He found Lord Hamlin where he’d hoped he would be, in the practice field training the other knights. Valten was one of the few people as tall as Aladdin. And he seemed broader in the shoulders every time Aladdin saw him. He kept his hair cut short and he walked with strength and confidence, though Aladdin knew him to be quite humble when he wasn’t giving orders or reprimanding someone.
After he dismounted from his horse, Kirstyn’s oldest brother greeted him with one of his elusive almost-smiles and clapped him on the shoulder. “I heard you were living in Hagenheim again. It is good to see you.”
At least Kirstyn’s brother didn’t hate him.
“I have a matter to discuss with you, about someone who I’ve discovered is stealing from other merchants.”
Valten leaned closer. “Tell me about this.”
So Aladdin explained everything he knew about Herr Goteken’s and his guards’ thieving.
“I shall deal with this,” Valten said, his brows lowered in that severe look of his.
“Do you need anything else from me?”
“No. Better for you to stay out of sight for a while. Did you say you were sleeping in Herr Goteken’s servant barracks? Best not to go back there. You can stay here. There’s always room in the knights’ barracks.”
“Thank you, but I’m not sure Lady Kirstyn would appreciate having me so near.” Aladdin winced at the admission.
“I’m certain that is not true.” Valten gazed harder at Aladdin. “Kirstyn has you to thank for saving her from that bear, and she would rather go walking in the woods with you than do anything.”
“Perhaps at one time, but . . . we’re not children anymore.”
“You wanted to marry her, but she doesn’t want to marry you,” Valten said with his usual forthrightness. He was a man of few words, but he was concerned about his sister.
“No. That is . . . I don’t know what her feelings are, exactly.”
Valten stared at him with a quizzical look.
“I don’t know if your father would allow me to marry her even if I were rich enough to buy a house worthy of her.”
“You said you have two shops. Buy her a house and I’m sure Father will allow her to marry you.”
It filled his lungs with air to hear him say that. “I’m not sure Kirstyn will want to wait. In fact, I think she must be angry with me. She may not wish to marry me.”
“Have you talked to her?”
“I sent her a letter a few weeks ago and she has not responded.”
“If there’s one thing I know about women, it’s that they hate it when we don’t talk to them.”
Valten might be right. Pride, fear, and excessive work had kept him away. His breath came faster at the thought of seeing her again. He had promised to be there for her. Perhaps if he apologized, she would forgive him.
“She is well, then?” Aladdin asked.
Valten hesitated and frowned almost imperceptibly.
“What is it? Is something wrong with Kirstyn?”
“She is well enough. Only . . . you should let her tell you.”
Valten wished him well and went to take care of the trouble with Herr Goteken. And Aladdin strode back toward the castle.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Kirstyn climbed up the keep tower to the very top. When she was a child, she wasn’t allowed up here without a parent or another adult, since the crenellations made it tempting for a child to climb onto them to get a better view—and then fall to the ground far below.
Kirstyn pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders to block the brisk wind. From here she could see everything around the castle—the fruit tree orchard to the north, the stables, the gatehouse, the town to the south, and the meadow and forest to the east.
She turned to the west to look out over the fields where Valten and his men often practiced their fighting skills, jousting, and war games. And indeed, Valten was there. He seemed to notice something, stopped what he was doing, and strode toward a rider on a horse who dismounted and came to meet him.
Her heart pounded and her breath grew shallow. Aladdin.
She trembled as Aladdin and Valten greeted each other like old friends, probably because of the sword-fighting training Valten had given him. Then they talked as if they had business—a lot of business, apparently. And the longer she watched them talk, the angrier she became. If Aladdin could come to the castle and talk to Valten, why could he not come and talk to her? If Valten was like an old friend, how much more was she?
She watched until they parted and went in opposite directions.
She had to see him, had to look Aladdin in the eye and ask him why he had avoided her for weeks.
She turned and raced down the steps. By the time she reached the bottom, she was breathing so hard she stopped and bent forward. Would she be able to catch Aladdin before he left? If not, she would grab a guard and force him to go with her, to follow Aladdin to his shop. She would demand to know what she had done to make him avoid her.
How dare he behave as if she meant nothing to him?
She strode toward the door that led to the courtyard outside, and just as she reached it, it burst open. A guard stood there with Aladdin.
Her gaze met Aladdin’s, and they stood staring at each other.
The guard cleared his throat. “Lady Kirstyn, Aladdin wishes to see you.” He shuffled his weight from one foot to the other.
“You may go.” Kirstyn nodded at the guard.
Aladdin stepped inside. “Kirstyn, please forgive me for not coming to see you sooner. How are you? Are you well?”
He was so contrite, his expression so gentle, the fire inside her turned to ashes. She crossed her arms in an effort to bring it back. When she didn’t say anything, he continued.
“I wrote you a letter.”
The fire flamed up again. “What kind of letter was that to write to me?”
Two guards entered through the door Aladdin had just come through, forcing them to move out of the way. The guards stared curiously.
“Is there someplace we could go to talk privately?” Aladdin leaned close. His eyes reminded her of her old, sweet Aladdin.
No. She couldn’t think like that. She was angry with him.
