The Fairest Beauty

  “Oh no.” Sophie smiled. “I’m enjoying them very much. They are very sweet girls. You’re very fortunate to have such a wonderful family.”

  He was looking at her strangely, as if he didn’t understand her words. He probably took them all for granted, probably wasn’t even worried about Gabe, his brother, who could be in danger or hurt or lost.

  Trust …

  Sophie took a deep breath.

  The sisters exclaimed at a baby rabbit they had found hiding in the tall grass and called Sophie and Valten over to look at it. It didn’t hop away, but its nose twitched and its heart was beating so hard Sophie could see its brown fur vibrating.

  Valten took a brief look, then walked on, so they turned and followed him.

  The picnic was rather awkward, with Valten’s presence dampening Sophie’s spirits. The outing would have been so much more fun if he weren’t there. But at least he carried their heavy picnic basket. God, forgive me for being ungracious.

  After they finished eating, Margaretha and Kirstyn took Adela to see if the rabbit was where they had left it while Sophie and Valten packed up the basket. Just when Sophie was sure she had survived the picnic without having to say more than a few words to the man she hopefully wouldn’t marry, Valten asked, “So did my little brother really rescue you, or did you have to rescue him?”

  Valten’s look of disdain made Sophie want to punch him in the face. “Gabe was very brave, as a matter of fact. He saved me not only from Duchess Ermengard, but also from a wolf that was about to attack me, and as I mentioned at the inn, he took an arrow that was meant for me.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “I doubt anyone could have done any better, even a man who’s won every tournament he’s ever entered but who has never faced a true life-and-death situation.”

  Valten stared at her, his jaw as hard as stone. His face turned red, but he never took his eyes off her. Finally, as though it was difficult to unclench his teeth, he opened his mouth and spoke. “So Gabe is your hero then?”

  Sophie wasn’t going to keep quiet any longer. If he wanted to know the truth, she might as well tell him now instead of waiting. “He is.” She stared back at him.

  “Is there something between you and Gabe that I should know about?”

  She tried to think of the best way to say this, but before she could speak, his sisters ran toward them, squealing.

  “We saw two more babies! And the mama! When we tried to pet her babies, she hopped up to us and tried to scratch us.”

  The girls continued squealing and giggling. Valten turned and picked up the basket with far more force than was necessary, and they all headed back toward the castle. And Sophie determined to go straight to Lady Rose to tell her the truth.

  Chapter 28

  Sophie returned from the picnic, only to discover Lady Rose had gone to visit an orphanage and wouldn’t be back before supper. Sophie spent anxious hours in her room, and attempted to remain calm during her periodic visits from Gabe’s sisters.

  Sophie chafed through supper, which offered no moments to tell Lady Rose even part of what now weighed upon her. Instead, she picked at her food while suffering Valten’s glares, until she decided to glare right back at him. But that only made her feel guilty, so she returned to ignoring him for the rest of the meal. The moment the last dish was cleared, she begged Lady Rose to allow her to speak to her alone.

  Lady Rose ushered her to her sitting room while the rest of the family stayed in the Great Hall to hear music and talk.

  “What is it, my dear?” Lady Rose asked. “Did you and Valten not have a good time on your picnic?”

  “The truth is …” Sophie had thought this moment would be a relief, but now, as she looked into Lady Rose’s kind face, she was terrified that what she had to say would anger her future mother-in-law. What if Lady Rose hated her for falling in love with Gabe? What if Lady Rose told her she had to forget about Gabe and marry Valten? But she couldn’t hold the words back any longer.

  “I am in love with Gabe,” she blurted. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with him. He immediately told me I was betrothed to his brother, so I tried to think of him only as a brother, always as a brother, but I … I failed.” Sophie blinked back tears.

  “Oh, my dear.” Lady Rose held out her arms and enfolded Sophie. “Oh.”

  At least she didn’t seem angry.

