Page 31 of The Accidental Prince (Accidentally in Love #3)

K arl recognized the rider as one of Serena’s original escorts. It was the guard who had held a spear to his side. Before he could pursue the man, he saw his half-brother approaching from the opposite side of the beach with a dozen Lohenberg guards flanking him.

A flash of resentment flooded through him, and he muttered a curse.

Why was Michael here? To set the island to rights, in case Karl couldn’t do so?

Whatever the reason, he doubted if the prince’s visit was a favorable one.

Michael’s eyes narrowed when he spied the princess, and Karl met the accusatory stare with no remorse whatsoever.

“Go back to the manor house,” he ordered Serena. “My brother is here, and I should welcome him.”

“Shouldn’t I greet Fürst Michael as well?” she asked.

“Another time, perhaps.” Given that Karl had kidnapped a princess and stolen her away to an island, he could feel his brother’s fury from here. “Return to the manor house with my guards.” Serena appeared reluctant, but she obeyed his orders, accompanied by his guards.

Karl stood his ground while Michael approached with his horsemen. Though he was at a height disadvantage while Michael was mounted, he didn’t move a muscle until the Fürst drew his horse to a stop.

“You went to the kingdom of Badenstein and stole their crown princess,” Michael began without prelude.

“Yes.” No reason to deny it. He’d taken the princess away, ruined her reputation, and forced her to work like a servant. All for his own gain.

“Were you trying to start a war between our two countries?” the prince demanded. “Everyone has been searching for her. And you dared to dishonor her.”

“Are you going to imprison me?” he asked calmly.

Michael dismounted from his horse, and strode forward. “I should.” He strode along the beach, glancing back in an unspoken order for Karl to follow. When they were out of earshot, his brother continued, “Did you marry her, like the servants claim? Were you that stupid?”

“She refused to wed me,” Karl answered. It wasn’t surprising, given all that he’d done to her.

“I don’t know which is worse,” Michael admitted. “What do you think will happen to her now? You’ve ruined her. The world will believe that you took her into your bed, whether you did or not.”

“I didn’t.”

“By kidnapping her, you’ve drawn the king into this. Her father could rightfully demand your head. And we’d have to give it to him or risk war.”

Karl could feel his brother’s blistering anger, and he deserved it. He had taken Serena to this island. He’d fully intended to wed her, seizing control of a title he didn’t deserve. And right now, when he looked back at his actions, he realized what a fool he’d been.

“She ran away,” he told Michael, “because her father was beating her. Weeks ago, he broke her ribs. And on the day she left, he left bruises along her side and tried to strangle her.”

No woman should endure that, princess or not.

His brother’s face sobered as he considered what Karl had told him. “What are you going to do now?”

“Protect her,” was all he could say. The purchase he’d arranged this morning would help somewhat, if Serena chose to avail of it. “If someone threatened Hannah—”

“I’d kill the man. With no remorse at all.”

“Much as I’d like to, I can’t kill a king,” Karl said. Even if he wanted to, he knew better than to risk threatening so powerful a man. All he could do was help Serena to disappear.

“Do you love her?” Michael asked. He stopped walking along the beach and stared at the water, which was starting to grow rougher. In the distance, clouds rolled across the sea.

“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Karl could give no answer, for he didn’t know what love was.

The only thing he understood was power and the lack of it.

He was playing a dangerous game with the king’s daughter, one that might result in surrendering his life.

He didn’t plan on martyring himself for a woman.

But neither would he let any harm come to her.

“You want me to leave her,” he predicted, meeting his brother’s gaze. “Let her father come for her.”

“If you fight against a king, I can’t protect you.”

“Can’t you?” He stared at Michael’s fury. “You know I won’t abandon her to him. Her father might kill her because she dared to flee.”

“I don’t believe that.”

Anger unfurled within him. “I’ve seen her bruises.”

His brother’s eyes narrowed. “And where were those…bruises?”

Karl knew what he was implying. “The servants believe that we married in secret. For her sake, I’d suggest you uphold the lie.”

Michael struggled to regain control of his temper. “You took advantage of a princess, dishonoring her for your own use.”

“Yes.” He made no denial of what he’d done. “And I won’t walk away from her when she has to face her father.”

