“Yes?” Sophie rasped.
“He wishes you, along with Duke Wilhelm, Lady Rose, and Lord Valten, to meet him in the library.”
Sophie and Margaretha clung to each other’s arms, while Margaretha searched Sophie’s face. “You should go. I will find Mother and Father and Valten.”
They dashed off in the direction they had come, entering the main corridor of the castle. While Sophie waited nervously in the library, stifling a giggle at having to go back to the place she had just run so vigorously from, Margaretha located both the duke and duchess and brought them in. She then left to go find Valten, and Sophie glanced at Gabe’s parents. Duke Wilhelm wore a somber expression, but Lady Rose gave her an encouraging smile.
Valten entered the room. She doubted he looked any fiercer on the tournament field wielding a sword and lance. He avoided looking at her at all, instead turning his back on them all and staring at a tapestry on the wall.
Sophie clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. Lady Rose threw open some shutters, letting in more light.
Then Gabe walked into the room. She wanted so much to run to him and throw her arms around him. She’d missed him so much. Had he missed her? She searched his face, desperate to read his thoughts, wondering if he’d found her father. He looked at her too. Was that a smile? More of a lopsided grin. But it quickly disappeared as he looked away from her and acknowledged his parents.
His mother hugged him and his father did as well, clapping him on the back. Valten turned halfway around and gave him a curt nod.
Is my father here as well? Isn’t Gabe excited to see me? Why doesn’t he come and embrace me? But of course, he couldn’t do that. She wasn’t his to embrace.
She devoured him with her eyes, taking in his disheveled hair and the travel dust still on his clothes. The four or five days’ growth on his face made her breath hitch in her throat.
Then she saw another shorter man enter behind Gabe. Could he be her father?
“Mother, Father, Valten, and Sophie, I have someone I want you to meet.” Gabe turned to the man standing behind him and motioned him forward. The man had blue eyes that almost looked familiar, though she was certain she didn’t know him. He looked to be about Duke Wilhelm’s age. Could he be …?
“Is that you?” Duke Wilhelm stepped toward him and Lady Rose covered her mouth with her hands.
“Yes, I have returned to my rightful place, old friend.”
Sophie held her breath as those blue eyes turned her way. Gabe also turned to Sophie and said, “This … is your father, Duke Baldewin.”
Chapter
29
A buzzing sound filled her ears. My father? Sophie couldn’t move. She’d been thinking about him since Bartel had told Duke Wilhelm about Gabe’s quest, but she’d never quite believed Gabe would find him. She stared at the man, who stared back at her with tears in his eyes. He tentatively took a couple of steps toward her, then stopped.
“Can you ever forgive me for not knowing you were still alive? For not coming back to find you?” He held out his hands in supplication.
Her mind was churning.
“The last time I saw you, your eyes were closed, you … you were laid out as though dead. I couldn’t bear the thought of life without you and your mother, and so I went to the monastery and shut myself away. I never imagined Ermengard could have faked your death. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course.” Sophie could barely breathe. Her father crossed the room and put his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder and put her arms around him, too stunned to think. “I have a father.”
“I will never leave you again,” he said softly against her ear. “I will follow you around like a lost puppy if you let me. I love you, Sophie. God has given me back my little girl.”
Sophie became aware of Gabe and his parents talking in one corner while Valten stood by himself in another. She broke away from her father and looked into his face.
He wiped at a tear in the corner of his eye. “You are so beautiful, just like your mother.”
She half laughed while choking on her own tears. She had a father. Gabe must not have wanted to tell her about his mission because he’d been afraid that the man he sought wouldn’t be Duke Baldewin after all. But he was, if Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose’s reaction was any proof.
Gabe stepped away from his parents toward the center of the room. “The real purpose of me bringing Duke Baldewin here, aside from introducing him to his daughter, is …” He glanced at Valten, who was scowling at him, his arms crossed.
Gabe cleared his throat. “I want to apologize to you now, Valten. I should have never gone off, alone, to rescue your betrothed. It was foolish of me — thoughtless, even. And when I arrived in Hohendorf, I never intended to fall in love with Sophie, but I did. I assure you, I tried not to, and I never wanted to grieve you or anyone else. Yes, I was irresponsible, and I wanted to get glory for myself, and for that I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I love Sophie. I want to marry her, and I’m asking you, Valten, and you, Father and Mother, to give your consent to breaking your betrothal to Sophie.”
Valten uncrossed his arms and balled his hands into fists as he stared at Gabe.
“I’m sorry too.” Sophie spoke before she had time to get nervous. “After he told me I was betrothed to you, I wanted to love and marry you, Valten, and even imagined what our life together could be, but … I fell in love with Gabe. I am so sorry as well.” Her face must have been glowing red, but she didn’t care. It was a relief to finally tell him the truth. Her father squeezed her shoulder encouragingly.
Valten stared at her, then at Gabe, then he turned and faced the window. He seemed to be breathing hard, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly.
Duke Wilhelm stepped forward. “What do you have to say about breaking the betrothal, Duke Baldewin?”
