Chapter One

RELATED BY BLOOD

Bavaria—1849

Erich du Woernig glanced in his bedroom mirror and haphazardly raked his fingers through his damp, dark red hair. He was glad for the way the loose curls always seemed to just fall into place, which disguised his need for a trim as much as his aversion to fussing over his own appearance. He glanced at the clock, grabbed his jacket, and hurried out of the room, down the stairs, across a corridor, and up a different set of stairs before he pushed open a door and entered the castle nursery, announcing himself with an exuberance that had become expected of him. More than half a dozen children came running, throwing themselves toward him all at once while he pretended to fall over from the onslaught. He tickled them while they tried to tickle him, and even though he wasn’t ticklish, he pretended to be in some form of hysterical agony that made the children laugh and laugh.

Erich’s sister, Maggie, who was mother to three of the children, shouted to be heard over the ruckus. “Enough! Get back to your breakfast!”

The children hesitated, not wanting to stop the fun, but Erich nudged them along, reminding them quietly to mind the rules.

“You know,” Maggie said to him, “every time you decide to grace the nursery with your presence, it takes twenty minutes to settle them down.” She feigned a glare of disgust, but Erich could see the humor sparkling in her eyes.

“They love it,” he said. “And so do you.”

She let out a childish squeal of laughter as he lifted her briefly off the floor and swung her around gently, taking care to remember that she was expecting a baby, even though the pregnancy was barely beginning. The children all turned to watch while Maggie playfully slapped his arm in some attempt to scold him, but she couldn’t hold back more laughter, and the children laughed, too. Erich noticed the nanny watching them discreetly while she overtly fought to suppress laughter of her own. He winked at her and her laughter jumped out. Since she was twice his age, she knew he wasn’t flirting with her.

“Now you’ve disrupted everyone,” Maggie scolded and slapped his arm again.

“You’re a vicious woman, MagdaLena,” he said and walked past her to sit with the children on a chair that was far too small for him. They quieted down as he asked his niece, Hannah, about her music lessons; she always loved to talk about music. He then asked Hannah’s brothers, Stefan and Gerhard, about their studies and hobbies. He made a point to remain abreast of each of the children’s interests and progress in school. He felt a special closeness to Stefan, even though he was careful not to let on in a way that might spur any kind of difficult feelings between the children. He’d been drawn to Stefan since the day he was born, and as soon as the boy had been able to talk, it had become evident that he had much in common with Erich and they understood each other well.

After Erich had spoken to his niece and nephews, he spoke for a minute to each of the other children, all of whom had a parent working among the higher-ranking servants at the castle. Royalty and servants had always played and learned together at Castle Horstberg, and there was a long history of goodness that had come out of the bonds of friendship developed in this very room. There were nurseries elsewhere for younger children—the infants and toddlers—all equipped with competent and loving nannies who were carefully chosen, even though the parents were all involved with the children’s care as much as possible. The children, presently enraptured by Erich’s attention, would soon be having their school lessons with a tutor who would be arriving within the hour, and the day would be a mixture of playtime and education. He knew the routine well from his own childhood.

When he’d completed his visit and said elaborate farewells that made the children giggle, he paused near the door to have a more serious moment with his sister. “You look lovely, as always,” he said. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” she said.

“And how is that husband treating you?” he asked with mock concern. Since Han Heinrich was Erich’s dearest friend and also worked as his highest advisor in all political matters, Erich felt sure he had the right to continually make fun of him if he chose to. “Do you need me to give him a bloody nose to keep him in line?”

Maggie laughed softly. “You know very well he treats me like a queen.”

“As he should.” Erich winked before he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“If I’m late for breakfast—or miss it altogether—tell Mother and Father I’ve gone to see Dulsie and not to worry.”

“Is she all right?” Maggie asked.

Erich sighed and looked down, knowing Dulsie would prefer that he avoid repeating any details of the challenges in her life that she had shared with him in confidence. And yet the royal family knew her far too well to not have some awareness and legitimate concern. He sought for an appropriate answer and looked back up at his sister. “She’s had a bit of a setback, but I’m certain she’ll be fine. I just want to check in on her, and make certain she knows I care.”

“She could never doubt that,” Maggie said with a sincere smile. “You’ve always been a good friend to her.”

“As she has been to me.” He gave Maggie another quick kiss. “I must go. Busy day and all that.”

“It always is,” Maggie said.

Erich hurried from the room. Even walking briskly and breaking into a run here and there, it still took him several minutes to get to the main door of the castle where he stepped out into the courtyard and breathed in the fresh air of a lovely morning. He crossed the courtyard with an unhurried run and slowed down as he came to the long, well-kept corridor between two rows of fine apartments where higher-ranking military officers and upper-class servants lived with their families. Erich had many friends and acquaintances among the residents of these apartments but none more dear to him than Dulsie Dukerk. She was the oldest child of the Captain of the Guard, and she had been a continual part of his life for as long as he could remember. Lance and Nadine Dukerk were like an uncle and aunt to Erich and his siblings. They had always been around, and it was impossible to imagine life without any member of the family. Dulsie had three younger brothers, although Erich only knew Jacob, the eldest of them, well enough to call him a friend. Still, he was more drawn to Dulsie. They had always been able to talk to each other about anything and everything, and he felt most comfortable with her. Given that he was the heir to Horstberg, and he couldn’t go anywhere without everyone knowing who he was, his true friends were few and well chosen. And Dulsie was a choice young woman in every regard.