  “I’m so, so sorry,” Sophie said. “I would never want to upset you or your family, but I love Gabe so much, I can’t imagine loving anyone else. When he left me at the Cottage of the Seven, he said he had to do something important, and I know now that he went to find my father. But I’ve been so terrified that something has happened to him, that he won’t be able to come back to me, or that he won’t be able to make a way for us to marry.”

  “Oh, Sophie.” Lady Rose continued to hug her, then she pulled back and looked her in the eye. “I’m so glad you told me. And I’m sure Gabe will return for you, if he said he will. But perhaps we should wait for him to come before we tell anyone else about this.”

  “I think Valten already knows I love Gabe. Or at least suspects I do. But he doesn’t love me, doesn’t even know me, so he won’t be too hurt, will he?”

  Lady Rose smiled, but it was a sad smile. “I don’t think his heart will be broken, but his pride may be bruised. And sometimes, it’s worse to hurt a man’s pride than to break his heart.”

  Sophie couldn’t see why Valten should be offended. He hadn’t even known she was alive until a few weeks ago.

  “Valten is a very … determined man,” Lady Rose continued. “It will be hard for him to think of his little brother winning the love of the woman he should have rescued, the woman he should have married and protected.”

  Sophie was being heartless not to feel any sympathy for Valten. Of course it would be hard for him.

  “He will recover.” Lady Rose squeezed Sophie’s shoulder. “And you will be good for Gabehart, I have no doubt. He was always a rather thoughtless, though good-hearted, boy. I’m glad you’ve won his heart.”

  Sophie looked at this amazing woman in wonder. “I’d hoped you would listen, but I never imagined you would be so understanding. I was afraid you would be angry at me.”

  Lady Rose shook her head. “I know a thing or two about falling in love with someone while trying not to.” She gave Sophie a mysterious smirk. “And in the meantime, I’ll stop insisting that Valten spend time with you.”

  Sophie’s eyes went wide, her groan turning into a muffled laugh.

  There was a twinkle in Lady Rose’s eye, but she sounded rather sober. “Duke Wilhelm may be upset, however, and Valten certainly will. But don’t worry. If you and Gabehart are meant to wed, I’m sure there is a way to work this all out. We will wait for Gabe to come, and we’ll hope he is able to break his betrothal to Brittola in a way that is satisfactory for all.”

  Thinking of both Brittola and Valten made Sophie sad. Her happiness would bring them … heartbreak. Or at least bruised pride. Must her happiness cause them pain?

  The next day, Sophie and Margaretha walked down the long corridor near the Great Hall. The mid-afternoon sun was shining through the narrow windows that looked out at the inner courtyard as they went inside the library. Margaretha wanted to show her a book.

  The library was a large room, though less than half the size of the Great Hall. The fireplace connecting the library to the hall was ablaze, and candles were burning on the tables even though the room appeared to be empty. Sophie had already discovered that the family often retired to the library after supper to enjoy music and each other’s company. It was a cozy room, with plenty of chairs and rugs for sitting.

  Before Margaretha could find the book she was looking for, Sophie heard a shout, muffled through thick stone walls.

  Margaretha grabbed Sophie’s hand and hurried toward the door that led to the corridor. “Let’s go see who’s here.”

  Someone burst into the corridor from the courtyard. By his clothing, he look
ed to be a groomsman from the stable. The young man looked left, then right, where he spied Margaretha and Sophie as they exited the library. “Good ladies, I wish to tell his grace, Duke Wilhelm, that his son, Lord Gabehart, is just arriving with a visitor.”

  Margaretha turned and screamed, “Mother! Father! Gabe is home!”

  Sophie stood still, but only for a moment. She gathered her skirt and ran out into the courtyard, Gabe’s sister at her heels.

  They made it as far as the well in the center of the courtyard before the steward came toward them. “Ladies,” he said, bowing to them. “I have a message from Lord Gabehart for Lady Sophia.”

  Margaretha’s eyes were as round as her open mouth.

  “Yes?” Sophie rasped.

  “He wishes you, along with Duke Wilhelm, Lady Rose, and Lord Valten, to meet him in the library.”

