Page 64 of Songs and Spun Gold
Was he allowed this because he was a friend? Just not enough of one to make her willing to submit to his father’s whim?
“I don’t want to force you into anything, Ka—Katrin,” he whispered in her ear. His tight throat wouldn’t allow for anything more. “I can’t promise he’ll listen, but if you want me to, I’ll try to convince my father.”
She pulled back a little so that she could meet his eyes. “You would do that? B-but you want it.”
“But you don’t.” He brought his right hand up and lightly stroked her jaw with the back of his fingers. “So I have to try.”
“It’s not a matter of wanting,” she murmured, working her arms free and wrapping them around him as she snuggled back into his chest.
She’d said that before.
I can’t marry you.
It’s not a matter of wanting.
“I don’t understand.”
Instead of responding, Katy dug her hands into the back of his shirt and tightened her arms. When she relaxed them again, she said, “If you can talk him out of it, I’ll be eternally grateful. B-but you don’t have to leave yet. Un-unless you want to.”
He didnotunderstand.
But he was going to hold her for as long as she would let him.
And then he was going to ask his father to let her go.
CHAPTER 17
Axel
At some point, Axel had settled Katy onto a nearby settee. Otto continued to watch them, but Axel had maintained his hold on her until her breathing slowed and she melted against his chest. Not because she had given in to his allure, but because she’d fallen asleep.
Now he was standing outside the door to his father’s study, but his thoughts were still in the sitting room with the exhausted young woman he’d left curled up there, her cloak spread over her and her cousin silently standing guard. He wanted to still be there as well, but he’d made her a promise.
He might as well get it over with.
“Come in,” the king called in response to his confident knock. Tossing a wave to Father’s guards (that they ignored), he pushed the slab of wood away from the doorframe and poked his head in.
“Only me, Father,” he greeted before stepping fully into the room. His father’s eyes flicked up from the papers on his desk. “I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
Father grunted. “What do you need?”
Axel closed the door gently behind his back. He opened his mouth to reply, but the sight of a short man sitting in the corner caused him to let it drift back closed.
“Axel? What did you want?” Father’s voice drew his attention back to the center of the room.
“Sorry, Father,” he hurried to say. Casting his eyes back to the corner, he added, “Are you certain I’m not interrupting?”
Father glanced in the same direction before dropping his gaze back to his work. “Only if you stand there all morning. What do you want?”
Axel dragged his focus away from the advisor camped out in his father’s study. Just because he’d never seen Lord Ulrich during one of his visits didn’t mean the man was never there; it only meant Axel had never encountered him outside of an obvious meeting. “I wished to let you know that I appreciate your desire to see me settled. It is comforting to know that I have a parent so devoted to my welfare.”
“Is that all?” Father grunted again without looking up.
Clasping his hands behind his back, Axel stood a little straighter. “As you are devoted to my welfare, so I feel I should be devoted to that of the woman I am to marry.”
“A fine sentiment.”
“I am glad you agree.” Axel took a deep breath, shoved aside his pain, and plunged in. “Father, she does not wish to marry me. She has made it quite plain to me that doing so would be most disagreeable to her. Can you not free her from the portion of your deal that binds her to me?”
