Page 97 of Songs and Spun Gold
Picking up her other hand, he brought both up to his chest. “This is your real birthday present, Katy. If you want, when we go home tomorrow, it will be with your family and all of your things in a hired wagon. The wagon will take you to the capital or to Tobias’s country estate, whichever you prefer.”
She was free. After two months of fighting and worrying, after finally admitting that it would never be, she was free. It would mean leaving her home, but she would be with her family, and they wouldn’t be destitute.
Axel had given her the best birthday gift she could ever receive. Even though she could see in his eyes that it broke his heart to do so.
“Thank you, Axel,” she whispered, unable to speak louder through her tight throat. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
He rubbed the backs of her fingers with his thumbs. “I’m sorry that it won’t keep you near your friends.”
“It’s still more than I deserve after the way I’ve treated you,” she sniffled. Then, remembering, “You said you had something to ask me, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “I did, yes. And I do.” Releasing her left hand, he reached into his pocket. When he drew it out, his fist was clenched around something. “I wanted you to have a true choice, Katy. Not one where you had to choose between the lesser of two evils. So now that I’ve given you a way out, I’m going to ask you to stay.” Opening his fist, he held it palm out, and she felt her breath catch at the sight of the leather bracelet with three small stones tied onto it. “Not because my father says you have to or because you feel pressured by what you think your family wants or needs. But because you want to. Because you love me. Like I love you.” His voice broke as he stepped closer. “Marry me, Katy?”
CHAPTER 27
Katy
It was a strange replay of the morning that he had walked into the throne room. Her heart swelled with the knowledge that this young manwantedto marry her, a common village girl with a drunken miller for a father. She had been a little in love with him from the moment he sang his first note atThe Tanner’s Secret. After more than two months of constant companionship, it was more than a little. To hear his declaration was a boundless source of joy.
But.
The stranger’s claim of her deal hovered over her, filling her with dread and threatening to steal every bit of joy that Axel’s adoration brought her. It had been bad enough when she believed that she didn’t have a choice. It was so much worse when she truly had one, and the choice shewantedto make wasn’t the one sheshould.
She was grateful for the freedom that Axel had offered her. But she was selfish. She didn’t want to take it, because what she really wanted was him. And here he was, freely offering himself as well.
There was no coercion, just her choice. And it was still terrible.
“Katy?” Axel ventured after a minute of her silence. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“I—” She didn’t have an answer. To buy herself time, shelooked back at the bracelet in his hand. Gasping, she exclaimed, “Where did you get that? I thought—”
He gave her a funny look. “I made it with some stones that have been in a box in my wardrobe for years; they reminded me of the bracelet you used to wear. Although I hoped it would make you think of me, not the man you were looking for when we met.”
She traced the stones with her eyes. “A box in your wardrobe, you say?” He nodded. “Are you sure you’re not a noble?” she murmured, her eyebrows pulling together. If she weren’t certain of that one fact…
“I think we’ve already established that I am not.” He squeezed her hand and gave her a small smile of mixed sadness and hope. “You haven’t answered my question. I know I’m not your noble friend, nor am I Fritz. But will you marry me anyway?”
It was so tempting to give in to those warm brown eyes and her own warm feelings for him. If he had been nothing but the humble understudy she met at the theater, she would have said yes in a heartbeat. But he was the prince.
“Can I have some time to think about it?” she asked tentatively. “I—I wasn’t ready for—I mean, it’s a lot to—”
The muscles along his jaw stood out as he closed his eyes and turned his face away. When he looked at her again, the expression in his eyes almost broke her heart.
He swallowed. “Of course. I would tell you to take as much time as you need, but my parents are expecting to host a wedding in less than two months. I would prefer to give them ample notice of its cancellation. If necessary.”
She tried to give him a smile, but she knew she failed. “I promise I won’t make you wait that long.” Another tear spilled out onto her cheek. This was even worse than the aftermath of their argument.
He dropped her hand as he slowly put the bracelet back in his pocket. Offering his arm, he said, “I should take you back to your family now.”
She took his arm, wiping her eyes with the other hand. He trudged slowly back to the mill, his eyes on the ground or staring off into the distance across the river. Katy worked on settling her emotions, taking deep, calming breaths and focusing on the comforting roar of her rapids and the sunshine dancing on the water’s surface. She lacked the prince’s skill to simply paste on a pleasant expression.
“Kat? What’s wrong?”
Looking up, she saw her cousin standing behind the mill. The expression on his face told her that she had not succeeded in taming her own.
Axel gently removed her hand from his arm and passed her off. “I will leave her in your care, Otto. Is Bertram still out front?”
“Yes, but—”
