Page 2 of Veil of Winter

“Princess Elyce,” King Claude was saying, “my nephew hasmy blessing—and your father’s as well—to speak to you in private about a very important matter.” Now King Claude was smirking, or the closest thing to it, with his strange smile that never expressed any warmth.

Her stomach lurched. This could not be good. Not good at all.

Rodrigo was holding out his hand. Sweat beads appeared on his forehead and upper lip. She pretended not to see his proffered hand and waited to see if he would assert himself or let his uncle tell him what to do.

There was a long, awkward silence.

“We can leave the Great Hall,” her father said. “Or you can go to the solar up the stairs and to the right.”

“The solar will be more comfortable. Go on, then,” King Claude boomed, fixing hard, dark eyes on them.

Rodrigo lurched toward the stairs, then stopped short and turned to wait for Elyce.

Should she run? No, that would not be the proper thing for a princess to do, nor would it resolve anything. But she had to think of something.

She climbed the stairs, sensing Rodrigo just behind her. There could be nothing important for him to say to her except to ask her to marry him. Which was only a formality, since her father and his uncle obviously had already arranged the marriage.

She knew it was her duty to marry someone who would help her people, to make an alliance that would ensure her country’s safety and prosperity. But she’d also imagined that she wouldlove her husband, at least enough to kiss him and have children with him. But Rodrigo? How could she kiss him? The thought was abhorrent to her. He behaved like a spoiled child and had said lustful things about servant girls that made her wonder if all men were brutish animals preying on defenseless women.

A woman was supposed to respect her husband. How could she respect Rodrigo? And a man was supposed to cherish his wife.

That seemed even more unlikely.

They reached the solar all too soon. Rodrigo opened the door for her and followed her in, closing it behind them.

“Princess Elyce, please allow me to express my desire to take you as my wife. I know we have been friends since we were children, and now we have the opportunity to make this alliance and please our families and the citizens of our kingdoms. Therefore, I wish to ask you to allow me to love you as my wife for the rest of our lives.”

His face was as red as an autumn sunset by the time he finished his little speech. The sweat on his brow was even more pronounced, and one drop was beginning to run slowly down his left temple. He reached up and rubbed it with his finger.

Elyce’s heart was in her throat. What could she say? How could she do this?God, if this is not Your will, help me escape this marriage.

“So they have decided we should marry.” Elyce made the statement, not knowing what else to say.

“You are not surprised, are you?”

Truly, she had held out hope that her father would make analliance with another country through her marriage to a German duke’s son, a Burgundian count, or perhaps a prince from a neighboring province, someone more powerful than King Claude. Anything to get her country free of the hold King Claude had over her father and her people.

Elyce eyed Rodrigo. Had he changed?Wouldhe change, for her?

“If we marry,” she said, steeling herself against emotion so she could objectively observe his reactions, as her aunt had taught her, “you would not be unfaithful to our marriage vows, would you?”

Rodrigo’s expression shifted, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “I did not know you were so in love with me that you would not wish to have a bit of... freedom yourself.”

“I do not know what you mean by freedom. I intend to be faithful to my husband, no matter who he is.” She lifted her chin a notch, affronted in spite of her attempt to suppress her emotions.

“Don’t be immature, Ellie,” he said, using the childhood nickname he used to call her by. “Our marriage is for our countries’ well-being, not for love.”

“Is it immature to expect my husband to respect our marriage—to respect me?”

“Why, yes, it is, if you’re a princess and you’re making a political alliance.” He had an irritated look on his face as he refolded his arms.

Rodrigo had not changed, would not change, not for her or for the sanctity of his marriage vows.

God, rescue me.

“I cannot give you an answer without speaking to my father first.” It was the only thing she could think of to buy herself some time.

“Your father already said I had his blessing.” Rodrigo frowned and shook his head at her. “You cannot fight this, Elyce. You don’t have any power in this situation.”