Page 54 of Veil of Winter

She was so changeable, which Sir Oswalt had pointed out. The good thing about that was she never stayed angry or upsetfor long. Sir Oswalt thought her unpredictable emotions were a bad thing, but what did either of them really know about women?

“I am excited to see the garden. Our castle in Montciel, as you saw, is on a mountain, and there is not much space for a garden, only the necessary things like stables and smithing booths. But I would not trade our spring and summertime mountains covered in wildflowers for half a dozen gardens.”

“Spoken like someone who loves her homeland.”

Princess Elyce’s smile grew, her eyes shining brightly. “I do.”

They reached the door to the outside. Gerard opened it for her, letting her go out first, and they walked a narrow path that led them to an elaborate garden.

Fresh snow had fallen the night before, and the only indication of the paths were the slight indentations in the snow, flanked by snow-covered bushes of varying heights, some taller than their heads. And the marble statues were the only things not covered in the white blanket.

She let her hand slip off his arm as she preceded him on the narrow path.

“It is beautiful, even without any flowers. The trees are sparkling.”

The sun was shining brightly today for the first time in several days, making the snowflakes shimmer in the light. But even though the sun was out, it could not warm the deep cold that held sway over the region. It was as if the sun had ceased to give heat, only light.

But the fair princess of the mountainous Montciel did noteven seem to notice the cold. She continued through the garden, admiring aloud the statues and the formal pattern of the garden, her breath like white smoke every time she spoke.

“Do you have such gardens in England? Do you have one at your ancestral home?”

“Formal gardens are becoming popular with wealthy noblemen and at the king’s palaces, but at Dericott Castle where I was born, there are no formal gardens such as these. There is a kitchen garden where the cook grows her vegetables and herbs, but otherwise everything is wild and free. My father liked it that way.”

“Is that how you like things to be—wild and free?”

“It depends upon the circumstance and what purpose something serves. This formal garden serves the purpose of a small space where the inhabitants of the castle may take a walk, while wild, open forests and fields are good places for hunting and grazing livestock. And people, if they are in need of a walk, may still walk there.”

“That is a very diplomatic answer.” Princess Elyce was smiling at him with those blue eyes of hers, bluer than the winter sky. “I can imagine you being quite valuable to a king in need of someone to negotiate terms of peace, compromises, and agreements.”

“Knights are fighters and defenders, not negotiators, but I suppose I could serve in that way as well.”

“I am thankful for all your skills on this mission.”

His lungs filled with air at her praise. They were standing close together, and Princess Elyce seemed more at ease than at any other time he’d seen her. How beautiful she was, with herdelicate cheekbones and long eyelashes. And her lips. They were so perfectly formed. If he leaned forward, he could kiss them again. Perhaps he would.

But that would not be right. He had made her no promises, and she was a princess. She would have to marry someone powerful to keep her people safe. She couldn’t marry him, and he would not want her to compromise in order to marry him, only to resent him later.

Yet she had kissed him before. Perhaps it would not be so very bad if they kissed again. If he leaned forward and she leaned the rest of the way...

“We should discuss where we’re going, since we’re leaving in the morning,” Princess Elyce said, interrupting his thoughts and looking quite serious.

Thoughts of kissing her fled to the back of his mind.

They both agreed it seemed too far out of the way to go to Brandenburg to ask for help from Margrave Sigismund, though the princess agonized over the decision, regretting the men they might have received from him. Ultimately, they decided to seek assistance from only two others—Eberhard, Count of Württemberg, which would require veering briefly to the northwest of Montciel and Valkenfeld as they made their way back, and the Count of Montfort, who was just southeast of Valkenfeld.

“I am anxious to get back on our journey.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, staring at a small tree beside them.

“Is something wrong?”

“I was just thinking . . . It makes me very sad that my father is willing to allow our people to be dreadfully mistreated bya neighboring king simply for wealth—and because he is not strong enough to stand up to him.”

Gerard agreed, and seeing her look so sad made his chest ache.

“He wasn’t willing to listen to me, to try to see things from our people’s perspective. And he did not even care enough about his own daughter to want to find a husband for her who would treat her with even the smallest bit of love or respect. It seems he cares only about the money Claude offered him, and the prospect of more riches.”

She stared at the snow at their feet. He longed to put his arms around her and comfort her. Every young woman, after all, should have the love and protection of her father and brothers, but Princess Elyce had no brothers, and her father had sold her for worldly wealth.

Despicable.