He didn’t move, didn’t speak. The hurt and betrayal on her face made it clear she was telling the truth. Knowing that her father had done this made him want to kill the man. What sort of a monster would inflict beatings upon his own child?
But then, he knew what it was to be hated by the woman who should have loved him, never understanding why he hadn’t belonged with the family who had raised him. He understood her pain, for it echoed his own.
“Has it always been this way?” he asked. She shook her head. “It started just after our betrothal. When I was little, he hardly paid attention to me. But since then, it doesn’t matter what I do or say. It’s never proper enough. Sometimes I think he enjoys punishing me.”
“And what of the queen? Does she stand by and allow it to happen?”
“My mother is very ill,” she whispered. “I didn’t tell her at first, because I didn’t want to upset her.” Her gaze lowered to her skirt. “She found out, just before I left. And she agreed that it was right for me to go.”
“What about your sister?”
Serena shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve tried to keep it from her, but I suspect she might have found out, since she sent you that letter. Thank goodness, she’s been away at boarding school most of the time and he hasn’t touched her, so far as I know.”
Karl studied her. “Are you afraid the king will come after you here?”
“I know he will.” Dread lined her voice, mingled with resignation. “That’s why I was taken tonight. I believe someone from the palace hired men to bring me back.”
He stood up, his mind circling with the consequences of her actions. A man who would beat his daughter for no reason at all would find many reasons to justify hurting her. If she returned to the king, she would only suffer more. A seething anger took hold beneath his skin, a cold rage at the thought of anyone harming Serena.
“What do you want to do now?” Karl asked.
“I won’t go back,” she repeated, her voice growing resolute. “I’m tired of being his victim.”
“You’re right,” he said softly. “You won’t go back without me.” He had no qualms about standing up to the king, nor was he afraid of the man.
Serena shook her head. “After all the time we’ve spent alone together, he will assume the worst. Nothing good would come of it.”
“Nothing?” he ventured, reaching out to cup her cheek. His thumb edged her mouth, and she caught his meaning.
Her face flushed and she looked away. “He’s the king of Badenstein. No one can touch him or stop him from doing as he wishes.”
It was clear that she believed herself utterly alone, that she had no faith in anyone protecting her. “So you’ll keep running away from him for the rest of your life?”
“I can live a quiet life. It hasn’t been so bad these past few days.”
“Is that what you want?”
She stood up in the oversized shoes and walked toward him. “I want my freedom, above all else.”
“And you think a man as proud as the king of Badenstein will let you go without sending an army to search for you?”
“Oh, he’ll search,” she said, “but not because he wants me home safely. By running away, I’ve defied his orders. He’ll want me back to punish me.”
Karl sent her a hard stare. “Let him try.” She started to shake her head, but he caught her hand. “Face him, Serena. Only then will you have your freedom.”
Her fingers curled in his, as if she sought courage from him. “I wish I could.”
“How badly do you want to leave?”
“Very. But I don’t know if there’s any way he’ll let me alone. He won’t forgive my disobedience.” She raised her eyes to his, and in them, he saw the shadow of her fear. “There’s nothing I can do.”
She wasn’t even considering him as a protector. Karl let go of her hand, suddenly seeing the truth. “You were never going to agree to a wedding, were you? The wager meant nothing.”
She shook her head, and a flush bloomed in her cheeks. “I couldn’t involve you in a war with my father. That wouldn’t be fair to you.” Her voice softened and she ventured a sad smile, “I believe you’ll make another princess a perfectly good husband.”
He couldn’t listen to her extolling praises that weren’t true. “No. I’m a selfish bastard, and I wanted to wed you for the good of our kingdoms. Nothing more.”
Her expression faltered. “If you were so selfish, why did you rescue me?”
