Thinking of both Brittola and Valten made Sophie sad. Her happiness would bring them … heartbreak. Or at least bruised pride. Must her happiness cause them pain?
The next day, Sophie and Margaretha walked down the long corridor near the Great Hall. The mid-afternoon sun was shining through the narrow windows that looked out at the inner courtyard as they went inside the library. Margaretha wanted to show her a book.
The library was a large room, though less than half the size of the Great Hall. The fireplace connecting the library to the hall was ablaze, and candles were burning on the tables even though the room appeared to be empty. Sophie had already discovered that the family often retired to the library after supper to enjoy music and each other’s company. It was a cozy room, with plenty of chairs and rugs for sitting.
Before Margaretha could find the book she was looking for, Sophie heard a shout, muffled through thick stone walls.
Margaretha grabbed Sophie’s hand and hurried toward the door that led to the corridor. “Let’s go see who’s here.”
Someone burst into the corridor from the courtyard. By his clothing, he looked to be a groomsman from the stable. The young man looked left, then right, where he spied Margaretha and Sophie as they exited the library. “Good ladies, I wish to tell his grace, Duke Wilhelm, that his son, Lord Gabehart, is just arriving with a visitor.”
Margaretha turned and screamed, “Mother! Father! Gabe is home!”
Sophie stood still, but only for a moment. She gathered her skirt and ran out into the courtyard, Gabe’s sister at her heels.
They made it as far as the well in the center of the courtyard before the steward came toward them. “Ladies,” he said, bowing to them. “I have a message from Lord Gabehart for Lady Sophia.”
Margaretha’s eyes were as round as her open mouth.
“Yes?” Sophie rasped.
“He wishes you, along with Duke Wilhelm, Lady Rose, and Lord Valten, to meet him in the library.”
Sophie and Margaretha clung to each other’s arms, while Margaretha searched Sophie’s face. “You should go. I will find Mother and Father and Valten.”
They dashed off in the direction they had come, entering the main corridor of the castle. While Sophie waited nervously in the library, stifling a giggle at having to go back to the place she had just run so vigorously from, Margaretha located both the duke and duchess and brought them in. She then left to go find Valten, and Sophie glanced at Gabe’s parents. Duke Wilhelm wore a somber expression, but Lady Rose gave her an encouraging smile.
Valten entered the room. She doubted he looked any fiercer on the tournament field wielding a sword and lance. He avoided looking at her at all, instead turning his back on them all and staring at a tapestry on the wall.
Sophie clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. Lady Rose threw open some shutters, letting in more light.
Then Gabe walked into the room. She wanted so much to run to him and throw her arms around him. She’d missed him so much. Had he missed her? She searched his face, desperate to read his thoughts, wondering if he’d found her father. He looked at her too. Was that a smile? More of a lopsided grin. But it quickly disappeared as he looked away from her and acknowledged his parents.
His mother hugged him and his father did as well, clapping him on the back. Valten turned halfway around and gave him a curt nod.
Is my father here as well? Isn’t Gabe excited to see me? Why doesn’t he come and embrace me? But of course, he couldn’t do that. She wasn’t his to embrace.
She devoured him with her eyes, taking in his disheveled hair and the travel dust still on his clothes. The four or five days’ growth on his face made her breath hitch in her throat.
Then she saw another shorter man enter behind Gabe. Could he be her father?
“Mother, Father, Valten, and Sophie, I have someone I want you to meet.” Gabe turned to the man standing behind him and motioned him forward. The man had blue eyes that almost looked familiar, though she was certain she didn’t know him. He looked to be about Duke Wilhelm’s age. Could he be …?
“Is that you?” Duke Wilhelm stepped toward him and Lady Rose covered her mouth with her hands.
“Yes, I have returned to my rightful place, old friend.”
Sophie held her breath as those blue eyes turned her way. Gabe also turned to Sophie and said, “This … is your father, Duke Baldewin.”
Chapter 29
A buzzing sound filled her ears. My father? Sophie couldn’t move. She’d been thinking about him since Bartel had told Duke Wilhelm about Gabe’s quest, but she’d never quite believed Gabe would find him. She stared at the man, who stared back at her with tears in his eyes. He tentatively took a couple of steps toward her, then stopped.
“Can you ever forgive me for not knowing you were still alive? For not coming back to find you?” He held out his hands in supplication.