Page 66 of Songs and Spun Gold
“Terrible. He refused to budge.” Axel draped his arms across his own bent knees. “He told me to change her mind.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Thanks, Otto,” Axel said, his voice dripping sarcasm. “You’re a great pal.”
“I’m not your pal, I’m your guard,” Otto grinned back.
Axel’s head drooped forward so that it hung between his knees. “And Katy’s cousin,” he groaned softly. “At present, the only good thing about today is that I now have two people nearby that I don’t have to pretend with because they already know everything.” After a moment, he added, “And that neither is likely to blab.”
“You also have Kat here now,” his guard observed. “Isn’tthat a good thing?”
“But she hates me,” Axel sighed, burying his hands in his hair. He twisted his head so that he could watch the few strands of curls that quivered with her gentle exhalations. It was unfortunate that her face was hidden.
“She doesn’t hate you,” Otto contradicted, stifling a yawn. “She’s always a bear when she’s short on sleep.”
Axel didn’t respond, thinking about their interactions since the throne room. He wouldn’t have categorized her words and actions as being a “bear” because of her all-nighters. Although falling asleep in his arms didn’t exactly fit the image of someone who hated him.
“I tried to withdraw the money her father owes,” he said after a while. “I thought I could give it to her so she could walk without hurting her family.”
“Tried?”
He shook his head. “Apparently Father – or maybe Lord Ulrich – anticipated that move. The treasurer has been given very specific instructions. He told me he would handle any bills or contributions I wanted to make. The most I could get out of him was pocket change for the market.”
“Your definition of pocket change is probably quite different from mine,” Otto said with a wry grin.
“Probably,” Axel grinned back before sobering. “But it’s still nowhere near enough.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes. “She’ll appreciate that you tried,” Otto said. “Even if it didn’t work.”
Axel nodded in acknowledgment.
“I imagine she’d sleep better in a bed,” he finally said. “You could have taken her to her room; I would have found her eventually. Shall I carry her there for you?”
He’d tilted his head toward his guard, so he caught the edge of the other man’s glower. Hopefully not because he’dsuggested touching her. “Do you know where she’s been sleeping the last three days?”
“No, that’s why I said I would have found her ‘eventually.’” Axel frowned as he watched Otto. “Where?”
“In the same room where she was spinning. A storeroom they emptied on the third floor,” Otto answered, his jaw clenched.
“A—astoreroom?” His blood began to boil. “My father put her in a—”
“Yes.”
Shoving himself to his feet, Axel strode to the door. “I may not be able to fix the deal my father gave her, but Icanfix this,” he growled. “I’ll be back.”
“What if the king gave instructions about that, too?” Otto asked.
Axel spun to face him. “I doubt it. He wants me to make myself desirable, so I can’t imagine him making her stay here miserable.” He clenched his fists. “But it doesn’t matter if he has. I’ll sleep in the storeroom myself and let Katy have my suite if that’s what it takes. If he’s going to insist that she marry me, she’s going to be treated like a princess.”
With that declaration, he resumed his trek to the hallway. He worked on loosening his fists and calming his emotions as he went. Negotiations always went better when he was easygoing; besides, he couldn’t have the castle staff believing he wastooobsessed with Katy’s welfare. Not yet.
Not until he could make them believe that his affections for “Heidi” had faded.
It would never do for someone to guess the truth.
CHAPTER 18
Katy
