“Thank you.” Gisela took a sip of something fruity and slightly sweet. She rarely drank anything except water, and the occasional water-and-wine at her neighbor Ava’s home. This was something different, but she liked it, and took a long drink.
She looked up from the rim of her cup to see Margaretha smiling at her. “Do you know that everyone is talking about you, saying how beautiful you are? And everyone is wondering who you are. No one seems to know your name. Does Valten know you? Are you and Valten sweethearts?”
“You shouldn’t ask so many questions.” Kirstyn frowned at Margaretha and moved closer. Valten’s second sister looked to be about fourteen years old, not as tall as Margaretha, and with lighter hair.
Kirstyn looked sympathetically at Gisela. “If you let her, Margaretha will talk you to death. But we love her anyway.”
Margaretha smiled. “I do talk too much. It’s my worst fault. At least, I hope it is, because I know sometimes we never realize our faults, while they’re glaringly obvious to everyone else.” She raised her eyebrows at Kirstyn, then turned back to Gisela. “Do you know what I mean?”
Gisela smiled back at her. “I do.”
“Shall we try to guess your name?” Margaretha went on. “Perhaps it is Gertrude. Or Elsa?”
“Close. It is Gisela.”
“That is a lovely name, and it suits you perfectly. I’m surprised I didn’t guess it.” Margaretha clasped her hands over her heart.
“Very lovely,” Kirstyn agreed.
After speaking to a couple of servants at the other end of the Great Hall, Lady Rose joined them. She laid a gentle hand on Gisela’s arm. “We are so pleased to have you join us tonight for the banquet. If there is anything you wish, anything at all, you have only to tell us. And tomorrow it will be the same.”
“Thank you.”
Valten’s mother smiled so kindly, Gisela felt a strange yearning in her heart, and a sudden panic that these people would not treat her so well if they knew who she truly was — a girl without family, and certainly not a wealthy noble, which was the only kind of bride Valten, as a future duke, would take. Perhaps she should go ahead and tell them to avoid any future disappointment.
The banquet guests began to enter the Great Hall. The room became noisy as the people took their seats.
Gisela saw the moment Evfemia, Irma, and Contzel entered through the door. Evfemia fixed her gaze on Gisela, her expression as sly and calculating as any fox. She and her two daughters sat where they’d have a clear view of Gisela, but at a lower table too far away for them to speak to her.
Gisela tried to ignore them. What might they do or say to try to destroy her night? She tried to believe they couldn’t do anything, but she’d made the mistake of underestimating them before. They had ruined friendships in the past, out of jealousy, and there was no knowing what they might do to ruin her in the eyes of Valten and his family.
Even worse than the cold anger and scheming looks of her stepmother and stepsisters was Rainhilda’s amused derision. The resplendently dressed knight’s daughter sat at the upper dais with her mother and a younger cousin, across the table, not far from Gisela. Rainhilda smirked until Gisela met her gaze. Then Rainhilda whispered in her cousin’s ear. They broke into raucous giggles, shooting glances first at Gisela, then turning around and catching Irma’s eye.
Gisela gritted her teeth and pretended not to notice them. She certainly wasn’t dressed as extravagantly as Rainhilda, but their treatment of her only made her lift her head higher and determine not to behave as though she was any less than any other maiden in the room. We shall see what is more important to Valten and his family, whether it be fine clothes and social status, or … what Gisela had. She wasn’t sure what that was, but if Valten valued sincerity over pride and malice, then Gisela wouldn’t have to behave haughtily to win Valten’s heart.
She refused to compare herself to Rainhilda. Gisela would enjoy this night, this banquet, sitting with Valten’s sisters, and being chosen by Valten. She would squeeze every bit of joy out of this banquet, because her stepmother would make her pay dearly for every moment of it as soon as she got her home.
Margaretha asked, “Have you and Valten met before today?”
Gisela didn’t mind telling Margaretha the story of Valten coming to her rescue in the street when Friedric Ruexner was harassing her. While Lady Rose and Kirstyn leaned in to listen, she told how they had gone to the stables and how much Gisela had enjoyed seeing the horses.
The subject of horses sent Margaretha on a long discourse on the animal. “Horses are very loyal, I have found, and they seem to have a sense about them, an understanding that tells them if a person is good or bad. They will shy away from an angry person, and yet they are drawn to a kind person. They never forget someone they love, and they will recognize people even after not seeing them for years. Did you know that?”
“Horses are intelligent creatures.”