Awaiting the Moon (48 page)

“But soon,” he said, “we will have much to celebrate.” He looked down at her, and she knew he meant more than he would reveal to the others yet. He smiled but then looked up and around the room. “For at long last my good friend the Count Delacroix has seen the light and asked my dearest of sisters Adele to accept his hand in marriage.”

It was no surprise to anyone, but congratulations were murmured, smiles exchanged, even as the countess ducked her head in embarrassment at being the center of attention.

“And our little Melisande…” he said. “Her father is safe and here at Wolfram Castle, where he can recover in peace.”

Melisande smiled, tremulously. “Thank you, Count; you will never know… I can never thank you…” She broke off and looked down at her feet.

“There is nothing to thank. I did what anyone would do.” He cleared his throat. “And I…”

Nikolas paused, gazed down at Elizabeth, and caressed her cheek. “I have found love, and a wife. Elizabeth and I will be marrying within the month. Within the week, if she will allow me to hurry her so.”

Joy burst out from all; even Uta sat quietly in her chair and wept, tears rolling down her wrinkled cheeks as the others hooted and shouted out their congratulations. After being toasted and applauded, Elizabeth found a moment for the old woman, crouching by the chair and whispering that she hoped she was happy for them.

“Happy! Oh, my little dear, ‘happy’ is not the word. It is joy so sharp, it hurts,” she said, openly weeping as she pressed one hand to her breast. “You haf gifen back light to dis family.”

Elizabeth enfolded her in her embrace and they hugged for long minutes as the noise around them grew quieter. When she looked up, she saw the eyes of all on them. She stood, meeting the smiling gazes with a bright smile of her own.

“But Nikolas, what is the rush?” Frau Liebner said. “Why do you not wait until June, when the flowers will be out and we can decorate the old chapel?”

“Oh, no,” he said, holding his arms open for Elizabeth as she went to him. “Oh, no, I don’t think we ought to wait,” he said, folding her in his embrace and holding her close to his heart.

Elizabeth felt the rumbling of a chuckle deep in his chest as she was held to his heart. “No,”

she said gleefully, looking up into his eyes. “I don’t think we will wait.”

Frau Liebner stared at them for a long minute and then burst into guffaws of laughter so loud a servant poked his head in to see if anyone was ill. She winked at Nikolas and said,

“Scoundrel! No, I don’t think you should wait at all. Oh, yes, a baby,” she crowed. “That is what we will have to celebrate this year, after all this time.”

Nikolas dipped his head to kiss her lips, and Elizabeth met him halfway, standing on her tiptoes. Their two hearts, separate but with one rhythm, beat a steady pulse. But soon, very soon, there would be a third. Joy filled Elizabeth, and she felt an answering burst of delight from Nikolas. The future beckoned, shimmering with the promise of love and joy eternal.