Erich knocked at the door and waited only a moment before a maid answered and gave him a familiar smile. She was quite accustomed to his frequent visits, and he was glad to see that she seemed to be getting over the typical awe that most people displayed toward him when they didn’t know him well.

“How are you this morning, Didi?” he asked.

“I am well. And you?”

“Very well, thank you.” He was glad to hear that she’d stopped calling him Your Highness every time she spoke to him.

“Miss Dulsie is in her sitting room,” she reported. “You know the way.”

“Yes, I do. Thank you.” He headed up the stairs and down the hall, meeting Dulsie’s mother as she came out of the door just as he was approaching it. She closed the door as if to let him know she didn’t want Dulsie to overhear whatever she had to say.

“You heard me coming,” he said to Nadine, trying to keep the mood light.

“I did,” she replied with a smile. “The sound of your stride is unmistakable.”

“Perhaps I shall have to disguise it to make your life more interesting.” She let out a gentle laugh, but it didn’t hide the severity in her eyes and he asked more quietly, “Is she all right?”

Nadine looked up at him with blatant concern in her countenance.

“Has the doctor seen her again?” he asked when she seemed hesitant to answer the first question.

“He has. It’s always the same. There is nothing physical that ails her, even though her depression seems to bring with it physical ailments. He said the fatigue and aching in her muscles are real, and we should respect that, but . . .” She sighed deeply. “It’s just so difficult to . . . understand.” She met his eyes, her concern deepening. “Erich,” she whispered, “you have always been so good to her; you know her better than anyone besides her father and me. You know the real reasons for her greatest struggles, even if she prefers not to talk about them. Still . . . maybe she needs to talk about them, but she . . . doesn’t want to. Perhaps you can get her to admit to how deeply this has hurt her . . . and why. You promised her—and me—that you would never tell anyone the whole truth, but now I wonder if we were wrong to try and keep the matter so quiet. It seems everyone in the entire country knows the truth—except certain members of the royal family. How is that possible?”

“Because people say things behind our backs that they would never dare say to our faces,” he said, trying not to sound as perturbed as he felt over the idea.

“That’s right,” Nadine said, “and Dulsie is finding that she is a victim of that very problem, and yet she is not a part of the royal family—and so the quandary keeps coming up and causing her grief.”

Erich sighed. He understood the implications between her words, but he didn’t know that he was any better equipped to help Dulsie than her parents. “I will do my best,” he said. “You know I will.”

“I know.” She squeezed his hand. “You’ve always been so good to her. Without you, I fear . . .” She cleared her throat gently and Erich was glad she didn’t finish the sentence. They both knew to what she referred; there was no need to say it.

Erich kissed Nadine on the brow and said, “I will make her smile if it kills me.”

Nadine laughed softly and hurried to wipe a hand over each cheek where tears had fallen. “Thank you. You know where to find me if you need me.”

“Yes,” he said and opened the sitting room door while Nadine moved on toward the stairs.

Erich entered the room to find Dulsie sitting in a spacious chair near the window, her feet tucked up beneath her skirts. She was undoubtedly beautiful, with dark hair and pale skin—the latter mostly a result of her hardly ever going out into sunlight. But she’d always kept her beauty well hidden by always dressing in dark colors and unfashionable styles, as if she were living her life in some kind of mourning. And her striking eyes were most often turned down, avoiding the possibility that anyone might look into them and see the truth about who she really was. Her parents had raised her well, had taught her to rise above the truth that didn’t have to define her. Yet somehow childhood taunts had merged into outward cruelty from others during her youth, and now she considered herself a spinster beyond all hope of finding any kind of real happiness in this life.

“Good morning,” he said and closed the door, leaning against it. She glanced toward him and showed a hint of a smile, but she said nothing before looking back toward the window. “Let’s run off and join a circus or something,” he added, and her smile widened, appearing to do so against her will. “I’ll be a clown, and you can train tigers, perhaps.”

“I think I’d rather ride an elephant. And I could be its caretaker.”

“You would need my help.” Erich plopped himself down into a chair that was familiar to him. “An elephant would eat a great deal, and that means a great deal of cleaning up, too—if you know what I mean.”

She smiled again. “Yes, I know what you mean.”

“So, you would need my help,” he said again.

Dulsie looked right at him and said, as if he didn’t know, “You can’t run away and be a clown or clean up after an elephant. You’re the next Duke of Horstberg. You have to stay here forever.”

“But you don’t,” he said more seriously, knowing they needed to acknowledge the heart of the problem. He’d decided long ago he would not avoid the things that troubled her, nor pretend they didn’t exist. Even though she rarely commented or shared her own feelings, he refused to ignore the problem. He believed that was one of the biggest reasons they’d remained so close over the years. “Maybe you should leave here; go somewhere else . . . where no one knows. And you wouldn’t have to join a circus.”

“You say that as if you’ve never brought it up before.”

“Perhaps it wasn’t right before now; perhaps this is the time.”

“The people I love are here,” she said. “Where would I go?”

“I don’t know, Dulsie. I just want to understand.”

“You do understand. There’s nothing to say that hasn’t been said between us many times before.”

“All right, then,” he said with an exaggerated sigh, “you must marry me.”

