Page 68 of Songs and Spun Gold
“I thought you were in love with him,” her cousin said carefully.
“How can I be in love with him?” Katy retorted. “I only met him twice before this morning; that’s not enough time to fall in love with someone. Yes, I was quite taken with Gunther. I always knew he was acting, but now that I know he was dishonest, how do I know who he is anymore?”
Otto’s hand wrapped around her shoulder as he pulled her in for a brief squeeze. “It’s true that the prince spends a lot of time acting. And I have sometimes wondered what I shouldbelieve about him. But he’s a decent man, Kat. You could do a lot worse than Prince Axel.”
“I could do a lot better, too,” she shot back, sticking to her excuse, even though it made her a hypocrite. “Instead of settling for someone who wouldlie.”
He turned her toward him, scanning her face with downturned lips. “Everyone lies from time to time, Kat. I’ve lied to you; your sisters and friends back home have lied to you. If Fritz hasn’t, he will someday. You’ve forgiven all of us. Why can’t you forgive the prince?”
“You don’t make a habit of it,” Katy retorted. “It sounds like he does.”
Her cousin pursed his lips, but to her relief, he only shook his head and looked away, letting the subject drop.
Shewasstill upset about Gun—the prince’s dishonesty. But even if he’d told her the truth, she would have spun that third night, because she couldn’t turn her back on her family.
She was trapped between two impossible options, and the knowledge that Prince Axel was her actor friend didn’t change what she had to do.
It only made it more terrible.
~
“Good afternoon, Miss Katrin.” Smiling pleasantly, a castle maid bobbed a curtsy on the other side of Katy’s door.
Katy stared at her. “Why are you curtsying?”
“It is only appropriate for you, Miss Katrin.”
“Don’t.” She flicked a hand toward the maid. “And don’t call me Miss, either. Katy will do.”
The maid arched a single dark eyebrow. “We have received instructions to treat you respectfully. Youarethe prince’s betrothed.”
Katy frowned, but she couldn’t think of a response to that.
“The reason I came to see you, Miss Katrin, was to inform you that you have visitors. Shall I bring them here?”
“Visitors?”
The maid gave a brisk nod. “Yes. They claim to be from your hometown.”
A grin spread across Katy’s face. “Angelika and Fritz? Of course—” She cut herself off and cast a glance at the opulent room behind her. “Can you take me to them?”
“Yes, Miss Katrin. If you will follow me.”
Her friends were waiting with a footman in the grand entrance hall. Katy rushed forward, stepping into Angelika’s open arms and returning the embrace with desperate affection. Fritz hung back, looking uncertain as Katy asked the maid for a place to talk.
Once they were settled on sofas in a nearby sitting room, Angelika turned to Katy with an eager expression. “So, how did it go? You’re still here; does that mean you succeeded?” Katy nodded. “Have you met the prince yet? What did you think of him?”
Katy narrowed her eyes at her friend. “You seem awfully excited for someone who thought I shouldn’t be trying to win a prince.”
“I thought you were rejecting sweet Fritz for a title,” Angelika breezily replied, waving a dismissive hand. “Now I know it was only your overwhelming sense of responsibility. So? Are you betrothed? Isn’t he simply fabulous?”
Katy’s eyes darted toward Fritz. He had yet to say a word; his eyes were focused on his folded hands at his knees. “I don’t know if it is official,” she slowly replied. “He promised to speak with his father about ending it, but that was before I fell asleep, and I haven’t seen him since.”
“Why? Don’t you like him?”
What a terrible conversation to have with Fritz in theroom.
Clasping her hands in her lap, she forced a smile. “He was not what I expected,” she said truthfully.
