EPILOGUE
Helena
The trees flitted by as Helena rode past, but they wouldn’t last much longer. Rafe was more familiar with the route than she was, and he’d warned her they were getting close.
It wasn’t too late to turn around. She and Liesl could go home, and she might get another day or two with Rafe before he returned to Amitié and his responsibilities there.
Helena forced her hands to relax on the reins. There was no sense putting it off; she’d have to face him someday.
Even if he decided he no longer wanted her friendship, she owed him this much.
“Are you all right?”
Glancing over, Helena saw Rafe’s hazel eyes fixed on her. She should have recognized them when she met his siblings; the hair color didn’t make that much of a difference.
“Auburn suits you,” she commented mischievously. “It matches better when you blush.”
He sighed through his nose and said nothing.
Letting her smile drop, she looked away, examining the fallow fields appearing between the trees. It was easier to cover her vulnerability, but she didn’t have to with him. Or with Liesl, who rode just behind.
“Do you think he’ll see me?”
She kept her shoulders back and her chin lifted despite her quiet voice. Rafe watched her for a few moments before refocusing on the road ahead.
“Michael is a fair man,” he finally said. “I’m sure he will give you a chance.”
Her eyes darted over to him. “He’s not you, Rafe. And I—I behaved very badly the last time I was here.”
Memories overtook her, heating her cheeks with shame. She’d given Rafe the full story when asking him to detour to Daraigh’s capital, but that uncomfortable conversation didn’t make it easier to discuss now.
“You will stay with me,” he told her simply. “If Michael refuses to see you, he refuses to see the new king of Amitié.”
It warmed her heart to remember that Rafe had forgiven her. He hadn’t revoked their betrothal or stormed home. Instead, he was riding to Hartford so he could stand beside her while she did the hardest thing she’d ever done.
She reached a hand across the gap between them. “You don’t have to do that,” she murmured. “That could cause tension between Daraigh and Amitié, and your kingdom is still recovering.”
“Our kingdom,” he corrected gently. “If King Phillip and Michael cannot accept you, there will be trouble between Amitié and Daraigh anyway. You will be queen once we are married.”
Helena’s jaw dropped. She knew that, but somehow it hadn’t registered yet. Laughing, she said, “I suppose I should return to my studies with Svenja. I’ll need to know something about governing a kingdom after all.”
“You don’t mind?” he asked, scanning her face with serious eyes. “Forfeiting the freedom of your current life to marry a king? It comes with a dreadful amount of responsibility.”
She grinned. “Says the man who was content living in the forest for a year. As long as we sneak away for a bit of archery every day, I think I can manage. Do you think that will be an option?”
A smile spread across his face. “Always.”
~
“They haven’t thrown you out yet.”
Twisting to look over her shoulder, Helena saw her friend smiling encouragingly at her.
“I also haven’t seen Michael yet.” Helena tied off her braid. The late lunch they’d eaten at an inn soured in her stomach. She’d hoped for a private audience, but instead, they’d been invited to a soirée. With the royal family and who knew how many nobles.
Apologizing in the middle of a crowd was not an improvement.
Abandoning her own preparations, Liesl bounced over to Helena’s side.
“I agree with King Raphael,” she said calmly, undoing Helena’s braid and fixing her hair in a more elegant fashion.
“Prince Michael is still friends with Axel; if you don’t give him a reason to think you’re causing trouble, you’ll be fine. ”
Fine was debatable. She had half-hoped Michael would deny them entrance.
“You know, he’s not the only friend Axel has in Daraigh right now,” Helena commented casually. She watched her friend in the mirror.
Liesl fixed her eyes determinedly on Helena’s hair. Her mouth tightened at the corners, but she didn’t say anything.
“Did the two of you have a fight?”
After a moment, the former shepherdess flicked her eyes up. “There was nothing to fight over. Tobias was focused on you. End of story.”
Helena’s concerns about meeting Michael shifted to the background. “He only had eyes for you, Liesl.”
“He didn’t.”
The words were short, terse. Quite unlike her cheerful friend.
Instead of pressing, Helena sat quietly while Liesl finished arranging her hair. Without the distraction, her nerves began to build again.
By the time she and Liesl stepped out into the hall, she was ready to grab her bow and flee to the archery field. Rafe could pass along the apology for her. Couldn’t he?
Couldn’t…?
One side of her mouth pulled up as she examined the man pacing outside her door. He was tugging at his cravat, looking incredibly uncomfortable in his formal clothes…but incredibly handsome as well.
