Redemption (Red Dragon Book 1)

by Bradley, H. J.

  “Politicians are bastards.” He rested on his elbow above her. “You need to tell them how to get lost.”

  “Or just have them beheaded,” she said.

  Hans gave a deep chuckle, a noise which rumbled up from his chest and was practically contagious. “So I suppose this will be our last night together.”

  He didn't say it as a question, simply a statement, which meant that he had already made up his mind. Cat had expected this, though she wasn't happy about it, and she felt her stomach sink at the sound of his words.

  “Not necessarily.” She raised a hand and placed it against his cheek.

  “I don't play with other people’s toys,” he said.

  She gave him a sad smile. “I would like to say that neither do I, but we both know that's a lie.”

  He leaned down then and kissed her. “Well we might as well make the most of it.”

  ***

  It was the sound of her mobile phone going off which roused Cat from a surprisingly deep sleep. With a low groan she rolled across the bed, realising that it must be quite late in the morning as Hans’ spot was cold. Grabbing her mobile phone off the bedside table, she rolled onto her back and quickly opened the text message. The two words on the screen made her breath catch in her throat, and she quickly sat up.

  The door to the bedchamber opened slowly, and Cat quickly gathered the bedding up over her naked body in case it was one of the maids. Instead it was Hans who slipped into the room, walking across the thick carpet so as to perch on the edge of the bed. “You look upset. What's happened?”

  She handed the phone over to him, and then let her head drop into her hands. “I can't believe she would do this to me.”

  Hans’ eyebrows rose as he looked at the screen, and then handed it back to her. “Oh Cat.”

  “She's chosen Valto,” said Cat. “Which means that she's sent him a letter offering him the chance to court me, and he's accepted.”

  “Ok. You and Valto were close once, is this necessarily such a bad idea?”

  Close? That was a pretty poor choice of words for what she and Valto had been to each other all those years ago.

  “We were engaged,” she said. “For four years.”

  He reached out for her then, gathering her close and she wrapped his expensive silk tie around her fist. “I know.”

  “He broke my heart.”

  Hans pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I know that as well.”

  She felt tears picking at her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. “So why would she do this to me?”

  “Maybe she knows something you don't,” he said.

  “Like what?” She looked up at him.

  “Like how you have a tendency to call me Valto when you lose control of yourself.”

  Immediately she felt warmth creep over her cheeks at that, and she quickly ducked her head. She had hoped that he wouldn't notice, or at least be too caught up in his own pleasure to be paying any attention to what she was doing.

  “Oh … you noticed?”

  He gave a deep chuckle, tilting her chin up so he could kiss her softly. “I notice everything when it comes to you.”

  “I'm sorry,” she said.

  He shook his head. “No need to apologise. It's not the first time I've played stand in for someone else before, and it won't be the last time. Valto is a good choice, both politically and diplomatically, and despite everything I think you know that.”

  Of course she knew that. Valto was the tenth in line for the Finnish throne, so well bred but far enough from succession that it wouldn't cause any issues. He clearly wasn't after her for her station or her money. Also, Valto was incredibly family orientated, which meant that she wouldn't need to worry about them having children. All in all he was perfect, and if he just kept away from her and kept his mouth shut they could probably make the marriage work.

  “Yeah.” she said, pulling him back down for another kiss. “You're probably right.”

  Chapter Three.

  June 15th 2006

  Wales in summer was very much the same as Wales in winter, or at least that's what Valto had always found. The sky was grey over the Welsh capital when he arrived; and he found that it was a perfect contrast to his mood. Even after three years in the military, he had never felt this level of anxiety before. The idea of seeing Cat again had his stomach in knots, and he knew that he was heading straight for a panic attack.

  “Get a grip.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel of the Audi that he had hired. Lowri had offered to have him picked up from the airport, but he needed this distraction to keep him from going insane.

  In the twenty minutes since he had landed, Kai had called him twice and Steph had texted him three times. They hadn't said anything, but it was clear that they were worried that he would get cold feet, turn tail, and run. He had to admit that he was still uncertain about what he was doing here; it seemed ridiculously romantic to be throwing his entire life away for the sake of a second chance at love.

  It wasn't very long before Caerdydd Castle, the massive ancient home of the Vaughn family, once one of the most powerful families in Europe came into sight over the top of the oak trees. It was a testament to medieval architecture, a huge fortress of grey stone on top of a hill, overlooking Caerdydd. There was a long winding road built out of uneven cobblestones, which led up to the wrought iron gates at the front of the drive.

  “ID please.” The guard who exited the small hut on the outside of the gates was dressed in the black and gold of the Welsh Royal Guard.

  Pulling his wallet out of his pocket, he flashed the guard the ID card which had been sent to him three days before. Easing his car through the gates after being waved through, Valto quickly swallowed down his ever rising panic. The drive up to the castle was surprisingly narrow, overhung by enormous oak trees so that it was almost pitch black beneath their thick branches. All in all the atmosphere was rather gloomy, and Valto felt it weighing heavily on him.

