LITMIR.BIZ

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she’d sent word for the caretaker to assemble a household of servants within the hunting lodge. It was far easier to make an escape with six servants, rather than fifty.

      Anna would have none of it. In a whisper, she added, ‘You shouldn’t defy our father. What you’re planning will only make him angrier.’

      Her sister reached out and touched the fichu at Serena’s throat. The knowing look in her eyes made her wonder if Anna suspected the punishments she’d endured. Had someone told her?

      ‘The king will never know I’m gone.’ Serena stepped back, adjusting the fichu to hide her reddened skin. ‘I’ll be fine.’

      ‘You can’t go off on your own,’ Anna insisted. ‘Someone might try to kidnap you or worse.’

      ‘It’s only meant to be a short holiday. By the time you return from Sardinia, I’ll already be home. No one need ever know of it.’ The falsehood rolled easily off her tongue, and she pretended as if it wouldn’t matter at all. She could only pray they wouldn’t find her.

      ‘But why would you go to Hamburg?’ Her sister looked as if she’d suggested living in a beggar’s cottage. ‘We haven’t gone there in years. And there’s nothing at all to do. Except … catch fish.’ Anna wrinkled her nose with disgust.

      Serena didn’t answer, but merely hugged her sister again. ‘I’ll miss you.’

      A tightness rose in her chest at the thought of leaving Anna, but when her sister squeezed back, she fought back the shadow of pain from her bruised ribs. A flash of fear came over her, remembering her father’s beating.

      You don’t have a choice, she reminded herself. You have to go.

      ‘I’ll return in a few weeks,’ Anna promised. ‘And hopefully the king of Sardinia will choose someone else. You’re fortunate that the fürst of Lohenberg will be your husband. At least he’s quite handsome.’

      There was an enigmatic look in her sister’s eyes, as if she wanted to say something else. Instead, Anna drew back and said a final farewell.

      After her sister had gone, Serena ordered her ladies to help her change into a navy blue woollen travelling gown and a dark cloak. She raised the hood over her hair and covered her gown with the voluminous fabric.

      ‘Shall I come with you to the lodge, Your Highness?’ Katarina asked, her voice fearful.

      Serena shook her head. ‘You’d only be punished. If you stay here, you’ll be safe.’ She’d arranged for a coachman, footman and four guards to accompany her.

      Katarina pressed her forehead to Serena’s hand in a deep curtsy. ‘As Your Highness wishes.’

      ‘Go back to my father’s library. The guards I hired are standing outside the doors. Bring them to me.’

      But her lady-in-waiting hesitated a moment. One by one, her other ladies surrounded her, and Serena saw the worry in their eyes. Then Katarina spoke, ‘Your Highness, you must know that … we would do anything to protect you. What you’ve endured from His Majesty—’ Her lady bowed her head and flushed with embarrassment. ‘It’s so very wrong. And though there are servants loyal to him, rest assured, we will help you to leave, as best we can.’

      Serena looked at the faces of her ladies. These women had been with her for years, and they were so much a part of her life, she hadn’t thought of how lonely it would be without them. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

      ‘There was a … problem with your coach,’ Katarina said, biting her lip. ‘The footman, Herr Henley, will explain, but—’

      ‘We haven’t much time,’ one of the other ladies interrupted. ‘I’ll go and fetch the guards.’ With a curtsy, the young woman departed.

      Serena turned back to Katarina. ‘What problem?’

      Katarina shrugged. ‘Just something unexpected. Your sister, Princess Anna, arranged it.’ With that, Serena relaxed. Anna would do nothing to interfere with her plans.

      A quarter of an hour later, the men arrived. Among them was Gerlach Feldmann, captain of her father’s guards. He looked uneasy about the journey, but of all the guards, she trusted him the most. He’d assembled men to help her, at great risk to himself.

      Serena bid her ladies farewell, and raised her hood to hide her hair. The guards led her through the scullery maids’ quarters, to avoid notice.

      Throughout each twisting corridor, her lungs tightened with fear. Although her ladies and many of the servants would not betray her, she doubted if every servant could say the same.

      When they reached the grounds outside the palace, Serena ran through the rain, clutching her cloak around her. Her lungs burned with exertion as she fled into the wooded grounds just beyond the gates.

      She never looked back. With a surge of energy, she raced as fast as she dared toward the coach that awaited her. It would take a full day to reach her grandfather’s lodge, but that didn’t matter. She would savour each mile that took her far away from the palace. No one would stop her now.

      ‘Your Highness,’ the footman, Herr Henley, interrupted. ‘There is something you should know.’

      Serena lifted her hand to dismiss him. ‘Tell me once I’m inside the coach.’

      The rain was pouring down, soaking through her hood and cloak. The waiting footman opened the door for her, and she let him assist her within. She sank down upon the cushioned seat, lowering her hood.

      Then she stared in shock at the prince who was seated inside the coach, directly across from her.

       Chapter Two

      ‘You seem surprised to see me,’ Karl said, knocking twice on the ceiling of the coach to signal the driver onwards.

      His bride, in fact, looked as if she wanted to throw open the door of the coach and flee. Not quite the reaction he’d hoped for, but it came as no surprise.

      ‘What are you doing here?’

      His suspicions were now confirmed. Princess Serena had indeed lied to pacify her sister.

      ‘Was I not invited?’ Karl asked, keeping a neutral expression on his face. ‘Your sister Anna sent a letter, thanking me for taking care of you.’

      Beneath her breath, the princess muttered something about killing her younger sister. ‘You are not coming with me to Hamburg. Or anywhere else.’

      Even in her bedraggled state, she held herself like a crown princess. Likely he was meant to apologise and cower beneath the regal order. Instead, Karl rested his hand upon the door of the coach to prevent her from trying to leave.

      ‘She informed me that you intended to take a holiday with only a few servants.’ He kept his tone neutral, but there was no doubt that his bride was growing more indignant by the second. ‘She was concerned about your welfare. And your reputation.’

      Confusion shadowed her eyes. ‘Why would there be any harm done to my reputation by going alone?’

      ‘Some might believe you were going to meet a lover. Without your father’s knowledge.’

      ‘Oh, for heaven’s sakes.’ Her green eyes sparked with indignation. ‘How on earth could I have a secret lover, when I’ve been betrothed to you for the last six years. When would I have had time to meet someone?’

      ‘One of the palace guards, perhaps … or your groom?’

      ‘There is no one at all.’

      ‘Good. Then I won’t have to kill them.’

      She stared at him as if she didn’t know whether or not he was serious. Before she could make another remark, he levelled a hard stare at her. ‘What is your true reason for going?’

      The

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