to know that the benefits to her country would be long lasting. But pride did little to help ease the pain of heartbreak. Erika dreaded the next conversation she would have with Christian, fearing it might well be the prelude to a shattering goodbye.
“I am pleased beyond words. For a time there, I was worried that you might have hit a sticking point,” she replied.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, we did almost hit one, but Christian deftly sidestepped it. The British wanted to draw a line in the North Sea farther out from Scotland for fishing rights, but our royal protégé raised some old Viking agreement which had been signed sometime after William the Conqueror and they relented.”
“Speaking of Christian, where is he?”
The humor on the count’s face dimmed. “He was invited to a private dinner. Unfortunately, I was not, so I decided to come home and tell you the wonderful news. Christian will be back here later this evening, though I wouldn’t bother waiting up.”
Erika was grateful that her father didn’t mention the names of those Christian was likely dining with this evening. She had a very strong suspicion that Lady Lynch would be in attendance.
Christian may well have resisted the temptation to sleep with the politician’s wife thus far, but Erika feared that with the agreement now signed, Lady Lynch would be seeking payment for her efforts.
You said you would never betray me. Christian, I hope you keep that promise.
“Why would I wait up for him? He is only my fiancé,” she replied.
She hated the bitterness in her words. It was foolish to be jealous over Christian and other women. But every time Erika thought of him and the magnificent kiss they had shared, her heart threatened to break.
Magnus nodded. “Let us go somewhere private and discuss matters.” He took her gently by the hand and steered her toward the staircase.
Up in the small sitting room, he ushered her to a sofa then closed the door. An uncomfortable sense of dread descended on her.
“With the agreement now finalized, we have to address the issue of your betrothal and how to end it as soon as possible,” he said.
The ink wasn’t even dry on the trade agreement and Magnus was already looking to break her and Christian apart.
“Why are you so eager?” she asked.
He raked his fingers through his hair, then sighed. “Because it has to be this way, Erika. If the two of you remain betrothed, people will expect a wedding. A wedding that is not going to happen.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “Is this what Christian wants? Has he already asked you to find a way for us to part?”
Magnus fixed her with his gaze. “No. Christian hasn’t mentioned anything. Please do not seek to paint me as the villain of this story. Right at the outset, the three of us made an agreement regarding your fake engagement. We all knew it would eventually have to end.”
“So, what is now going to happen?”
He moved away from the door, coming to sit beside her, a soft, hopeful look on his face. “I know this is difficult. The last thing I want is for you to be hurt. That was one of the reasons why I was hesitant about this ruse in the first place. I could see the pitfalls, but Christian pressed the need for him to have a companion in order to gain entry to the Carlton House set. In the end, I had to trust that you would keep your thoughts focused on your eventual return to Sweden.”
Her father, Prince Stefan and of course Prince Gustav were convinced that her marriage to Gustav was a fete accompli. Even Christian seemed resigned to it. Everyone expected it happen—everyone, except Erika.
Christian, where are you?
If he was here right now and could hear what her father was saying, things might be different. Christian may finally come to see sense and understand that he was her destiny, not Gustav.
But he isn’t. He is somewhere else in London. And who knows who he is with.
That painful thought tore at her heart—plunged a knife deep into her soul.
Perhaps she was being too harsh in her assessment of her father’s behavior. He may well have had it right all along. He certainly seemed to have a clear picture of things and was reconciled to her future being with Gustav.
It was time for her to accept that her brief sojourn in the sun with Christian was over. “I shall return the betrothal ring to