Page 16 of The Accidental Prince (Accidentally in Love #3)

“I won’t,” she whispered.

He took a step forward, standing so close their lower bodies touched. His mouth moved against her ear, whispering, “By the end of the three days, you’ll want to be my wife in body, as well as in name.”

He would try to seduce her. Serena’s breathing turned unsteady, and she put her hands against his chest, bringing distance between them. “You’re going to lose this wager, Fürst Karl.”

He took her hand in his. “Are we in agreement, then? You’ll go where I take you to live and become a commoner?” Lifting her fingers to his lips, he added, “You’ll cook for us…and keep the house clean?”

There was doubt in his voice, as if he didn’t believe her capable of completing such tasks. Just because she’d never cooked a meal in her life or ever swept a broom didn’t mean she wasn’t able to do so. There were books to show her how.

“Will you keep your promise, if I win?” She knew that it would be nearly impossible to purchase property and a house, as a woman. But if Karl made all the arrangements, she could remain far away from her father—safe and free to build her own life as she chose.

He gave a single nod. “As long as you wed me, if I win.”

She shook his palm, sealing the agreement between them. It would be difficult, but she was determined to prove him wrong. She was no hothouse lily who would wilt if there was no one to serve her. The Fürst didn’t know or understand her at all. She was looking forward to the challenge.

In three days, she could survive anything at all.

Badenstein—Two days later

There was no sign of the princess. Not at any of the estates.

Freiherr Albert von Meinhardt cursed to himself, his anger flaring. He’d sent separate groups of men to every estate in Badenstein, Germany, and Prussia. And…nothing. It was as if she’d disappeared.

The king’s Captain, Gerlach Feldmann, hadn’t seemed surprised.

For a man responsible for letting the princess run away, he didn’t appear eager to get her back.

The man’s defiance to the king was clear, even if Feldmann’s actions had the guise of obedience.

Clearly, his loyalty to Her Royal Highness needed to be broken.

Captain Feldmann had a son—a young boy of nine, who had been living with the boy’s grandmother after his mother was imprisoned. Now, it was time to use that influence.

Although others might view it as heartless, Albert merely saw it as a means to an end. Feldmann would have no choice but to find the princess, if his son were threatened.

Albert sat back in his chair, reaching for a pen and paper. As he began writing to the king, he filled the letter with false reassurances that they had found the princess and were bringing her home.

King Ruwald would be livid, but Albert intended to redirect his rage toward the bastard prince of Lohenberg. For it was Fürst Karl’s fault, wasn’t it? The princess would never have fled without the man’s help.

Finding out that the prince was illegitimate had been a stroke of fortune, for it meant that the princess could no longer marry him.

The thought pleased him greatly. The princess’s impulsive escape had destroyed her virtuous reputation, and it meant that she had to wed quickly.

But no longer could she become the bride of a prince—not after this. The king’s anger would know no bounds. But, there was a solution Albert could offer.

Though his blood was not royal, he was of noble birth. He was a baron with lands of his own. Perhaps the king would bestow a greater rank upon him, if he agreed to Albert’s proposition. He could marry Serena himself and restore her honor.

It didn’t matter that the princess despised him. She would learn to yield to his authority, for she was young enough to be trained to his bidding.

Albert glanced over at the velvet-draped bed. In his mind, he envisioned her naked body waiting for him. He shifted in his seat as the physical lust swelled inside him.

He had to inform the king of his daughter’s disobedience and of the necessity to end her betrothal to the bastard prince of Lohenberg. The words flowed from his pen as he offered himself up to the king as a means of saving the princess.

He wanted her with every breath in his lungs, needing to possess her beauty. And when he called a servant, giving the order to seize Feldmann’s son, he intended to get what he wanted—no matter the cost.

“Take this to my father,” Karl commanded Bernard.

The sealed letter contained his instructions for revitalizing the island. He’d requested troops to bring order to the towns and relief supplies. After talking with Father Durin last night, he’d sketched ideas for drainage ditches that could assist with the flooding.

The distraction had kept him from thinking of Serena. Three days alone with her. Three final days to win her as his wife.

He’d posed the wager as a last, desperate means of gaining her hand in marriage. And he needed to win.

