Page 80 of Songs and Spun Gold
As she began the song, his eyes brightened. When she reached the end of the first verse, he joined her, singing the harmony that the female lead was supposed to have since she was singing his part. The whole time, he kept his eyes fixed on hers, something glimmering in their depths. She wouldn’t have looked away even if she could have.
The song ended, and neither of them moved. Katy knew she shouldn’t be letting herself get lost in his eyes, but at the moment, she couldn’t remember why.
“You have a lovely voice, Katy,” Axel whispered. As his elbow collapsed forward, bringing his head with it, she realized that she’d been leaning forward. And now, his face was shockingly close to hers.
Her heart started pounding. He was close. Too close, and getting closer. His lips were barely an inch from hers! She should move, but shock held her frozen. No man had ever—
Pushing onto his left elbow, he moved onto his side, bringing him into surprisingly close proximity. “But then, any time spent with you is well spent, Katy.” He leaned forward, and she found her breath growing shallow as her heartbeat sped up. Was he about to—
Where had that memory come from? And so clear, too?
It was a concern for another time, because the friend who had abandoned her wasn’t here. The prince was. And with his mouth hovering over hers, he seemed intent on finishing what her friend had started.
“You’re late.”
Sighing, Axel closed his eyes and withdrew, turning toward the door. Katy chose to visit the window instead. It was easier to hide from her cousin that way.
“Can we help you, Otto?” The prince’s voice held a note of long-suffering.
She wasn’t facing him, but she could see her cousin’s muscled form leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed in a casual pose. Or would he be standing stiffly at attention since he was speaking to royalty?
“Your parents were concerned when you didn’t appear at breakfast. Bertram is scouring the gardens again.” Amusement tinted his voice.
“And you didn’t join him?”
“No. Kat didn’t show up, either, and numerous servants reported seeing the two of you together this morning. Between the locations you’d been spotted and my inside knowledge, I made an educated guess. And I was right.” She could hear his satisfaction.
The piano bench creaked in time with the rustle of fine fabrics. “I suppose I should relieve their fears.” The light thud of his boots approached her. “May I escort you to breakfast, Katy?”
Such an offer was that of a gentleman, but Katy hesitated before replying. After what had just happened, should she keep her distance? She liked the prince, but she barely knew him. And she had seen many variations of his behavior during their short acquaintance.
Peeking over her shoulder, her eye caught the sight of her relaxed cousin. The fact that he was so comfortable in the prince’s presence was a point in Axel’s favor, especially considering Otto – who was like a big brother to her – must have seen the position she and Axel were in before he announced himself.
“Of course,” she replied at last, settling her hand on the elbow that he offered. Idly, she wondered if he wore short sleeves when the weather was warmer, like the young men in her village, or if she would feel his sleeve under her hand even in the summer.
The thought brought her up short, almost causing her steps to stutter as she followed him down the hall. She couldn’t still be in the castle come summer; she didn’t know how long the king intended to allow them before the wedding, but the longer she stayed, the less likely she was to gain her freedom. And no matter how pleasant time with the prince was, no matter how much her cousin might approve of him, she could not afford to stay unless it was the only way to keep her familyfrom destitution.
She couldn’t let herself forget that the stranger had claimed her child for accepting his help. It was unthinkable, and she would have left already if not for the consequences for her mother and sisters.
When they entered the dining room, King Steffan glanced up from his plate, focused on their joined arms, and then nodded to his son. Axel’s arm tensed under her hand, and his eyes narrowed briefly before he transformed into the bright, glowing personality that he generally portrayed for his parents and members of the court.
“Good morning, Father, Mother,” he greeted as he pulled Katy’s chair out for her. “I apologize for worrying you; I received a copy of the score for the new production at the theater, and I allowed my enthusiasm in sharing it with Katrin to overwhelm my good sense. As such, I failed to keep an accurate accounting of the time as it passed.”
Queen Carina patted her mouth delicately with a napkin and placed it back in her lap before replying. “Singing again, Axel? I thought you had decided to give that up.”
Katy was about to respond indignantly on Axel’s behalf when the king added, “It’s fine if you want to serenade your bride, son, as long as she’s the only one. And see to it that it doesn’t interfere with your responsibilities. I had reports of several things you missed yesterday.”
His parents really did disapprove of his music, didn’t they?
“My apologies, Father,” Axel said humbly, bowing his head in the king’s direction. “I did fail to appear a few times yesterday. However, it was not music which pulled me away, but fair Katrin herself.” He turned adoring eyes on her. “I happened to encounter her in the hall and could not bring myself to leave her company immediately, thus leading to my absences.”
She knew he hadn’t really had that much free time.
“So fickle,” the queen muttered into her glass.
“I am only attempting to follow Father’s wishes, Mother,” the slighted prince answered genially. “Would you prefer me to be as miserable as Katrin herself? Or should I ride off into the countryside, searching every village along the way until I locate the woman of my dreams, then convince her to elope and flee with me to Castellia?”
“Castellia?” his mother replied, brows furrowed in confusion. “Why not Daraigh?”
