Chapter 1 (partial)

I held Nina in my arms. I didn't want to let her go. I don't know how we will work this all out but work it out, we will. I still don't know how she could have gone with that Prince behind my back, and I would probably never understand.

It didn't matter. Nina was back where she belonged. I had been a lifeguard and pulled some desperate people out of the water. They hadn't clung to me like she was.

It took me a moment to realize that she was sobbing her heart out. We were standing in a room full of people, some family, some I had never seen before.

I saw Mum; I mouthed to her, get us a room. I had to give Mum credit; she didn't take the cheap shot she could have. She just steered us to an open doorway. It was to somebody's office, but it wasn't occupied, so she gently led us in and left, closing the door behind us.

We stood in that office for the longest time, wrapped in a hug.

She finally pulled away from me and looked up into my eyes.

"Rick, how can you ever forgive me?"

"I don't know that I have to forgive you. All I know is that I need you in my life."

She hugged me again and started sobbing.

I held her gently, she had lost weight, and it felt like I could break her if I hugged her too tightly.

After a while, there was a knock on the door. It was Mum.

"Rick, we need you out here to talk to people, and it looks like Nina needs to wash her face. I will take care of her."

I went back out to face a crowd of well-wishers. At least, that is what I thought they were. My emotions were so jangled that I had no idea what was said to me or how I answered.

My answers must not have been too bad because no one fled crying or challenged me to a duel.

There was the inevitable press conference, where I was asked intelligent questions such as, "How does it feel to be a Duke?"

"It's too soon to tell."

"What are your plans now?"

"Go to Disneyland? No, just kidding. I have to figure out what this new title means, and I have work to do with the North and South Vietnamese governments and two golf tournaments to get ready for."

I wasn't about to tell them "and sort out my relationship with Nina."

The Empress and Queen both avoided the press. I had to learn their tricks. I was summoned, never asked, always summoned, like, "Here, Rover, good boy, good doggy."

Elizabeth started with, "Thanks for being a good sport about this. We knew if we asked in advance, you would try to weasel out of this. We do need help here in the long run and when we get closer to the transition."

Empress Ping continues, "In the shorter term, you can help Hong Kong become the window on the world for China. As our ports expand, they will help our economy, but we need to get trade moving now so the people are happy with the new government."

Cast in Time Book 6 Available in June 2024!

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More details coming soon.

Earl E. (Ed) Nelson

I have always wanted to be an author. I had my first rejection slip in about 1965. Wish I had saved it. For many years the only writing I did was technical as pesky things like three children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren came along.

My technical writing was in the field of quality in several different journals. I worked in the field of quality for over fifty years, starting as a line inspector and ending up as a Vice-President of Quality and elected a Fellow of the American Society for Quality.

Then a wonderful thing happened. I lost my job and was out of work for almost eight months. To keep from going crazy I wrote. I posted my stories on an online site, and lo and behold people read them and said nice things. Fast forward about eight years and I am retired and writing for the fun of it.

A lot of what is in my stories is based on my life experiences, gasp! Give or take a lie or two that is. The one fortunate thing in my career is that I got to travel worldwide and have been to most of the locations I write about.

In my younger days, I tried hot air ballooning, sky diving, white water rafting, spelunking, and target shooting. I have collected stamps, drove in road rallies, lowly rated by the US Chess federation. I built a Kentucky long rifle and a dueling pistol. I am a licensed HAM radio operator. My hobby is having hobbies.

My true passion is reading. Trapped in a hotel room I would read the telephone book. The TV would not be turned on. I have averaged 200 books a year for the last sixty years. I knew those long flights were good for something.

BTW I was born in the middle of an air raid in England during World War II, the house next door was destroyed and our windows were blown out. That is probably the most interesting thing I have been involved with. Mum never forgave me. Happily married for 56 years I hope my wife doesn’t catch on to what a goof I am.