“I’m not sure how many of those functions I will be attending. The British government are looking to press ahead with the negotiations in the next day. We may have an agreement settled by the end of tomorrow. After that I expect I will be extremely busy working out the finer details of how we will implement the new treaty.”
He offered Erika his arm. They may as well arrive together at the envoy’s house.
She shook her head. “I think I will go home. If the trade agreement is that close to being finalized, then I won’t need new gowns. And you won’t need me anymore.”
She turned in the direction of Duke Street and took one step toward home. Christian reached out and grabbed her. Anger blazed in her eyes as their gazes met.
“Let me go,” she demanded.
“Not until you say you believe me when I tell you I wasn’t with Lady Lynch. Erika, I would never betray you in such a base way,” he said.
Erika roughly pulled away. “It doesn’t matter whether I believe you or not, Christian. The parties, the beautiful gowns—even the so-called romantic betrothal—it’s all a pack of lies.”
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Signed and sealed.” A triumphant Magnus waved the piece of paper high in the air as he stepped in the front door of their home late the following evening. Erika had been anxiously waiting for him and Christian to return from their meeting with the British government.
For the past two hours, she had loitered downstairs, pacing back and forth over the black and white checkered tiles of the foyer. Every noise from out in the street had had her rushing to the window and peering outside, hoping it was them.
Freya had played along with what must have seemed like a game for the first while, but even she had eventually tired and gone to lie down on her big, puffy pillow and fallen asleep. Her snores echoed throughout the small downstairs space of the house.
Magnus embraced his daughter, giving her a hug. The smile on his lips almost split his face in two. “This is a grand day for Sweden.”
It truly was. A day worked hard for by many people, but finally brought to fruition by the efforts of a small but dedicated group of Swedes here in London. She was proud to have played her part, to know that the benefits to her country would be long lasting. But pride did little to help ease the pain of heartbreak. Erika dreaded the next conversation she would have with Christian, fearing it might well be the prelude to a shattering goodbye.
“I am pleased beyond words. For a time there, I was worried that you might have hit a sticking point,” she replied.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, we did almost hit one, but Christian deftly sidestepped it. The British wanted to draw a line in the North Sea farther out from Scotland for fishing rights, but our royal protégé raised some old Viking agreement which had been signed sometime after William the Conqueror and they relented.”
“Speaking of Christian, where is he?”
The humor on the count’s face dimmed. “He was invited to a private dinner. Unfortunately, I was not, so I decided to come home and tell you the wonderful news. Christian will be back here later this evening, though I wouldn’t bother waiting up.”
Erika was grateful that her father didn’t mention the names of those Christian was likely dining with this evening. She had a very strong suspicion that Lady Lynch would be in attendance.
Christian may well have resisted the temptation to sleep with the politician’s wife thus far, but Erika feared that with the agreement now signed, Lady Lynch would be seeking payment for her efforts.
You said you would never betray me. Christian, I hope you keep that promise.
“Why would I wait up for him? He is only my fiancé,” she replied.
She hated the bitterness in her words. It was foolish to be jealous over Christian and other women. But every time Erika thought of him and the magnificent kiss they had shared, her heart threatened to break.
Magnus nodded. “Let us go somewhere private and discuss matters.” He took her gently by the hand and steered her toward the staircase.
Up in the small sitting room, he ushered her to a sofa then closed the door. An uncomfortable sense of dread descended on her.
“With the agreement now finalized, we have to address the issue of your betrothal and how to end it as soon as possible,” he said.
The ink wasn’t even dry on the trade agreement and Magnus was already looking to break her and Christian apart.
“Why are you so eager?” she asked.
He raked his fingers through his hair, then sighed. “Because it has to be this way, Erika. If the two of you remain betrothed, people will expect a wedding. A wedding that is not going to happen.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “Is this what Christian wants? Has he already asked you to find a way for us to part?”