She actually laughed, but he suddenly didn’t want to be anything but completely serious.

“Dulsie,” he leaned forward and took her hand, “why not?”

“Erich,” she said in a tone that implied he’d lost his mind, “you’ve asked me a hundred times at least, and you can ask me a hundred more; the answer will still be the same.”

“But . . . this time I really mean it.”

“You’ve meant it before, or so you said.”

“I did mean it,” he insisted, then smiled. “Well, at least once or twice.” He tightened his hold on her hand, drawing her attention more fully to him. “But this time I really mean it. Marry me, Dulsie. We can make each other happy. You know we could. We are perfectly matched, and we’re in a perfect position to solve each other’s problems.”

Dulsie withdrew her hand and looked away. “Is that reason enough to marry anyone? To solve each other’s problems?”

“It could be,” he said firmly. “We love each other.”

“We do,” she said with sincerity. “But not like that. It’s never been that way between us, and we both know it.”

“But maybe what we have is enough.”

“And what?” She sounded mildly angry. “Allow the stigma and shame of my existence to taint your family and position? I would never do that to you!”

“I do not consider you to be any kind of stigma or shame,” Erich said, angry himself. “I don’t care what people think; nor should you.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” she snapped. “You cannot possibly know what it’s like, when people practically fall to their knees in worship at your very appearance. I can assure you it is quite the opposite with me. You’ve always been more than kind and gracious with me, Erich. But all of your public appearances with me on your arm have not changed the truth, nor the way people see me. I cannot be the Duchess of Horstberg—even if I wanted to, which I do not!”

“Should I be insulted?”

“No. And you shouldn’t act surprised. It’s not as if you didn’t know that. I would bring a curse upon you if I were to hold that position.”

“That’s ridiculous and you know it!” Erich insisted. “And don’t start the argument again about the blood in your veins, because you will never convince me that the worth of a person isn’t determined more by the goodness in her heart than by anything else.”

Dulsie looked out the window. “And once again we come to the same impasse.”

Erich sighed loudly and leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you, Dulsie? Tell me how I can help and I’ll do it. Anything!”

She turned to look at him, her expression softening. “You’re very good to me, Erich. If I knew the answer to that question, I would tell you. Because I believe you; I believe you would do anything for me. I also believe you need to have the good sense to remember who you are and what your obligations entail.”

“I know that very well,” he insisted. “I assure you my obligations are not being neglected, nor will they be tainted by our association.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“Dulsie . . . please.”

“Forgive me,” she said. “You know I take it out on you because you are kind enough to let me. I know you’ll love me no matter what I say or how I say it.”

“Yes, that’s true. I just want you to be happy.”

“And I just need some time.”

“Time to what?” he demanded. “Another year or two spent in this room? Looking out the window while the world changes all around you?”

“I did what everyone has been urging me to do for years. I took a risk, I opened my heart, I engaged myself in new social habits and made new friends. And look where it got me.” She glared at him as if it might be his fault. And maybe it was. He had certainly encouraged her to do those very things, and she had certainly ended up with a broken heart. “This room is safe,” she added, and he sighed again.

After grueling minutes of silence, she said, “Enough about me. Tell me what you’ve been doing. Distract me.”

Erich told her about the children and their antics, but there wasn’t anything else to tell her that she didn’t already know—since he’d been there to visit the previous afternoon. He finally declared that he needed to go; he knew there was business to be completed before meetings that would take place this afternoon. He hoped to get away in between to share lunch with Han at the pub. He kissed her brow and squeezed her hand, then hurried from the room, wishing that its stifling effect didn’t always cling to him. He felt fresh compassion for her family members who tried so hard to help Dulsie with no success. He saw Nadine at the foot of the stairs and wished he had something positive to say that would ease the concern in her eyes.

“I asked her to marry me,” he said with false brightness, “but again she has refused.”

Nadine did smile, but it faded quickly. “I dare say you would marry her if she’d even consider it.”

“Yes, I would, and I told her so.”

“But I fear you would only have a depressed wife, and everything would only be worse.”

“Perhaps. That doesn’t mean my offer isn’t sincere.”

“I know.” She gave him a motherly hug. “Thank you for your visits. I’m very grateful.”

He offered a wan smile. “If you think of anything I can do . . .”

“Of course. I know where to find you.”

He left with a heaviness in his heart that he knew was small compared to that in Dulsie’s. Then he considered the time and ran across the courtyard, into the castle, and to the dining room where his family was just finishing breakfast.

“Ah,” Cameron du Woernig said wryly, “how nice to actually see my son at breakfast.”

Erich sat at his usual place. “You work with me far too many hours of the day. I’m certain my being late for breakfast will not cause you too much grief.”

“You were visiting Dulsie,” Abbi du Woernig said. His mother had obviously been told that he was, since she was commenting rather than asking. And he knew what was coming next. “How is she?”

“The same,” was all Erich offered, and he was glad when Han changed the subject and lightened the mood. His best friend turned brother-in-law was gifted at keeping the struggles of life in perspective with his optimism and humor, and Erich was especially grateful for it now. He also felt grateful for the family that surrounded him. He was glad to permanently be residing with his parents, as well as with Maggie and Han and their growing family. Han’s father, Georg, also lived in the castle and shared meals with the family since he’d lost his wife some years earlier. Georg had always been like part of the family, so having him around all the time felt completely natural. And because he was the duke’s highest advisor, Erich worked with him as well, and he had a deep respect for Georg’s wisdom and intellect, as well as his unending kindness.

