Michelle Willingham - The Accidental Prince

The sound of a man clearing his throat interrupted them. When Serena looked up, the footman Bernard looked embarrassed. He held a wooden tray containing a teapot, two cups, a covered plate and a jar of preserves. ‘Your Royal Highnesses, I must apologise. There was very little food in the house. I found some eggs in the hen house and prepared what I could.’ He bowed and set the tray upon the dining-room table, apologising as he left.

Serena lifted the cover and winced at the sight of the overcooked scrambled eggs. They were badly burned on one side, while the rest was runny. ‘I suppose he did try to cook for us.’

‘You wanted to know how ordinary people lived,’ the fürst pointed out.

She didn’t want to eat, but it would be rude to ignore the footman’s valiant effort. When she ventured a taste of the overcooked eggs, it surprised her to realise how starved she was. When she offered the plate to Karl, he shook his head. ‘I’m waiting to see if you survive.’

There was a hint of roguery in his voice, and she raised an eyebrow. ‘Did you want me to be poisoned?’

‘Not at all. I’ve no wish to be a widower before I’m a bridegroom.’ He poured her a cup of tea. Serena took it from him, but the drink was weak and tea leaves floated on the surface.

She stared down at the watery brew and wondered if she ought to tell him that she was ending their betrothal. ‘How long are you planning to keep me here?’

‘How long were you planning to spend your holiday?’ he countered.

She could feel his gaze upon her, though she didn’t meet his eyes. ‘I was going to stay three days at my grandfather’s lodge.’ After that, she’d intended to leave again, perhaps taking a train somewhere far from Germany or Badenstein.

He ate his own eggs, but all the while, his eyes were studying the room. ‘Your father’s men will come after you.’

‘I know it.’ A cold chill spread over her skin, and she pushed her plate aside, walking to stand by the fire. ‘They’ll try to force me to return.’

‘The king will be angry with you for taking such a risk.’

She said nothing, though her hands had begun to tremble. It was easy to hide her fear behind the guise of cold.

The prince left his own plate and came to stand before her. ‘Marry me here, on the island,’ he commanded. ‘And when we return, I’ll shoulder any trouble that arises.’

She shook her head slowly. Not only did she have no intention of marrying him or anyone else, but she wasn’t going to return.

‘You’d prefer to wait until the summer?’ he mused. ‘After being here with me, I don’t know if the king would allow it.’ He took her hands and drew her to stand. ‘We’ll wed tomorrow.’ Within his voice, she heard the commanding air, the expectation that she would do his bidding.

She was not a household maid, bound to obey. But neither would she have this argument now, not when she was too tired to think clearly. ‘We’ll discuss it later. Where do you think the servants went?’

‘I don’t know. But if Bernard can’t find them, I’ll hire a new staff.’ His posture stiffened, his bearing almost that of a soldier. This was a man accustomed to issuing orders and being obeyed.

He reached to her hood and lowered it to her shoulders. ‘A lot could happen in the week we spend together, Princess.’

She stepped back. ‘Or nothing at all.’ Her mind was made up. In the morning, she would decide where to go and how to get there. Although it terrified her, she had to make her own decisions and decide what she wanted to do with her life.

An awful thought occurred to her. If she refused to wed the fürst , would he reveal her whereabouts to the king? She stared at Karl, not knowing what sort of man he was.

‘I’m tired,’ she said at last. After all the travelling, the need to rest was overpowering. And though she could not change out of her gown, perhaps she could find a way to sleep in her clothes. ‘Do you think my room is prepared?’

‘All should be in order.’ The fürst led her toward the main staircase. While he escorted her up the stairs, Serena glanced behind them. There was no footman, no one else but the two of them. It felt awkward without her ladies, and she suddenly realized that she could be in danger if the fürst wanted to press his attentions upon her.

When they reached the door to her chamber, she ordered, ‘You may leave me now.’

He raised an eyebrow at her tone, but she ignored it and fumbled with the doorknob, trying to escape him as quickly as possible.

‘I am not your servant,’ he said quietly, resting his hand against the door frame.

‘Neither were you invited.’ She tried to push her way past him, but he refused to move.

The suffocating fear rose up, and Serena crossed her arms over her chest, turning away from him. If she could have melted into the wall, she’d have done so. The harsh memory of her father’s fists discoloured all else, and she squeezed her eyes shut, terrified that Karl would touch her.

Don’t hurt me . The plea echoed in her mind, and she swallowed hard, her heart racing.

But he didn’t lay a hand upon her. Silence fell between them, and when she at last dared to open her eyes, Karl had gone. A shattered breath of relief filled up her lungs, and her hands were shaking as she forced the door open and retreated into the tiny chamber.

When she found a key, she locked the door and leaned back against the wood. Only then did she let the tears fall. It had been a gruelling day, and she felt so lost, so uncertain of what to do.

The interior was freezing, though the footman had lit a fire. Serena drew close to the coals, feeling as though she’d never get warm. Her cloak and gown were still damp, and the heavy wool itched her skin. The tiny chamber had only a single bed, a table with a washbasin and pitcher, a desk and chair and a window with rose curtains. Serena walked over to the window, resting her fingers upon the cold surface of the glass.

It’s going to be all right , she tried to convince herself. But she’d been unprepared for Fürst Karl von Lohenberg. Everything about this man confused her. She didn’t know how she was meant to behave or what to do about his insistence on eloping.

It doesn’t matter . She would find a way to keep him at a distance, and surely he would leave her alone once he understood that she wasn’t going to wed him.

She dragged the chair across the room, huddling in front of the fire. What she wouldn’t give for a ladies maid right now. Her corset was cutting into her skin, and she couldn’t sleep at all, not wearing so many heavy layers.

Why did the fürst have to interrupt her plans? She would have been fine on her own. And at least she’d be asleep right now in a comfortable bed, perhaps with a warm brick wrapped in flannel at her feet. A tear dripped down her cheek, and she returned to her chair beside the fire, feeling foolish and angry. Crying wouldn’t help.

It was as if her fairy tale had gone all wrong. The handsome prince was supposed to rescue her, not kidnap her. He wasn’t supposed to put her in a dusty manor house with no servants and terrible food, keeping her imprisoned in a wet gown.

And he thought she would want to marry him after all that?

A hysterical laugh trapped in her throat. No. Not even if he offered himself on a golden platter with a ribbon tied around his neck.

In the quiet of the night, her nerves sharpened. She found herself staring at shadows, wondering if she was truly safe here. Karl had made no further move to touch her, but she didn’t trust him. He was here for a reason, and though she didn’t know what it was, her instincts warned that it wasn’t good.