  After what felt like hours the oak trees thinned out, and across a perfectly manicured lawn rose Caerdydd Castle. Desperately trying to calm his breathing, Valto pulled the car up in beside the stone steps which led up to the huge main doors of the castle, stepping onto the cobblestones when the doorman opened the car door for him.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  Smoothing his hands over his suit jacket, he tightened his blue tie and checked his reflection in the side mirror of the car. His blonde hair was slightly more tousled than usual, probably due to him running his fingers through it nervously all the time. His grey eyes were a bit bloodshot because of lack of sleep, but he had thankfully shaved this morning so he hoped that helped him look put together. Or at least put together enough to present his courtship to a Crown Princess.

  Taking his phone out of his trousers pocket, he sent Kai a quick text which simply read 'here' before returning it to his pocket and striding across the drive to the stairs. Another one of the door men was holding open the huge door, and he tipped his hat to Valto as he walked through into the foyer.

  It had been a very long time since he had been here, though nothing seemed to have changed in the interim. There was still the huge foreboding portraits of the various Kings and Queens that had come before, a huge persian rug on the polished stone floor, and a crystal chandelier hanging from the extremely high ceiling. There was a young woman standing in the middle of the foyer wearing a perfectly tailored suit. Her auburn hair was curling around her slim shoulders, and she threw him a polite smile.

  “Good morning Your Highness.” She gave a small curtsey. “Her Highness Lady Lowri will be with you shortly. Is there anything that I can get for you?”

  He shook his head. “No thank you.”

  With that she gave another curtsey, before turning and walking through one of the many doors which lined the foyer, shutting it with a sharp 'snick' behind her. This left him alone in the now silent foyer, wringing his hands together nervously and trying to control his breathing
. The sound of a door behind him closing with a loud bang made him jump, and he quickly turned to look in that direction.

  “Valdamer.” Lady Lowri, forever beautiful even in her autumn years, was stood beside the main door leading from the foyer into the main part of the castle. Her arms were folded over her chest, and her navy blue dress set off both her pale skin and light blue eyes. “You came.”

  “Yes,” he said. “I responded to your letter.”

  She nodded her head, tendrils of silver hair falling across her face. “Yes you did, and my question here is why?”

  Valto had expected to be interrogated to within an inch of his life, but to have such a straight forward question thrown at him straight off the bat took him aback. “Why? As in why did I respond?”

  “You walked away from this family five years ago, and took with you what was left of my step-daughter's heart,” said Lowri. “So why have you now decided to make contact?”

  He had hoped to be able to say these things to Cat, to beg her for forgiveness and show that he was sincere. Then again, in all honesty, him giving up his military career, his home, and his citizenship for her should be enough to prove that he wanted to make amends. However it seemed that he had to get through her guardian first.

  “I was an idiot five years ago.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I said some horrible things, and threw away the most important thing in my life.”

  Those sharp blue eyes narrowed for a moment. “Do you still love her?”

  He had been asked that same question many times over the past couple of days, it was one that had been cycling in his head almost constantly since he had received the letter. “Of course I love her. I think I'll always love her.”

  Lowri seemed satisfied with that. “She has agreed to the courtship because she can see that you are a good match. It's important for Caitlin that her future husband be of good breeding, decent genetics, and neither after a title nor money through her. The choice came down to you or young Nikolai … you've been given a second chance.”

  “I won't blow it,” he said.

  “If she wants you gone, you will leave.” Lowri opened the door behind her and gestured for him to walk through. “I have just got my daughter back; you will not be taking her away from me again.”

  ***

  Lowri led him through the labyrinth of corridors that made up the ground floor of Caerdydd Castle, her heels clicking loudly on the stone floor. Eventually she pushed open a plain looking door, and he found himself blinking as natural light flooded into the hallway.

  “Caitlin is taking morning tea in the rose garden,” said Lowri. “I trust you remember where that is?”

  Despite the harsh tone to her voice, there was a soft smile on her face, one which he couldn't help but return. “I haven't forgotten.”

  “She's been a shadow of herself for the last five years Valto.” She reached out and gripped his arm. “It has been like living with a ghost. I have faith that you can make her happy again.”

  Cat's smile had once lit up his very world, and the idea that she stopped smiling made something twist inside him uncomfortably. “In the rose garden?”

  She nodded and then all but pushed him out of the door, closing it behind him quickly.

  The gardens of the castle had always been one of his favourite places, winding paths of gravel and stone weaving in and out of countless walled gardens. There was the smell of herbs and flowers in the air, and the sweet smell of roses was almost overwhelming as he neared the largest of the gardens. The walls were covered in a vine with huge pink flowers, and there was a small door which was almost hidden amongst the foliage. Thankfully it was already open, and he ducked through the opening so as to enter the garden.

