LITMIR.BIZ

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to ravish her. Good God, he’d only meant to help her.

      A suspicion was starting to take root. She’d left the palace, supposedly for a brief holiday. And yet, she hadn’t taken a large enough retinue with her, nor had she received the king’s permission.

      Whatever she was fleeing from meant more than her reputation. She’d agreed to leave behind her servants, her family and her home, ruining herself as a consequence.

      Why? Her answer, that she’d wanted to live like an ordinary woman for a few days, seemed disproportionate to her actions. No, her behaviour spoke of a woman who had been hurt by someone.

      Every time he’d come too close, Serena had tried to shield her body … like a woman who had experienced physical violence. But who on earth would dare to harm a woman of royal blood? Any guard would tear the man apart.

      Likely, whoever had threatened the princess was still at the palace … someone who had utterly destroyed his bride’s confidence. He could barely touch her hand without her cowering. And he remembered the reddened skin around her throat, as if someone had tried to strangle her.

      Fury blackened his mood at the thought of someone harming a woman. He stood and strode across the room, staring outside at the midnight sky. Nothing had gone at all as he’d expected. His bride-to-be had fled the palace because someone was hurting her. And though she was safe now, it would take a great deal of time to gain her trust. Time he didn’t have.

      Karl pushed open the door and strode down the narrow corridor. The wooden floor was cold beneath his stocking feet, but he wanted to explore more of the house while he rearranged his plans.

      Logic and reason had governed his actions in the past. He believed in ordered solutions to solve problems. And yet, he’d never met a woman who adhered to logic. They were changeable creatures whose moods altered as frequently as their gowns.

      He spent the next hour going through the different rooms in the house, inspecting each of them, while he turned over the problem of Serena in his mind. Perhaps it was best to pretend as if they were on a holiday of sorts. If he provided her with a relaxing environment, one where she felt safe, she might soften toward the idea of marriage.

      He wandered down a set of stairs and through the hallway until he stood in front of Serena’s door once again. Although he listened, there was only silence.

      Karl wanted to say something to her, to somehow make her understand that he hadn’t intended to offend her. ‘Serena,’ he said quietly.

      She didn’t answer.

      He felt like an idiot talking to a closed door, but perhaps she was listening.

      ‘I apologise for my earlier actions,’ he said. ‘I meant only to help you.’

      He waited to see if she would answer him, yet once again, there came no reply. Finally, he admitted, ‘I promise, I’ll find you a maid within a few hours.’

      Still nothing. He turned around and walked back toward his own room. When he opened the door, he risked a glance back at hers.

      Her door opened slightly, and he saw her watching him from behind it. She met his gaze for a brief moment, long enough to let him know that she’d heard him.

      And when she closed the door again, he wondered what he could do to earn her trust.

      Serena couldn’t remember a night worse than last night. Her neck and back were sore, and though her gown had eventually dried by the fire, she was ready to fall asleep standing up. But the fürst had promised her a maid this morning. If all went well, she might be in clean clothes within a few hours.

      Clothes. Her eyes flew open and she let out a groan. She’d forgotten to look for a spare gown last night. It seemed doubtful that any would have been left behind.

      And yet, what did that matter? It was ridiculous to fret over clothing when the larger question of her future loomed over her. She had to make decisions that would take her away from Vertraumen, away from the prince.

      A knot of uneasiness clenched inside of her. Fürst Karl didn’t seem like the sort of man who had any intention of letting her go. He’d come all the way from Lohenberg to join her, and although he’d permitted her to leave the palace, it had been on his terms.

      Would she now have to escape him, in addition to her father? Worries assaulted her mind as she fumbled with the buttons that the fürst had unfastened last night. Her hands struggled with the tiny holes, until at last she was forced to admit defeat.

      A choked laugh caught in her throat. She couldn’t even dress herself. How did she ever expect to abdicate her throne and live apart from her family?

      Serena walked over to the window, opening the rose curtains. It was early morning, and she stared out at the clouded island. The sea wasn’t visible from the house, but a low fog clung to the hills, obscuring everything.

      Would the guards keep their word, searching the other estates first? Or would they follow Karl’s path, bringing her back immediately? Troubled thoughts of soldiers dragging her from the house, facing endless miles of travelling, plagued her mind. She questioned her decision, wondering if it was better to face her father’s punishments than to venture forth on her own. In the end, hunger drove her away from her worries and out of the privacy of her chamber.

      Serena walked down the staircase, winding her way through the house toward the dining room. Before she reached it, her attention was caught by an open door. Inside, she found the library, filled with books.

      She couldn’t resist going inside, and she ran her hands over the leather-bound volumes. There were books on philosophy, poetry and science, as well as a few tattered books on household management. In the corner of the room, she saw a large wingback chair facing the window. She imagined curling up within it, enjoying hours of quiet reading. A smile came over her face.

      It faded a moment later when the fürst entered the room. His posture was as straight as Damascus steel, his face devoid of any emotion. If she hadn’t noticed the shadows under his eyes, she’d have believed he’d slept all night.

      ‘There are eggs, if you’re hungry,’ he said. ‘I’ve already given orders for Samuel to go and fetch more food from the village.’

      He escorted her into the dining room, saying, ‘By tonight, you should have all the comforts you’re accustomed to. Including a maid.’

      She nodded in thanks and then questioned, ‘Was there any sign of the king’s men following us?’

      ‘It’s doubtful that they’d find us here. Vertraumen is fairly isolated, with only a few ships that travel to the mainland.’ Serena recalled that his men had awakened a fisherman last night and paid him double his fare to take them across to the island.

      ‘At this time of day, most of the boats are out fishing,’ the prince continued. ‘And even if your father’s guards do come, I won’t let them take you against your will.’

      She sent him a doubtful look. If her father’s men arrived to take her home again, there was nothing he could do to stop them.

      As she seated herself at the table, the prince joined her on the opposite side. Serena lifted the covered plate and saw that the eggs were slightly better than last night. While she ate, she sensed the fürst watching her. Though she tried to ignore his gaze, it intimidated her. She saw the intensity within them, as if he wanted her instead of the food. She imagined his mouth seizing a kiss, and she recalled the heat of his hand upon her palm.

      He was both dangerous and unpredictable. A man who wouldn’t hesitate to go after what he wanted. And he seemed to want her.

      Tentatively, she met his stare, not knowing if she’d imagined it. The prince’s dark hair was short, his face bristled, from not shaving in the past day or so. He reminded her of an outlaw with his devil-may-care attitude. There came a flicker of a smile at his lips, as if he’d guessed what she was thinking.

      Serena forced herself

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