Page 93 of Songs and Spun Gold
But could she make the first move after he had retreated?
“No, of course not,” she replied as she took his arm, knowing her smile wasn’t quite natural.
They meandered another half hour before he turned them back toward the castle. Katy spent the entire time restraining her hand from gripping his arm more tightly. She’d missed her chance by yelling at him for trying to make her happy; she couldn’t ask for something he no longer wanted to give.
To her relief, as soon as they exited the gardens, she spotted her cousin chatting with another guard. Dropping the prince’s arm, she rushed in that direction. “Otto!” she called out. He acknowledged her with a wave, excused himself to his friend, and began walking toward her. When she was close enough, she declared, “I need a hug,” and plowed straight into his arms.
Otto’s arms closed around her, but she could hear the glare in his voice as he addressed her companion. “What did you do to her?”
“Not a thing,” Axel replied easily. “Don’t you trust me, Otto?”
“I’m fine,” Katy assured her cousin, squeezing him. “I just haven’t had a hug in a while. I needed one.”
He squeezed her back, crushing her ribs for a few secondsbefore relaxing his hold. “It has been a while since you’ve been home, hasn’t it?” She nodded into his chest. “I’m sorry, Kat. I’m here whenever you need me.”
“You can’t ever leave Himmelsburg, Otto.” Katy fought the ridiculous tears she could feel building in her eyes. “You’re a little piece of home. If I’m stuck here, so are you.”
Pulling back, he set his hands on her arms. He kept his voice low as he looked over her shoulder. “You could make a new home, you know.”
“I know.”
Otto gently guided her back to the prince. The hug had done her good, but sadly, it hadn’t erased her desire for Axel’s hand. She eyed it longingly before placing her right hand in his offered elbow and her left on his upper arm. His muscles tightened at her touch, so she didn’t rest her head on his shoulder like she wanted to.
Why did she want to? She’d never done that with Axel before. She’d never even done it with Fritz.
But it looked so comfortable.
“You’re so kind and understanding, Your Highness.” The voice pulled Katy from her thoughts. Following the direction from which it had come, she found Lady Ilse and two of her friends.
“Thank you, Lady Ilse,” Axel replied with a slight nod. “But to what do I owe such a compliment?”
Lady Ilse flicked her fan open, hiding the lower part of her face as she tittered with her friends. Sweeping it away, she explained, “Being willing to take your peasant girl back. And aftersucha display, too. Most men wouldn’t stand for it.”
“The argument was at least half my fault,” he protested valiantly, resting his hand lightly on Katy’s for the first time in days. “It is hardly laudable to repent of saying such terrible things to my fair Katrin, and in public, no less.”
“Argument?” Lady Ilse’s eyes slid sideways as she covered her mouth and nose with her fan again. Following her gaze, Katy saw nothing but hedges beyond Otto. “I was referring to something longer-standing. And more recent.”
Blinking at the lady, Axel quickly covered his blank expression with one of his easy smiles. “Despite your claim that I am understanding, I am afraid I must confess to not understanding at all. To whatdoyou refer?”
Lady Ilse and her friends laughed again, but it sounded forced as they exchanged looks of confusion. She focused to the side once more. “I know he’s supposed to melt into the background, buteveryonehas seen how comfortable he and your peasant girl are. Surelyyousaw them five minutes ago.”
Otto’s tongue poked into his cheek as he caught Katy’s eye, fighting the laughter that wanted to escape. She tilted her head questioningly before the realization dawned. The giggles slipped out before she could stop them. Axel looked back and forth between them before his eyes lit with amusement.
Grinning, he turned back to the noblewomen. “I am afraid there has been a misunderstanding, my lady. Allow me to introduce you to Otto, my fair Katrin’s cousin.”
“Cousin?” Lady Ilse’s smile froze.
“Naturally,” Katy replied flippantly. “Do you honestly think I would go around hugging any other man in front of my betrothed?”
“Would you hug some other mannotin front of me?” Axel interjected, raising an eyebrow at her.
She squeezed his arm and widened her eyes. “Would I tell you if I did?”
“Come off it, Kat,” Otto laughed. “You can’t lie to save your life.”
But she could hide things. The stranger and his deal were proof of that.
“Thank you for your concern, Lady Ilse,” Axel said, cutting them off. “Please accept my assurance that you need not worry.” He directed his next comment to Katy and Otto. “Shall we repair to the castle?”
