I’d thought he was gone.
I’d even so far as hoped he was gone, a hope that caused me guilt as well as angst.
“Brikitta,” I greeted, not quite warmly because I did not yet have the skills to pull that off.
“Franka,” she replied stiltedly.
“And where is Timofei?” I asked, glancing around as my brother rounded his wife to come toward me.
It was Kristian who answered me.
“Your nephew fell asleep in the sleigh right before we arrived. He’s having a difficult time sleeping so we didn’t want to rouse him. He’s under furs outside with his nanny.”
I looked up at my brother, into kind blue eyes that had never been anything but, even when they rested on me.
“Brother,” I whispered.
“Sister,” he whispered back.
Bloody hell.
I was going to weep.
Right in the grand hall of the Winter Palace, for the first time since I was a wee child, I was going to weep.
My brother there, tall, handsome, healthy and safe.
Me with him, perhaps not healthy, but also safe.
Our ordeal over.
The relief of it all surged over me and I didn’t know if I could withstand it.
I needed to escape.
Immediately.
Before I could do so, Kristian tore his glove from his hand and lifted it.
Cupping my cheek, he moved close to me, dipping his face to mine.
“Franka,” he said softly.
“I’m glad you’re well,” I forced out in a voice that was not my own. It was hoarse and unpolished.
He continued to speak in his quiet voice as if he only wished me to hear.
“It was bad.”
“It was,” I affirmed, wanting to touch him, to pull him to me, to wrap my arms around him and have him wrap his around me like we did when we were youngsters, before my mother and father put a stop to it.
Now his voice was gruff. “Sister.”
“I endured,” I shared the obvious.
His eyes started to get bright with tears when he replied, “You always did.”
I delicately cleared my throat and stepped back far enough away from him so his hand dropped.
“You need to settle your family. Rest. Have some luncheon. We’ll talk more when you’re revived from your journey.”
I included Brikitta in this invitation and noted she was staring at me like she’d never seen me, or indeed anything like me before.
“Yes, Franka. Of course,” Kristian said.
“Ah, they’ve arrived. Excellent.” We heard from behind us and we all turned to the voice to see Queen Aurora moving our way.
Brikitta and I dropped into curtsies. Kristian bowed.
“Rise, rise,” Aurora murmured. “Delighted you made it safely, Kristian, Brikitta,” she stated, sweeping them with her glance. “Your room awaits, one of the rooms with a nursery attached. Thus Timofei’s cot also awaits.”
“Our gratitude, your grace,” Kristian replied.
“Not at all,” she stated, turning and motioning to a hovering footman. “See them to their rooms and please see that their trunks are brought up and send a maid to them.”
“Yes, your grace,” the footman replied, doing a slight bow then extending a hand out to Kristian and Brikkita.
“We’ll sit together later, yes?” Kristian asked as he put his hand to his wife’s elbow.
“Of course,” I replied. “Pleased you’re all here safe.”
Brikitta nodded and her eyes skittered away. Kristian gave me a smile and then turned to Brikitta’s maid, “Please would you see how Nanny’s faring with Tim?”
“Yes, Lord Kristian.”
She promptly made her way to the front doors.
Kristian and Brikitta followed the footman.
Aurora made her way to me.
“You’re well, Franka?” she asked.
“Very well, my queen,” I answered.
“Lovely,” she said and began moving away, declaring, “Much looking forward to your lively discourse at dinner.”
I stood still and stared after her.
Then I felt the mirth bubble up my throat and only just managed to swallow it down.
I barely said anything at dinner. During the first dinner I’d been commanded to attend once I was well enough to do so, this was because I had no intention to. Last night it was because the conversation was so fast and furious between the men and women, I couldn’t get a word in.
I had a feeling that was my queen’s subtle way of telling me to fit my words in.
She really shouldn’t press for that. There was much surprising me recently and most of it had to do with my own behavior.
Therefore even I didn’t know what would happen.
* * * * *
It was surprisingly not me who caused a stir at dinner that evening.
It was my always mild-mannered brother.
This happened promptly after I informed him, once he and his family left the Winter Palace, I was journeying with Josette and our new acquisition across the Green Sea.
He was my dinner partner, sitting to my right, and I thought we had a cocoon of privacy thus it was safe to share this information without others inputting their opinions.
Until he shouted, “Have you gone mad?”
“Kristian,” I murmured, shocked at his reaction, including the sheer volume of it, and acutely aware of all eyes coming to us, particularly Noc’s, who was sitting directly across the table from me, his dinner partner Brikitta.
“The very idea is daft, Franka,” my brother bit out (still loudly). “I’ll not allow it.”
My surprise faded and I felt my jaw tighten.
He’d not allow it?