Chapter Twenty-Two #2
Realizing what she had blurted out, she looked hastily about, fearing she had been overheard, and met the eyes of Tomas.
They stared at each other, and she prayed he hadn’t heard, or that if he had, that he hadn’t understood.
The last thing she wanted, with only a few short weeks of their pretend engagement to run, was to make matters worse.
Tomas dropped his gaze to his plate, and she could see by the curve of his cheek that he was smiling.
That wasn’t good. But then she asked herself what Tomas could do if he had heard.
Tell his mother? Matilda was unlikely to act upon it, and even if she did, it was her nephew she would approach. And what Niki told her was up to him.
Pushing aside her fears, Roberta returned to her meal of quail in a rich sauce and queasily attempted to eat another bite.
Niki felt his stomach roil. Not just from the endless courses and indigestible food but from the king’s words and the look on Roberta’s face.
And Francis hadn’t helped. He suspected his chamberlain was plotting to end the engagement as soon as possible and would be happy to use the current situation with Karl.
The trouble was, Niki didn’t want to end it.
The very thought of no longer having Roberta by his side made him feel desperately lonely.
As if he had wandered into one of those horrid fairy-tale forests and couldn’t find his way out.
He had been lonely all his life, but recently, he had begun to see how things might change if he had the right partner.
Someone who would be by his side, who would understand and support him, who perhaps might even grow to love him.
The idea of those long years ahead, ruling Holtswig by himself, was no longer something he wanted to imagine.
Somehow, he had to find a way to keep her, and the only way he knew to do that was to marry her.
It was a bold step. Francis would be livid.
As for Roberta…they had been getting along so well before the Karl and Estelle incident.
Surely he could redeem himself in her eyes?
He hoped so, and he was willing to try. There had been a change in him, and being with Roberta had brought that about.
As for any objections she might have to marrying him…
He was a wealthy prince and the ruler of a small country. Most women would jump at the chance.
But Roberta was not like most women. She did not crave money and jewelry and fine clothing.
She did not want power and grand houses.
She wanted people around her to love who loved her, and she was kind and thoughtful, and she genuinely cared about others.
And those were just some of the reasons he loved her.
Love? He sat up straighter in his chair. No, that couldn’t be right. The very idea made him feel sick and shaky. She was his friend, that was what it was. A friend he wanted to marry.
The king was drinking brandy now, his face getting redder with each sip.
Freddie had returned to Matilda’s side and was engaged in a quiet conversation.
Once again, the king’s attendant murmured in his ear, but the monarch shrugged him off with a mulish set to his mouth.
Niki wondered if the people of Holtswig would put up with him if he acted like that.
Holtswig was known for its moderation. He remembered the chamberlain’s words to that effect, that he should not follow in the steps of his father and grandfather, and that the people were tired of excess.
What would they think if he married Roberta?
Would they turn against him, or would they grow to love and admire her?
If she was allowed to be herself then they could not fail to love her, but would that happen?
Would she button down all of her shining brilliance—like clouds over a starry sky—in an attempt to be like everybody else?
“You must tell the king the engagement is off.” Francis was standing beside him and stooping to whisper in his ear. “This is the perfect time. You can solve all your problems.”
Niki stared at him. Yes, he was right. This was the perfect moment, but he couldn’t do it. Before he could reply, Karl, who was seated on his other side, leaned forward. “The engagement is off?” he said loudly—the king wasn’t the only one who had been imbibing freely. “Why is the engagement off?”
“Be quiet!” Niki hissed, but it was too late. Half the guests had heard.
“What’s that? What engagement? Yours, Niki?” The king, who had been slumped sleepily in his chair, straightened up. “Your engagement is off? What do you mean by it? Why wasn’t I told?”
“Your Majesty,” Francis began, while Karl assumed an innocent look, but Niki knew he was happy to have caused trouble for his brother.
Niki stood up. He needed to be on his feet. “My engagement has not been called off, Your Majesty,” he said. “In fact, we are marrying quite soon. A week on…Saturday.”
The words just came out of his mouth, and he had no idea why he was saying them, but Saturday sounded like as good a day as any, and he was damned if he was going to lose Roberta now. Not without a fight.