“Oh, how wonderful!” Sophie bent and clasped Gisela’s hand, drawing her up, then embracing her.
“I am so happy for you.” Sophie pressed her cheek to Gisela’s, then pulled away and looked her in the eye. “You will be so happy, I am sure. Valten is a wonderful man, and you must be very special to have won his heart.” Her sincerity fairly glowed from her eyes.
Gabe was congratulating Valten, saying something about how he didn’t need any help finding a beautiful wife. Then he turned to her and squeezed her hand. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.” Those unwelcome tears still weren’t finished embarrassing her, as they stung her eyes again at the truly warm and sincere looks Valten’s brother and his wife were giving her. “I am very happy to meet you both.”
“And how wonderful that we have found you here!” Sophie was delightful in her enthusiasm. And Gisela now noticed that she also was looking a bit rounded in the middle; she was expecting a child. “Will you be able to accompany us to Hagenheim?”
Valten nodded. “If Gisela’s ankle is well enough.”
Sophie exclaimed over Gisela, and she had to explain that it wasn’t badly hurt, only a minor sprain. “Valten’s hand is much more seriously injured than my ankle.”
That led to questions about how he hurt his hand at the tournament. So while Gabe and Sophie sat down to eat some cold meat, cheese, and bread after their long journey, they begged Valten and Gisela to sit with them and tell them about the events of the last few days.
Had it only been a few days since Gisela was living at home with Evfemia, Irma, and Contzel, cleaning up after them and helping Wido tend to the horses? Valten was telling them about the jousts and battles, and of Gisela spying Ruexner’s squire putting poison hemlock in Sieger’s food.
“And then Valten saved me from Ruexner.”
Valten looked her in the eye, and she found she didn’t want to turn away.
“That is just as it should be,” Sophie said.
Valten winked at her, and Gisela blushed.
Valten continued the story, telling of the kidnapping, and Gisela was relieved he didn’t tell them of her stepmother locking her in her chamber and making a deal with Ruexner to force Gisela to marry him. A stab of shame went through her at the thought of this beautiful, elegant lady knowing that Gisela’s family could treat her so despicably.
“What happened then?” Sophie asked. “Did Valten go after you and rescue you?”
Gisela nodded. “He gave himself up to Ruexner and his men to save me.” She told the remainder of the story quickly.
Gabe stared at her, openmouthed, while she talked. When she had finished her tale, he looked at Valten and said, “I am impressed, as always, big brother.”
“Gisela must hear your story of rescuing Sophie from an evil duchess and her archer.”
“Oh yes,” Sophie said, her face lively, as she reached over and squeezed Gisela’s arm. “I shall tell you all about that, and you shall have to tell me more about your adventure with Valten.”
Valten placed his hand on Gisela’s back and stood. “But now I think the ladies need to get some sleep.”
“I agree.” Gabe looked at Sophie with such loving concern in his eyes that it made Gisela sigh.
Four weeks later, in Hagenheim Castle, Gisela stared into the looking glass Margaretha held up for her. The most blessed girl in the world, Gisela told her reflection. If her father and mother were here, would they be proud and happy for her? In her heart, she knew the answer was yes.
“You’re so beautiful,” Margaretha gushed. “Your hair is the prettiest shade of blonde, so full and bouncy. And your eyes shimmer like a moonlit lake. Valten is so blessed. You have the sweetest disposition, but you’re not afraid to make my brother pay attention and talk to you. He’s not much for talking, as I’m sure you know. He’s just stubborn. But you are good for him. He won’t get away with ignoring you, I have a feeling.” She grinned. “I’d never before seen that look he gets on his face when he looks at you.”
“He loves me.” The wonder of it was breathtaking.
“Yes.” Margaretha sighed dramatically. “Come. You mustn’t be late.” Margaretha gave her a little push to turn her toward the stairs. “They’ll blame me and say I was talking too much.”
Gisela hurried down the steps, her stomach quaking at facing all the people that had come to see the next duke of Hagenheim wed her, a little nobody with no claim to noble birth or wealth. What if everyone laughed at her? What if they were laughing at Valten even now, ridiculing him for not marrying at least a baron’s daughter?
By the time she reached the bottom of the steps, her knees were shaking and she could barely stand. But when she looked up, Valten was holding his hand out to her. The fierce look on his face softened to the look he wore for no one but her.