Page 5 of Arrows and Gems
“Princess, I only wanted to—”
“I don’t care what you wanted,” she ground out. “Since you have no regard for my wants, I see no point in pretending any for yours.”
His eyes darkened. “I’m trying to help you. I know the council’s decree as well as you do, and you can’t want to marry lazy Tobias.”
“Better lazy than arrogant.”
“Arrogant?”Dropping his jaw, he scrunched his eyebrows as if wounded. “You insult me when all I want to do is protect you?”
She continued to back away, unwilling to show him her back. “Protect?” she scoffed. “I don’t need to be protected.”
“Helena!” Mother’s shocked voice interrupted. A frown tugged at her mouth as she strode toward them, and a deep crease puckered her forehead. “What are you doing? Half the castle can hear you!”
Smiling brightly, Helena turned to face the queen. “Just having a frank discussion withdearLuther, Mother,” she responded with fake cheer. The crease in Mother’s forehead deepened. “He’s been operating under a small misunderstanding.”
“Helena,” Mother began quietly, wrapping an arm around Helena’s shoulders and casting an anxious glance at Luther. “You have little more than three months before the council’s deadline. Wouldn’t you prefer to make your own choice of a husband?”
Folding her arms over her chest, Helena blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. “I already tried that, Mother. He said no.”
Mother’s expression turned pained. “I know you were disappointed to learn that Prince Michael married while you were cursed. But you really must move past that, my dear. If you would only give Lord Tobias or Lord Luther a chance—”
“A chance? I’ve given them ten months of chances.”
Mother pinched her lips and patted her hand toward theground. “Must you talk so loud, my dear?” she chided, peering around Helena at the young nobleman. “If you keep this up, Lord Luther may change his mind and seek some other young lady’s hand.”
Helena snorted, throwing a disdainful glare over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t be so lucky.”
“Helena!” Mother’s hand clamped on her shoulder, her fingers digging in. Helena fought against a wince as the pressure increased. “My apologies, Lord Luther; the strain of the council’s decree has made my daughter anxious.”
He smiled and acknowledged her with a bow.
Mother released Helena and patted her back. “Axel returned home early. Would—”
Helena whipped around. “Liesl is back?” she asked excitedly.
“Yes, Katrin’s sister as well.” One side of Mother’s mouth pulled up in a tiny smile. “Lord Luther, perhaps you would be willing to escort my daughter?”
He stepped forward, holding his arm out again. “It would be my honor. Princess, shall—”
But Helena was already flying down the corridor.
CHAPTER 2
Helena
Helena paused just inside the entrance hall, searching the crowd of nobles and servants. The nobles complained about the speed of the journey while the servants bustled about, accepting cloaks and hauling luggage to the appropriate destinations.
One servant headed in Helena’s direction, and she took a quick sideways step to avoid the large trunk in his arms. He nodded in acknowledgment, then rushed to shift the weight as her face registered. “Your Highness! I’m sorr—”
She waved him off. “You’re busy; don’t worry about it.”
He looked a little surprised, but the servants were already familiar with her brother’s easygoing ways. After another nod, he continued on his way. Helena returned her attention to the entry hall, finally locating her brother near the center.
Axel had an arm around Katy as he chatted with Papa. Five-month-old Amadeus squirmed in his mother’s arms, trying to see everything at once.
“—sleeps better in the carriage than he does in the inns. I feel bad when he cries in the middle of the night when we’re surrounded by strangers,” Katy said as Helena strolled up. “So we traveled longer each day and cut one night on the road.”
“It made us unpopular with our own traveling companions,” Axel laughed, pausing to make a funny face at his son, “but I cannot object to being home sooner.”
