Chapter 22 #2
“I’m sure the king appreciates their work.” I give him a raised look, wondering if the king knew what the Grimm brothers actually did.
A quirk of his lips tells me that no, the king does not. Warmth spreads through me as I remember the other day in the woods and the heat of his skin and the strength of his arms wrapped around me.
A sharp knock raps on the front door.
I jerk, now alert. What if it’s Dr. Wissen?
The footman enters with a bow, allowing entrance to two grand sentries, regally dressed in red cloaks and armor with the king’s coat of arms. Tall white plumes wave from their helmets. They both bow deeply.
“Greetings to those from the house of nobleman Karl von Maier,” one sentry announces in a tired voice while producing a scroll.
He sluggishly unravels it and drones out the words as if he’s read it a million times.
“The great, benevolent, and just King Frederick of Württemberg has cordially invited the household of nobleman Maier in three days to a three-day festival at his Lichtenstein Castle. Each night, the crown will host a grand ball for all the beautiful unmarried women of the Kingdom of Württemberg so Prince William may choose a bride.”
We all gasp.
“The prince will choose a bride?” Bertha exclaims. “I could be a princess?” She races to the sentry holding the proclamation and wrenches it from him. “It’s true.” She waves it about. “It’s really true!”
“Now give it here.” The sentry snatches the parchment from her. “That isn’t yours for the taking.”
Stepmother draws Marianne and Bertha to her in a hug. “Are you to tell me that the king has an interest in my daughters for his son?”
“I suppose,” the second sentry says, taking in my two stepsisters. “Them and every other eligible maiden of the land.”
Amidst the shouting and screaming, I glance over at Jacob. He’s gone silent as the grave, studying my new family members intently. He doesn’t look happy. I rise and move closer to him while the others dance around and scream in excitement.
“What has brought on that frown?” I tease. “Are you worried the prince will take all the beautiful women from you? Surely, he can’t marry every maiden in the land.”
This earns me a mischievous grin, and his eyes twinkle. “It is a concern, but I’m determined to endure it if you promise to dance with me at the ball.”
“Ella at the ball?” Bertha frowns. I guess she was paying more attention than I thought.
“He did invite every beautiful young maiden,” Jacob points out. “There’s no doubt she qualifies.”
My face burns at the compliment.
“That reminds me,” Stepmother says. “Ella, we planned to announce the wonderful news to you over dinner, but now is as good a time as any, don’t you agree, my dearest husband?”
Father nods. “Yes, of course. Ella, this afternoon, Dr. Wissen visited, requesting your hand in marriage. We have drafted up a marriage contract and are waiting for approval by the magistrate. Which means there’s no need for you to attend.”
“A married woman,” Stepmother gushes, clasping her hands together. “It’s simply so exciting.”
My heart sinks, and I gape at Father. Jesse warned me.
“Or Ella could go to the ball and secure a better match with the prince,” Jacob points out.
“I’m sure you don’t want to be a princess, right?” Bertha asks me, chuckling. “You’ll be far happier with the doctor. He won’t mind it if you build fires or run about in the fields like a wild animal.”
“I’d love to attend the ball.” My fists clench at my sides, but it’s hard to stay calm. “I don’t see why we have to rush me into this marriage.”
The dinner bell rings. Father takes a final swig of his drink before bolting for the dining room. Stepmother, flanked by her two daughters, starts planning which dresses everyone will wear, and trails after him, too caught up in the excitement to realize they just left Jacob and me alone.
“Dr. Wissen?” Jacob picks up his hat, twisting it in his hand. “He’s the doctor from the large manor at the edge of the forest, right?”
“He is.” I find it hard to breathe. “A horrible man.”
“The townsfolk are quite smitten with him.”
“Yes, well, I seem to be in the minority on that point.” I glance around, making sure we’re alone. “I need to speak with you in private. It’s too dangerous to say here.”
“What are you proposing?” His eyes twinkle. “A midnight dalliance?”
“No!” I hit him on the arm with my gloved hand. “The walled garden behind the barn. Tomorrow midmorning?”
“Sounds clandestine, but if I might be so bold, I recommend meeting at night. Daylight reveals far too much for probing eyes. Besides, I have a proposition for you as well. Midnight perhaps?”
Tonight? It’d be even more inappropriate than what I suggested. And how much do I really trust him? But then there’s my marriage proposal and what happened in my mother’s tree. He’s the only one who can help me. I held his secrets; he could hold mine.
“Midnight it is,” I say.
“Excellent, until then.” He bows and exits.
My heart patters in ways I know it shouldn’t. I press my palm to my chest, trying to calm it down. I turn to discover Marianne standing in the doorway to the dining room, her eyes looking at me with pity. How much did she overhear?
“Sweet Cinderella. You like him, don’t you?”
“Of course not.” I bristle. “He’s just a friend.”
Marianne pulls me onto the hall bench, taking my hands in hers. “As your sister, I insist on watching over you and making sure you don’t fall into this man’s trap. He’s a mere hunter and far beneath you in marriage. You are a nobleman’s daughter. That’s why Dr. Wissen is the perfect match for you.”
“Except he isn’t. Everything I know about the doctor, I despise.”
She presses her lips together. “I completely understand. But Dr. Wissen is rich and secure. Do you know how important that is? When my father died, he left us alone with no money. We were practically out on the street. If Mother hadn’t married your father, I don’t know what we would’ve done.
Love is fleeting, but security and safety, those are permanent.
And for women such as ourselves, that’s the only way we can acquire it. ”
It's futile to argue with Marianne. The two of us have very different views on love.
Thankfully, everyone at dinner is too preoccupied talking about balls and gowns and the hopes of becoming a princess to pay any attention to me. My eyes wander to the clock. Should I really meet Jacob at midnight? It’s scandalous.
And if I do sneak out, can I trust him with my family’s secret curse?
I have less than five hours to decide.