The Fairest Beauty

He hoped Gabe wasn’t too disappointed that the attractive girl he had risked his life to rescue was marrying Valten, her rightful betrothed. He was surprised his brother wasn’t even there. Walther had made it sound as if his injury had been life-threatening, but when they’d arrived at the Cottage of the Seven, Gabe had apparently recovered and flitted off on a quest to find Duke Baldewin at the Gemeinhart Abbey. Which was fine; Gabe could do all the gallivanting he wanted while Valten escorted his betrothed back to Hagenheim.

 

The problem was that Sophie, as they all called her, was lovely to look upon, but she didn’t seem the least interested in even acknowledging his presence. But to be honest, he’d only tried to converse with her once or twice. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was a bit intimidated by the cold look on her face and the way she seemed determined to avoid him, staying as far away from him as possible. Valten reassured himself there would be plenty of time for talking and courting before they wed. After they arrived home, they’d likely wait at least three weeks while they cried the banns before the wedding.

 

Plenty of time.

 

Still, he should probably start to at least greet her every day, make sure she wasn’t afraid of him.

 

Many maidens seemed to react with fear to him. He was much larger than most men, true, and usually wore some armor and carried at least two weapons at all times. And he did have a few scars on his face that women seemed to have an aversion to, though he didn’t understand why. His scars were all small. It wasn’t as if he had a big, jagged scar all the way across his face or was missing an eye or anything like that.

 

Perhaps his bride-to-be was simply timid around men. And she hadn’t known until recently that she was even betrothed. Though surely she must have been pleased to find out her betrothed was the future duke of Hagenheim and a tournament champion known all over the Holy Roman Empire and beyond. He straightened in his saddle and looked over at Sophie. She met him with the same cold stare she’d been giving him the entire time.

 

He would make an effort to speak to her tonight. It would be the last night before they arrived in Hagenheim, after all.

 

Sophie was so exhausted when they stopped at the inn — the first inn they’d stopped at since they left the Cottage of the Seven — that she sighed with relief. It would feel good to sleep on an actual mattress and with a roof over her head.

 

Does Gabe have a roof over his head? Does he know I am on my way to Hagenheim with his brother and father? Does he even care?

 

No, she wasn’t going to think like that. Gabe had asked her to trust him and she would. He had never given her a reason not to. Well, until he’d left without telling her where he was going, without telling her her father was still alive.

 

Trust, trust, trust.

 

But I need you now, Gabe. I don’t know what to say, what to do. You’ve abandoned me with a very off-putting man, to whom I happen to be betrothed.

 

Who had dismounted and was coming toward her that very minute.

 

“Lady Sophia,” he said, reaching up to help her down off her horse.

 

She accepted his help, as there was no way to refuse. His big hands reached around her waist and lifted her with apparent ease. His shoulders were as broad as Walther’s, and she felt small as he set her down beside him. Oh, Gabe, where are you?

 

“We shall stay at this inn tonight.” His eyes stared into hers with complete openness, but without any affection. He didn’t even give her a slight smile.

 

She supposed she should feel bad for him, as he thought she was to become his wife, when in fact she was in love with his brother. Somehow, though, the only emotion she could feel for him was aversion.

 

He wasn’t Gabe.

 

Sooner or later she would need to tell him that she couldn’t marry him. What would he say? Would he become angry?

 

“You will have your own room, of course, and I will sleep outside your door.”

 

“Oh.” He looked fierce, as if contemplating the ruffians he would relish defending her from. “Thank you, but that isn’t necessary. I can bar the door.”

 

“It is my duty to protect you from anyone who may wish you harm. I take my duty seriously.”

 

She could certainly believe that, if the look on his face was any indication. But she couldn’t help contrasting … Gabe protected her just as fiercely, and he did it with a cute smile and a wink, not to mention doing it out of love instead of duty.

 

Valten turned and seemed to be waiting for her to pass in front of him. She did so, hoping he didn’t expect her to take his arm.

 

Inside, Valten and his father spoke with the innkeeper and ordered dinner and bedchambers. There weren’t enough rooms for all the knights who traveled with them, so Duke Wilhelm’s men arranged to stay in the stable with the horses. She wasn’t sure which was worse: sleeping in the stable with smelly horses or sleeping on the hard wood floor in front of the door of a girl whom you thought you were going to marry — but weren’t.

 

At least, she hoped he wasn’t going to marry her. But if Gabe couldn’t make the arrangements …

 

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