“But of course you do,” Sigrid said, reaching out to take her hand. “I am your sister and I want only your happiness. That is what sisters are for, is it not? To look after one another as best they can?”
Emma blinked away fresh tears. “But what of you? What of your own happiness?”
Sigrid laughed and gave Emma’s hand a quick squeeze. “You are a sweet child. You really are. But not to worry, I shall be more than content with my lot. And truthfully, I do not at all mind the idea of being a queen. Her Majesty, Queen Sigrid. It has rather a magnificent ring to it, do you not think?”
Laughter burst from Emma’s lips this time and Nick grinned.
Rupert did not. “That is all well and good, Queen Sigrid,” he stated in a serious voice. “But what about Otto? You realize that his consent will be required for this newly proposed match?”
Sigrid turned to her brother. “Oh, Otto won’t mind a change of bride. He was telling me only yesterday while we were riding to hounds how unfortunate it is that Emma does not share his love of sport. He confided that he has far more fun with me and asked if I had ever considered remarrying. Besides that, he is an unprincipled flirt and has been making overtures toward me since the first evening we met. I confess I have done little to discourage him. Dreadful rogue, old Otto.”
“He is what?” Rupert roared. “Why that—”
“Yes, his flirting is in rather poor taste under the circumstances,” she agreed. “But it works to our advantage. As for producing sons to carry on Otto’s legacy,” she added, addressing what she obviously felt would be Rupert’s next point, “I am still young enough to give him an heir or two. He can have no worries over my ability to bear children, seeing I am already a mother twice over.”
“But, Sigrid, are you absolutely certain you want to marry him?” Emma asked again with a frown.
Her sister gave her a serene look. “I am. For all his faults, Otto is not a mean-spirited man. More important, he will be good to my daughters. At their age, they have great need of a father and, as I have clearly seen, he will make a fine parent. He makes the girls laugh as they have not done since before Carlo died. I want to see them laugh and know they are happy. Marriage seems a small price to pay for that, and for you as well, dear Emma.”
“But what of love?”
Sigrid shrugged. “Some of us are luckier in that regard than others. You have that luck, Emma, since I can see that you love and are deeply loved in return. So do not worry over me. Just go and enjoy your life. And who knows, mayhap Otto and I shall tumble head over heels for each other and realize we are soul mates after all.”
Emma hesitated only a moment more before hurrying across to envelop Sigrid in a fierce hug. “You are the best sister anyone could ever have,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
Sigrid returned the embrace for long moments before easing away. “Be careful. You might break a rib,” she teased, her eyes glistening more brightly than usual.
Stepping away, Emma couldn’t help but grin. Then, heart brimming, she turned back to Nick and reached out a hand for him to take.
Before he could do so, Rupert’s voice cut through the air between them. “That still doesn’t mean I am giving my permission for you and Lyndhurst to wed. I don’t know anything about him, other than the fact that he claims not to care about your fortune.”
“Luckily for us all, I know a great deal,” Sigrid declared. “Lord Lyndhurst is a highly respectable man and an esteemed peer of the British realm. He is a decorated war hero, who fought the French with distinction as the captain of one of His Majesty’s finest battleships. As for his wealth, he indeed has no need of Emma’s. He is nearly as wealthy as you, Rupert, so do not even consider the idea that he might be a fortune hunter.”
Rupert crossed his arms over his chest again and scowled.
“Your pardon, Your Highness,” Nick said, gazing at Sigrid. “But how is it you come to know so much about me?”
She gave him an imperious look. “You don’t think I would let my little sister marry a man of whom I know nothing, do you? Give me credit for having some intelligence. I had you investigated, of course.”
Nick gave his head a little shake, then reached out and took Emma’s hand, pulling her into his arms. “Remind me never to get on your sister’s bad side.”
“Or my brother’s.” Emma sighed. She looked at her brother, her eyes imploring. “Rupert? Please say you’ll give your consent for Nick and me to marry. If you do, I promise not to ask you for another thing ever again.”