Erich was glad for trivial conversation at the breakfast table, and the others hovered there even though they had finished eating. He liked mornings when there were no urgent meetings to get to, even though there was always plenty of work to be done. But the pleasant atmosphere in the room fragmented when Maggie said, “I’ve been especially worried about Dulsie since Klara told me the most astonishing thing about her. If the servants are saying such things—and believing them—it’s no wonder she doesn’t want to come out of her room.”

Erich tried to ignore the sudden tension in the room and cleared his throat. “Be careful, little sister,” he said. “Don’t give too much credence to gossip from your lady’s maid.”

“Klara has been with me since I was a child,” Maggie said, “and she is not one to pay attention to idle gossip. She would not have told me if she didn’t believe it had some validity.”

Erich wondered why Maggie hadn’t brought this up when they’d crossed paths earlier in the nursery, but with the children in the room, it likely wouldn’t have been a good idea. He preferred that she not bring it up at all, but it was evident she intended to. He strongly suspected what she was going to say, and wished that she wouldn’t. But perhaps, as Nadine had said, it would be better if the royal family knew and talked about all of the things that were said about them behind their backs.

“Although,” Maggie said, “I can hardly believe it’s true. How can we have grown up with her and not have known such a thing?”

Erich noticed the way his parents and Georg became solemnly alert, as if they all knew exactly what Maggie was talking about. Did they? he wondered, feeling as incredulous as Maggie. Could they all have known all this time, and it has never been discussed?

“I don’t consider anything said among us here to be gossip,” Maggie continued, “because we’re not like that; we’re family. But I have to say it. I have to know if it’s true.”

“So say it,” Han said, encouraging his wife, even though he clearly had no idea what she was talking about.

“Well,” Maggie seemed hesitant, and almost looked as if she might cry, “Klara said that Dulsie is not Captain Dukerk’s daughter by blood, that he married Nadine when Dulsie was a child, and she is one of Nikolaus du Woernig’s many illegitimate children.”

Han gasped and his eyes went wide. No one else spoke or moved. Maggie looked around at the lack of response from everyone but her husband and declared the obvious. “You knew! You all knew!”

“I didn’t know!” Han looked at his father. “Is that true?”

“I’m afraid it is,” Georg said. “I’m genuinely surprised you didn’t know,” he added, looking at Han, then at Maggie.

Her quick glance at Erich made it clear that he’d already known, and Maggie jumped on verbalizing the reasons for that. “You knew, as well,” she said directly to Erich. “You’ve been her friend all these years, and you knew.”

“Yes, I knew,” Erich said. “And you can’t be surprised that I would keep such information in confidence.”

“No, of course not,” Maggie said. “I would never want or expect you to repeat such a thing, but . . . if the servants are talking about it, then . . .”

“The whole country knows,” Abbi stated. “That’s the nature of being royalty, isn’t it? We’re always the last to know that everyone knows everything. So we just have to assume that they do.”

“I can’t believe it,” Maggie said and she did start to cry. She looked at her father. “She’s our cousin, then.”

“Yes,” Cameron said, but he had an expression that was typical whenever the abhorrent behavior of his deceased brother came up.

“Every bit as much as Nik Koenig,” Maggie added, and the hatred she felt for Nikolaus du Woernig’s son was evident in her tone. But they all felt that way; he had caused a great deal of grief for all of them. Of course, Nik was a legitimate child to the late Nikolaus du Woernig, even if no one had known of his existence until he’d reached adulthood. But he had proven to be a deplorable person with selfish and destructive motives, much as his father had been. And no one sitting in the room wanted to even acknowledge his existence. But Maggie had stated a fact that had to be addressed, and the temperature in the room had suddenly become colder.

“Yes,” Cameron said again, his voice husky with barely suppressed anger.

Erich cleared his throat and drew together the strength to say what he knew needed to be said. Now that the subject had been opened, he preferred to offer some clarity to the situation as opposed to allowing his sister and her husband remain blind to the whole picture. “You must understand,” he began quietly, “that Dulsie has a sensitive personality. And people have known the truth since she was a child.” He repeated what he’d said earlier to Nadine. “The reality is that people say things behind our backs that they would never dare say to our faces, which means we often don’t know what’s being said. So, while we might be oblivious to the impact of her paternity, she has suffered greatly for it. Even though I believe she is much stronger than she thinks she is, I can’t blame her a bit for not wanting to go out into the world and subject herself to that.”

“Nor can I!” Maggie said vehemently and wiped her tears. “I just . . . wish I had known. Perhaps I could have . . . I don’t know . . . helped, somehow.”

“And perhaps there is simply nothing anyone can do,” Abbi said. “We’ve always loved her as part of the family, and—”

“And she is literally a part of the family,” Han pointed out.

“Yes,” Cameron said again, exchanging a glance with Abbi that seemed to hold some hidden meaning. But Erich felt certain he didn’t want to know whatever else he might not know.

“Is that the reason?” Maggie asked Erich, looking directly at him.

“The reason for what?”

“Is that the reason this recent courtship ended so abruptly for Dulsie? Does it have something to do with this?”