  Even though there were several large garden beds filled with flowering roses of various ages and colors, they weren't what caught his attention. On a grassy patch in the middle of the garden, underneath a cherry tree, was a table and chairs. The table was made up for morning tea with a tea set and a selection of cakes and sandwiches, a footman standing subtly in the corner of the garden should anything be needed. However, despite all of this, he found himself standing on the path, gaze completely taken up by the young woman who had stood from her chair when he entered.

  Cat had always been gorgeous, well to him anyway, but the woman standing in front of him took his very breath away. Over the years he had forgotten how tiny she was, barely over five foot and with a petite figure to go with it. Though now her hips had a subtle curve to them, and she had developed a bust that was perfectly in proportion to the rest of her. She was stunning, with thick wavy brown hair which tumbled loose over her slim shoulders, and large hazel eyes which were locked onto him. Cat was dressed in an emerald green sundress that accentuated her figure, and she was, as usual, adorned with gold jewellery around her throat and wrists.

  It was in that moment that he knew he would do anything in his power to win her over again.

  Chapter Four.

  “Cat?” He found himself walking towards her, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he did so. “My God you're beautiful.”

  As he watched a blush came to her cheeks, before she straightened her posture. “Valdamer, please won't you join me.”

  He nearly smiled at that. Cat had always had a certain way of speaking, almost like she had stepped out of the pages of a Jane Austen novel and he had always found it endearing. His favourite times had been when he had been able to trip her up, making her fall into slang or even more hysterically swearing.

  “Yes,” he said. “Thank you.”

  With that he unbuttoned his jacket, shrugging it off and then draping it over the back of his chair. Looking back up at her, he was pleased to see her giving him a quick once over, flushing again when she noticed. While Cat may have changed since he had last seen her, Valto was well aware that he was probably almost unrecognisable. Upon losing her, he had put all his effort into a military career and had lost over a hundred and fifty pounds. He also had a six pack now. Part of him wondered what she would make of that.

  “So you responded to Lowri's request for a suitable husband for me?” She poured him a cup of tea, dropping in two sugar cubes. “Not what I expected from you Valdamer.”

  “Cat,” he said. “You don't need to act so formal with me.”

  “We are no longer friends. Even though you are now my suitor and are attempting to court me.” Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. “That doesn't mean I like you, or that I will ever like you.”

  He had known she would be like this. Steph had warned him that a woman who had had her heart broken was a formidable thing, and that he needed to stand tall through her bitterness until he was able to heal the hurt. It was different though, watching it with his own eyes and seeing her obvious pain reflected onto him.

  “Yet you agreed to me being here.” He sipped his tea. “You picked me out of however many potential suitors replied.”

  “All of them,” she said. “All of them replied.”

  Valto would like to say he was surprised; however Cat was gorgeous, powerful, and rich. Men were probably clambering all over each other to try and get her favour, or at least get into her bed. Thinking about her bed brought back the memory of the man who, according to gossip anyway, was still sharing it. Or at least she was sharing his.

  “Hans,” he said, watching as she rolled her eyes. “Are you still...?”

  He found that he couldn't even find the words to ask whether they were still lovers or not.

  “That ended the moment I discovered that Lowri had chosen a suitor.” She folded her arms across her chest defensively.

  “So I won't be needing to look the other way from time to time?”

  Cat's eyes widened in surprise at that, and her hand fluttered in her lap as though she wanted to reach for him but had thought better of it. “I would never do that. I'm not a cheater.” She all but choked out the words, and he knew that it had to hurt her to be saying them after so many years.
>
  “I know,” he said. “I know that, Cat.”

  Cat wiped a tear away from her cheek, her eyes suddenly downcast. “You finally believe me then?”

  “Johann finally came clean.” Valto flinched as she gave a snort of disgust at that. “He told me that he never touched you. That he never even thought about it, never even tried, and that despite everything he would never do that to his own fiance.”

  “He hasn't seen Myf in six years,” said Cat. “Are you trying to tell me he does things so as not to hurt her? Because I can tell you right now it's not working.”

  Deciding to ignore her anger over her sister's honour, he reached across the table and took her hand. “You never slept with him?”

  She seemed to freeze at his touch, however he was happy to note that she didn't pull away. “Why would I have wanted him when I had you?”

  “Johann's always been handsome, charming, experienced ...”

  “And I loved you!” She ripped her hand from his grasp. “I was waiting for you to want me … I didn't want anyone else.”

  “Cat, I want to court you,” he said. “Properly court you. I want us to get to know each other again. I want to be your husband.”

  She picked up her cup and took a sip of her tea. “You do realise what marrying me entails, right? You will need to give up everything in your life to be here with me.”

  “You're worth it.” Valto sighed as dropped her gaze from his. “I mean it.”

  “You don't even know who I am anymore,” she said. “Valdamer, we're not the same people now.”

  “Then let me get to know you. Let me make everything up to you.”

  The look on her face clearly said that she didn't think that he would ever be able to make the past five years up to her. “I have agreed with Lowri that for whatever reasons you are the best choice for the future Prince Consort. You have until December to decide whether this is what you truly want or not. I will be getting married on the eighteenth of March whether to you or someone else.”