Instead, he nodded once. He wanted to do right by Mallory. “Forty-eight hours.”
She swallowed. “How is she?”
The question was small and unguarded. And it surprised him enough that he hesitated.
“How is Mallory?” Meg repeated, and this time there was no maliciousness in her eyes. Only sisterly concern.
Jakob considered not answering, but he knew that was not what Mallory would have wanted, regardless of her situation. “She’s healing,” he said. “Stubbornly. She’s surrounded by people who love her.”
Meg closed her eyes. “Good.”
When Jakob left, the dungeon didn’t feel quite as cold.
His next stop was to see Sven before they left for Stagholt. By the time he reached their rooms, his next plan was already taking shape in his head.
Sven and Bryn were packing for their return trip when he found them. They quickly accepted his dinner invitation.
“We’ll do better leaving in the morning anyhow,” Bryn acknowledged.
“We absolutely would love to have dinner,” Sven agreed. “It’s a celebration.”
Jakob cleared his throat. “It’s a dinner party. And,” he added, “it needs to be perfect.”
They exchanged a look.
“Oh,” Bryn said slowly. “This is about Mallory.”
“Yes.”
“And,” Sven said, already grinning, “you’re proposing.”
Jakob didn’t deny it.
At dinner, candles lined the long tables, their light reflecting off polished stone and crystal glassware. Music drifted softly through the hall. Sven and Bryn, as well as Brooke, Violet and Viggo, who had taken a sudden interest in Violet, stood around with glasses of wine. Their laughter and chatter amplified in the dining room.
Mallory stood at Jakob’s side, her hand tucked into his arm. She wore a dress the same color of moonlight as when he saw her at the ball. Unmistakably herself.
She leaned toward him. “You’re being suspiciously quiet.”
He smiled. “Enjoying the moment.”
When dessert was cleared, Jakob stepped back and lifted his glass. The room gradually quieted.
“I want to thank all of you,” he said, voice steady, “for joining us tonight.”
His gaze found Mallory.
“And for reminding me,” he continued, “that leadership means nothing without love.”
Her breath caught.
Jakob set the glass down and turned fully to her. He dropped to one knee.
The room disappeared.
“Mallory,” he said softly, “you are my home. My courage. My future. Will you marry me?”
For half a heartbeat, she just stared.
