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Chapter Thirteen

Gwendolyn

Present Day

“ M other, I doubt that is the case,” I heard Michael say in irritation.

“You have seen her; you know how she is. Oh, why did the Creator give me such a daughter?”

“Mother, Gwendolyn is a fine lady, and she is betrothed to the prince. You do not give her enough credit.”

“Betrothed, and now she has lost him. He has run away from her. That is what they shall say! And what am I to do with all these plans for the wedding? It was going to be so marvelous,” my mother wailed.

What on Terra is going on? I wondered.

Mother had been so much more reasonable than usual after Peter and I became engaged.

Had she heard that we had not been able to spend much time together recently?

Peter was just busy with things for the kingdom.

I thought back to those kisses we shared, just the night before. Peter loved me, and I loved him.

I stepped from the hallway and into the sitting room to see Michael standing beside my mother.

“Oh!” Mother cried into the side of the couch when she saw me.

Michael rolled his eyes and walked over to me.

“Michael, what has happened?” I asked my brother.

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Gwendolyn, it seems Peter is gone.”

“What do you mean? He is ‘gone’?” I asked, looking into his eyes. He had to be joking, but it would explain Mother’s wailing at that moment.

Not very ladylike, I thought.

“I mean, no one at the castle has seen him this morning.”

“Only just this morning? Well, that is no cause for true alarm, is it?” I sat down on the sofa, looking at the light blue fabric that danced with small pale pink flowers. Peter would not just vanish , but still, fear raced through me.

Is Peter okay? I questioned.

“You have lost him! I should have known!” Mother wailed, and I was proud of myself for shoving her from my mind.

Where could Peter be ?

“He is probably at the beach or sailing with William,” I said, looking hopeful.

“William came here to tell me this morning, himself. He cannot find him, and the queen is beside herself, too,” Mother said.

“What about The Crown Prince and Princess Meria?”

“They are also out searching, but no one has been able to find him.”

“I am so confused, Michael. Now, I am worried for him, too. I was just with him last night.” I clenched the sofa arm with my fingernails, trying to use my training to remain a demure lady as best I could.

However, my fear of what might have happened to Peter pressed painfully against my chest. I had to know what happened.

I could not think straight as Mother continued to drone on.

My head was pulsing as if I were about to get a headache.

“I am so sorry. I hope he is not injured somewhere. The queen sent out guards to look all over the kingdom,” Michael said gently.

“He is on the road to Lune!” Mother bellowed.

No, He would not leave me.

I wanted to correct her, tell her that it was the Kingdom of Solalune now; the two kingdoms used to feud but had become one kingdom, thanks to a marriage. Just the week prior, Solalune’s king and queen had sent word that they would be attending our wedding .

Where is Peter? I need him. This has to be some kind of simple misunderstanding.

“Something is wrong; now, I can feel it. I am going to the castle. I need to search through his things.”

“His things?”

“Yes, there have to be answers, something—”

“Gwendolyn, you are not going to find anything inspiring about his good nature. All you will find is that he has left you,” Mother called from the sofa.

“You know nothing, Mother. Peter loves me,” I said in unexpected defiance, yet my chin quivered. I did not want to let her words affect me. I knew Peter, and he would not abandon me. He had searched the seas to find me.

I turned the door handle, straightened my back, and walked to the entrance to retrieve my coat, hat, and purse. As I did so, I told the servants to ready my carriage, for I needed to go to the castle and find some clue as to what could have happened to the man I loved.