Beauty's Beast(84)

When he turned to go back outside, she caught him by the hand yet again. “Don’t run away from us, Erik. We love you.”

He lifted a hand to his face, then shook his head. “No.”

“You needn’t hide from us. The servants have all gone to bed. There’s no one to see you but us. Please. It’s not good for you to be so alone.”

For a moment, she thought he would refuse; then, with a sigh, he placed his hand in hers.

Lady Trevayne looked up as they entered the room, her surprise at seeing her son evident in her eyes. “Erik.”

“Mother.”

“I’m so very glad you’re here. Come, sit beside me.”

Feeling self-conscious, he padded across the floor and sat down on the damask-covered sofa. Kristine followed him, taking the seat on his other side.

He drew a deep breath and loosed it in a long, slow sigh, aware of their eyes upon him, aware that they were trying not to stare at his feet, his left hand, his face. He was a freak, he thought bitterly, a thing to be stared at, pitied. Anger boiled up inside him, and with it an urge to strike out against them, to rail against the fate that had brought him to this. And then he saw the tears in his mother’s eyes, felt Kristine’s gentle touch on his arm, and the anger drained out of him.

Taking a deep, calming breath, he looked at the wizard. “How long will you be staying?”

Caddaric glanced at Edith before answering. “I’m not sure. Do you wish me to leave?”

“No. If it would not be an imposition, I should very much like for you to stay until . . . until I can no longer take care of my own affairs. When that time comes, I would consider it a great favor if you would make certain that my wishes are carried out as planned.”

“You needn’t worry,” Caddaric said. “I shall stay as long as necessary.”

“My thanks.”

“I only wish I could do more for you.”

“Nothing can be done for me. My only worry now is for my family.”

Caddaric looked over at Edith again. She met his gaze, a faint smile curving her lips, and then she nodded.

“You need have no fear. I have asked your mother to be my wife,” the wizard said. “And she has accepted.”

“Oh, but that’s wonderful,” Kristine exclaimed softly, and then she looked at Erik, wondering how he would take the news.

“I hope we can have your blessing,” Caddaric said.

“You have it,” Erik replied. He took his mother’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I hope the two of you will be happy.”

“Thank you,” Edith replied. “We had thought to wait until . . . to wait, but now, if you have no objection, we should like to be wed tomorrow afternoon.”

“On Christmas Day,” Erik murmured. He felt a rush of guilt at having denied Kristine and the household the chance to celebrate, but he’d been so caught up in his own misery, he’d given no thought to the holiday.

Edith nodded. “And I should very much like for you to give the bride away.”

“I would be honored to do so.” Erik lifted his mother’s hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “I hope you will be happy this time.”

“I shall take good care of her,” Caddaric promised.

Erik nodded. “I know you will.” He gave his mother a hug, then stood up and crossed the floor to shake the wizard’s hand. “It will be easier for me, knowing they have someone to look after them,” he said, his voice gruff, and then, without another word, he left the room.

Edith stared after him, tears running down her cheeks. Kristine blinked back tears of her own when Caddaric knelt beside Edith and took her hands in his, and then she hurried after Erik.

She found him in his room, staring out the window. “Are you upset?” she asked. “About the marriage?”

“No, I am glad of it. My mother deserves some happiness in her life.”

“What do you mean?”

“She never loved my father, nor did he love her. It was a marriage arranged by their parents.”

Kristine placed a hand over her belly, grateful for the child she carried, for the love she felt for its father. She understood now why Lady Trevayne’s eyes had once held such sadness. She had been wed to a man she didn’t love, had seen her oldest son killed in an accident. And now Erik . . . Erik.

She crossed the floor to stand behind him, slid her arms around his waist, and laid her cheek against his back. “I love you.”

He swallowed hard as he placed his right hand over her arm. “And I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone else. More than my life.”

Slowly, he turned and drew her into his arms. “You are a most remarkable woman, Kristine. So lovely, so brave.”