No, but he wasn’t a prince any more. The title felt like a mockery of his former status. “When we’re alone, it doesn’t matter what you call me.”
Her fingers reached up to her swollen lips, and she looked fearful of what she’d done. He said nothing more, for he’d pushed her more than she was ready.
Even if shehadkissed him back.
When they rode along the edge of the water, Serena sensed that they were being watched. Though the prince had allowed her to ride the horse the footman had brought for her, she kept close to his side. Bernard and Samuel took the lead, with the supplies tied to their horses and torches to light their path.
The moonlight cast a shimmering band of silver upon the quiet waves. The prince drew closer to her, keeping his voice low. “We have visitors, Princess. And I don’t think they’ve come to pay a call.”
She clenched the reins of her horse and followed the direction of his gaze. Along the edge of the hill, she spied the flare of torches. “What do you want me to do?”
Karl withdrew the revolver from his coat and cocked it. “You’re going to stay with me. Bernard and Samuel will keep them occupied while we ride to the manor. It’s not too far.”
“What about them? What if—?”
“They’ll be all right,” Karl assured her. “Both of them are armed, and they are trained to protect us.”
Inside, she struggled to remain calm while Bernard and Samuel came to ride alongside them.
“How many?” Karl asked. From the somber look of the men, Serena suspected they were outnumbered.
“It’s too dark to tell,” Bernard answered. “But we’ll hold them off as long as we can.”
The prince absorbed this knowledge and pointed his revolver skywards, firing a single shot.
“What was that for?” Serena asked.
“Reinforcements,” was all he would say.
Serena huddled against the horse, wishing she understood what sort of threat they were facing. Her answer came a moment later, when four men emerged from the shadows, carrying their own torches. All were armed.
Karl brought his horse close to her, and murmured, “When I give the command, ride toward the hills as fast as you can. Don’t look back, and don’t stop. I’ll follow you.”
She nodded, knowing that her life might depend upon blind obedience in this instance.
The leader of the men came forward, and his body was painfully thin, the bones of his cheeks showing. He held a gun in his hands and his men moved to flank them. “Give us your supplies,” the man ordered.
“Put away your weapons,” Karl countered. “Come to the manor house in the morning, and you can have a share in our food, then.”
“You’re the new governor, aren’t you?” the man said. “Sent by the king to keep us starving.”
Karl said nothing but repeated, “Put down your gun.”
Serena saw the ruthless air upon the prince’s face, just as he leveled his own revolver at the leader. When a gunshot sounded from behind her, Serena jerked in startled response. Karl roared, “Go!” He slapped her horse’s side and fired the gun toward the men.
She bent low against the horse’s mane and urged her mount forward, terrified at what was happening behind her. Just as ordered, she didn’t look back, though she heard the sound of someone pursuing her. Whether it was the prince protecting her or someone else, she kept up the horse’s pace.
In the darkness, her navy gown was an asset, keeping her hidden from the assailants. Her heartbeat pounded to the rhythm of the horse’s hooves, and she prayed for the safety of Karl and the men. If anything happened to them, she would be utterly alone.
Serena closed her eyes, willing away the thought.
When she reached the manor and dismounted, she struggled to remember how to get into the back garden gate. Her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn’t pry any of the stones loose.
The sound of another horse approaching made her huddle into the shadows, praying it wasn’t one of the thieves. She eyed the stone wall, wishing she’d paid more attention to where the key was hidden.
When the rider drew closer, she held her breath. Then her horse whinnied from behind, giving away their presence.
“Princess?” came a voice, and she recognized the Fürst.
