Page 47 of The Christmas Mittens
“Hello, Niles. Can you announce us, please?” Anders enquired. I threw Gilda a raised brow. She seemed to hover closer to me now, and I took her hand.
“They’re expecting you, Your Highness.” With that, the door was opened, and we entered. The lilac room was certainly an accurate description. The walls, curtains, and carpet were pale purple, and the air was thick with the scent of the fragrant blooms the room was named after. Sitting on one of several pale white settees were the king and queen. Both rose when we entered. A log in the small but ornate hearth snapped and sizzled, and the dancing light from the fire made the handmade ornaments on a smaller fir tree in the corner seem to dance.
“Your Majesties,” Anders said as he bent gently at the waist.
“Anders, my sweet,” Queen Linnea said, her refined features glowing as she gazed at her son. The king was a tall man with thick dark curls and deep brown eyes, the opposite of his petite wife with her blonde hair and pale blue eyes. “It’s been so long since you’ve been home.”
She stood slim and dressed casually yet elegantly in slacks and a blouse, gold hair in an upswept hairdo. Small gold earrings, a watch, and a wedding band were all the jewels she wore. A woman as beautiful as she didn’t need to drape herself in diamonds to be noticed. While her son took after the king in coloring, his mouth, nose, and regal brow were all hers.
“Father,” Anders said, bowed once more, and offered the king his hand. The monarch, dressed in slacks and a thick sweater, took it, and they shook. Once.
“Welcome home, Anders,” the king said and then glanced at me. I didn’t see outright hatred in his gaze but there wasn’t an outpouring of goodwill either.
“Now, you must introduce me to this beautiful girl and her father,” Queen Linnea said, looking at us, eager to hug her son. Anders embraced her gently and then turned. Introductions were made. I bowed deeply. Gilda curtsied so low I feared she might fall on her nose. “Rise, my sweet angel.” The queen took Gilda’s face in her hands. “What a beauty! Mr. Baxter, what a pleasure to meet you. Your daughter is lovely. Tell me, darling, would you like to go shopping with me tomorrow?”
Gilda gaped.
“Mother, they’ve just arrived and are surely exhausted,” Anders said with a tender smile.
“Oh, well, yes, of course they are but having a little girl in this drafty old castle to primp with and dress for parties will be such fun. I’ve only got boys and grandsons, so you’ll allow me to indulge myself for a little while, won’t you?”
“I’d love to go shopping with you, Your Majesty,” Gilda replied and was kissed on both cheeks by the queen.
“There! That is settled. We’ll leave after lunch. Tomorrow is St. Stephen’s Day, but we’ll have enough staff on hand. Dinner will be with the entire family as your brothers are excited to have you home, Anders. Mr. Baxter, I hope you don’t mind me riding in and stealing your daughter from you?”
“No, of course not, Your Majesty.” I gave my warmest smile, which was graciously returned.
“Marvelous. Then we shall retire and let you all find your pillows. I’ve had Mr. Baxter placed in the Helios suite, and Miss Baxter has the room across the hall, which is the Athena suite.The staff will let you sleep in, and our excursion shall begin after you’ve eaten luncheon.” The queen patted Gilda’s red cheeks and turned to her husband. “If you wish to visit with Anders and his friend, then please do.”
“No, I think I will turn in as well. Good night.” Magnus gave Anders a nod and turned on his heel. The queen forced a smile and bid us another goodnight wish as they moved from the lilac room through a set of white double doors that closed in our faces.
“My father is not the warmest of men,” Anders apologized.
I waved it off. “We’re all tired.”
“Hmm,” Anders replied before he led us from the sitting room back into the hall. Rani stood there, eyes bloodshot, but hair and clothing in place.
“Shall I show you to your rooms? They’re ready for you,” Rani offered.
“I’ll take them. Go to bed. You look like an inside-out toad,” Anders teased.
“As you wish, Your Highness.” He bowed to Anders then inclined his head to Gilda and me before leaving us yet again to slip into a doorway.
“He’s quite attentive,” I said as Anders led us back down the corridor and crossed to the other wing.
“He’s been with me since I was sixteen. I imagine he’s been quite happy working for my sister-in-law overall, aside from the times he’s locked in a room with three young boys under eight. So perhaps hewasincredibly thrilled to have me back.”
“I’m sure he was, rowdy boys or not.”
This hall was much the same as the other, and after a turn or two, I was lost. Anders had grown rather silent, as had Gilda, so the walk to our suites was quiet. We passed several staffers along with a few burly men and two women who looked like they could tie me into a tight square knot stationed along each hall.
“This is the eastern wing. Your room, Mitchell, gets the first rays of the sun, which is why it’s called the Helios suite.” He pushed open the door of polished cherry, motioning for me to enter. I did with Gilda’s hand clasped in mine. The room was enormous, filled with bold masculine armoires, heavy drapes and bedding of dark blue and vibrant yellow. Chairs and benches sat about, tables and dressers glowing in the firelight from an opposing stone hearth. My lone bag sat at the foot of a four-poster behemoth.
“Wow,” I breathed out. Anders chuckled. “I’m saying that a lot, aren’t I, but seriously, wow.”
Gilda bolted to the doors, throwing one open that revealed a sumptuous bathroom with a walk-in shower the size of my living room, it seemed.
“This is amazing. The floor is warm, Dad!” she shouted before emerging from the bath in her bare feet and leaping onto the bed. She bounced twice, giggling madly.
