Sweet Tannenbaum (9 page)

Chapter Twenty

Krystyna couldn't believe that he had asked her, couldn't believe that she had said yes. She was to be a Von Rosen! Certainly her father would be proud of that? Even if she discarded
the plans he had made for her. It was frightening, too, to consider joining such an august family. She didn't know how he could accept her past, and if her crimes were to become known... Well, they would deal with that when it became necessary. She hadn't thought of them as crimes before, but it was undoubtedly what the peers of the Von Rosens would consider them.

"Shall we tell my brother?"

"If he's had much more of that egg brandy we may need to tell him again in the morning."

Hans accompanied her in returning the horse to the stable and then escorted her back into the house. As she entered the parlor on his arm she realized that this was what the rest of her life would be like. Arriving everywhere on the arm of Hans Von Rosen. 
Being
 a Von Rosen. Her brother's house, which had seemed quite well appointed to her when she arrived, would most likely be among the poorer of the homes they would frequent. Where would they live? Could she take her mother with her? Hopefully Hans would agree to have her mother live with them. And wouldn't mama be invaluable when they had children?

Krystyna heard Hans clear his throat, bringing her
back to the present moment. The other three in the parlor continued to make merry and her 
fiancé
 used a voice she assumed he had honed to carry over the noise of battle. "We
have news."

The revelers paused. "Good news, I hope?" Casimir asked.

"The best of news." Hans looked down into her eyes. "I have asked Krystyna to be my bride and she has accepted."

George shrieked and pulled Krystyna into a fierce hug while Casimir hugged Hans.

"This is the best of news!" Casimir said. "Expected, but still the best. Come, we must have vodka."

The night continued with toast after toast to the couple, marriage in general, peace in Europe, and everything else the party could think of. Krystyna found herself quite lightheaded by the time they agreed it would be best to turn in and continue the celebrations with Christmas morning.

Wladek stopped her before she ascended the stairs, kissing her on the cheek. "I'm very happy for you, cousin."

She hugged him. "Thank you, cousin. I'm sure that Hans would be happy to bring 
Judzia--"

He held up a hand. "Please, stop trying to meddle."

"But I know she would like to see you."

"As you've said. I will see my wife soon enough."

"She misses you."

"And I miss her. Go, your
Prussian is waiting for you."

Krystyna saw that Hans stood a discreet distance away, waiting to escort her upstairs. "So he is," she said, with
what she knew was a pleased smile. "So he is."

* * *

Now that their engagement had been announced, Hans found that he was impatient for marriage. Leaving Krystyna at her bedroom door with a chaste
kiss was unbearable. It felt as though a possessive beast had been awakened within him, making him pace and snarl in the cage of his guest room. It was the first time he had ever wished for less honor, less control. His need to claim his 
fiancée
 was primal. Elemental. 

Unable to settle his mind or body, he took a candle and descended to the parlor
again to look upon the Tannenbaum. Sitting on the floor staring up at the tree, he thought of Ilsa and the stories
she had told. Stories of the Christ child and the meaning of Christmas. Embellished, he had later learned, and designed to keep him and Henry obedient, but sweet stories nonetheless
. 

One day he and Krystyna would have children to tell stories to under the Tannenbaum. He fell asleep on the floor by the tree, thinking about those future Christmases.

* * *

Krystyna awoke early and made her way quietly to the kitchens. George was already up and had the kettle on for tea.

"Did you sleep well?" her sister in law asked in the hushed tones that the wee hours seemed to require.

"Yes, very well. Thank you."

"Do you want to see something?" George crooked her finger for
Krystyna to follow her. The English girl pointed into the parlor where Krystyna saw her 
fiancé
 curled up in front of the tree, using his arm as a pillow. Her sister in law whispered
, "I'm sure he'd like for you to be the first thing he sees Christmas morning."

