Promised to the Swedish Prince - Sasha Cottman

Chapter One

Lake Mälaren, Sweden

January 1813

* * *

Erika’s teeth clattered together as the sleigh hit hard at the bottom of the dip. Tears sprang to her eyes. She loosened her grip on the top rail and attempted to wipe them away. The sleigh bounced again. She fell forward, arms flailing. A strong arm reached across her body and pushed her firmly back.

“Stop messing about and hold on. The next one is going to be even harder.”

She glanced over at Prince Christian, hoping to show him that she was not the least bit impressed with his driving, but his gaze was fixed firmly on the horses and the icy edge of the lake which lay ahead of them. If the next bump was going to be worse than what they had just hit, there was every chance they were going to crash.

“Jag vinner!” came a cry from behind them.

Her head turned and she gasped as a second sleigh sped into view and passed them at a ridiculous speed. She caught sight of the driver. It was Christian’s older brother Gustav. He looked back and gave a taunting laugh.

What the devil is he doing? I thought Christian was the only madman out here on the ice.

Christian yelled, “Dra åt helvete!” He cracked his whip over the top of the horses. Erika tightened her grip on the side of the sleigh and began to pray.

O Lord God. Rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit.

The high-speed run over the ice had now turned into a fearsome race. Brother against brother. From the hard set of his jaw, it was patently clear that Christian was not going to spare either the horses, or the sleigh’s occupants. He would never back down when it came to a challenge from Gustav.

We are going to die.

The sleigh flew up a short rise. A blur of elm trees rose as a towering wall in front of them. Prince Gustav swerved left.

Erika held her breath and braced against the seat. This was going to be a tight turn. Her heart was pounding at a furious rate in her chest. Fear and adrenaline coursed through her body.

They hit a second deadly patch of black ice and the back of the sleigh suddenly slid wildly out to the left. Christian gave a worried glance over his shoulder and Erika’s heart sunk. If he was concerned about how things were going, they were in serious trouble. Perhaps now was the time for her to leap over the side and take her chances.

As he turned his head back toward the front, he grinned at her—manic excitement was plastered all over his face. “Having fun?” he asked.

The horses pulled the sleigh back into line, and they both zigzagged violently in their seats.

Erika mustered a painful smile. No. This could not in any way be construed as entertaining or amusing. What had happened to his offer of a nice, slow ride over the ice and snow? And of her secret hopes of being alone with Christian and having time for them to talk, and perhaps share a private moment?

His impetuous nature is what happened. Of course, something like this was bound to occur. What was I thinking?

“Oh yes. This is great fun. In fact, I haven’t had this much excitement since I broke my arm when I was thirteen, and had to have it reset without laudanum,” she replied.

A scowl appeared on his brow. Trust Christian to think that a highly dangerous and possibly deadly race across the frozen tundra would be something high on Erika’s list of pleasant pursuits. “You did agree to take a ride with me,” he said.

“Yes! A pleasant ride along the side of a frozen lake—not a mad dash to my death,” she bit back.

“I promise you won’t come to any harm. And once I have rid us of Gustav, we can take the sleigh down to the water’s edge and rest the horses. I would like to talk to you in private before we head back to the palace.”

She nodded. “Alright, but in the meantime could you try to be careful and not kill us both?”

Prince Gustav was still ahead of them, but the back of his sleigh was now sliding about on the ice. From the way he was wielding his whip, it was clear he was doing his utmost to regain control.

Erika chanced another look in Christian’s direction. The hint of a smile threatened on his lips. Any moment now they were going to crash, but