Erich heaved a ragged sigh. “Yes,” he said and looked down. “It was all going very well with this young man, until his parents got wind of the gossip. When they learned it was not gossip but actually true, they did not want their son to see Dulsie any further. Even though he protested, she did not want to be associated with a family who could not set the issue aside and accept her on her own merits. And I don’t blame her. Who would want to always have that hanging over them? How could she marry into a family with such an attitude in place?”

“I agree,” Abbi said. “As difficult as it is to see her alone, at least she is loved without condition among family and friends. I hope she can find someone who can see past all this nonsense that has nothing to do with her, but we simply have no control over the matter.” Abbi then looked directly at Maggie and said, “You must be careful not to behave differently toward Dulsie now that you know. She is sharp and she will sense it. Just be kind and gracious to her as you have always been.”

“I can assure you that she doesn’t want to talk about it,” Erich added. “And she doesn’t want attention drawn to the matter. Let’s just . . . leave it that.”

Maggie nodded and wiped more tears. She was always more prone to crying when she was pregnant, but it was obvious that her compassion for Dulsie went deep. “I can’t believe you all knew,” she said again, glancing toward her parents.

“Of course we knew,” Cameron said, looking mostly at her. “Nadine had believed—like many other women—that she was married to Nikolaus. He sent her away when she got pregnant, and quickly stopped sending her any financial support. He’d abandoned her long before he died. She finally came here in desperation with her young daughter, and we did our best to help her. Lance fell in love with Nadine—and with Dulsie. He’s the only real father she’s ever known, and the only one that matters. And that is all that any of us needs to know. Enough said.”

Cameron rose abruptly to his feet as if to declare an end to the conversation. The other men did the same, and Erich joined them, not feeling much appetite. A few minutes later they were settled in the office, focusing on the business at hand, but his own thoughts were drawn frequently toward his concern for Dulsie. Would she truly remain a spinster and find nothing in her life beyond what she had now? And he wondered if he too would forever remain single, unable to find a woman who could fill his heart and take on all that was required to stand at his side. A part of him believed that he and Dulsie were truly well matched. But he also couldn’t deny her reasons for being opposed to the union. He longed to find the kind of love he knew his parents shared. But he’d been feeling that way for years, and he wondered if it would ever be.

Kathe Lokberg vehemently kneaded the bread dough against the surface of the table, occasionally glancing out the window for any sign of her brother’s arrival. Theodor worked on the other side of the valley, and occasionally he took his son, Karl, to stay with him there for a few days at a time. Little Karl lived here in the family home with Kathe and her father—who was also named Karl—since Theodor’s wife had died while bringing Little Karl into the world. Kathe knew it was good for the child to be with his father as much as possible, but she missed him when he was gone, and she knew they should have arrived by now.

Her thoughts wandered through sporadic memories while she got the bread into the oven and worked to clean up the mess. She was taking out the freshly baked bread when she saw her brother’s horse coming up the long drive, and a minute later Karl burst through the side door of the house, his father right behind him.

“We’re back!” Karl shouted and ran toward her.

Kathe wiped her hands on her apron and bent down to hug Karl tightly. “Did you have a good time?” she asked.

He beamed and nodded, announcing, “I’m going to go tell Grandpapa what we did.”

After Little Karl had gone back outside in search of his grandfather, Kathe frowned toward her brother. “He’ll be spoiled rotten if you keep taking him up there so often.”

“The princess’s children are well disciplined, I can assure you,” Theodor said. “With the way you talk about them, you’d think I was exposing him to leprosy or something.”

She scowled and turned back to her work.

“What are you making?” he asked, lifting the lid off a pot to take a deep whiff.

“Stuffed cabbage,” she announced. “Get out of there. If I find any evidence that you’ve been sneaking food before lunch is ready, I’ll have you scrubbing floors.”

Theodor laughed. “Ooh, you get sassier every day.”

“I’m competent. Isn’t that what you always tell me? And be glad I am, or you would be in a fix.”

“I’m grateful for all that you do for Karl,” Theodor said, putting a gentle hand on his sister’s arm. “I know I don’t say it often, but your sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed.”

Kathe smiled. “I love Little Karl. It’s no sacrifice.”

“I know you do, Kathe. But you have your own life to live. You need to get out more. Do you have any friends?”

She turned away from him defensively. “None worth mentioning. I enjoy what I’m doing with my life.”

“Cooking? Cleaning?”

“I spend a lot of my time in the garden.”

“Yes, and it’s lovely. But there is more to life than that.”

Kathe ignored him and moved the pot off the stove, well aware that he knew she wouldn’t send him away hungry. “I assume you have to hurry and eat so that you can get back.”

“Actually . . . there is nothing important going on for His Highness today; at least not anything that requires a change of clothes. Therefore, I have the rest of the day off.”

“How delightful!” Kathe said, and together they set the table for lunch before Theodor went out to their father’s workshop behind the house to get him and Little Karl. Kathe enjoyed having Theodor there throughout the remainder of the day, and she was relieved that he didn’t bring up anything more about her lack of social exposure. She genuinely didn’t care about that at this point in her life, but she wasn’t certain how to convince her brother.

The following day, Kathe walked the short distance into town, hoping to get to the butcher’s before his best cuts were gone. She would then enjoy looking over the produce and other items set out by the many vendors. Since it was market day, there was always the best quality and variety available.

