Page 70 of Songs and Spun Gold
“I suppose the two of you need to go home,” Katy said, twisting her hands in her lap. “Fritz surely can’t stay away from the shop too long.”
“And you?”
“As far as I know, I still have to marry the prince to free my family of the debt. I’m stuck here for the time being.”
Shuddering, Angelika said, “I can’t imagine living in that room any longer. If you’re staying, can’t I at least arrange someplace else for you?”
“I can’t let you do that,” Katy protested. “I don’t know if it’s days or months until—until—” Confounded cheeks! “Anyway, the prince arranged for me to have a better room in the meantime. I was amazed when I woke up and saw where I was.”
Angelika’s jaw dropped. “‘Woke up and saw’ where you were? Where did you fall asleep?”
“On a sofa in a sitting room. Otto must have carried me.”
“Are you sure it was Otto?” her friend asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Her cheeks were on fire again, but Katy fought the urge to lower her head. Hiding would only make her discomfort more obvious.
The sound of the door latch releasing broke the silence. “Katrin? Are you in here?” a smooth baritone voice called.
She rose to her feet and dropped into a curtsy. Her friends followed her gaze to the now-open door and quickly copied her. Well, Angelika did; Fritz executed a hasty bow.
“None of that, now,” Prince Axel chided lightly. “I can’t have you—oh, are you entertaining friends?” He strode into the room, hand extended. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes,” Katy replied, hurrying forward. “Your Highness, these are my friends from Flussendorf: Angelika and Fritz. Fritz, Angelika: Prince Axel.”
“You must allow me to welcome you to my home with as much grace as I would any other, for if you are friends of Katrin, you must also be friends of mine,” he said as he gripped Fritz’s hand before turning to bow over Angelika’s. Fritz’s eyes narrowed; Angelika giggled. “Your hair may be dark as the night, young maiden, but it only enhances the pale beauty of your skin and the ocean in your eyes.” Straightening, he faced Katy andswept his left arm out to the side, bowing over the right one. “Fair Katrin, I am delighted to be in your presence once more. May I escort you on a tour of the castle? Your friends are welcome to join us.”
She tilted her head, studying him. Gone was the penitent, pleading young man of the morning; in his place was the bright, cheerful actor, twinkling eyes and all. “Otto planned to take me later.”
“And he may, if he wishes; however, I hoped you might allow me the pleasure now,” he returned lightly. “I would consider it a great honor to introduce you to your new home.”
No, not quite; his eyes twinkled, yes, but less than they had after the show.
“Thank you,” she told him with a strained smile, “but I believe I will wait for my cousin.”
His eyebrows contracted the briefest hair before his smile brightened. Turning his head to encompass them all, he waved a hand to the furniture and replied, “If that is your wish, then we shall wait for him. But I hope that you do not mind if I join you and your friends in the meantime. I would be delighted to round out your party to four.”
As Katy nodded in acquiescence and slowly resumed her seat, Prince Axel maneuvered himself in front of Angelika’s old spot. Fritz warily lowered himself into his seat while Angelika hovered for a moment before claiming an armchair.
Instead of sitting straight and proper, the prince lounged against the backrest, his right arm stretched across it toward Katy and his legs angled in her direction. Once he was settled, he bent his right elbow, leaning his head on his fist.
At least his hand was no longer inches from her shoulder, but did he have to gaze at her with such adoration?
They sat in awkward silence. Katy glanced nervously at Fritz. She had seen him wound up the first night that he askedher to walk with him; she had seen him sad and worried since she came to the castle; and she had seen him overly polite with a difficult customer. But she couldn’t recall seeing him angry. The restrained glare directed at the prince was out of place on Fritz’s kind face.
Angelika, on the other hand, looked almost giddy. Hands clasped in her lap, she was perched at the edge of her chair, leaning forward. Her glowing eyes and the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed the smile that was trying to escape. Catching the prince in such an intimate setting instead of settling for a brief word in passing must be a dream come true for her.
“Please, do not allow me to interrupt your conversation,” Prince Axel said lightly, twisting his head on his fist so that he could catch Angelika with the edge of his gaze before sweeping it across Fritz and back to Katy. He pressed his left hand to his chest. “I promise faithfully that I will not carry tales.”
“It is such an honor to speak with you, Your Highness,” Angelika gushed at this invitation, the smile finally breaking free. “I was so sad to miss you on opening night forThe Tanner’s Secret.”
As his eyebrows raised a fraction, one side of his perfectly crafted smile pulled up, making it uneven as he adjusted enough to include her with his body language. Uneven or not, it still looked polished to Katy. “The Tanner’s Secret? Were you there?”
As if he didn’t know perfectly well that she was. A flick of his eyes in Katy’s direction, accompanied by a teasing lift to his smile, acknowledged that he did.
“Yes, Katy and I were both there. You missed a marvelous performance, Your Highness!”
“Which part did you like best?” he asked, his smile returning to the sculpted version but his eyes at closer to full twinkle.
