Page 14 of Slippers and Thorns
“That’s ridiculous, Axel,” Michael grinned. “You’re not old. Yet.”
Axel threw back his head and laughed. His short dark brown hair ruffled in the breeze, and his light brown skin covered a face that was anything but ill-looking. “Ah, good company, good weather, and horses – what could be better?” He threw his free arm wide and began to sing, “Oh, what a beautiful morning—”
Michael reached out and punched him in the side. “You’re embarrassing. Can’t you work up a little proper royal pride?”
Axel only laughed again. “Never. Admit it, you’d join me if your own singing voice wasn’t as lovely as a frog’s.”
“Maybe,” Michael chuckled. “You know, you’re awfully cheerful for someone traveling to a haunted castle. Shouldn’t you be a little more cowed by the thought of what lies at your journey’s end?”
Shrugging, Axel replied, “Reineggburg isn’t haunted. It has a bad reputation, but there’s nothing special about it.”
“When was the last time you were there?”
“It’s been a while,” Axel admitted. “I wanted to make the trip back before Katy and I were married, but Father wouldn’t let me. He and Mother were both upset by the idea, but Father more so.” He shook his head. “He became much gruffer after we lost Helena. Less predictable.”
“I noticed,” Michael grunted. “For a few years, I dreaded my visits to Ralnor.”
Axel pressed a hand to his chest and gasped. “You didn’t want to see me?”
“Not when we weren’t running off to a country castle without your father and with…” He trailed off, his smile fading.
His friend’s lips curved in a small, sad smile. “We all miss her.”
After a minute spent gathering his composure, Michael cleared his throat. “Your father seems better now.”
Axel’s grin returned. “It’s all thanks to Katy. She softened him back up.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not really sure why she was so determined to visit Reineggburg today. I’m not going to say no to the chance to spend a whole day with her, though. And you and Arabella,” he added as an afterthought.
Michael acknowledged the comment with a nod, and they rode in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.
“Sorry, Michael, I can’t take it anymore,” Axel said abruptly, a smile on his face. He turned his horse off the road and circled back to the girls. “Excuse me, Arabella, I must request that you push ahead and keep stodgy old Michael company for a while. You can have Katy back later.”
Arabella just nodded and urged Shadow to a quicker pace so that Axel could navigate into the space she had vacated. When she drew even with Michael and Chief, she slowed down to match them.
Michael could hear Axel murmuring and Katy giggling in response behind them. It only served to make the tense silence between himself and Arabella more awkward. Shifting in his saddle, he cleared his throat and attempted to make conversation. “Good morning.” That was a brilliant start.
“Good morning,” Arabella softly replied without raising her eyes from her horse’s ears.
After another minute of silence, he tried again. “Are you enjoying the ride so far?”
All she did was nod.
Michael hid his grimace. “Axel says the castle isn’t haunted,” he offered, scrambling for a topic.
“I never thought it was,” Arabella answered, still not looking at him.
“Your hair is very pretty today,” he tried.
That got a reaction. Arabella turned to look at him, her eyes fierce. “I am not one of your court ladies to be flattered,” she hissed. “You needn’t force yourself to speak to me.”
She turned her head away to watch the hills again, but not before he caught a glimpse of moisture in her eyes.
She was crying? But why?
Guilt crept over him. He felt fairly certain he knew why, actually, and it made him feel rotten to realize just how deeply he had wounded her with his flirtation. He had only wanted her to know the pain he had felt.
Maybe he should have tried talking to her instead, telling her how he felt instead of hurting her. After all, if he loved her, shouldn’t he be trying to protect her, not cut her heart in two?
If he loved her.