Sophie’s father pressed his hands to his chest. “Since the betrothal was made when Sophie was only a baby and Valten a child, they had no say in the matter. And circumstances being what they are, I don’t believe they should be bound to that agreement. I believe Gabe and Sophie are in love, and I, for one, will not prevent them from marrying. I am willing to write the king to explain the situation, if you are also willing, Duke Wilhelm.”
“What about Brittola?” Valten turned to face them, gesturing with his hand.
Duke Wilhelm took a deep breath before speaking to Duke Baldewin. “Gabe made an agreement with Brittola and her father, and he was no child when he made that alliance. Our family’s honor is at stake in the matter. Gabe, you must break the betrothal honorably.”
“I don’t yet know how, but I will,” Gabe said, looking more contrite than Sophie had ever seen him. “I am sorry to cause pain to anyone, but Brittola is young and I believe she will forget me. She will no doubt get a better offer.”
Valten snorted contemptuously. After crossing, then uncrossing his arms, he declared, “I release Sophie from the betrothal. I could never marry a woman who is in love with my brother.” He bowed curtly to them all, then stalked out of the room and was gone.
A pang of guilt sliced through her, and Gabe looked uncomfortable.
Duke Wilhelm stepped closer to Gabe. “Gabe, falling in love with your brother’s betrothed shows an irresponsibility and lack of self-control that is not pleasing, as does the fact that you decided to save her yourself after we had forbidden it.”
Sophie’s heart sank. She knew how hurt Gabe must feel to hear his father call him irresponsible. She searched Duke Wilhelm’s face, praying, God, please let him not forbid our marriage. Please let him understand. Make him say he forgives us.
“But you also showed fortitude and bravery in saving her from her enemies, and in being truthful about your love for Sophie.” He paused as he looked Gabe in the eye. “When I consider what could have happened and the alternatives, falling in love and being determined to marry is not the worst thing you could have done. In fact”—his voice softened — “it sho
ws that you have returned to us as a responsible man, Gabe. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, I’m proud of you.” He was almost smiling as he gazed tenderly at his son.
“Thank you, Father.”
“So what do you propose to do about Brittola?”
“I shall write her and her father a letter begging to be released from our marriage agreement.”
Duke Baldewin, who still stood at Sophie’s side, spoke up. “And I shall offer them an inducement if they will break the agreement.”
Duke Wilhelm nodded. “I see you have thought this through and acquired an ally.”
Gabe gave a hint of a smile.
“Have you thought about what you will do if Brittola’s father refuses your offer?”
“I have. But perhaps it is best you do not know.”
Duke Wilhelm gave his son a very stern look. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.”
“I shall marry Sophie anyway.”
“Are you prepared to deal with the consequences?”
“I am.”
“The count could make a complaint to the king against you, even though no formal papers were signed. The king could punish you in any way he chooses.”
“I am aware of that, Father.”
“Very well.”
Gabe’s mother and father began talking to him in hushed tones again.
Sophie wanted to go to Gabe, to talk with him, touch him. It was painful to stay away from him, to see him staying away from her, but she admonished herself to be patient. He probably wanted to talk to her as much as she wanted to talk to him, but he was being discreet and self-controlled.
Her father turned to her and began speaking. He told her what little he knew of her escape from the duchess. Forcing herself to look away from Gabe, she began regaling her father with the stories of Gabe’s bravery and strength.
“I am so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you,” her father said with pain in his eyes, “from all the terrible things Ermengard must have said and done to you.”
Sophie put her arms around her father, hugging him tight. “Don’t be sad, Father. God is healing me … God is healing me. And He will heal you too.”
They held each other for a long time, and she knew from a few sniffs that her father was most likely crying, or at least holding back tears. She and her father broke away from each other, her father drawing out a handkerchief and dabbing the corners of his eyes.
Just then, Sophie noticed a messenger enter the room and hand a sealed piece of parchment to Gabe. Gabe broke the wax seal, then clutched the parchment with both hands, his eyes quickly scanning the text. Sophie watched Gabe’s throat bob as he swallowed, still staring at the letter.
When he tore his eyes from the piece of parchment, his gaze went straight to Sophie, a strange look on his face.
He tossed the letter over his shoulder, strode across the room toward her, his eyes alight with triumph. He grabbed Sophie around the waist, tilted her backward, and kissed her passionately on the lips.
Finding herself off balance, Sophie held onto his shoulders. Her heart soared at his sudden display of affection.
When he stopped kissing her and let her stand a little straighter, she stared into his eyes for a clue as to what had come over him. Gabe smiled at her as if they were the only two people in the room. His gaze shifted to her lips.
“God worked it out for you, son. And the timing could not have been more serendipitous.”
Sophie peeked around Gabe’s shoulder and saw Duke Wilhelm handing the letter to his wife while he grinned and shook his head. “Valten always did say you were the luckiest boy alive.”
Lady Rose scanned the letter then looked up, smiling at Sophie. “This is from Brittola’s father. He is offering remuneration to Gabe because Brittola has married someone else. The betrothal is broken!”
Before Sophie could say anything, Gabe dipped her backward and kissed her again. And she kissed him back.
