Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,89
Pearl was able to negotiate the return of Gabriella’s estate and fortune, didn’t I?” Vilmar paused as though he expected me to answer.
I wanted to, tried to. But I couldn’t get my tongue to work or my mouth to open.
“At one time, her father was the wealthiest nobleman in Warwick. Queen Margery’s sister-in-law, the Duchess of Burgundy, was given the estate and squandered Gabi’s father’s wealth after his death. Fortunately, Pearl convinced Ethelbard to pay Gabriella back for what she lost. And now King Ethelbard has requested that I reside in Warwick as Scania’s ambassador. We shall stay at the estate in Rockland for part of the year and travel home to Scania for the other half.”
I wanted to tell Vilmar I was genuinely pleased for him, that he was made to be an ambassador. People always liked him because he smoothed over difficult situations when no one else could. In the end, he would be happier in his role as a peacemaker than as king.
“Curly has agreed to be the steward of Rockland and will live there year-round with his wife, Molly. And Gabriella has opened the estate to any of the former slaves who need a new home. She’s so kind and generous to everyone.”
His voice contained admiration. I wanted to remind him of his own generosity in building a safe place for Grendel to live here in Scania. After Lord Kennard had safely and securely delivered the berserker, Vilmar hadn’t wanted the madman to languish in the dungeons for the rest of his days, so he had begun to build a prison that was more humane in nature.
Not to be outdone, Mikkel had offered his friends from the Isle of Outcasts a new home in Scania, places to live and labor where they wouldn’t face censure. He’d already begun advocating for them as well, dispelling long-held superstitions and promoting the need for people to accept differences.
A moment of silence prevailed, and I found myself growing agitated, needing Aurora, needing another one of her kisses, needing to be with her forever. If only I could say it, if only I could tell one of my brothers or my mother to send a missive inviting her to come.
“You know what’s hilarious?” Vilmar laid his hand upon my arm, and the touch brought my thrashing to an end. “I wish you were awake to hear this. Because you’d laugh, and I’d sure like to hear that sound again . . .” His voice trailed off with sadness.
He cleared his throat. “Father and the Lagting had arranged a marriage between you and Queen Aurora. Of course, they’d never expected you to finish first in the Testing. They’d always assumed they’d marry a charming man like you to a foreign queen in order to make a good alliance.”
Vilmar was right. I would have laughed if I’d been able to. How was it possible Aurora and I had spent those weeks at the cottage together not knowing our advisors had already arranged our marriage? How might things have changed if we’d known?
The truth was, I wouldn’t have wanted anything to detract from the simple pleasure of knowing each other for who we were rather than for our noble titles.
“Mercia’s ambassador arrived earlier in the week to cancel the arrangement—”
“No.”
Vilmar stood, knocking over his chair. He was silent for a long moment. “Mercia’s ambassador arrived earlier in the week—”
“No.” The word came out of my mouth again, a hoarse whisper. “Do not cancel the arrangement.”
Vilmar dropped to the edge of the bed, pressed his face against my chest, and wept.
I opened my eyes to discover I was under the great canopy of my bed in my chamber in Bergenborg Castle. I found that I could lift my hand, and I placed it on Vilmar’s head. And when he raised his face a moment later to look at me, I managed a smile even as tears coursed down my cheeks too.
Within hours, I was sitting up in bed. By the next morn, I’d managed to take some steps. And by afternoon, I was ravenously hungry, and the servants brought me a feast in bed.
I had visitors nonstop, and I was more than eager to hug my mother and kiss my father’s hand. Both of my brothers and their wives visited me often, as did old friends. Jorg was a constant companion, and I learned he hadn’t left my chamber since I’d been moved there after the voyage of many weeks.