Sweet Tannenbaum
Page 8
Casimir responded before George could. "I thought you would be happy about this."
Krystyna was angry at her blithe, chaotic little brother. It was as though he had never understood the importance of family. Then she looked at Hans and felt herself calm. She had no doubt that she wanted to be with Hans forever. Even if her mother didn't oppose the match, there was every reason to believe that his parents would. Did she want to risk anything happening that separated them? No, she did not. "Do you want to marry today?"
He squeezed her hand. "Only if you do."
In that moment she realized that manipulative little brothers and controlling parents didn't really matter. Only Hans and herself. Did she want to marry him at the earliest possible opportunity, even if that meant today? "What will I wear?"
"That, I can handle," George said, putting an arm around Krystyna and drawing her away. "Ribbons, obviously. Lots and lots of ribbons."
"You wouldn't dare."
Her sister-in-law only laughed in response.
* * *
Hans watched his bride-to-be disappear towards the stairwell.
"You're welcome," Casimir said.
"Beg pardon?” Hans asked, distracted.
“It boggles the mind how much you could thank me for, so simply pick something and you’re welcome for it."
Did the young whelp actually expect thanks for bullying Krystyna into marriage? In that way the young man was hardly better than her father, choosing not only the groom, but the time and place.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to my fiancée."
As Hans bolted up the stairs Casimir called after him. “I think it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."
Not sure where she had gone, he called her name. She emerged from a door at the end of the hall and hurried to him, looking worried.
“What’s wrong, Hans?"
He realized he must have his disapproving expression. “I don’t want you to marry me simply because your brother is forcing you."
“I’m not."
“Let me be clear, Krystyna.” He heard his voice break and cleared his throat. “I know how dutiful you are to your family, but I love you and couldn’t bear a lifetime wedded to a woman who didn’t return my regard."
She smiled at him and his heart leapt in hope. Then she asked, “Are you rushing the cannons again, Herr Von Rosen?"
Her question confused him. “What do you mean?"
“A confident man wouldn’t need to ask at all. A clever man would believe in his abilities to convince me in time. But you? You risk all."
“Are you saying I’m neither confident nor clever?” He really should have the good sense to be insulted, but he couldn’t be while she smiled at him thus.
She rested her palms on his cheeks. “Of course you are both confident and clever, but more so you are bold and brave. Perhaps that is why I lost my heart to you? I’m not quite sure. But I do love you, Hans. More than I knew was possible."
He pulled her close. “So you do want to be married today?"
“Before your parents can talk you out of it? Yes."
“Now who is lacking confidence?"
“I’ll just say it’s not something I’m willing to risk."
He kissed her soft, sweet lips. “Happy Christmas, Krystyna."
“Happy Christmas, Hans."
EPILOGUE
Hans received something of a surprise when Erich arrived at the Rokiczana mid-morning with a letter from Henry. Upon returning to the estate his valet had found the letter, and then made the trek back across the continent to deliver it. It seemed his brother had been, of all places, in London for some months and was writing to Hans for the discreet delivery of funds, which meant that he had outspent his allowance yet again. The sum he requested was staggering, even for Henry’s ability to run up debts. But to have even one of his family in attendance at the wedding would be a miracle, so he and Casimir immediately tracked down the rapscallion known as his youngest sibling. Henry was perfectly happy to stand as best man if Hans would visit the bank on the morrow, even offering to let them stay in the inn’s best suite for their wedding night, as though he had a right to do so.
All of Hans’ concern for his rakish little brother fled his mind, though, when Krystyna entered the church. She wore a white gown with a deep red sash and matching overdress trimmed in white lace. She was a vision. Her natural poise combined with the dress was stunning.
He heard his brother sotto voce behind him. “She came looking for me? This may be the first time I regret not being at home."
Hans decided he could wait until later to explain to his brother, with fists if necessary, that his wife was off limits. It was fairly certain that he could rely on Casimir to enforce the same. The young Polishman was all smiles as he escorted his sister to the altar. Krystyna had worried over their marriage being in an English church, but Casimir waved away her concerns. Now it seemed they would be lucky if her brother didn’t commence dancing before the ceremony was finished. Although it gave Hans some pause that Casimir should seem so delighted by the proceedings, it barely dimmed his own enthusiasm. Regardless of what her brother’s ultimate goals might be, Hans would never regret having Krystyna as his wife.
Holding her hand at the altar he impatiently waited for the time to speak his vows.
* * *
Krystyna spent the day in a warm haze of happiness. When she saw Hans’ brother standing behind him, it was immediately clear that the two were different enough that her confusing them had caused Hans no end of amusement. Henry seemed a rogue, indeed, winking at her as she joined them at the altar!
Their party was small, with George serving as her attendant and only Wladek and Erich as ‘guests’. But none of it mattered, because all she cared about was Hans. With that in mind, she floated from preparation to vows and then through the small wedding supper at her brother’s house. Hans whisked her away to a room at an inn, provided by his brother.
The mysteriously appearing Henry, as she still didn’t know how or why he was in London, had shown them to a lovely room that was decorated for the season.
“Oh Hans, a tree!” She clapped her hands together in joy. A small evergreen had been set in the corner near the hearth, and was decorated with treats and a few candles.
“That’s my brother, flirting with a woman when he’s not even in the room."
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m sure this was as much or more for you."
Hans pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “Perhaps a bit.” They stood there, watching the dancing lights of candles and the fireplace, a sense of peace throughout the room. Hans finally spoke again, “I thought that on the way home we might stop at that inn for a week or two."
“Which one?” Krystyna asked, assuming he was most likely referring to the fanciest one, in Calais.
“The one where we were snowed in, of course. Where I realized I was in love with you."
“It took you that long?"
“Says the woman who still intended to marry another man until yesterday."
“Believe me when I say that it was something I regarded with a much heavier heart after meeting you."
“I suppose I have the comfort of knowing that with your sense of honor, you will be a dutiful wife."
“Oh do you?"
“Obedient. Biddable, even.”
“If that’s what Casimir told you, you’ve been sold a bad bill of goods."
Hans chuckled and held her closer. “You know me, my love. I’ve never seen a cannon I didn’t want to charge towards."
“Silly man, I’m not a cannon, I’m a highwaywoman."
He tugged on a lock of her hair. “I suppose it will be hard to have a better Christmas than the one where I had a highwaywoman beneath my tree."
She grinned at him. “I suppose it will."
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Trials of Artemis (Gideon and Jacqueline’s story)
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