One month later
“You aren’t supposed to be here,” Hannah chided, when Michael slipped inside her chamber.“If my mother finds you, she’ll beat you across the head with her parasol.”
“I doubt it.She’s too eager to have you marry into royalty.”He lifted her hand, where the diamond-and-aquamarine engagement ring sparkled.
“She’s going to send me into an asylum,” Hannah groaned, just thinking of her mother’s excitement over the past few weeks.
“Don’t worry.Mrs.Turner will keep your mother occupied.”
Hannah ventured a smile.Abigail Turner had been granted a full pardon by the king and queen, and had rejoined the queen’s ladies.The castle staff was aware of her condition, and Mrs.Turner had a servant of her own to tend her, when necessary.
The remainder of the time, she was under the care of her husband, Sebastian, who had escaped his captors and had hidden in Denmark the past twenty-three years.Hannah still smiled to think of their reunion, the elderly couple embracing as though it was their wedding day.
Michael kissed her deeply, and a secret thrill heated her blood.She couldn’t believe this man was going to be her husband tomorrow.
When he pulled back, he offered, “I spoke to Karl this morning.He seemed surprised at the estates and land I granted to him.But I thought it was only fitting, since he is to be an adviser.”
“It wasn’t his fault he was caught in the middle of this,” Hannah said.
“I agree.Queen Astri isn’t pleased, but the king is acknowledging him as his illegitimate son and granting him an honorary title.”
Michael’s hands moved down the silk of her gown, and he nipped at her chin.“Do you want to be late for dinner tonight?”
Before she could answer, the door burst open.Lady Rothburne clapped a hand over her mouth.“Hannah!What on earth are you thinking, being alone with a man in your room?”
“Michael is going to be my husband tomorrow,” she pointed out.
“Well, he isn’t right now.”Lady Rothburne made a shooing motion with her hands.“And I’m certain that His Royal Highness can wait.”
Michael sent her a secret wink, nodding to the women as he made his exit.His palace guards followed him, once he was in the hallway.
Lady Rothburne began discussing the wedding flowers and decorations, arguing in favor of roses instead of lilies.Hannah ignored the conversation, for she didn’t really care what kind of flowers there were at the ceremony.
“And, Hannah, you really should change the gown you’re wearing.That amethyst color...why, it’s scandalous.No decent woman would wear such a thing to dinner.”
Hannah simply ignored her mother’s chiding.She had livened up the colors of her wardrobe, after Michael had sent her shopping for her wedding trousseau.Afterwards, many of the ladies of the court had followed her example.“This particular gown was a gift from the queen, Mother,” Hannah added, enjoying the look of astonishment on her mother’s face.
“Well.I suppose it must be perfectly appropriate, then.”Lady Rothburne touched her heart and gave a happy sigh.“I can hardly believe that my little girl is going to be a princess.It’s what I’ve always dreamed of.”
Hannah would have married Michael if he were a beggar but didn’t say so.
“And your cousins, Dietrich and Ingeborg, were surprised beyond belief to hear about your engagement.I cannot believe you never once visited their estate in Germany.”Her mother fanned herself, her cheeks flaming.“Oh, the scandals you’ve caused.”
“It was never my intention to worry anyone, Mother.”She hadn’t revealed any of the attempts on their lives, not wanting to make her mother any more agitated than she already was.“And everything is going to be fine.No one cares about the past.”Particularly herself.
“I must admit, this is all so unfamiliar to me,” Christine blustered.“I hardly speak the language well enough, and the customs are so different.Why, I’m not even certain how I should behave at the simplest of society functions!”
Hannah drew her mother into an embrace, hiding her laugh.“Don’t worry, Mother,” she said, drawing back with a broad smile.“I’ll make you a list.”
“You were meant to be a princess,” Michael said, as he knelt before Hannah, gently massaging her sore feet.“Queen Astri was quite proud of you.”
Hannah’s ladies-in-waiting had helped her to remove the wedding finery, and his new wife wore a simple nightgown trimmed with lace.He didn’t intend for Hannah to wear it for much longer.
Their wedding day had been nothing short of a fairytale, with a horse-drawn carriage, and the ceremony itself was held inside St.Mark’s Cathedral in Vermisten.He’d been spellbound at the sight of Hannah in her cream silk wedding gown and the diamond crown the queen had insisted that she wear.
Around her neck, Hannah had worn the diamond necklace from that night at the ball, so many months ago.Just seeing it nestled against her throat brought back so many memories of the time when he had rescued her from Belgrave.And he understood that she’d worn it as a reminder of that night when they’d spent hours together.
“Are you disappointed not to be a soldier any more?”she asked, helping him to remove his shirt.