They could go up to the top of the keep tower. “Come.” She spun on her heel and headed toward the stairs. When she had gone up enough steps that no one below could see them, Aladdin brushed her fingers with his. It was a clear invitation to hold his hand. She shivered. Her fingers tingled. But she continued up the steps without looking back and without taking his hand.
When they reached the top and were out in the open air, Kirstyn faced Aladdin. “Why did you not tell me you were in Hagenheim? Why shun me for weeks and then send me that short, impersonal letter? Do you think I have no feelings? That I wouldn’t feel pain?”
Her words were hitting their mark by the look in his eyes, but she wanted him to feel her hurt.
“I did not mean to shun you. Kirstyn, I’m sorry. I thought you would send for me after I sent you that letter. I also wasn’t sure . . . That is, I would never presume—”
“You should have. You should have presumed. I told you I wanted you here.”
“You’re right, of course. I’m sorry. Fear and pride prevented me from coming to the castle right away to see you.”
She kept her arms crossed in front of her, protecting herself. Tears pricked her eyes.
“Will you forgive me, Kirstyn? I’m here now.” He gave her the tiniest smile.
Truly he was so handsome, and his face held such an endearing look, it took her breath away. “I forgive you. But I . . .”
“What? Is something else wrong?”
She pressed her fingers over her lips. She didn’t want him to see her cry. She took a deep breath and let it out before finally saying, “I needed you, but you stayed away.”
Aladdin moved closer to her. She leaned toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest, and he gently rubbed her sho
ulders.
“I’m sorry. I’m here, and I’m not going away.” His voice was ragged as he spoke next to her ear. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
She took a deep breath and spoke with her cheek resting against his chest. “I have felt as if I’m losing my mind. Loud noises terrify me beyond reason. Wolfgang grabbed my wrist and I screamed. My heart beat so hard I couldn’t breathe. It feels as if Michael is right there, hurting me. The memories come back and it’s as if I’m trapped again with him and Anna.”
Aladdin caressed her back. “You aren’t losing your mind. It’s only because the ordeal was so recent and is still so fresh in your mind. When you get used to feeling safe, you will get beyond this fear, Kirstyn. I know you will.”
His words were kind, and they made sense, being similar to what her mother and father had said to her. But the truth was . . . “I needed you. But you didn’t come.”
He expelled a breath. “I’m sorry.”
“And I just want to be angry with you a little bit longer.” It sounded silly when she said it out loud. She looked up at him.
Aladdin nodded. He frowned and sighed. “Then I want you to hit me.”
“What?”
“Hit me right here.” He pointed to his left cheek. “It will make your anger go away.”
“I will not hit you.”
“Do it. I don’t want you angry with me forever.”
“You’re teasing me.”
“I’m not.”
But amusement glimmered in his eyes. It rekindled her anger, so she clenched her fist and punched his shoulder.
“That wasn’t hard enough. Hit me harder.”
She drew her fist back but hesitated, staring at his shoulder. He seemed to be bracing for the blow. She grabbed his face to hold it still. She pressed her lips to his.
It hardly took a moment for him to wrap his arms around her and kiss her back. She threw all her pent-up feelings into the kiss. She would make sure he never forgot her again, and never forgot this kiss.
A shudder went through Aladdin’s body. When they finally stopped kissing, Kirstyn whispered, “Just hold me,” and buried her face in his chest.
He held her as tenderly as he could. His heart was still pounding after that kiss. His arms encircled her shoulders, his cheek pressed against the top of her head. O God, how can I give her up, even if I can’t buy her a house? She needs me.
It seemed obvious now: Kirstyn needed his nearness, his comfort. Riches meant very little to her. If he had let go of his fear of being poor and unworthy, let go of his desire to be rich, he could have been here for her, and he could have admitted something to her.
He whispered against her hair, “I need you too.”
She tightened her arms around him and spoke, her breath against his neck. “We were always meant to be together.”
“But I still feel I failed you. Not only by not being here, but in other ways. And I’m sorry.”
Kirstyn had her parents’ example to reassure her that even when she failed or did something wrong, they still loved her. Aladdin had depended on the approval of teachers and caregivers. He didn’t know the unfailing love of a doting mother or father, and she wanted to give that to him. She had this feeling whenever she was around the orphans, but with Aladdin, it was even stronger.
“I forgive you, and hearing you confess your imperfect thoughts makes me feel more connected to you, since I am not perfect either. You don’t have to be perfect for me to care about you. In fact . . .” She smiled. “It’s a relief to find out you’re not perfect.”
She leaned away and looked up at him. His lips, at least, were perfect, and so near.
“Thank you for forgiving me.” Aladdin let out a long sigh. “The truth is, Herr Kaufmann was so afraid of some threats Michael made against his business and Grethel that he asked me to leave his house. He pretended to believe Michael’s lies about me so Michael’s friends wouldn’t harm Grethel and burn down his warehouses. But he still wanted me to stay and take care of his accounts and the business. He wasn’t very pleased when I told him I was coming to Hagenheim.”
“That’s so unfair! How could he expect you to comply with that? And how does Michael have so much power when he’s locked up in the Rathous?”