That night, at supper in the Great Hall, Sophie felt bad enough for Valten that she asked Gabe to not touch her hair or shoulder or arm in front of everyone, to behave himself and eat his dinner without staring at her every moment. She couldn’t keep him from sitting beside her and decided not to begrudge him holding her hand under the table. And if his knee happened to brush against hers, well, he was her fiancé and they would be married in a few weeks.
Seeing her father alive and well across the table from her, talking companionably with Gabe’s father, Sophie marveled at how God had given him back to her after all these years. It was a miracle.
Gabe squeezed her hand and she blinked up at him. She read the love in his eyes and felt her own love for him spilling out in a contented sigh. The man she loved, loved her too, and love was the greatest miracle of all.
Epilogue
Gabe’s entire family waited outside Hohendorf Castle in the place where the burned-out chapel once stood. A priest stood with them, waiting for the bride to emerge from the castle so the wedding could begin.
“I wish you well, little brother.” Valten embraced Gabe, clapping him on the back.
“So you forgive me?” For once, Gabe couldn’t make a joke out of the situation. He met Valten’s eye, praying for mercy.
“Of course I forgive you. I would have done the same thing had I been in your place.” But Valten looked a bit rueful.
Gabe let out the breath he was holding and laughed.
“I can’t let you best me, though,” his giant brother said. “I’ll just have to rescue my own damsel in distress.”
“You will, big brother. You will.”
Gabe truly did have a wonderful family, as Sophie daily reminded him. And though things had been very tense between the two brothers these past several weeks, Valten had forgiven him for stealing his betrothed. Thank you, God.
Duke Baldewin joined them on the grassy knoll, standing before the priest, and then the bride made her appearance. Even though her face was veiled, Gabe had no trouble recognizing his beautiful Sophie. She took his hand as they faced the priest, all of Gabe’s family behind them, along with the servants who’d stayed at the castle and all the villagers of Hohendorf. Gabe tried to force himself to listen to and comprehend the priest’s words, but it was difficult, as Sophie’s beauty kept distracting him.
Sophie and some other women had planted flowers in a circle, outlining the smoke-stained stones of the chapel that had been demolished. Sophie seemed to have an obsession with flowers. All he had to do to make her happy was bring her an armful, or even a handful, of colorful blooms. Ah, but she was sweet when she was happy.
The priest was still talking about God’s plan for man and woman, and Gabe figured he had a few minutes before he would have to pay attention.
Duke Baldewin had hired a master mason to come to Hohendorf and build not only a new chapel, but also a new castle, as he claimed the old castle held too many bad memories to be allowed to stand. Gabe was to be the mason’s apprentice, to learn all about designing and planning and building. Sophie’s father had promised to make Gabe his heir, but it made Gabe feel better to think of having his own work, his own purpose, and Sophie said she didn’t need to stay in Hohendorf. She wanted to go with him wherever his work led. Besides, based on the way he looked at Lady Petra, Duke Baldewin would be marrying again soon and would have more children of his own. Gabe wanted to make his own way in life.
“… Do you take this woman, Sophia Auriana Gersenda Breitenbach, to be your wife …”
Time to pay attention. “I do.”
“I’m not finished,” the priest whispered.
“Sorry,” Gabe whispered back.
Sophie pressed a hand over her mouth.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death you do part, according to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto plight her your troth.”
“I do.” Oh yes. Most definitely.
She had her turn, listening to the words of the priest, and then saying, “I do.”
“You may kiss the bride.”
Gabe lifted Sophie’s veil. She was beautiful, with a little extra glow about her, but he didn’t take time to stare at her. He’d have the rest of his life to look at her. Instead, he kissed her, not holding back anything.
If Gabe’s life were a book, it was time for the next chapter. And he was ready.
The Captive Maiden
Prologue
Spring, 1403, Hagenheim Region
Gisela huddled by the fire in her attic chamber, clutching the miniature portrait that fit in her hand. The artist had painted it the year before, when Gisela was seven. Father had been so handsome.
Now that Gisela was eight and Father was gone, life could never be the same. If only she had stayed seven forever.
“I love you,” she whispered, kissing her portrait-father’s cheek as a tear dripped off her chin.
Her stepmother’s unforgiving wooden pattens clicked up the steps that led to Gisela’s attic room.
“Gisela!” Evfemia called.
She thrust the portrait back inside the hole in the fireplace wall and pushed in the loose brick, then kicked the ashes into the fire to smother it.
“Gisela! What are you doing?” Evfemia towered over her. “You have cinders on your hands. And your feet!”
Gisela made her face a blank as she stared at the floor.
Lighter footfalls clattered up the stairs and Gisela’s two stepsisters pushed against their mother’s silk skirt, staring out from behind her.
Irma was the oldest, and her long, thin face and squinty-eyed expression made Gisela wonder if the girl had a bad taste in her mouth. She had the same limp brown hair as her sister, Contzel, but that was the only trait they had in common. Contzel’s cheeks were round and chapped pink, and her face was forever relaxed, her mouth open, as if she had just awakened from a nap.
Fairy Tale Romance Collection Page 83