  Sophie and Margaretha clung to each other’s arms, while Margaretha searched Sophie’s face. “You should go. I will find Mother and Father and Valten.”

  They dashed off in the direction they had come, entering the main corridor of the castle. While Sophie waited nervously in the library, stifling a giggle at having to go back to the place she had just run so vigorously from, Margaretha located both the duke and duchess and brought them in. She then left to go find Valten, and Sophie glanced at Gabe’s parents. Duke Wilhelm wore a somber expression, but Lady Rose gave her an encouraging smile.

  Valten entered the room. She doubted he looked any fiercer on the tournament field wielding a sword and lance. He avoided looking at her at all, instead turning his back on them all and staring at a tapestry on the wall.

  Sophie clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. Lady Rose threw open some shutters, letting in more light.

  Then Gabe walked into the room. She wanted so much to run to him and throw her arms around him. She’d missed him so much. Had he missed her? She searched his face, desperate to read his thoughts, wondering if he’d found her father. He looked at her too. Was that a smile? More of a lopsided grin. But it quickly disappeared as he looked away from her and acknowledged his parents.

  His mother hugged him and his father did as well, clapping him on the back. Valten turned halfway around and gave him a curt nod.

  Is my father here as well? Isn’t Gabe excited to see me? Why doesn’t he come and embrace me? But of course, he couldn’t do that. She wasn’t his to embrace.

  She devoured him with her eyes, taking in his disheveled hair and the travel dust still on his clothes. The four or five days’ growth on his face made her breath hitch in her throat.

  Then she saw another shorter man enter behind Gabe. Could he be her father?

  “Mother, Father, Valten, and Sophie, I have someone I want you to meet.” Gabe turned to the man standing behind him and motioned him forward. The man had blue eyes that almost looked familiar, though she was certain she didn’t know him. He looked to be about Duke Wilhelm’s age. Could he be …?

  “Is that you?” Duke Wilhelm stepped toward him and Lady Rose covered her mouth with her hands.

  “Yes, I have returned to my rightful place, old friend.”

  Sophie held her breath as those blue eyes turned her way. Gabe also turned to Sophie and said, “This … is your father, Duke Baldewin.”

  Chapter 29

  A buzzing sound filled her ears. My father? Sophie couldn’t move. She’d been thinking about him since Bartel had told Duke Wilhelm about Gabe’s quest, but she’d never quite believed Gabe would find him. She stared at the man, who stared back at her with tears in his eyes. He tentatively took a couple of steps toward her, then stopped.

  “Can you ever forgive me for not knowing you were still alive? For not coming back to find you?” He held out his hands in supplication.

  Her mind was churning.

  “The last time I saw you, your eyes were closed, you … you were laid out as though dead. I couldn’t bear the thought of life without you and your mother, and so I went to the monastery and shut myself away. I never imagined Ermengard could have faked your death. Can you forgive me?”

  “Of course.” Sophie could barely breathe. Her father crossed the room and put his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder and put her arms around him, too stunned to think. “I have a father.”

  “I will never leave you again,” he said softly against her ear. “I will follow you around like a lost puppy if you let me. I love you, Sophie. God has given me back my little girl.”

  Sophie became aware of Gabe and his parents talking in one corner while Valten stood by himself in another. She broke away from her father and looked into his face.

  He wiped at a tear in the corner of his eye. “You are so beautiful, just like your mother.”

  She half laughed while choking on her own tears. She had a father. Gabe must not have wanted to tell her about his mission because he’d been afraid that the man he sought wouldn’t be Duke Baldewin after all. But he was, if Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose’s reaction was any proof.

  Gabe stepped away from his parents toward the center of the room. “The real purpose of me bringing Duke Baldewin here, aside from introducing him to his daughter, is …” He glanced at Valten, who was scowling at him, his arms crossed.

