She didn’t try to fight back the memories of those nights with Christoph this time. She had managed to banish them from her thoughts because, just as she’d told him, she’d never engage in that kind of intimacy with him again. So it would have been pure folly to remember something that wonderful. But now, for some reason, she let herself indulge in a little foolishness.
Her father had mentioned giving her a tour of the palace this morning. When the knock came at the door, she was ready for it and waved back the servant who moved to answer it. Bright and early, the two young women had shown up with platters of food and smiles, ready to wait on her hand and foot. She was going to have to get used to that because they seemed to think they had to stay constantly at her side. She’d tried to shoo them away, but then they’d looked as if she were punishing them!
A guard was standing outside the door, not her father. The two guards who had escorted her last night were standing there at attention, too, plus four new ones! She’d had no idea they would be guarding her door all night. But the new man merely handed her a message. She opened it and stared at a page full of Lubinian text, then asked the guard what it was about.
Christoph came around the corner just then and barked an order at the guard, who quickly marched off. Christoph must just have come in from outside because he was still wearing his long overcoat and fur cap.
“Is there a problem?” he asked her.
“Yes, I was given this without explanation.” She handed the note to him.
“It’s from the king. He regrets he can’t join you this morning and suggests tomorrow morning instead. I was made aware of this and was coming to inform you. But the guard wouldn’t have known anything about it. You really shouldn’t talk to my men, your father wouldn’t like it.”
The last was said in such a scolding tone, she demanded, “Why not?”
“Because you’re the princess, and soldiers are beneath your notice.” But then he sighed. “I think the palace will need to make adjustments, now that a princess is among us.”
It sounded more as if he would need to make adjustments, but she couldn’t resist reminding him, “You’re a soldier. Are you now beneath my notice, too?”
His expression turned slightly annoyed at that, but all he said was “Fetch your coat, you’re going outdoors.”
One of the maids had heard him and was already rushing forward with the coat. Another came running with Alana’s cap. In mere seconds, they had her garbed to venture outside, and Christoph was already walking her down the hallway. She gave him a moment to tell her where he was taking her, but soon realized he wasn’t going to! Did he really think he could continue treating her like his prisoner?
“Where—?” she began, but didn’t bother to finish. His stride was too quick, his manner too stiff, and she didn’t feel like shouting to be heard.
Outside the main palace entrance, she recognized his horse being held there for him. He mounted and reached for her hand to help her up.
She crossed her arms over her chest instead, a mulish twist to her lips. “You will say where we are going or I’m not going. You can’t use this high-handed manner with me anymore. I outrank you!”
He burst out laughing, and swiftly, before she could step back out of the way, he reached down to catch her under her arms, lifted her, and placed her sideways in front of him.
“Rank has nothing to do with it. I’m your official protector, which means, Princess, you must do as I say.”
He didn’t sound as if he was gloating, but she didn’t doubt he was. “And if I object?”
“You can always complain to the king.”
“Why don’t I complain to you instead? I have a feeling I’ll be doing a lot of that.”
He bent forward, close enough that she could feel his warm breath on her face. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her right there in the ward! But he said no more and she realized it was because he’d noticed Henry hurrying across the ward to them. She tried to get back off the horse, but Christoph held her tight.
Stopping beside the horse, Henry looked up at Christoph and beseeched, “A word wi’ ’er, m’lord?”
“You’re welcome in the palace now,” Christoph told the boy. “You can visit her anytime. If what you have to say won’t wait, then speak.”
Henry looked utterly frustrated for a moment, but then he surprised them both by stepping on Christoph’s boot in the stirrup and hoisting himself up farther using Alana’s skirt. He leaned to the side away from Christoph and whispered to her, “Beware the queen,” then jumped back down and hurried away.
Alana frowned as she watched Henry go. Christoph didn’t move and she realized he was merely waiting for her to explain. “Tell me,” he said.
“It made no sense, so I’d rather not repeat it.”
“Alana, I will guard your life with my own,” he said sternly. “But to do that, you can keep no more secrets from me. Repeat what he told you.”
She repeated the message, then added, “Poppie must be on the wrong trail—or is there something about Nikola that I’m not aware of?”
“Queen Nikola is above reproach. She adores Frederick and she wasn’t old enough to be involved in that old conspiracy.”
She heard the anger in his tone and even agreed, “I would have said the same thing, but—”
