Chapter 3
“Oh, Linette, have you ever seen such a magnificent castle? It’s like out of a fairy tale!”
Estelle glanced at her older sister seated across from her in the rumbling carriage, Linette appearing as awestruck as Estelle felt at that moment. Meanwhile her handsome brother-in-law Adam, who sat next to his wife, holding her hand, chuckled at their wide-eyed excitement.
“One would think the two of you have never seen a castle before,” he teased, only for Estelle to gasp in wonder. She stared again out the open window, her gloved hands clutching the frame.
The most impressive metal gates she’d ever seen were opening to admit them onto the castle grounds, the dueling lions what she imagined must be the Chevalier coat of arms. Now Estelle could barely contain herbreathless anticipation and some nervousness, too.
Within moments she would come face-to-face again with Prince Valentin!
Suddenly the past few weeks seemed a blur to her…all the preparations for their journey and the voyage to the French port of Calais. A royal representative from Bratavia meeting them as they disembarked from the ship and escorting them to the most exquisite accommodationswhere they had spent the night, and then this sumptuous carriage ride of several hours to convey them toward what she had dreamed about for over two years.
Linette and Adam sharing this adventure with her made it all the more thrilling, especially since her beloved sister looked so much healthier and happier than she’d appeared at Easter. Just as Corie had hoped, the change of surroundings andfresh sea air had done wonders for her. Linette looked as pretty as a picture next to Adam, who seemed far more interested in gazing at his wife than out the carriage windows.
Ah, but not Estelle. Just as she had been transfixed by the bustling streets of the town that spread outward to the east of the castle, she stared in awe at the gate guards standing at stiff attention in navy blue uniformstrimmed with silver braid.
A wide cobblestone drive wound its way toward a magnificent entranceway where more guards stood with polished rifles at their shoulders. A formation of what appeared to be servants had lined up outside the metal-studded doors to greet them, the carriage drawn by four dappled grays finally slowing to a stop.
Estelle’s heart seemed to stop, too. Her breath snagged atthe tall young man awaiting them just outside those immense doors while footmen rushed forward to attend to them.
A young man with thick blond hair and striking good looks, flashes of memory from when she’d last seen him bursting in her mind.
Valentin.
It seemed the world stood still. She sat as if made of stone upon the seat, so dumbfounded for a moment that she didn’t hear Linette or Adamspeaking to her. She didn’t see a liveried footman reaching out a gloved hand to assist her down from the carriage. She simply stared at Valentin and him at her, his steel blue eyes locked upon her in so intense a gaze that hers misted with emotion.
Her fugitive prince home at last among his people, his royal coronation only four days away!
How wondrous a thing that must be to him, and he’dpersonally invited her to witness the glorious occasion. At that moment her relief that he was alive and well and looking so very handsome in his expertly tailored attire overwhelmed anything she’d felt before.
She quickly blotted her eyes and smoothed her forest green traveling gown, and then at last accepted the footman’s assistance. Her hand trembled as she stepped from the carriage, Adamand Linette disembarking behind her.
The royal representative, a portly gentleman named Louis, had made the journey in a second carriage along with the personal servants accompanying them. He rushed forward now to make the introductions, but Valentin didn’t wait for the man to speak.
“Miss Easton. Lord and Lady Linley,” he said, stepping up to greet them. “I’m honored that you’ve made the journeyto Bratavia. Truly honored.”
Recognizing the sound of his voice at once, Estelle found it was all she could do to curtsey to him, her knees gone weak.
Linette curtsied, too, while Adam bowed, but it seemed Valentin had no patience for such formality. He extended his hand to shake Adam’s warmly.
“I understand you’re a physician, Linley. I would welcome discussion with you on that score. It’san objective of mine that my people enjoy better health under my rule. The past two years have been harsh for most, but I’m happy to say improvements are occurring daily.”
“Of course, Your Highness—”
“Call me Valentin, please. All of you. Our lives have been entwined too deeply for it to be otherwise.”
As he met her eyes, Estelle found herself blushing furiously, his request wholly unexpected.
She’d grown so flustered, in fact, that she began to curtsey again, which made a faint smile curve his lips though he sobered as he offered her his arm. She took it, wondering if he would notice she trembled, which only made her more flustered.
“You look well, Miss Easton, I’m delighted to see. And I’m very grateful to see you, Lady Linley. I’ve not known such distress as when His Grace, theDuke of Arundale, wrote to me to tell me what had occurred not long after I left Porthleven—”
“Donovan wrote to you about those three men?” Estelle blurted.
Valentin nodded. “My only comfort was that they met their deserved end…thanks in part to you, Linley—”
“Adam.”
