“Is there something between you and Gabe that I should know about?”
She tried to think of the best way to say this, but before she could speak, his sisters ran toward them, squealing.
“We saw two more babies! And the mama! When we tried to pet her babies, she hopped up to us and tried to scratch us.”
The girls continued squealing and giggling. Valten turned and picked up the basket with far more force than was necessary, and they all headed back toward the castle. And Sophie determined to go straight to Lady Rose to tell her the truth.
Chapter 28
Sophie returned from the picnic, only to discover Lady Rose had gone to visit an orphanage and wouldn’t be back before supper. Sophie spent anxious hours in her room, and attempted to remain calm during her periodic visits from Gabe’s sisters.
Sophie chafed through supper, which offered no moments to tell Lady Rose even part of what now weighed upon her. Instead, she picked at her food while suffering Valten’s glares, until she decided to glare right back at him. But that only made her feel guilty, so she returned to ignoring him for the rest of the meal. The moment the last dish was cleared, she begged Lady Rose to allow her to speak to her alone.
Lady Rose ushered her to her sitting room while the rest of the family stayed in the Great Hall to hear music and talk.
“What is it, my dear?” Lady Rose asked. “Did you and Valten not have a good time on your picnic?”
“The truth is …” Sophie had thought this moment would be a relief, but now, as she looked into Lady Rose’s kind face, she was terrified that what she had to say would anger her future mother-in-law. What if Lady Rose hated her for falling in love with Gabe? What if Lady Rose told her she had to forget about Gabe and marry Valten? But she couldn’t hold the words back any longer.
“I am in love with Gabe,” she blurted. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with him. He immediately told me I was betrothed to his brother, so I tried to think of him only as a brother, always as a brother, but I … I failed.” Sophie blinked back tears.
“Oh, my dear.” Lady Rose held out her arms and enfolded Sophie. “Oh.”
At least she didn’t seem angry.
“I’m so, so sorry,” Sophie said. “I would never want to upset you or your family, but I love Gabe so much, I can’t imagine loving anyone else. When he left me at the Cottage of the Seven, he said he had to do something important, and I know now that he went to find my father. But I’ve been so terrified that something has happened to him, that he won’t be able to come back to me, or that he won’t be able to make a way for us to marry.”
“Oh, Sophie.” Lady Rose continued to hug her, then she pulled back and looked her in the eye. “I’m so glad you told me. And I’m sure Gabe will return for you, if he said he will. But perhaps we should wait for him to come before we tell anyone else about this.”
“I think Valten already knows I love Gabe. Or at least suspects I do. But he doesn’t love me, doesn’t even know me, so he won’t be too hurt, will he?”
Lady Rose smiled, but it was a sad smile. “I don’t think his heart will be broken, but his pride may be bruised. And sometimes, it’s worse to hurt a man’s pride than to break his heart.”
Sophie couldn’t see why Valten should be offended. He hadn’t even known she was alive until a few weeks ago.
“Valten is a very … determined man,” Lady Rose continued. “It will be hard for him to think of his little brother winning the love of the woman he should have rescued, the woman he should have married and protected.”
Sophie was being heartless not to feel any sympathy for Valten. Of course it would be hard for him.
“He will recover.” Lady Rose squeezed Sophie’s shoulder. “And you will be good for Gabehart, I have no doubt. He was always a rather thoughtless, though good-hearted, boy. I’m glad you’ve won his heart.”
Sophie looked at this amazing woman in wonder. “I’d hoped you would listen, but I never imagined you would be so understanding. I was afraid you would be angry at me.”
Lady Rose shook her head. “I know a thing or two about falling in love with someone while trying not to.” She gave Sophie a mysterious smirk. “And in the meantime, I’ll stop insisting that Valten spend time with you.”
Sophie’s eyes went wide, her groan turning into a muffled laugh.
There was a twinkle in Lady Rose’s eye, but she sounded rather sober. “Duke Wilhelm may be upset, however, and Valten certainly will. But don’t worry. If you and Gabehart are meant to wed, I’m sure there is a way to work this all out. We will wait for Gabe to come, and we’ll hope he is able to break his betrothal to Brittola in a way that is satisfactory for all.”