He’d arranged for them to stay in the ruined fortress while Father Durin remained within the manor house. Though the priest had voiced his disapproval, Karl had promised that at the end of the three days, he could perform the marriage ceremony.

In the meantime, Father Durin and Samuel would take turns guarding the forest surrounding the fortress while Bernard traveled back to Lohenberg.

“I will obey, Your Highness.” The footman bowed. “But I fear it isn’t safe—especially after last night. These islanders cannot be trusted.”

“Which is why you will return to Lohenberg and bring back soldiers and supplies. The king must know what is happening within the province.”

“What about the princess?” the footman dared to ask.

“We will remain in hiding at the abbey,” Karl said. “So long as no one knows we are there, it should be safe enough.”

He lowered his voice and walked outside, waiting for the footman to follow. “I will protect her, no matter what happens.”

On the night when they’d been attacked, Karl had nearly taken the bullet aimed for her. He didn’t regret it at all. It was strange to think of, but after everything she’d suffered, he wanted nothing else to happen to her.

And although it would hurt her to learn that he was a bastard, he wanted to believe that Serena would forgive him. In these three days, he had to show her that he wasn’t a monster or a man unworthy of being her husband.

“And what of you, Your Highness?” Bernard cleared his throat.

Karl lowered his voice. “I am no longer the Prince of Lohenberg. What happens to me doesn’t matter, does it?”

“To us, you will always be our Fürst,” Bernard protested. “Your Highness, we know what Lohenberg means to you.”

“It’s no longer mine to rule,” he replied. “My half-brother holds that honor now.”

“But if something should happen to you—”

“No one would care,” Karl answered honestly. “My best hope is to win the princess’s hand in marriage. Now go to the king, as I’ve commanded.”

Bernard bowed low. “You have our loyalty, Your Highness. And I will return as soon as possible.”

“I’m going to win this wager,” Serena informed the prince, as she rode with him toward Durin’s fortress.

The Fürst sent her a pointed look that said he didn’t believe her, but Serena only smiled.

Though she was uneasy about being alone with the prince, he’d offered her an agreement she couldn’t turn down.

She needed his help in buying property, and once he’d settled her someplace safe, she’d have everything she needed.

All she had to do was live alone with him for three days in a ruined abbey.

Her mother and sister would fall into hysterics if they learned of how far she’d fallen. Virtuous ladies never spent time with men unchaperoned. They also didn’t run away from home with the intent of living the life of a spinster.

But it wasn’t the less-than-desirable circumstances that bothered her most. She could live with a leaking roof or terrible food—it was the prince himself who made her worry.

Already he’d kissed her once, and she’d relived the memory of Karl’s mouth on hers, each night as she drifted off to sleep. His firm lips, the unquenchable needs he’d evoked, haunted her still.

Though she didn’t believe he would take her against her will…she feared that he would use seduction as a weapon. He might use those stolen moments to weaken her resolve and make her want more than she was willing to give.

But I can still refuse to marry him. That was within her power, no matter how he tempted her. No matter how difficult the three days were.

Serena lifted her face to the salt spray, eager to arrive at the priest’s ruined abbey. Karl rode alongside her, his face shielded of any emotion. “You’re so certain you’re going to win?”

“Of course I am.”

His gaze passed over her cloaked attire, and he frowned.

“And you were able to get dressed on your own?” She nodded, revealing none of the tactics she’d had to resort to.

Although Frau Bauherzen had not come this morning to help her, Serena had worn her new gown backwards, leaving the corset behind.

The fabric was extremely tight, but she’d managed to button it up by herself, a feat she was quite proud of. Even so, she felt uneasy without the whalebone garment holding her curves back. The creamy taffeta strained against her breasts, leaving a few gaps in the buttons.

Three days, she reminded herself. There would be no one except the prince to witness her fashion faux pas . And with the red cloak pulled tightly around her, the gown wasn’t visible.

When they reached the path that led through the forest toward the ruins, Father Durin was waiting for them. “It’s safe,” he pronounced, “and all is prepared for the two of you.” With a stern look toward Serena, he added, “I expect to preside over your wedding at the end of the three days.”