“You said I was better off without you.”
“There’s no doubt of that.” He crossed his arms. “It’s your choice.”
She remained quiet, thinking to herself. When she met his gaze at last, she shook her head. “If I wed you, he would find a way to punish us both. It wouldn’t solve anything.”
“Then you’ve already given up.”
“No, I haven’t,” she snapped. She pushed back the chair and paced across the room. “Don’t you think I’m tired of being controlled by him? If you truly were a prince, perhaps I would marry you. But you’re not. Without any power against the king, you’re just another man standing in his way. He would destroy you, and I can’t let that happen.”
Her words were like a double-edged sword.You’re just another man.It was true, that he had no power against a king. He wasn’t a prince with political ties or alliances to stand against Badenstein. But it was her last words that struck the hardest:I can’t let that happen.
She cared. This wasn’t about her father or escaping her life as a princess. She was trying to shield him. And he couldn’t understand why or what he should do about it.
He knew he was supposed to say something, to reassure her. But inside, he felt like a stumbling adolescent.
“I—I should go,” Serena whispered. She looked upset, and she tucked the wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m escorting you,” he reminded her. “Along with my father’s soldiers.” He opened the door to the study. “You’ll go nowhere alone.”
After they left the manor house, surrounded by Bernard and the guards, Serena was surprised that Karl chose a carriage. As they drove toward the village, her chest tightened, thinking of his marriage proposal this morning. Part of her wished she couldhave said yes, though she knew it would have only complicated matters.
Was it because she wanted to let him shield her from the king? Or was it because she wanted to be with him? Karl wasn’t going to leave her, no matter how dangerous the circumstances or what she said to him. With him, she would always be safe. And his steadfast courage had slipped past the defenses of her heart.
Above them, the sun shone down and the sea had quieted somewhat, lapping against the shoreline. She held her parasol in one hand while her ladies followed behind on their own horses.
Her mind drifted back to the problem of her father. Should she threaten to raise a scandal with the newspapers, revealing her abuse? Although it would give her a small bit of leverage, it would cause severe political damage. Undermining the king would harm her country.
Or she could seek refuge with the Lohenberg royal family. König Sweyn had the army of protection she needed. If she could gain permission to cross the borders and live there quietly, perhaps that would work.
Her gaze fixed upon the horizon and the sweeping waves of the sea, fueled by her desire to leave and the fervent wish to break free of her father. Her mind mulled over potential solutions, and out of the corner of her eye, she studied Karl. In the days they’d spent together at the abbey, she’d been little more than a serving girl. It had been backbreaking work, but she’d reveled in the freedom from palace life. She still wanted that.
But even more, she wantedhim, even as arrogant and stubborn as he was. It was completely illogical, for he’d behaved like a rogue who tempted her in his wicked ways.
Karl murmured another order to one of his guards, something she couldn’t hear. He gave the man a pouch of coins, and the rider disappeared toward the shoreline.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just some arrangements that needed to be made.”
She didn’t question him further, and he ordered the driver to take them through the village until they stopped at the edge of the beach. Karl disembarked from the carriage and assisted Serena. When her ladies and the footmen began to follow, he lifted a hand to stop them.
She sent him a grateful look, and they walked along the sandy edge of the water. It was peaceful, and Karl took her gloved hand in his. Though it felt nice to feel his hand upon hers, she was well aware of how improper it was. Beneath her breath, she murmured, “You don’t need to hold my hand for appearance’s sake.”
“It’s not for appearance’s sake.” He gripped her fingers tighter and they stopped midway along the beach. Karl reached down to pick up a shell for her. When he pressed it into her hand, she couldn’t take her eyes from him.
His cheek bones were honed, his face quite handsome, and his mouth…she remembered all too well the feel of his lips upon hers. And the way he’d touched her, making her feel so wanton.
Beneath her skin, a sudden heat prickled through her. She didn’t know what to think of it, or how to respond. Quickly, she turned away, shielding her eyes against the sun.
And there, on horseback, she spied Gerlach Feldmann, captain of her father’s guards. Her heart nearly stopped at the sight of him. Was he alone? Was her father already here? Sickened at the thought, Serena took a step backwards and nearly stumbled. The raw fear rippled through her, tearing down all of her earlier thoughts that perhaps it might be all right.
But then, Karl’s arm came around her waist and he followed the direction of her stare. “He was there, the day I abducted you. He’s one of your father’s guards, isn’t he?”
Chapter Fourteen
Karl recognized the rider as one of Serena’s original escorts. It was the guard who had held a spear to his side. Before he could pursue the man, he saw his half-brother approaching from the opposite side of the beach with a dozen Lohenberg guards flanking him.
A flash of resentment flooded through him, and he muttered a curse. Why was Michael here? To set the island to rights, in case Karl couldn’t do so? Whatever the reason, he doubted if the prince’s visit was a favorable one. Michael’s eyes narrowed when he spied the princess, and Karl met the accusatory stare with no remorse whatsoever.