  Gabe cleared his throat. “I want to apologize to you now, Valten. I should have never gone off, alone, to rescue your betrothed. It was foolish of me — thoughtless, even. And when I arrived in Hohendorf, I never intended to fall in love with Sophie, but I did. I assure you, I tried not to, and I never wanted to grieve you or anyone else. Yes, I was irresponsible, and I wanted to get glory for myself, and for that I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I love Sophie. I want to marry her, and I’m asking you, Valten, and you, Father and Mother, to give your consent to breaking your betrothal to Sophie.”

  Valten uncrossed his arms and balled his hands into fists as he stared at Gabe.

  “I’m sorry too.” Sophie spoke before she had time to get nervous. “After he told me I was betrothed to you, I wanted to love and marry you, Valten, and even imagined what our life together could be, but … I fell in love with Gabe. I am so sorry as well.” Her face must have been glowing red, but she didn’t care. It was a relief to finally tell him the truth. Her father squeezed her shoulder encouragingly.

  Valten stared at her, then at Gabe, then he turned and faced the window. He seemed to be breathing hard, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly.

  Duke Wilhelm stepped forward. “What do you have to say about breaking the betrothal, Duke Baldewin?”

  Sophie’s father pressed his hands to his chest. “Since the betrothal was made when Sophie was only a baby and Valten a child, they had no say in the matter. And circumstances being what they are, I don’t believe they should be bound to that agreement. I believe Gabe and Sophie are in love, and I, for one, will not prevent them from marrying. I am willing to write the king to explain the situation, if you are also willing, Duke Wilhelm.”

  “What about Brittola?” Valten turned to face them, gesturing with his hand.

  Duke Wilhelm took a deep breath before speaking to Duke Baldewin. “Gabe made an agreement with Brittola and her father, and he was no child when he made that alliance. Our family’s honor is at stake in the matter. Gabe, you must break the betrothal honorably.”

  “I don’t yet know how, but I will,” Gabe said, looking more contrite than Sophie had ever seen him. “I am sorry to cause pain to anyone, but Brittola is young and I believe she will forget me. She will no doubt get a better offer.”

  Valten snorted contemptuously. After crossing, then uncrossing his arms, he declared, “I release Sophie from the betrothal. I could never marry a woman who is in love with my brother.” He bowed curtly to them all, then stalked out of the room and was gone.

  A pang of guilt sliced through her, and Gabe looked uncomfortable.

  Duke Wilhelm stepped closer to Gabe. “Gabe, falling in love with your brother’s betrothed shows an irresponsibility and lack of self-con
trol that is not pleasing, as does the fact that you decided to save her yourself after we had forbidden it.”

  Sophie’s heart sank. She knew how hurt Gabe must feel to hear his father call him irresponsible. She searched Duke Wilhelm’s face, praying, God, please let him not forbid our marriage. Please let him understand. Make him say he forgives us.

  “But you also showed fortitude and bravery in saving her from her enemies, and in being truthful about your love for Sophie.” He paused as he looked Gabe in the eye. “When I consider what could have happened and the alternatives, falling in love and being determined to marry is not the worst thing you could have done. In fact”—his voice softened — “it shows that you have returned to us as a responsible man, Gabe. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, I’m proud of you.” He was almost smiling as he gazed tenderly at his son.

  “Thank you, Father.”

  “So what do you propose to do about Brittola?”

  “I shall write her and her father a letter begging to be released from our marriage agreement.”

  Duke Baldewin, who still stood at Sophie’s side, spoke up. “And I shall offer them an inducement if they will break the agreement.”

  Duke Wilhelm nodded. “I see you have thought this through and acquired an ally.”

  Gabe gave a hint of a smile.

  “Have you thought about what you will do if Brittola’s father refuses your offer?”

  “I have. But perhaps it is best you do not know.”

  Duke Wilhelm gave his son a very stern look. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.”

  “I shall marry Sophie anyway.”

  “Are you prepared to deal with the consequences?”

  “I am.”

  “The count could make a complaint to the king against you, even though no formal papers were signed. The king could punish you in any way he chooses.”

  “I am aware of that, Father.”