Gisela stopped to let the mare get a good look at her and sniff her hand before she rubbed the horse’s head.
“And this is Adela’s pony. We call her Dizzy because she dances around a lot.”
The pony was gray with white spots, a shaggy mane, and shy eyes. Gisela rubbed the pony and talked to him softly.
As much as she enjoyed meeting his sisters’ favorite horses, she found herself wishing she could meet his sisters and also see Valten with them. She imagined the youngest one asking him to play. He would pretend to be impatient with her — at first. When she begged, she imagined him eventually giving in, patiently playing a game with them. He would give her a piggyback ride and let them bring out a playful side he didn’t show anyone else. Yes, she would very much enjoy seeing him with his family.
But how was that ever to be? She would enjoy this hour with him, then savor it in her memory, tucking it beside the memory of him when he was fourteen. It would comfort her when she felt alone, along with the few memories she was still able to retain about her father.
A groom, upon Valten’s request, returned with a few carrots. Valten handed half of them to Gisela. “Sieger likes carrots. They’re his favorite.”
Gisela bit back a smile as she fed her carrots to Sieger while Valten distributed his carrots to the others.
She watched Valten out of the corner of her eye, trying to burn his every feature in her memory. She took note of his clean-shaven jawline, the small hollow above the middle of his top lip … Staring at his lips made her heart skip a beat, so she shifted her gaze to his eyes. His lashes and brows were thick and darker than his hair.
Afraid he might notice her staring, she ducked behind Sieger and gave the horse a final rub, pressing her cheek against his.
She hated to spoil the moment with thoughts of her stepmother, but Evfemia would be finishing her shopping and would want Gisela to hitch Kaeleb back up to the carriage. She should hurry, since Evfemia wouldn’t hesitate to cause an embarrassing scene if she couldn’t find her stepdaughter. And if she knew Gisela had spent the last hour with the duke’s oldest son, it would be even worse. For years, the woman had been scheming a way for her daughter, Irma, to marry the future duke of Hagenheim, or to at least meet him and talk to him. She’d be jealous fit to die if she knew Gisela had done by accident something all her scheming had failed to do.
“I should be getting back to the blacksmith’s.”
“Let us go, then.”
“You don’t have to escort me.” It was best for both of them if no one saw them together. Her stepmother and stepsisters would humiliate her in front of him.
“With Ruexner prowling around, yes, I do.”
She thought it better not to argue with a man who looked as determined and grim as Valten. His face was like chiseled stone. Best to just say, “Thank you” and pray they didn’t encounter her stepfamily.
They walked along, discussing the horses and their different characteristics. But once they reached the Marktplatz, she remained alert, hoping they could get to the blacksmith’s shop before she saw her stepmother.
Her eyes darted in every direction, Valten noted, as they made their way through the Marktplatz, as though she was looking for someone. And Valten didn’t think that person was Ruexner. She’d been confident when she’d encountered that rogue — now she seemed nervous.
He couldn’t look at her without thinking how beautiful she was. Where did she come from? When would he see her again? He couldn’t let her go without finding out who she was. But the noise of the crowd made it momentarily impossible to ask her anything.
A woman suddenly grabbed her by her arm and yanked, making her stumble. “Where have you been?” the woman screeched.
Valten stepped up, getting between the extravagantly dressed woman and the girl. Startled, the woman took a step back but didn’t let go of her arm.
“It’s all right.” The girl looked at him with pleading, desperate eyes. “Just let me go with her.”
“Who is she?” he demanded, this woman who was dressed like a queen and would dare hurt her.
“My stepmother.” She turned and walked away with the woman.
The woman squawked, “Who is that man? What are you about?”
They walked away and were quickly swallowed by the throng.
Chapter
3
Gisela walked as quickly as possible as they squeezed their way through the crowded town square. Her stepmother’s grip was painful, but Gisela didn’t pull away, in case Valten was following. She didn’t want to cause a scene or slow her stepmother down, as then Valten would see how she was treated. Not that he would ever see her again.
Her stepmother was still asking questions. “Who was that man?”
“One of the duke’s knights.” It wasn’t a lie exactly. He was a knight, and he did belong to the duke.