Stealing Cinderella(8)
I shove my father’s hand away and move toward her, preparing to catch her if she falls.
“You shouldn’t be up without your chair,” I admonish her.
“Thorsen.” She reaches out with a trembling hand, clearly shaken by what she’s just witnessed. “What are you two fighting about?”
The king is uncharacteristically quiet as he studies her, his jaw working. He can’t tell her what he really wants to say, and I don’t want them to fight about it again.
“It’s nothing,” I assure her. “Let me help you back to your bed.”
She shrugs me off, swaying slightly but refusing to allow any of our help. “Don’t treat me as if I can’t understand what’s happening right in front of me,” she says. “Now, one of you tell me the truth.”
“There was a disagreement about Thorsen’s impending marriage,” Calder explains. “He doesn’t accept the idea, and the king is displeased.”
My mother looks at my father, confusion shining in her eyes. “I thought you said he’d agreed to marry Princess Yasmine.”
My head throbs as I imagine the contents of his skull splattered across the floor. A bloody and violent death is what he deserves. It’s one thing for him to hound me, but it’s another for him to lie to her. The disappointment in my mother’s eyes is unmistakable. She wants to see me settled and happy before she goes. In her mind, the cure for all my problems is a woman with a soft heart. It’s a grand notion, albeit unrealistic, and I regret that I can’t give her the peace of mind she desperately wants.
“I’m sorry, Mor.” I dip my head to hide my frustration. “I can’t marry Yasmine.”
“If not her, then who?” she asks, her voice wavering.
“This is something to work out between us, Frida,” the king tells her. “You have no need to worry. I assure you we will find a suitable match for Thorsen.”
It’s impossible to miss the murderous scowl leveled at me, but Calder is quick to take on the role of mediator.
“I have a suggestion.”
Our parents turn their attention to him, and the mischievous smile on his face tells me I should humor him.
“What is it?” Mother reaches for him, gesturing him to her side.
“First, let’s get you back to your room,” he says. “You can sit down while we have this conversation.”
She nods, and we help her back into her suite, easing her into her favorite chair by the window. She’s pale today, and I can’t help noticing that she can barely move her left arm at all anymore. But she tries to hide it as she gently folds it across her lap with her other hand.
“Right.” She smiles up at us softly, her eyebrows pinching together. “Now, where were we again?”
“As you both know, Thorsen and I received an invitation to attend the royal ball in London,” Calder says. “It’s a charity event.”
“Of course.” My mother gestures for the notepad on the table. “Can somebody write this down for me?”
“It already is,” Calder answers gently. “It’s in your planner.”
She frowns and shakes her head, attempting levity as her eyes shine with sadness. “I’m sorry, I forgot. This pain medication makes everything so fuzzy.”
“What is the point of all this?” the king demands. “Your mother needs to rest, and I have work to do.”
Calder sighs. “My point is that perhaps Thorsen should find his own match. The ball would be a good starting point, with women you’d likely approve of.”
I cringe, and he shrugs as if to say he’s sorry, but he’s just trying to help. Calder knows the last thing on my agenda is finding a wife, but he’s also aware that if I don’t go along with this idea, it’s very likely I’ll be walking down the aisle with Princess Yasmine any day now.
“And what am I to tell Lars?” My father scoffs. “His daughter has been crying for weeks over this situation.”
“I find that highly improbable.” I glare at him. “Considering we’ve scarcely spent more than thirty minutes together alone.”
“Thirty minutes with you would be all it takes to make her cry,” Calder jests.
My mother sighs, watching all of us intently. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Thorsen, will you consider it? For me?”
Any protests I may have had fall to pieces under her anxious plea. Denying her would wreck her, but I also don’t want to give her hope where none lives. I’ll never be able to make her understand that it’s too late to fix me. In her eyes, I’m still salvageable, and as long as she’s here, she will always believe that.
“I’ve heard enough.” The king interjects, deciding for me. “You will attend the ball and find a suitable match there. But mark my words, Thor, this is the last opportunity I’m giving you.”
3
Thorsen
“Remind me why we’re doing this again.”
Calder drags his attention away from the flight attendant on our private jet to meet my gaze. “I bought you some time to find a wife.” His lips tilt into a sarcastic grin. “And besides, it’s for charity.”