When she reached the house, Serena saw a stunningly beautiful dark-haired woman waiting. Dressed in an emerald gown trimmed with lace, the woman sent her a blinding smile.

“You must be Princess Serena.” The woman dropped into a curtsy.

“I am Hannah Chesterfield. Fürst Michael is to be my husband next week.” With a soft laugh, she added, “I imagine my mother is ready to send an army after me. I’m supposed to be worrying about fittings and wedding details at the moment. ”

Serena returned the greeting, and Hannah continued a stream of cheerful conversation as she led her into the dining room.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve already arranged a meal for us,” the young woman said.

“I thought we could talk and get to know one another better. You are coming to the wedding, aren’t you? ”

Serena didn’t know how to answer. “I’m certain my father will go. I don’t know if my sister and I will be permitted to attend.” It was as close to the truth as she could manage.

Hannah’s smile turned forced. “Oh. Well, I do hope you can.” She drew her inside the dining room and gestured for Serena to sit opposite her. “There’s so much I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

Within moments, a servant brought in the first course, a lobster bisque with a dollop of cream floating in the center. While the footman ladled out the soup, Hannah said, “I heard that you and Karl wed in secret.”

A pang of regret settled inside her, but Serena managed a nod. Though she hated lying to the prince’s bride, neither could she admit that she’d lived alone with Karl for the past week. “No one knew of our wedding,” she said.

Because it never happened.

Hannah studied her carefully, as if she were trying to read the truth. “There’s more to Karl than most people would see. He might appear arrogant and rude, but beneath it all, he’s a good man. He saved my life once.”

Serena’s eyes filled up with tears. It was true, and though she believed it was best for Karl to go on and leave her here to face her father alone, she knew it would never happen. He wasn’t the sort of man to turn from a fight.

She left her soup spoon beside the bowl, unable to bring herself to eat.

Inside, she felt sickened. Though the guard, Captain Feldmann, had disappeared, she knew what his presence meant.

She had less than a day before her father arrived.

Or, at least his men, if the king couldn’t be bothered to come.

“You’re crying,” Hannah said suddenly. “Is everything all right?”

Serena could only shake her head. She folded her napkin and left the table, her stomach in knots. Hannah followed her, but Serena didn’t want to reveal her problems to a stranger. It wasn’t her way to confide secrets, and she took a moment, trying to gather her thoughts up.

“I’m sorry if I said anything to upset you,” Hannah said quietly. “I made Michael bring me with him, because I thought you might want some female companionship. And perhaps we could…be friends.”

Serena swiped at her tears, trying to gather her composure. “Would you like to spend some time together?” Hannah offered gently. “Perhaps we could visit the village?”

The young woman meant well, and it might be a good chance for her to understand what had happened to Karl and the kingdom of Lohenberg. “All right.”

Within the hour, both women were inside Frau Bauherzen’s shop.

Serena could tell from Hannah’s strained expression that the fabric choices were nothing like she’d expected.

Though the dressmaker was skilled enough with patterns and designs, most of the materials were little more than muslin and tarlatan.

There was also black bombazine and a full array of mourning clothes.

Hannah came alongside her and said, “It’s not quite what I had imagined.”

“If you could arrange for fabric from Lohenberg to be sold here, it would help,” Serena suggested. “The selection is quite limited.”

Hannah gave a nod. “I’ll mention it to Michael. Something should be done.” She moved in closer, lifting a length of white muslin. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she murmured, “Am I correct in presuming that you and Karl did not wed one another, as the servants believe?”

Serena kept her gaze downcast, but gave a single nod. Inside, she felt such confusion. It was her fault that the servants believed the lie. Though it had given them a false air of respectability, she didn’t know what to do about it now.

A gloved hand touched hers, and she saw Hannah’s solemn expression. “Do you love him?”

“I don’t know,” was all she could whisper.

How was she to understand what love was?

Everything about Karl confused her. He’d lost his kingdom, and though he’d wanted to regain it through a hasty marriage, the choice had always been hers.

Not once had he forced her to bend to his will—he’d only coaxed her into feelings she didn’t understand.

“If he were to leave you, and you’d never see him again, how would that make you feel?” Hannah asked.

Serena could give no answer, for it would be as if someone had cut her in half. She could only meet Hannah’s gaze, letting her see the emptiness in her heart.