He stopped in front of the chair.“You may as well come out, Mrs.Thorpe.Your gown gives you away.”
Hannah straightened, realizing he was right.“I didn’t mean to pry.I was simply waiting upon my...that is, the...lieutenant.”She didn’t say husband or prince, for it would only fuel the man’s rage.
Fürst Karl stepped forward, his eyes burning.“I ordered both of you to leave my country.”
Hannah drew upon every facet of her training to respond.“I understand how angry you must be with us.But—”
“You understand nothing.”The coldness in his voice was lined with pain.
Hannah prayed that she could somehow ease the prince’s anger and reassure him.But this was a man who was about to lose everything.His home, his title...even his family.No words would take away the loss.
“You didn’t live here your entire life, did you?”she began.“Do you remember what it was like before the palace?”
The prince seemed taken aback by her questions.Rightfully so, she supposed.Royalty was never meant to be interrogated.
“I never lived anywhere else.”
“You might not remember it,” she offered, changing tactics.“But surely, if you think back to your earliest memory, you know of a time when you were frightened.”She stepped closer to him, her own fears quaking inside.“When you were but a small child, pushed into a world you didn’t understand.”
Careful, Hannah.Don’t make him angrier.
But his face remained blank, as though she hadn’t spoken at all.
“I can understand why you might resent Lieutenant Thorpe,” she said gently.“To find out that your life was not what you thought it was...anyone would be angry at the changes.”
“Nothing has changed,” the Fürst insisted.“And I won’t let him do anything to upset the queen.”
The Prince’s protective nature over his mother made Hannah’s heart ache.She doubted if Queen Astri had ever accepted Fürst Karl as her son.In her mind, Hannah imagined a lonely boy, trying to win his mother’s love.And never succeeding.
“Lieutenant Thorpe came to find out the truth.Not to hurt anyone, especially not the queen.”She could see the pain in his eyes, of a man whose life was crumbling at his feet.“Talk to him, I beg of you.If the two of you would come to an understanding, there might be a way to compromise.”
Her words made the Fürst stiffen.He crossed the hallway, coming to stand directly in front of her.“There cannot be a compromise, Mrs.Thorpe.Lohenberg is my homeland, and I will die before handing my throne over to a stranger who knows nothing of our country.”
“He is your brother, by blood,” Hannah said quietly.“And regardless of the conspiracies that happened years ago, the two of you should put your differences aside.Try to work together.”
The prince shook his head.“It’s not possible.”
Hannah looked into his eyes, noting the trapped frustration.“Lieutenant Thorpe is a good man.And I want to believe you are, as well.”
“I care little about what anyone thinks of me.Least of all, the wife of a lieutenant.”
Her expression grew strained.“I am the daughter of a marquess.Not the wife of a lieutenant.”Steeling herself, she admitted, “I lied about being married.It was merely a way to stay with him.”
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
She didn’t answer, trying to keep the bottled-up emotions from spilling over.“I want him to be happy.Whether he is a soldier or a prince.”
The prince’s expression grew taut.“You want to become a princess.”
“No.”She took a deep breath.“Actually, I’d rather be a soldier’s wife.”Glancing toward the queen’s chambers, she added, “I know what it is to be imprisoned in a life like this.To be measured and inspected.And still never be good enough.”
The prince’s gaze met hers, and she thought she detected a softening.For a moment, she saw herself mirrored in him and wondered if he, too, craved his freedom.
“You will always be a prince here,” she ventured, touching her own heart.“A man who loves Lohenberg as you do would make a strong adviser.”
“I’d make a better king,” the prince responded.His chin raised up, and he added, “Your days in Lohenberg are coming to an end.Rest assured, Lady Hannah, I’ll let no one take what belongs to me.”
Hannah waited the remainder of the morning for Michael, but when he finally emerged from the king’s chambers, she caught only a glimpse of him before the servants led him away.After they disappeared down the corridor, the Graf hobbled out, sinking gratefully into the chair offered by his servants.