“He still has evil friends, apparently, who will do his bidding. But when Herr Kaufmann planned to give his business to me and make me his heir, it meant nothing to me . . .”
Kirstyn gazed into his gentle face. He looked so intense, she was afraid to say anything lest she drive away the tender look in his eyes.
“It meant nothing because you were not with me. I know I have no right to ask you, but will you marry me, Kirstyn?” His voice was breathless. “I love you so much.”
“Yes.” A wave of warmth and peace rolled through her.
He leaned forward until his forehead was resting on hers. “I so much want to kiss you. May I kiss you?”
She thought he’d never ask.
Aladdin’s heart was beating nearly out of his chest as Kirstyn’s mouth curved into a gentle smile.
“Yes.” She lifted her chin, bringing her lips closer to his.
He brushed his lips against hers as his fingers reverently held her face. He opened his eyelids a slit as he stared back at her, then closed them as his mouth again caressed hers, kissing her with all the fervor welling up inside him. She kissed him back just as eagerly.
Kirstyn pressed her face to his chest and wrapped her arms around his back.
They stood holding each other for several minutes. How good God had been to him. Aladdin almost felt guilty, as if he’d received so much more than his share of good things in life. And in this moment, every other pain he’d ever felt was as if it had never existed.
She lifted her head and cupped his face again. But instead of kissing him, she looked him in the eyes. “Will you let me be your family now?”
He knew she was waiting for his response, so he nodded. “Yes.” Then she kissed him gently on the lips.
Oh, what he’d been missing. She was right—he should have come to see her much sooner.
But there was still the problem of being able to provide for Kirstyn. It was hard to let go of the desire to make his fortune and prove himself. Would it be enough to have a family of his own with Kirstyn if they had to live off of Duke Wilhelm’s charity?
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Aladdin stood in the doorway of one of his shops when a man he recognized rode by. “Georg, is that you?”
The man turned and broke into a smile. “Aladdin!”
Georg, one of Herr Kaufmann’s guards, rode over to him and dismounted. “You are the man I came to find. Let’s go over to the Marktplatz fountain so we can talk.”
Aladdin’s curiosity was piqued, but he tried not to speculate. They both sat on the outside edge of the fountain. Aladdin ignored the people milling about, as no one was near enough to hear their conversation, and focused on what Georg was saying.
“Michael has escaped from gaol.”
“Escaped? He is free?” Aladdin’s face heated.
“Everyone is speculating whether Herr Kaufmann helped him. But Herr Kaufmann is so afraid of him, I can’t imagine he did.”
“Do the people of Lüneburg believe I was responsible for Lady Kirstyn’s kidnapping?”
Georg shook his head. “I think most people know what an evil liar Michael is. They realize Herr Kaufmann is terrified of his son. It seems likely that Michael threatened him with something dire. I don’t know what, perhaps that he would hurt Grethel. I don’t suppose anyone knows for sure. In the meantime, Johann has wed Herr Kaufmann’s daughter, and he gave me this letter and sent me to find you.”
Georg handed the letter to Aladdin. He opened it and read:
To Aladdin of Hagenheim, from Johann Botelsdorf, husband of Grethel Kaufmann,
Greetings. I hope you will forgive me for writing to you, since you do not even know me. But as I have heard much about your good character, I pray you will give
heed to my entreaties.
I am writing to you to ask if you could get a message to Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim that Michael has escaped. We believe he is still in Lüneburg and is planning to, at the very least, steal from Herr Kaufmann, who is so afraid of Michael that he hardly even leaves the house, and never without at least two guards accompanying him.
If the duke would come and apprehend Michael and take him back to Hagenheim for punishment, we would be eternally grateful, and I believe Herr Kaufmann would be overjoyed to see you again. I have been trying to help with the business, but alas, I am no businessman. I fear there will be little left of it if you do not help us.
Your servant,
Johann Botelsdorf
Aladdin stood. “Come. We must find Duke Wilhelm.”
Aladdin’s heart jumped into his throat as he entered Herr Kaufmann’s home for the first time since he was asked to leave.
Frau Hilde hurried into the entryway while wiping her hands on her apron.
“Aladdin. Dear, dear Aladdin.” A tear slipped from her eye and she caught it with her apron.
Aladdin embraced her, and when they parted, she was wiping her eyes again.
“Good morning, Aladdin,” a young man greeted him. “I’m Johann Botelsdorf. Thank you very much for coming.”
“It is my pleasure,” Aladdin said as Hilde went quietly back to the kitchen. “And Duke Wilhelm, Lord Hamlin, and several of their knights came with me to find and apprehend Michael.”
“That is very good to hear. And now, will you follow me?”
He was a soft-spoken young man with dark hair and eyes. Johann led him into the dining hall, where they sat in cushioned chairs against the wall.
“As you have probably heard, Herr Kaufmann has been ill.”
“I had not heard.” Aladdin sat on the edge of his chair.
“Michael broke into the house three nights ago. Herr Kaufmann encountered him in the kitchen, it seems, as Michael was coming up the steps carrying a chest from the strong room. Michael attacked him and hit him in the head. The guards came and prevented the theft, but he escaped.”