But Karsten, watching the emotions flickering across Auberta’s face, said gently, “Did you really do this, Grandmama?”
She gave him a beseeching look, as if he should understand. “I had to. They took my husband from me, Frederick and his father did. They killed him when he was everything to me! So I took what they loved, a death for a death!”
Karsten looked horrified. “They weren’t responsible. They didn’t lead that rebellion.”
“Of course they did,” Auberta insisted, but she looked confused now, then her eyes turned to Alana and she smiled. “I’m sorry, my dear. But Karsten will make you such a good husband. Don’t you agree?”
Alana was speechless. Everyone was staring at Auberta as if she were crazy, and perhaps she was, harboring misguided hate like that for so long.
Karsten helped his grandmother to her feet to lead her from the room. Alana found it painful to see how shocked he was. He paused before Frederick and said, “I don’t know how she hid this from everyone, but she’ll never hurt anyone again. I promise I’ll see to that.” He also stopped in front of Alana and Christoph long enough to say, “I wish you both a happy life together. I was trying to ignore how obvious it is that you two love each other. But it’s all right.” He tried to smile, but couldn’t quite manage it. “I’m not ready for marriage yet anyway.”
Alana blushed, not because of what Karsten had said, but because her father was swearing! “What a fool I was to not see it myself,” Frederick said, looking first at her, then at Christoph. “Can you forgive me, Christoph? I know there’s no better man for my daughter than you.”
Alana was rendered speechless yet again. Did that mean what she thought it meant? She glanced nervously at Christoph, waiting for him to object. He might not have wanted her to marry Karsten, but that had seemed to stem from some old rivalry between them. Not once had he suggested she marry him instead.
Christoph’s answer was a formal bow to his king. And just like that, Alana got engaged to the barbarian.
Chapter Fifty-Three
MARRIED IN TWO DAYS?!”
Frederick was sharing breakfast with Alana in her suite. He seemed anxious and didn’t keep her guessing as to why. He was worried that Christoph didn’t feel worthy of being given a princess for a wife. But two days! Of course she knew why her father was rushing the wedding, she didn’t have to ask. The possibility of a baby. He didn’t have to say it—and then he did!
“I trust him with my life, Alana. There is no one I would trust more with your life. Even now, you may carry his child, my grandchild. This is why I was so easily swayed to Karsten at Nikola’s urging, though she has admitted now that it was Auberta’s idea, not hers. Don’t blame her for that, please. She loved that old woman like a mother. She trusted her and never suspected—neither of us did. But this is why your wedding to Karsten would have taken place this soon as well. There can be no question of the legitimacy of the future heirs to this throne.”
Alana wondered, could her cheeks get any hotter? Her father was embarrassed, too, but for a different reason.
“If I had not been so angry with Christoph, I wouldn’t have distressed you with Karsten.” He sighed. “I would have realized immediately that Christoph was the better man for you. I owe him so much. He even saved my life, you know. I was never able to think of a suitable reward for him—until now. And you are in agreement?”
She was getting a say in the matter this time? Despite her embarrassment and worry over the obstacle Frederick had introduced, she couldn’t help feeling giddy because she would be getting what she wanted.
So she nodded shyly, and he smiled, continuing, “Your mother’s gown is being searched for as we speak. The nobles who need to attend are being notified. My only concern now is Christoph. I’ve given him what assurances I can. I want him to feel welcomed into our family. But I think he needs to hear it from you to believe it.”
Christoph might have acquiesced to the marriage last night, but amazing as it seemed, she knew he might decline if he had too much time to think about it. But once again, this marriage was obviously important to her father, and she still wanted to make him happy.
“Perhaps I could invite him to dine with me, if it’s permissible for me to be alone with him.”
Her father looked pensive for a moment, then said, “As the two of you will be man and wife in two days, I don’t see why not. Actually, it’s an excellent idea. Tell him what’s in your heart, Alana.”
She couldn’t tell him that, not when she didn’t actually know what was in his. Karsten had made an assumption when he’d said she and Christoph obviously loved each other. Her father made the same assumption. Whether Christoph loved her was too important to her to rely on assumptions. But she would think of something to tell him, even if she only repeated what her father wanted Christoph to know, that he was being welcomed into the family with open arms.
She sent off the invitation, notified the palace cooks to make something special for dinner, dealt with the ten seamstresses that showed up carrying her mother’s wedding dress—it fit perfectly! That left her about three hours before dinner, and she spent all three of them getting ready. She wanted a long bath, wanted her hair washed. She asked one of the maids if her stepmother might have a nice perfume she could borrow, and the girl came back with a basket full of them. She wanted her hair done up just right. She couldn’t make up her mind what to wear, though she finally settled on one of her favorites, a pale gold silk evening gown with white and gold trimming.
She didn’t even realize how much time she was devoting to her appearance for what should just be a simple dinner until she was reminded that her fiancé would soon be there. But she couldn’t get out of her mind what she needed to tell Christoph, too, that he didn’t have to sacrifice his future happiness simply because he felt compelled to follow the king’s orders. She liked him—no, she thought, tears coming to her eyes—she loved him enough to free him from this marriage if that was his wish. No wonder his feelings were more important to her than her own.
She heard a knock at the door exactly on time. The meal had just been delivered. She shooed out the kitchen staff as well as her maids. They all filed out the door past Christoph before he stepped inside. She waited by the table, suddenly feeling more nervous than she’d ever been in her life.
He came forward. His uniform looked different. The colors were the same, but tonight it seemed to shine. She wasn’t sure why until she noticed the buttons were reflecting the lamplight like polished glass. The sash of his saber was special, lined with studs. Even the hilt of the saber was fancier than normal. She finally realized this was his special evening wear, and he’d worn it for her!
When he reached her, he bowed formally from the waist. If that didn’t amaze her, he also took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.
She was so surprised, he laughed. “Not barbaric enough for you?”
She blushed immediately, wondering if he would ever let her forget her first impressions of him. It was a good time to admit, “My father has assured me his people are not barbarians. That would include you.”
He grinned. “You believed him?”
Her mouth formed an O just before he picked her up in his arms, then sat down, placing her in his lap. “What are you doing?”
