Page 4 of Promised to the Swedish Prince
Because while Prince Gustav might well be angry with his brother, his calm rebuke would be nothing compared to what her father would likely say when he discovered his daughter had been injured.
Prince or not, Count Magnus Jansson would tear strips off Christian.
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Two
Adeeply shamed and castigated Christian headed toward Gustav’s sleigh. Much as it pained him, Gustav was right. He had been reckless placing Erika in harm’s way, all to suit his need to impress her.
You are the most korkad man in all of Sweden. You could have killed her.
He put one boot on the footboard of the sleigh, meaning to climb on, but his brother leaned over and shoved him hard in the chest. Christian staggered and fell backwards onto the ice, landing with an inelegant “Oomph.”
Slipping and sliding, he struggled to his feet. He glared at Gustav. “What are you doing?”
Gustav nodded toward the horses and the broken sleigh. “You need to sort that mess out. You caused this—you deal with it. I will take Countess Erika home and ensure she receives all the care she needs. You go and take care of those poor animals.”
Christian sighed. His ass was soaking wet and his back bruised, but it was his pride which had taken the biggest hit. His brother was grandstanding, making sure that his younger sibling ate every last piece of humble pie. Gustav was going to exploit this moment for all it was worth.
His gaze fell on Erika. From the expression on her face, it was clear she was in great discomfort. He silently chided himself. Here he was, worrying about his dignity when he should be thinking of her. If she was seriously injured, he would never forgive himself.
His grand plans for one final afternoon alone with Erika, riding along the shore of Lake Mälaren and creating some special memories, lay in tatters. And it was all his own fault.
“Christian, if you stay with the horses, I shall make sure that my father sends some servants to come back and help you,” said Erika.
He forced a smile to his lips for her benefit. Countess Erika Jansson—ever the diplomat, ever the peacemaker. Her kind words pulled him from his moment of self-indulgent pity. The last thing he wanted was for Erika’s memories of this day to be of pain and him being petulant. “Thank you, Erika, but my dear brother is right. I shall manage the problem. I was the one who crashed the sleigh.”
He was more than capable of unhitching the horses and riding them the two miles back to the imperial stables at the royal palace. Two miles through the bitter winds of a cruel Swedish winter. If he was half frozen by the time, he made it out of the freezing cold, it would serve him right.
When he did get home, he would have to face Count Jansson’s ire. And then his father. The superior look on Gustav’s face told him that news of the accident would be conveyed to Prince Stefan long before his youngest son got within sight of Stockholm Palace.
He could take his punishment. What he couldn’t stand was knowing that he had hurt Erika. That and the fact he wouldn’t have time to make proper amends. “I am sorry, Erika. I ruined today, and I hurt you,” he said.
She gave him that shy smile which had always made his chest tighten. Gustav threw a blanket over Erika’s lap and nodded at her. Countess Erika Jansson was exactly where his brother wanted her to be. Byhisside.
Gustav gave an unhurried flick of his whip and the sleigh pulled away. Christian stood rooted to the spot long after they had disappeared from view. Anger and frustration coursed through his veins.
The anger was mostly reserved for himself, and a little for Gustav.
“One last day and you had to go and ruin it.”
He turned and surveyed the remains of his sleigh. There was a huge crack down the middle of the brush bow and one of the runners had torn completely away. It would take many hours to repair.
At least the horses had escaped unscathed. Reaching inside his long woolen cloak, he produced a small, leather knife hold. With the sharp, short hunting blade, he cut the tangled reins away, freeing the cold, frightened animals. He patted both beasts, offering them soothing words of comfort.
“It’s alright. Don’t be afraid. Come on. Let’s go home.”
Balancing on the side of the broken sleigh, he hoisted himself onto the bare back of one of the horses before taking a hold of the other set of reins and lashing the animals close together.
Somewhere up ahead on the road back to the city, Prince Gustav was no doubt working his charms on Erika. Promising that when she and he next saw one another, they would discuss marriage. That she would one day be a princess, not just a countess.
“I wish she were my princess, not yours,” he muttered.
He cursed himself. He had been blind to his feelings for Erika for far too long. His refusal to acknowledge his heart’s desire until now would cost him dearly.
“You are a fool in love for her, and a fool with no time left.”
He dug his heels in the side of his horse and began the long, cold ride back to Stockholm Palace. He had ruined this last day with the Swedish countess, and all hope was gone.
