Promised to the Swedish Prince - Sasha Cottman Page 0,11

my side . . .

This was an exceptional piece of luck.

Christian bowed. “I serve at Your Majesty’s pleasure.”

“How soon do you think you could be ready to leave?” asked King Charles.

Christian considered the question for a moment. He was all for racing to his family’s private apartments within the royal palace, packing, and heading straight for the docks. But an invisible line had been drawn under his life the day Erika left for England, and he would not undo all his hard work. If he was going to succeed as a world-class diplomat, there could be no room for his old impetuous ways. “That would depend on what you and probably my father feel I need to master before I am ready to take up the post,” he replied seriously.

Prince Stefan appeared at his side. He bowed to the King. “Is there anything I can assist Your Majesty with?”

“Prince Christian wishes to do his duty as a loyal subject of the Swedish crown. All he needs now is his father’s blessing and guidance as to when he should leave,” said the King.

Christian bowed his head and prayed quietly for divine intervention. Since the day of the accident with Erika, he had put all his efforts into becoming a worthy member of the Lind family, to changing his father’s opinion of him. Everything he had done over the past two years now gathered at this one moment.

“To where?” replied Prince Stefan.

Shoulders set firmly back and with a steady voice, Christian replied, “Father, His Majesty is sending me to England.”

A slow, pleased smile came to Prince Stefan’s lips. “That is a great honor. Christian, I am proud of you. I know you will do everything to make your time in England a success. You have my blessing.”

“Thank you, Pappa. I promise to do my very best.”

After paying King Charles and Prince Stefan his respectful leave-taking, Christian hurried back to where his mother and Gustav stood. As he reached his brother’s side, Gustav gave him a hard look. “What was that all about?” he asked.

Christian met Gustav’s steely gaze, making sure not to show any sign of the excitement which bubbled inside him. “It was a private discussion between His Majesty and myself, but since Pappa has given me his blessing, I suppose I can tell you. I am to be sent to England to help Baron von Rehausen and Count Jansson with some trade negotiations. Apparently, the Russians are looking to get in ahead of us and so I will have to leave soon.”

The anger which flashed across his brother’s face was deeply satisfying. While Gustav was off marshalling troops and deciding on battle strategies, his youngest brother would be heading to London. In a matter of weeks, Christian and Erika would once more be in the same city.

He held back on telling them that his stay in England may be a lengthy one. This was a night of triumph for Christian, not one for starting a row with his older sibling.

“That is wonderful news.” His mother gifted him a kiss on the cheek. The smile on her face was a stark contrast to the hard anger which shone in Gustav’s eyes.

“Yes, congratulations,” ground out Gustav.

“You will be able to see Countess Erika—how delightful. I do so miss her,” said Princess Olga.

Christian barely raised an eyebrow, doing his utmost to appear surprised at the mention of Erika. “Oh yes, I had almost forgotten about her also being in London. Though I am not sure how often I shall see Countess Erika, if at all. I expect I shall be in residence at the envoy’s home, and also very busy.”

The hard set of Gustav’s jaw had him wondering just how long it would be before his brother cornered him.

You may say all that you will, but just remember it is I who will soon be many hundreds of miles away in England, and there is not a damn thing you can do about it.

Christian would dearly love to rub his brother’s nose in it, but his diplomatic skills were stronger than his need to cause annoyance. Gustav had the temper of a Swedish wild boar, and he was not one to be poked at with a stick.

“Well, you must take Magnus and Erika a gift from our family when you leave,” said the princess.

Gustav’s face immediately changed. Christian could almost hear the cogs in his brain turning. “Yes, you should. And a gift from me as well. It would gladden my heart if