need a lift?” As always, she knew where I’d be, and where I had to go, even if it meant racing through the yellow lights.

CHAPTER 29

As Abby kept the motor running outside my building, I bolted upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. Louise had my backpack waiting, and Adam had dug up my passport. I had a reservation on a flight leaving with just enough time to get to the airport and make it to the gate.

“This is so romantic!” said Adam. “When you’re running through the airport, jump over stuff!”

“Go,” said Louise, holding the front door open. “But spray paint something about the revolution on the front of the palace.”

“Am I out of my mind?”

“GO!”

At the last second I dashed back into my bedroom and took the framed photo of Ruth Ginsburg off the wall, as she told me, “I can’t wait to see London!”

As Abby exceeded the speed limit to JFK, she asked, “Do you have a plan?”

“No. But I think James is going to be very helpful. I’m going to find Edgar and take it from there.”

“Oh, Carter. Should I come with you?”

“Thank you, but no. This is on me. But I’ll stay in touch.”

“And once you’ve fixed everything, tell Queen Catherine you want a knighthood. Or like, a manor house. Where I’ll have my own room. Rooms. And I have to tell you something. When we were kids and I got sick, I felt so bad, because I didn’t want to die, but even more because I had to be around to watch you grow up. So I promised God that if I got better, I’d become a beautiful surgeon.”

I almost asked her if while she was praying, she’d used that exact phrase, but of course she had.

“And I also promised that I’d look out for you, for obvious reasons.”

“Excuse me?”

“Because you’d brought your GI Joe doll to the hospital, and when I asked why, you said so he could meet a cute doctor. Which I totally agreed with, but I also thought, ‘Carter is going to need dating tips.’ So here goes . . .”

She pulled up in front of the terminal, kissed me and said, “Go get your prince.”