Ensnared (Knights of Brethren #3)(59)

“After you marry Gunnar, will you still help take care of us?” Riki posed the question I’d been wondering myself.

“I will never stop visiting or loving you.” I glided my hand over Rena’s hair. I didn’t expect that Bernhard and Sophia or any of the nobility would welcome me into their lives. But I doubted Gunnar would want me to continue working in the nursery as a domestic. I could only pray that Nanna would be able to win approval for Kirstin to take my place. Together the two would carry on the task of influencing the little girls for good.

Already we’d had a short visit from Kirstin that morn to let us know Frans had awoken and was doing better. The physician had set his broken leg and done his best to repair the damage from the pike. Frans hadn’t needed his foot amputated, but only time would tell how much weight he would be able to bear on the injured heel. Kirstin had wept as she thanked me for going in and saving Frans’s life. I prayed, given time, Frans would forget about me and learn to love Kirstin in my stead.

At the rap of knuckles against the door, I paused, my pulse leaping with an extra beat. Had Gunnar returned?

The door swung open, and I held my breath, waiting for Gunnar to step inside with one of his handsome grins. He’d beckon to me with his half-lidded gaze, wrap his arms around me, and kiss me just as he had last night.

Instead of Gunnar, however, a guard poked his head into the room and surveyed the chamber before nodding at me. “Time to go.” His tone was curt and allowed for no arguing.

Why hadn’t Gunnar come directly to the nursery himself? Surely he would be eager to see me again and walk with me to the chapel?

I hesitated.

“We’ve come to escort you to your wedding.” The guard opened the door wider to reveal another guard in the hallway.

Perhaps after returning, Gunnar thought to change garments and groom himself and was even now doing so. Meeting in the chapel would certainly save some time.

“I need to find Ami.” I fidgeted with one of the ribbons in my hair. “She said she would watch Rikissa and Renate so Nanna can come with me.”

The guard shook his head. “The master said the affair will be private with only the priest and witnesses.”

“Nanna can serve as a witness.”

“He has enough witnesses already.”

Nanna set aside her ironing. “Gunnar said that?”

The closest guard shrugged his shoulders. “We are following orders. That’s all.”

Nanna’s expression turned more severe. Before she could argue, I smiled, hoping to reassure her. “I’ll speak with Gunnar, and we’ll send someone to fetch you.”

She stared at the guard for another moment, then nodded.

With a final smile at Nanna and the girls, I exited into the passageway, smoothing my hands over my skirt. This was it. I was going to be married.

Over the past hours of waiting, I’d had plenty of time to consider the consequences of marrying Gunnar. While I would certainly be criticized for aspiring after someone far above my station, Gunnar would carry the bulk of the censure.

Our differences meant nothing to him. They never had and never would. I hadn’t cared about our differences either, and I couldn’t start now. Even so, I didn’t want to cause him hardships as a result of marrying me.

The lead guard took my arm and guided me away from the nursery. With each step his grip tightened until it began to feel like a chain upon my arm. When we turned the corner, I realized we weren’t going in the direction of the chapel.

“The chapel is the other way.”

“You’re not getting married in the chapel.”

Unease skittered up my backbone. Something wasn’t right.

I halted and attempted to jerk my arm free.

The second guard came alongside me and grasped my other arm.

“Release me.” I struggled now against them both.

The lead guard kept going without a waver in his steps. “The earl commanded us to make sure you are locked away until your wedding.”

Dread began to pulse through my blood. Yes, something was most definitely amiss. “Why would the earl command such a thing?”

“It’s not my place to question the earl.”

What was Bernhard up to? Was he trying to prevent me from marrying Gunnar? Or maybe this was his way of exacting revenge upon Gunnar for speaking the truth and standing up to him. Hiding me away, perhaps forcing Gunnar to grovel before handing me over.

As we traversed the passageways, I was tempted to call for help. But I didn’t want to bring anyone else into this situation and heap the earl’s wrath upon them too. I searched every open door and every corner for a sign of Gunnar, but I didn’t catch sight of him or any of his squires.

Maybe Gunnar hadn’t yet returned and Bernhard planned to do something to me in his absence.

My mind filled with the image of Lola with weights tied to her ankles as she fell from the cliff and drowned in the fjord below. Maybe Bernhard would do the same to me. What if the earl took me out to the cliff, then pushed me off just as Gunnar came riding up? Such cruelty would be typical of Bernhard and the perfect way for him to show Gunnar never to cross him again.

My stomach churned—not so much at the thought of meeting my death by drowning but because of the pain and blame Gunnar would have to live with.

When the guards halted before a chamber door in a wing of the castle belonging to the more prominent servants, I tried once again to break free. But they swung open the door, shoved me inside, and slammed it shut behind me. The click of a key told me they’d locked me inside. “The earl would like you to wait here for the wedding ceremony. The priest and your husband will be along shortly.”