AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Prince Bernard,” she said, nodding to acknowledge him. It didn’t matter that she didn’t want him there. It was a matter of manners.
“I was hoping I could find you alone before I spoke with your father.”
“Is that so?” Eloise asked. Prince Bernard’s kingdom of Allenia had been the enemy of Theron for many generations.
“It is. There has been a significant amount of unrest between our nations to the point that trading between us has diminished significantly, hurting the economy of both nations.”
Eloise nodded regally, though when she looked down and noticed her leggings, a giggle threatened to escape. How could she possibly think she was regal in a pair of leggings?
“I spoke with my uncle, and we’ve come up with a plan, but you must agree to it before I go to your father with it.”
Eloise raised an eyebrow. She’d spent hours and hours practicing in front of mirrors until she had the gesture down pat. She liked to use it on annoying men, and at the moment, Prince Bernard was annoying her. “And the plan is?”
“I thought maybe a union of royal families. I would like to talk to King Albert about asking for your hand in marriage.”
Eloise sighed dramatically. “You want me to offer myself as a sacrifice on the altar of marriage?” She knew it had been common even one hundred fifty years before, but it had never felt like something she would need to do.
Bernard nodded. “I know some of our people were in cahoots with Christopher, and I’m sure you’d like to get to the bottom of that and smooth things over.”
Eloise bit her lip. She loved Theron almost as much as she abhorred Christopher, who had attempted to kill her oldest brother and both of her sisters-in-law. Why, he’d almost caused Amanda, her brother James’s wife to miscarry.
“I know there are problems between our countries, but I would want to find the person who was in charge of those working with Christopher.”
“There is no reason. No one was hurt.”
“My sister-in-law almost lost the baby she’s expecting. People were most definitely hurt!”
“That news didn’t reach Allenia. I’m sorry for misspeaking.” Bernard looked at his hands for a moment. “If it would please you to look into who’s behind it all, then I would help you.”
Eloise pursed her lips, thinking about it. Bernard wasn’t the kind of man she had ever imagined herself with. He was soft-spoken and handsome. She’d always seen herself with a man who was a bit more boisterous. But his offer was still tempting as she thought about her family.
“I want the whole movement stopped, of course, but marrying for political gain? I always told myself I’d never do that.”
“My uncle likes the idea,” he said softly. “As long as it’s me and not one of his sons, of course.” He shook his head. “He said it would be the greatest sacrifice I could make for my kingdom.”
“Sacrifice? You make me sound so appealing.”
He chuckled. “My uncle called it a sacrifice. I had nothing to do with that.”
She leaned forward, looking down at her feet. “I don’t know. I barely know you.”
He sighed. “If we do it, we need to each know we have to do it for the rest of our lives. There can be no divorce unless we want full-scale war between our nations.”
Eloise studied Bernard for a moment. “I’m surprised you would even consider marrying a woman from Theron.”
“My mother came from Theron. My father met her while he was out riding one afternoon, and the only reason he was allowed to marry her was because he was the second son and not the heir.”
“And you believe you could actually agree to a marriage where you barely know the woman and don’t love her at all?”
“For my country, I could do anything.” Bernard’s face was stoic. She couldn’t read him at all.
“I’ll consider it.” Eloise wasn’t going to give in immediately. She’d rather talk to her brothers first. She knew her father would leave the final decision to her no matter how much they needed the alliance. She had a great deal to consider.
“Perhaps we could meet on this bench an hour before the ball tomorrow?”
“Ball?” There went her entire day of reading. First a meeting with a prince who wanted to marry her and then a ball? She wanted to protest, but she knew it was futile.
He nodded. “Perhaps you should talk to your father. But then meet me out here an hour prior to the ball.”
