She didn’t.
He began to turn the empty tankard around, twisting it on the wooden table. “We were always competing with each other. I wanted to be stronger and faster and better than my brother, but unfortunately he bested me in nearly everything. Although I am better looking than he is.” He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “I remember once” — he chuckled — “I was helping Valten practice for the tourneys. He knocked me from my horse, his lance grazed my head, and I hit the ground and was unconscious for a few minutes.” He laughed again, as though he were telling a funny joke instead of relating a terrible accident. “That’s how I got this scar.” He brushed his hair back, and she saw a pale line on his forehead next to his hairline.
She gasped in horror. “But you are his younger brother. How could he treat you so carelessly?”
“It was only an accident.”
“Is he bigger than you?”
“A bit.”
“He sounds like a bully.” And I am meant to marry him.
“No, no. Valten is a good man and will be a good husband. We haven’t always gotten along, but …” He rubbed his chin. “We’re older now and better friends than we were. But I’m sure my brother is quite angry with me right now.” He didn’t seem sorry. In fact, he seemed rather to relish the idea.
“Why is that?”
“I defied him and my father when I came here to find you.”
“Did they not want you to find me?” Was she not wanted after all?
“They wanted to come themselves. Valten was greatly frustrated because he couldn’t come right away himself to find you.”
Her heart lifted.
“He broke his leg in a recent tourney. Our healer won’t allow him out of bed for at least four weeks.”
He had told her that already. What Sophie really wanted to know was, Do you think your brother will like me? Instead, she asked, “Do you think your … parents … will approve of me?”
“They will love you. My mother will smother you with hugs and kisses. She’ll make such a fuss over you, you’ll wish you had stayed away.”
Sophie’s heart seemed to swell inside her chest as she imagined Gabe’s mother embracing and kissing her. The longing inside her was so great, she was sure Gabe could see it on her face. To belong to Gabe’s family … to have a mother who would show her true affection … the thought was complete joy. How could Gabe possibly think she would not want that? Would wish to stay away? She was ready to go home with him this very moment!
He glanced around the kitchen before whispering, “I wish we could leave tonight,” as though he had read her mind.
She almost leaped at his words.
“But the duchess probably wouldn’t let us get far. She’s expecting me to play for her tonight.”
“No.” Sophie came back down to earth. “She wouldn’t let us get far.” She’d send her guards to haul them both back to the castle and lock them in the dungeon or kill them. Besides, the woods were full of wolves that hunted in packs at night.
Perhaps she shouldn’t trust him enough to run away with him. But what if Gabe was her only chance to get away and find out what it was like to be loved?
“Tell me more about your family. What do you do at Christmastime? Who taught you to play the lute? Does your family eat dinner together?”
She was asking about his family again. Gabe noticed that she got a strange look on her face, a look of longing, as if she enjoyed imagining what it was like.
Soon, as soon as he was able to plan their escape, he would take her to his family, and she’d be accepted and loved like she never had before.
“My father is a good musician, and we’re all great singers. Except Valten. He sings like a crow.” He laughed, then sobered. “Sorry. I shouldn’t say bad things about your betrothed. Anyway, we sometimes sit around the fire and sing until the little ones fall asleep in our laps. My little sister Adela always wants to sit with me. I’ve put her to bed more times than I can count.”
“What does she look like?”
“Blue eyes and blonde hair, although it’s starting to turn brown now. And dimples in her cheeks. She’s two. I have another sister, Margaretha, who’s fifteen, and Kirstyn is twelve. Besides Valten and me, there’s Steffan, who’s ten, and Wolfhart, who’s seven. It’s always noisy. Someone’s always laughing — or singing.”
Sophie, who was staring at the table as though she were watching a miracle play, suddenly sighed.
He couldn’t wait to take her home.
Just then, the huntsman strode in. He looked first at Sophie, then at Gabe. His jaw twitched, as though he were clenching his teeth. Then his face relaxed as he focused on Sophie. “Go for a walk with me?”
He actually said it politely, and Gabe held his breath as he and Lorencz both waited for her answer.