Promised to the Swedish Prince - Sasha Cottman Page 0,50

that you might be that one person who could rise above the fleshpot of London society.”

“What?”

Erika took one more step closer to Christian.

“I might be an innocent when it comes to some matters of the world, but even I know the three Fs of diplomacy. Fawning, farthings . . . and you know the last one.”

If the other couple hadn’t been in Manchester Square gardens, Christian would have stopped Erika and tried to settle things with her. But he dared not risk anyone witnessing their argument. He was left with no other option than to plaster a smile on his visage and fall into step alongside her as she called Freya to heel.

After some introductions and the requisite amount of small talk, Erika’s friends made their farewells. Apart from the occasional remark, Christian said little. He was still stunned by her words. He bent and patted Freya, but even she shied away from him. It was clear where the dog’s loyalties now lay.

Erika is really angry with me. No. She is furious.

He could only be grateful that she hadn’t finished the last word in the sentence—he was surprised that she even knew such language.

“Are you on your way to see the baron this morning? I mean, that’s why you are passing through the gardens is it not? Or were you just looking for a fight,” she asked.

Christian stirred from his private thoughts. “Yes, I need to speak to him about last night. The British are already trying to dictate unfavorable terms—we need to nip that in the bud.”

The chin tip he got in reply to his words was enough to tell him that Erika still didn’t believe that was all he had been up to at the ball. But now was not the time to continue their row. Hopefully given time and a little space, she might be ready listen to what he had to say. “Where are you headed, Erika?”

“Not that you care, but I am also headed to the same place this morning. Baroness von Rehausen and I have to decide on what I need to wear this week for the remaining parties and balls.”

Not that you care. Oh, Erika.

“I’m not sure how many of those functions I will be attending. The British government are looking to press ahead with the negotiations in the next day. We may have an agreement settled by the end of tomorrow. After that I expect I will be extremely busy working out the finer details of how we will implement the new treaty.”

He offered Erika his arm. They may as well arrive together at the envoy’s house.

She shook her head. “I think I will go home. If the trade agreement is that close to being finalized, then I won’t need new gowns. And you won’t need me anymore.”

She turned in the direction of Duke Street and took one step toward home. Christian reached out and grabbed her. Anger blazed in her eyes as their gazes met.

“Let me go,” she demanded.

“Not until you say you believe me when I tell you I wasn’t with Lady Lynch. Erika, I would never betray you in such a base way,” he said.

Erika roughly pulled away. “It doesn’t matter whether I believe you or not, Christian. The parties, the beautiful gowns—even the so-called romantic betrothal—it’s all a pack of lies.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Signed and sealed.” A triumphant Magnus waved the piece of paper high in the air as he stepped in the front door of their home late the following evening. Erika had been anxiously waiting for him and Christian to return from their meeting with the British government.

For the past two hours, she had loitered downstairs, pacing back and forth over the black and white checkered tiles of the foyer. Every noise from out in the street had had her rushing to the window and peering outside, hoping it was them.

Freya had played along with what must have seemed like a game for the first while, but even she had eventually tired and gone to lie down on her big, puffy pillow and fallen asleep. Her snores echoed throughout the small downstairs space of the house.

Magnus embraced his daughter, giving her a hug. The smile on his lips almost split his face in two. “This is a grand day for Sweden.”

It truly was. A day worked hard for by many people, but finally brought to fruition by the efforts of a small but dedicated group of Swedes here in London. She was proud to have played her part,