“There is more than one queen who resides in this country, Alana.”
She almost laughed. He meant that sweet old lady she’d met last night. That was even more absurd, yet she would rather believe that than that her father’s loving wife might not be as loving as he thought.
Christoph started moving them slowly toward the gate. Lost in her thoughts over that garbled message—maybe she’d missed some of it—she almost didn’t notice the guards in the ward. One by one, as soon as they saw her, they were dropping to one knee and placing a fist to their chests as they bowed toward her. It nearly brought tears to her eyes.
“It didn’t take long for them to love you,” Christoph said in a soft tone.
Then Alana heard him add, “Just like me.” But he said it so softly she couldn’t be sure.
Chapter Forty-Eight
IT TOOK A WHILE for Alana’s tears to dry. She waited until they did, unwilling to let Christoph know she’d cried. Then she turned her head to glance up at him. His eyes had already been on her, she realized, when she met his gaze immediately. Such a pensive look, as if he were trying to read her thoughts.
She wasn’t sure where he was taking her now, but obviously it was going to require a sleigh again, because he was riding to the sleigh house. A sleigh was again already waiting outside the building for him, the same driver as before already on his perch.
Christoph stopped right next to the sleigh, close enough to lift her carefully down into it before he dismounted to join her. “Don’t you think it’s about time you told me where you’re taking me?” she asked.
“Your father suggested a fun outing for you. I thought you might like to visit the wolf pups again. But if you can think of something you’d rather do . . .”
She’d rather just ride around cuddled in his arms, but of course she couldn’t say that. “Seeing the puppies again would be nice, actually.”
He nodded and directed the driver where to go before he wrapped her in blankets again.
“Was that really my father’s idea, or was it yours?”
“His. He’s concerned you didn’t take too well something he told you last night.”
That was an understatement. Recalling her shock over the marriage he favored for her, she asked, “Did he tell you what he suggested?”
“Of course—and he assured me I won’t have to guard you much longer.”
She sucked in her breath. “He mentioned nothing about soon!”
Christoph suddenly put his hand to her belly. “His reason for making haste is valid.” His eyes dropped to her midsection as well so she couldn’t mistake his meaning.
She blushed furiously, mortified at the realization that her father knew she’d been intimate with Christoph. But there was no evidence that there had been a consequence. Why couldn’t they wait to be sure first? And then it really sank in—a baby? Good Lord, she’d never once thought of it before today, and that thought wasn’t the least bit embarrassing, was actually a wonderful thought. A baby. Theirs . . .
A moment of wonder passed between them, but it was brief. She looked away before Christoph could see how painful she found the thought that her time with him would soon end. Her father might appreciate his work, but he still wouldn’t let her marry Christoph, even if she was carrying his child. He was merely a glorified soldier, not good enough for a princess.
“I suppose that’s why he’s angry with you?” she asked tonelessly.
“He’s a father. He’s reacting the way any father would.”
She had to blame something for this pain, it was starting to choke her. “But how did he even find out unless you told him. Why would you do that?!”
“It doesn’t matter how he knows” was all Christoph said.
She sighed and mumbled, “I don’t want to marry Karsten, you know.”
He turned her face to his so he could look into her eyes. She sensed a sudden change in him. Whatever he saw, it made him smile before he said, “Good, then maybe I won’t have to kill him.”
She sighed in exasperation. As if that would help anything, but of course he didn’t even mean it.
“You didn’t tell him how you feel about it, did you?” he added.
“Of course not, he’s so bloody happy about the idea, how could I?”
“So his happiness is more important than your own?”