She left Little Karl in the care of his grandfather and put a basket over her arm in which she would carry her purchases. While she walked at a leisurely pace and enjoyed the pleasant weather, her mind wandered to Theodor’s reasons for concern on her behalf. She’d been unable to push it out of her mind as she had in the past, and she wondered if she did need a change in her life. At times she nearly felt as if she were Little Karl’s mother. But now that he was getting older, he depended on her less and less, and admittedly she felt lonely when he wasn’t there. Was that the reason she resented the time he spent at Castle Horstberg? Or did she fear he might actually grow so accustomed to being in the company of royal snobbery that he wouldn’t want anything to do with her?

Kathe had never felt any interest in having a social life. She had plenty of years ahead to be concerned about such things. Right now, she was happy to just stay at home and do the things she was comfortable doing. Her father had suggested once that she was afraid to get out in the world, perhaps because of the losses she’d experienced in her life. Maybe that was true. But Kathe didn’t care whether or not it was. She was happy and content, and she wanted to be there for Little Karl as long as he needed her.

Kathe wandered idly through the congested market square, lost in her thoughts. She heard some commotion behind her and turned to see two well-dressed men riding slowly through the crowd on horseback. By the way people eased back in awe, she felt certain they had to be members of the royal family, though she couldn’t be certain since she wouldn’t have known any of them on sight. She could see no resemblance between the two men. They were both equally tall, but their coloring and appearance had no similarities. Kathe paused curiously, trying to comprehend her brother working for these people. She was surprised at the way they interacted amiably with the commoners when she had expected them to just ride through with their noses in the air. She noted that one of the men had curly red hair, unlike anything she’d ever seen before. She recalled that Theodor had told her the du Woernigs had all inherited red hair from the duchess. This surely had to be Erich du Woernig, the heir to the Duke of Horstberg. The duke and duchess only had one son.

Though she remained at a distance, Kathe observed him more closely, trying to imagine her brother being his personal assistant each and every day. Then she recalled that she had seen Prince Erich briefly around the time of Leisl’s death, though she’d been far too caught up in her own grief to give the encounter much thought.

Theodor always spoke of Erich as if he’d somehow descended from heaven or something, but he looked awfully ordinary to Kathe; perhaps far more ordinary than she’d ever imagined. Though she’d never admit it to Theodor, she couldn’t deny her intrigue for the prince as she heard him laugh over something an elderly woman said to him. She watched as he bent low in the saddle and pressed the woman’s hand briefly to his lips. He smiled, and Kathe became unexpectedly seized by a rush of butterflies. He was adorable. The curly hair and dimpled cheeks nearly made him look like an overgrown little boy. Yet as he straightened in his saddle and eased his mount slowly forward, she was struck with his stature, his majesty, his regal demeanor.

Unnerved by her reaction and the way it contradicted everything she’d believed about this man, Kathe forced her attention away. Her eye was drawn to a young child riding his own horse between the prince and his companion. From his size, Kathe guessed him to be near Little Karl’s age, yet his stance and manner constituted someone much older. It was almost incongruous the way he rode the massive stallion with perfect ease. While Prince Erich seemed like a child in a man’s body, this boy seemed the opposite. The dignity and presence about him was that of a grown man. His wavy rust-colored hair made it evident he had du Woernig blood. Surely he had to be the young prince born the same year as Little Karl. Seeing him like this, it was difficult for Kathe to imagine the boys playing together at the castle. Kathe felt certain now that the other man riding with them was this child’s father, who held some important position worthy of being married to the Princess MagdaLena.

In the few minutes Kathe observed them as they rode past, apparently to some important destination, she couldn’t deny feeling something change inside her. Through the course of completing her errands, and all the way home, she wondered about the family her brother worked for, when she’d hardly given them a second thought before. Perhaps it was just seeing them that made them feel real. That night as Kathe prepared for bed, she felt unnerved to find her thoughts still preoccupied with Prince Erich and his young nephew. She gazed out the corner window of her bedroom toward where Castle Horstberg sat at the far side of the valley, and tried to comprehend these people eating and sleeping just like everybody else. Recalling a vivid picture of Erich du Woernig smiling at the old woman, a fresh rush of butterflies seized her. Had she gone mad?

For several days, Kathe found herself fantasizing about Prince Erich of Horstberg. While her mind wandered, she began to question whether or not she was truly content—or if this fear her father had suggested was more real than she wanted to admit. Figuring there was little to be done about it either way, she indulged in her fantasies, certain that every young woman in Horstberg must have had similar thoughts concerning the prince. Knowing she would likely never cross his path, she considered thoughts of him a harmless pastime. But eventually her fantasies became tedious, and she convinced herself that even if a prince ever took a second glance at her, he was likely too arrogant and stuffy to make any woman happy.

Erich continued to visit Dulsie every morning before starting his typically busy day. He grew increasingly concerned by her darkening mood, until he felt compelled to request some time with both of her parents to privately discuss the matter. Captain Dukerk could be an imposing man, and Erich had certainly seen him in his role as the Captain of the Guard over the years. But just like Erich’s own father, Lance Dukerk could set aside his position and be a man, a friend, a husband, and a father. And Erich had witnessed that transformation as well throughout the course of his life. When he sat down with Lance and Nadine in one of the castle parlors, they felt as they often had, more like an aunt and uncle to him, and he knew he could have this conversation with them.

