Oskar had told her they had money, but this was more than money. This was wealth on a level she’d never imagined, and it at least made sense to her now why his parents had been so cruel. Oskar wasn’t just a boy intended to work in the family business; he was a young man on the cusp of inheriting a fortune.
But Amalie needn’t have worried, because the moment she placed her foot on the first step, the enormous front door was flung open and Oskar was running down to her.
‘Amalie!’ he called.
Any doubts she’d had about whether he’d still want to see her disappeared. The joy written all over his face was only surpassed by her own excitement, as she flung her arms around him. Hecupped her face and stared down at her, his eyes searching hers before giving her a quick kiss.
‘I was worried you might change your mind,’ he said, taking her hand and grinning up at her, the diamond still sparkling where he’d placed it all those weeks earlier.
‘Me? Change my mind?’ Amalie laughed, before glancing at her stomach. ‘Never.’
‘Let’s go inside,’ he said, keeping hold of her hand as they walked up the steps together and into the house.
‘They know I’m coming?’
He stopped and turned to face her. ‘They know I’m expecting a visitor, and that I need to speak to them. I didn’t want to give them any reason not to say yes.’
Amalie nodded, a familiar knot forming in her stomach. It was the same one that had been there at the awkward dinner she’d shared with his family at the hotel.
‘How did your family react?’ Oskar asked, his voice hushed as he led her down the hallway.
Amalie tried not to stare, but the paintings alone were impossible not to notice. She’d never seen anything like it—it was even more sumptuous than the MajestetiskHotel, and she’d thought that was the epitome of luxury. ‘They were happy for us,’ she replied, keeping her voice low. ‘But my mother guessed about the situation before I told her. She suggested we marry quickly, and visit them afterwards so that they can celebrate our news rather than have anyone ask questions.’
Oskar paused in front of a closed door, turning to her once more and gently brushing a tendril of hair from her face. ‘Then marry quickly we shall,’ he said. ‘But first, let’s get this out of the way, and don’t let them make you feel less than you are for so much as a second, do you hear me? We are marrying whether they consent to our union or not.’
Amalie nodded, bravely tilting her chin and facing the door, her hand safely held in Oskar’s. She had worries she wouldn’t voice, like how they were going to get by financially if his family cut him off, or where they might live, but she intended to keep those thoughts to herself for as long as she could. Oskar was prepared to give up everything for her, and she needed to let him figure it all out.
He pushed open the door and held it for her, and Amalie had a few seconds to survey the room before his family saw her. It was enough for her to feel his mother’s fury at having to see her again—in her eyes, Amalie could sense a storm brewing.
‘Mother, Father, you remember Amalie?’ Oskar said, still holding her hand as they stood before them. ‘Amalie, this is my brother, Alexander.’
His family were seated at the dining table, but their meal lay untouched before them. It had clearly just been served. There were two other places set—a place for her this time—although maybe it was only because they’d been told a friend of Oskar’s was joining them and not her specifically.
His brother stood as Oskar’s parents sat in silence. He was taller than Oskar and wore a more serious expression, but he had the same warm brown eyes and thick head of hair, which made him seem familiar to her in a way. He walked around the table and held out a chair for her.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amalie. Please, take a seat.’
She glanced at Oskar, who indicated she should accept his invitation. But as she walked, she could feel his mother’s eyes following her.
‘Excuse my rudeness, I didn’t know we would be seeing you again today, Amalie,’ his father said. ‘A word before lunch, Oskar?’
Oskar looked to her before nodding and following his father from the room. Their voices were muffled, but it was obvious from the tone that they were arguing.
‘Amalie, Oskar tells me that you met at the hotel in Sognefjord,’ Alexander said, his smile kind. ‘Have you come directly from there?’
She returned his smile. ‘I’ve actually been home to see my family since then, but yes, that’s where we met.’
Amalie reached for the glass of water in front of her, her mouth suddenly dry, but her hand fell away in fright at his mother’s gasp.
‘What is that?’ his mother cried.
She realised her error then, that his mother had seen the diamond ring on her finger, and Amalie looked to Alexander for help, but his face had drained of colour, too. Thankfully at that moment Oskar’s father burst through the door, taking the attention from her. Oskar followed close behind.
‘They mean to get married,’ his father blustered, marching towards the table before pointing at her. ‘Did you put him up to this? Was it your idea to?—’
‘Father, enough!’ Oskar interrupted, coming to stand behind her, his hands on her shoulders. ‘I asked Amalie to visit today so that we could share our good news. We’re in love, and we’re to be married.’
‘Love? What do you know of love?’ his mother exploded. ‘You have your whole life planned, Oskar, and there are many suitable girls from wonderful families who’d?—’
