“I…” She paused, reconsidering her argument. “I believe we should talk further, my lord.” Without waiting for his reply, she returned to the study. The color in her cheeks and the clench in her jaw meant she had more than a few words to say to him.
When she closed the door behind her, he crossed his arms. “Why are you so eager to leave the house?”
“If I keep waiting here…for him, I’ll go mad. I have to be useful somehow.”
“I’ll go with you, then.”
“It seems a waste of your time while I speak with a dressmaker. Shouldn’t you continue the work you’ve been doing?” She crossed over to the desk, studying the map he’d laid out of the island. She skimmed over his notes, her face turning serious as she absorbed his ideas.
“What will you do about all of the people who have gone from Vertraumen?” she asked. “How will you bring them back?”
“Their families can write to them. Once we’ve brought opportunities for the existing families, I imagine many will return.”
“Have you thought more about my idea to make the island a place for the wealthy to spend their holidays?”
He hadn’t, but he sat down across from her, letting her spin off her ideas. When she spoke of cottages along the sea coast, her face grew animated, her green eyes lit up with excitement.“It would give the women a way of bringing in coins, not just the men. They could cook and clean for the guests, and—”
“Who would watch over their children?”
“They could take turns,” she offered. “Or perhaps the older women could look after the little ones. It could work, Karl. I know it could.”
He studied her. “It will take a great deal of time to build the houses. Most would be unwilling to live in small cottages.”
“The cottages could be kept for the servants. We could build grander houses for the guests.”
“And who would pay for the houses?” he asked. “I’m a bastard, remember? I haven’t the funds for it.”
“Your brother does.” He said nothing for a time but took out a piece of paper and handed it to her. “Write down your ideas.”
A hesitant smile crossed her face. “You mean, you’ll think about it?”
He nodded. “And after you’ve left the island, I’ll know what your wishes were.”
A shadow crossed her face at that, as if she no longer wanted to leave. “You’re truly going to stay here, then?”
He saw little alternative, since he had no desire to return to the empty house he owned near the borders. Turning his attention back to the map, he added, “I do know how to care for a country or a province, even if it’s no longer my right.”
She picked up the paper and reached for a pen, pulling up a chair on the opposite side of his desk. For the next few minutes, she wrote out lists, her hand moving steadily across the paper. Perfectly formed letters emerged from her pen, and as she bent over the paper, she pressed her lips together in thought.
Karl found himself wishing that one of her tightly pinned locks of hair might fall loose against her face so he’d have an excuse to touch her. What on earth had made him ever believe he could seize a creature like this and force her to wed him? Even if hisplan had succeeded, she’d have grown to hate him for it. Perhaps it was best that none of it had come to pass. And he didn’t lose sight of the irony, that she’d lied to the servants about a marriage, in order to maintain appearances.
A lie that did neither of them any good, for in spite of her ruined status, the princess would never bend the manners she’d been brought up with.
She set down her pen, her gaze discerning. “What are you thinking about?”
“What makes you think the king will let you go?” he asked softly. “You’re his heir, his eldest daughter. Do you think words will convince him?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never stood up to him before.” Her lips tightened together with apprehension. “I want to believe that he does love me, despite everything. And perhaps he’ll want me to be happy.”
“You’re naïve if you believe that.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
Karl stood and went to her side of the desk, leaning back against it. “Marry me. And your father won’t be able to touch you.” He had no intention of stepping aside, letting her surrender to the king. He intended to confront the man and make him pay for Serena’s years of suffering.
She shook her head. “I can’t make you into a prince. You know that.”
“But I can take you away from the island. As your husband it would be my right to protect you.” He reached out and touched a lock of her hair, pulling it free of the chignon to satisfy his desire.
