Chapter Thirty-Two #2
The weather had cooled considerably, and he was glad that in just over a week—all being well—he would be safely home in Holtswig.
The castle would be well prepared for their arrival—he could rely on Matilda for that.
Roberta still looked pale, and although she smiled and joked with the others—apart from complaining about sitting in the coach—he could tell she was anxious about this next step.
All her doubts were roiling inside her, he knew it, and he didn’t know how to make it better.
He had to wait until the end of the day to speak privately to her, when it was time to stop to eat and sleep, but by then, she was tired and so was he.
He had explained to her that until they had their wedding ceremony in Holtswig, his people would not consider them legally married.
To sleep in the same bed would be seen as scandalous, and he could not afford to be viewed in such a light.
Since Karl had run off, Niki’s reputation must be even more spotless.
“But how can we practice if we are in separate beds?” she had cried, but he saw the laughter in her eyes.
“There will be plenty of time to practice in the days and weeks and years ahead,” he had said. “You will probably grow tired of me.”
“Never!” she’d declared.
The night before they crossed the Holtswig border, she had a dream.
She was crying out so loudly that she frightened her maid, and it was Niki in the next room who heard and came to wake her.
At first, she fought him, but then she collapsed into his arms, weeping.
When he asked her what the dream was about, she shook her head and said it must have been the stew they ate at supper, but he knew she was lying.
“Tell me,” he had insisted. “I cannot make it better if you do not talk to me.”
Her eyes had welled up again. “I dreamt you were in danger, and I could not find you,” she’d admitted, her voice husky.
“What sort of danger?” he’d said, feeling his heartbeat quicken.
“I don’t know, that is the trouble. There is snow and I am in a forest, and I know I must find you, but I can’t.”
He had held her close, murmuring soothing words, telling her it was nothing, just a dream. But back in his own room, he’d lain, staring at the ceiling, and longed for the danger to be over. Perhaps Francis would have the answers for him when he reached the castle? He could but hope.
They drove into the night after that. At dawn, as they passed through one of the smaller villages, the people came out of their homes and stood, staring sullenly at the passing cavalcade. It was unsettling, and when Roberta asked him about it, Niki pretended it didn’t matter.
“I don’t have to be loved to rule wisely and well,” he said. “I am resigned to the fact they will never feel the same for me as they do for Karl.”
Ernest, in his usual blunt manner, announced that the people were fools if they could not see how much better Niki was. “They will change their minds, you will see. They will forgive you.”
“I don’t need their forgiveness.”
But Ernest gave him a look that implied he did.
And then there it was, the castle appearing like a fairy tale upon a rocky hill, with the pretty houses of the town laid out on the plain. Niki heard indrawn breaths from those who had never seen it before, and even some of those who had.
A flag was flying from the highest tower, telling people he was to soon arrive, and as they rumbled across the drawbridge and into the forecourt, people rushed to welcome them, calling out and cheering. This was better! This was the sort of welcome he wanted, and that Roberta deserved.
Once disembarked from the coach he had grown to hate, he took her hand and slipped it into the crook of his arm before he led her up the stairs to the grand entrance and on inside his home.
Francis was there, bowing with the other councillors, all in their official robes, and Matilda looked flushed and happy to see them.
Although, unless he was mistaken, it was Freddie her gaze went to first. The twins took Roberta’s hands in theirs and led her away to her rooms. “You must not see Niki until you are married,” they said importantly, and then spoiled it by giggling.
Tomas gave Niki a small bow and stood to one side, as if he had been told to be polite and didn’t want to.
Ernest was laughing and greeting everyone, obviously glad to be back.
“Welcome home, Niki!” Matilda came to embrace him. “Everything is ready. You are to be married in a week. I am sure that will give Roberta enough time to prepare for the occasion.”
“Thank you. I am very grateful,” he said. “And the wedding can’t come soon enough.”
Her eyes widened with shocked amusement, and he realized she had misread his meaning. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I should have said Roberta is a little anxious. Once we are wed, she can begin to settle into our new life.”
“Well, that’s to be expected.” Her smile was kind. “She will soon get used to everything, and I will be here to help her for as long as you need me.”
He thanked her again.
“I believe Chamberlain Francis wants a word,” Matilda said, her voice lowered.
“We can talk about the ceremony later, and if you want any changes, then you can let me know.” She smiled again, and he watched her go to Freddie’s side.
The two of them stood close, heads bent together.
Tomas had noticed too, and he scowled at Freddie before he spun around and strode off.
Niki did not begrudge his aunt seeking to make friends or even to take lovers. He doubted she would make her home permanently in Holtswig—she had been too long in England—and any problems she caused would leave with her.
“Sir!”
His chamberlain bowed and then fixed him with a steady gaze.
Niki wondered what he saw. The boy who had always relied upon him for advice, and who he had treated like a son?
Or a young man who had willfully ignored his advice to marry the woman he loved?
A young man who had put his own happiness before his duties?
A young man who may soon be dead if the forces against him had their way.
“I am glad the countess will only be with us for a short while,” Francis said in his pedantic manner. It seemed he had also noticed Matilda and Freddie and drawn his own conclusions. “We cannot afford any more notoriety.”
If that was a jibe at his marriage to Roberta, Niki decided to ignore it. Besides, Francis was speaking in the old Holtswig tongue, and Niki could pretend not to understand. That would infuriate the chamberlain, but suddenly, Niki didn’t care. He didn’t feel like being amenable.
“What is it, Francis?” he asked crisply. “Have you found Becker yet? What have you discovered about him?”
“I have not found the count, I’m afraid. No one seems to know where he is hiding. However, his very absence implies his guilt.”
Did it? Niki wasn’t sure. “I wish to speak to my wife,” he said. “We can talk later.”
“She is not your wife yet,” was the stern reply. “I have work for you, sir. You have been gone for some time, and there is much to do now that you are back.”
Niki tried not to sigh as he was led away. But he was already telling himself that if he dealt with the most urgent matters now then he could wangle some time tomorrow to be with Roberta. He wanted to take her riding in the forest and show her his favorite places. Just the two of them.
Right now, she would be in a private suite of rooms, tucked away from his lecherous desires—he smiled at the thought of that. He would not be allowed in to see her tonight. However, she would be at breakfast, and he could speak to her then. He could tell her about his plans to take her riding.
Tomorrow, he promised himself. But when the morning came, his chamberlain found more urgent matters for him that could not wait.
Before his wedding at Grantham, Niki had written to request the state jewels be liberated from the safe room in the castle.
Now he arranged for his favorite to be presented to Roberta while he worked.
A pretty emerald on a delicate chain. As Francis handed him papers to sign, he imagined it about her neck, the precious stone resting between her breasts.
It helped to pass the time.