As he had learned to do by working with good and powerful men for many years, he got straight to the point. “I’m growing increasingly concerned about Dulsie, and I’m certain you both must be feeling the same.”

“We certainly are,” Lance took hold of his wife’s hand. “But we feel helpless.”

“As we know you do,” Nadine said.

“No one knows her struggles more than the three of us sitting here,” Lance added, “but we know she opens up to you more than she does to her parents.”

“Perhaps,” Erich said, not wanting to discredit what very good parents they were to Dulsie. “I keep having a feeling in regard to her that I’ve tried to push away, but I can’t do it any longer. No one knows but us how close we came to losing her when . . .” Erich hesitated to bring up the horrible time when Dulsie had tried to take her own life. His usual visit had saved her—quite literally, when he had found her bleeding profusely. With the help of her parents and a trusted servant, they had been able to stop the bleeding and see her cared for without anyone else knowing. And Erich had to admit now, “I look back and realize that I had felt uneasy for a long time before that terrible day. I can’t ignore my feelings now.” He noted how Lance and Nadine eased closer together and tightened their grip on each other’s hands. “Forgive me if this sounds abrupt, but I really believe she needs to leave Horstberg. It nags at me and I feel conflicted; that’s why I haven’t brought it up. Her family and closest friends are here, I know. And I know how difficult it would be for you to have her live elsewhere, but . . .”

“But we want her to live,” Lance said.

“And not just remain alive,” Nadine said with the arrival of tears, “but to have joy in her life.”

Lance sighed. “I believe we’ve both felt the same but haven’t wanted to admit it.” He and his wife shared a long gaze before looking back to Erich. “Perhaps we needed you to help us make that decision.”

Erich felt encouraged by the validation of his ongoing feelings over the matter and went on. “I would miss her dreadfully, as I know you would. But we all want to see her do much better than she is now. I just feel in my gut that she will never be free of what haunts her as long as she remains in Horstberg. For her, the taint exists in this country. Elsewhere, it wouldn’t matter.” He took a deep breath and continued. “I understand Didi has family less than an hour’s drive from here that she visits somewhat regularly.”

“That’s right,” Lance’s eyes widened slightly.

“Didi is close to Dulsie; she knows everything but cares for her with sincere affection.”

“Yes,” Nadine said, a mild lilt of hope in her voice as she was apparently picking up on where his idea might be going.

“I suggest that you could possibly arrange for Dulsie and Didi to go live there. I know you have ample resources to get them a home of their own. Let Didi care for her as she does now, as a lady’s maid and companion. They can live close to Didi’s family but not with them, thus not causing a burden, but they would have support. Didi has mentioned that she herself has more than one male admirer there, and I’ve seen how her eyes light up when she speaks of such things. She came here looking for work, but I sense she would rather live there. It’s not so far that you couldn’t see Dulsie regularly, and letters can certainly be sent back and forth often. Perhaps it’s the answer. Whether Dulsie remains single or finds someone to settle down with, she can do so in a country where she is not forever tainted with the curse of du Woernig blood.”

Erich noticed Lance flinching slightly and feared that his comment had sounded insensitive to Dulsie’s plight, but that was the truth of it. And for all that Erich was a legitimate heir and his challenges were entirely different from Dulsie’s, he still felt sometimes that it was more a curse than a blessing to be a du Woernig. He loved his family, but he often wished they could be farmers or shopkeepers. It would certainly make life a whole lot less complicated.

There was silence while Erich’s words seemed to settle. Nadine finally spoke, “I think it’s a brilliant idea, Erich. I’m ashamed that I never thought of it myself. Perhaps I’m too close to the problem to see what now seems obvious.” She turned to her husband and asked, “What do you think?”

“I think it’s perfect,” he said, but with a crack in his voice to indicate that he would sorely miss his daughter. Erich’s heart warmed with poignancy and admiration to see how literally Lance had taken on the role of Dulsie’s father, and how much he loved her. He thought of the irony of Nik Koenig technically being his cousin, and how much he loathed the man. While Erich respected the sharing of blood, he couldn’t deny that family was so much more than that. He could never consider Nik Koenig as family, but he felt that being family well described these good people who had so much love in their hearts.

Lance cleared his throat and composed himself before looking Erich in the eye and saying, “Thank you, son.” Erich loved it when Lance referred to him that way; Georg often did the same, and he was honored that these great men would consider him to be like their own son. They had both said as much many times, and for him, the feeling of family was mutual. “I think we should speak with Didi and Dulsie about it right away and not hesitate. I can take a day or two off work and see to arrangements.”

“I completely agree,” Nadine said, even though her tears made it evident this was a quandary with no ideal solution and she would miss her daughter terribly. She summed it up when she added, “I just need to know that she is happy and that she feels safe.”

She sniffled. “I know what it’s like to not feel safe, and I don’t want that for her. Perhaps we have been selfish in trying to keep her close to us.”

“You can’t look at it that way,” Erich said. “We’ve all believed that keeping her close would keep her safe. But perhaps it’s time for a new season in her life.”

“I’m certain you’re right,” Lance said. “Thank you . . . for all you’ve done for her.”

Erich assured them that his friendship with Dulsie had never been any sacrifice for him, and that he would certainly keep in touch with her whether or not she decided to leave the country. He prayed that she would go. In his heart he knew this was best.