“You clean up well for an outlaw,” she commented with a sly grin. Stepping forward, she slipped a hand into Rafe’s elbow. “Dressed like that, you almost look like a prince.”
He lifted her other hand and pulled her closer. “The same goes for you.”
“I look like a prince? Why, thank you, Rafe.” She batted her eyes at him. “You certainly know how to make a girl feel appreciated.”
Snorting quietly, he replied, “You know what I meant.”
“I’m not sure I do,” she teased. “Why don’t you explain it to me?”
A throat cleared behind her. “Shall I go ahead? I’m sure they remember me from last year.”
“No, we may as well get this over with.” Rafe tugged on Helena’s arm. “No sense putting it off.”
“I thought you weren’t concerned about Michael’s reaction.” Frowning, Helena twisted her free hand in her skirt. “The steward did show us to rooms.”
Rafe kept his eyes focused ahead. “My letter only stated that I was bringing my fiancée. I did not mention your name.” Glancing over, he added, “But no, I do not expect Michael to be a problem.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
He swallowed. “I have not visited Daraigh since Michael’s wedding. I was the only unmarried prince present, and the noblewomen… Thank the heavens I’d brought Daphne with me.”
Helena smothered a smile at the thought of her forest-dwelling outlaw in the midst of such a flock. “Why? Did she chase them away?”
“No, she brought Raoul.”
Helena’s lips twitched wildly, but her voice was mostly level when she spoke. “You poor thing. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from the scary women this time.”
Rafe scowled at her but didn’t respond.
They soon reached the room where the soirée was being held. Most people gave them little more than a nod, not recognizing Rafe after four years. If they remembered Helena from her brief visit a year and a half ago, they didn’t acknowledge it.
“Raphael, welcome back. I was pleased to hear that you had returned from exile.”
Helena drifted behind Rafe as he faced the voice. “Michael. Arabella.” He nodded to the Daric couple. “Thank you; it is good to be back.”
“I was surprised to receive news of your visit. Your letter said you were bringing your betrothed, did it not?” A true smile brightened Michael’s voice. “Where is she?”
She pressed against Rafe’s back, but he wrapped an arm around her and drew her forward. “We met while I was in hiding, but I believe you are already acquainted.”
Michael’s smile froze, and Helena didn’t miss the way Arabella’s hand convulsed on her husband’s arm.
“Helena,” Michael said stiffly. “This is a surprise.”
Reaching up to grasp Rafe’s hand, she held on for dear life. She felt the urge to hide behind a bold front, but she shoved it away. She’d learned to be vulnerable in the last few months. And if ever there was a time to be vulnerable, it was now.
“I wish it were a pleasant one.” Her voice wavered, but she tried to meet Michael’s eyes. “I asked Rafe to bring me here so I could apologize. To both of you.”
“Apologize?” Arabella echoed quietly. Her eyes were narrowed in suspicion, but she didn’t move to have Helena ejected. “Why would you bring your betrothed here to apologize?”
Helena winced. “I didn’t think you’d let me in on my own.
I hoped coming with Rafe would prove that I’m not here to make trouble this time.
” She leaned into him, taking comfort from his quiet strength.
“I really am very sorry. Returning to the world after my curse was disorienting, but that doesn’t excuse my actions.
I understand if you want me to leave and never come back, but I—I had to apologize in person and beg your forgiveness.
” Her head dropped. “Even though I don’t deserve it. ”
Michael wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I appreciate you not detailing the reasons in this public place. Not to cause trouble, but does His Majesty know the reason he accompanied you?”
“I had a full confession before we left Ralnor,” Rafe answered dryly, “but we can have a private discussion to compare stories if you wish.”
Arabella’s eyes widened, but Michael simply dipped his head in a shallow bow. “That won’t be necessary. I have never known Helena to be dishonest; if you say she gave a full confession, then I trust that she did.”
“So you’re not throwing me out?” Helena asked with a shaky smile.
The other princess stepped forward and set a hand on Helena’s arm. “Of course not. We all make mistakes.” She glanced back at her husband. “What matters most is what we learn from them.”
Forgiven.
Another piece of Helena’s wounded heart began to heal. She didn’t deserve such acceptance from Michael’s wife.
“Thank you, Arabella.” Helena’s smile wobbled, but she managed to hold back the tears. “That’s amazingly kind of you.”
“Naturally. That’s who she is, isn’t she?”