He visited with Dulsie’s parents for another hour as they talked through many facets of what they felt was best, and they all hoped that Dulsie would be in agreement. They felt that it was best for her parents to propose the plan to her, although they would be honest about having spoken with Erich about it. They promised to let him know if he could do anything.

Erich felt some relief in having shared his feelings with Lance and Nadine. He visited with Dulsie the next morning and found her torn over whether or not to leave, but leaning toward making the change, believing it was a good idea. Didi was all in favor of it. She loved working for the Dukerk family and was especially fond of Dulsie, but she admitted to missing her own family. The idea of being closer to them was thrilling for her.

The following day Erich found Dulsie packing her things and in good spirits. Lance and Nadine had gone with Didi to her home country to see to some arrangements, and they had returned with news that a small home had been purchased, two servants hired to watch after the women, and all other arrangements had been made.

Two days later, Erich was in the courtyard when the last of Dulsie’s things were loaded onto the waiting carriage. He’d shared a long talk with Dulsie the previous evening, so they’d already given the bulk of their goodbyes. But he needed to be here to see her off. They’d already promised to write letters regularly, and to visit when possible. Although they both knew that her returning to Horstberg would always be difficult, and his life was so busy and complicated that getting away to see her wouldn’t happen very often.

When Erich saw Dulsie approaching with Didi and her parents, he was overcome by an unexpected surge of emotion, and he had to consciously will himself to hold back a hot rush of tears. He knew in his heart that this was best, but they had shared a long and meaningful friendship since they were children, and he knew that nothing would ever be the same between them. He had an urge to beg her to stay and marry him, and to promise that he would imprison anyone who spoke ill against her, but he knew in his deepest self that it wasn’t right for either of them, as much as he might want it in that moment.

“I thought we’d already said goodbye,” Dulsie took the hand he reached out toward her. The others discreetly kept their distance to allow Erich and Dulsie some privacy.

“You know I couldn’t let you leave without being here to see you off,” he said, proud of himself for the steadiness in his own voice.

He saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes and a hint in her expression that she almost wished he hadn’t been here now, if only so they could avoid this moment laden with emotions that felt unbearable.

She surprised him when she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “You know how I love you, Erich. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. But it’s time for both of us to move on.”

“I know,” he said, his voice now trembling. “And you know the feeling is mutual.”

Dulsie drew back with courage in her eyes and a forced smile. “So, let’s just say goodbye and get it over with. I will write to you as soon as I’m settled, and I’ll expect a letter back right away. Promise me.”

“Of course.” He felt stray tears escape his eyes as she kissed his cheek. He kissed hers in return and found it wet.

Erich turned to help her into the waiting carriage, squeezing her hand tightly. He hurried to wipe his tears away before he nodded toward Didi and said, “Take good care of her.”

“I will, Your Highness,” she said with a nod in return. “I promise.”

Erich stood in the courtyard and watched the carriage roll away. Considering how difficult Dulsie’s life had been, Erich could only believe that this was a good thing. He drew in a long sigh and forced himself to hurry to his father’s office and begin his work for the day, all the while carrying a prayer for Dulsie in his heart.

Within just a few weeks, Dulsie’s letters began to get brighter. She was settling in, loving her home, her neighbors, her new surroundings. Didi’s family was colorful and kind and welcoming, and all was well. Erich loved the details she shared with him, and he wrote back with nothing new to tell her, but with support and encouragement for the new life she was beginning. He only wished his heart would stop aching over the lack of change in his own life. And he wondered if he would ever find the happiness that he wanted to believe was out there somewhere for him.

Kathe noticed over a number of weeks that Theodor had begun bringing gentlemen friends home with him for Sunday dinner. After it happened the third time, Kathe began to realize he was deeming himself personally responsible for putting some romance into her life. They fought over it more than once, but when her father sat down and had a long talk with her, she agreed to give a particular gentleman a chance. It quickly came to nothing, as did her next several attempts to be gracious and interested in a man.

When Theodor came to visit the day after she had ended yet another potential relationship, she was shocked to hear him say, “Perhaps you should marry the prince. I think the two of you are well suited.”

Certain he was teasing, she countered, “If you’re trying to say that we’re both arrogant and impertinent, I would have to say that is one of the most unkind things you’ve ever said to me.”

Kathe was even more shocked by his genuine surprise. “The prince is neither arrogant nor impertinent.”

“But I am?”

“You said it, not me,” Theodor insisted, and Kathe made a huffing sound and turned her back to him. He chuckled and she felt certain his suggestion about matching her up with the prince was entirely in jest. It had to be! He’d teased her about the possibility in the past, when she’d been far too young to be considering marriage. Even though it hadn’t come up for years, he surely had to be joking.

Kathe felt increasingly irritated when Theodor persisted with his new game of teasing her about marrying the prince. She almost wondered at first if he had read her mind even though she’d tried very hard not to think about Erich du Woernig. But Theodor seemed to believe her when she insisted that she wanted nothing to do with royalty and if he brought any of them anywhere near her, she promised to embarrass him.

Every time Kathe saw her brother, he told her that if she didn’t stop being so sassy, she would end up an old maid. Kathe told him she didn’t care, but in her heart she could no longer deny the truth. She was lonely. And while she was convinced that the most eligible bachelor in Horstberg was not the man for her, she began to wonder where exactly she might encounter the right man.