As George returned to the kitchen, Krystyna knelt in front of Hans. His hair was mussed from sleep and she gently smoothed the strands back into place. She rarely had a chance to study him this openly. He was so handsome, so impossibly dear. He stirred and she stopped her wandering fingers.

When his eyes opened she said, "Happy Christmas."

The smile he gave her in return stole her breath. "Happy Christmas," he replied.

"I'm beginning to think you've slept on all the best floors in Europe."

"And some of the worst." He sat up and touched her cheek. "But this is definitely my best Christmas morning."

"Waking up on a cold, hard floor in England? I'm beginning to think the Von Rosen children were more deprived than I realized."

He grinned. "You underestimate your own charms. And you think it's cold, do you?" He pulled her into his arms. "I'd best warm you, then."

His kiss was sweet and warm. Krystyna lost herself to it until she heard someone distinctly clearing their throat.

Her brother's voice was sardonic. "We should save that until 
after
 the wedding, don't you think?"

Hans stood and assisted her to her feet. "Good morning, Herr Rokiczana. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," Casimir replied. He walked into the room and shoved a piece of paper into Hans' chest. "Here's your present." Taking Krystyna's hands he said, "Really, 
siostra
, I expect better of you."

"Don't let him torment you," George said from the doorway. "He was incorrigible even when he thought I was married."

"I am always incorrigible. But I was also honorable, let us not forget."

"What is this?" Hans asked, frowning down at the paper.

"It's called a special license. If we're going to church on a Monday, it might as well be a wedding."

Krystyna gasped. "You expect us to get married today?"

"You are not pleased?"

"It's very sudden."

Hans
kissed her hand. "Christmas is a lovely day for an anniversary."

"But Mama isn't
here."

"Which means she can't meddle," Casimir said.

"She doesn't meddle!"

"The only person who believes more fervently than you in the plans our father made is our mother. No, I'd rather that you be safely wed while you're still here, thank you."

"But Hans is a Von Rosen! She would never question my marrying him."

"Let's not put it to the test."

"Casmir, what aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing. But I can't send you home escorted only by your 
fiancé
, and I can't go to Silesia. So wed you must be."

"Wladek could take me. Or George could go with us. Would you do that for me, George? Mama wants very much to meet you, anyway."

Casimir responded before George could. "I thought you would be happy about this."

Krystyna was angry at her blithe, chaotic little brother. It was as though he had never understood the importance of family. Then she looked at Hans and felt herself calm. She had no doubt that she wanted to be with Hans forever. Even if her mother didn't
oppose the match, there was every reason to believe that his parents would. Did she want to risk anything happening that separated them? No, she did not. "Do you want to marry today
?"

He squeezed her hand. "Only if you do."

In that moment she realized that manipulative little brothers and controlling parents didn't really matter. Only Hans and herself. Did she want to marry him at the earliest possible opportunity, even if that meant today? "What will I wear?"

"That, I can handle," George said, putting an arm around Krystyna and drawing her away. "
Ribbons, obviously. Lots and lots of ribbons."

"You wouldn't dare."

Her sister-in-law only
laughed in response.

* * *

Hans watched his bride-to-be disappear towards the stairwell.

"You're welcome," Casimir said.

"Beg pardon?” Hans asked, distracted.

“It boggles the mind how much you could thank me for, so simply pick something and you’re welcome for it."

Did the young whelp actually expect thanks for bullying Krystyna into marriage? In that way the young man was hardly better than her father, choosing not only the groom, but the time and place.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to
my
fiancée
."

As Hans bolted up the stairs Casimir call
ed after him. “I think it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."

Not sure where she had gone, he called her name. She emerged from a door at the end of the hall and hurried to him, looking worried.

“What’s wrong, Hans?"

He realized he must have his disapproving expression. “I don’t want you to marry me simply because your brother is forcing you."

“I’m not."

“Let me be clear, Krystyna.” He heard his voice break and cleared his throat. “I know how dutiful you are to your family, but I love you and couldn’t bear a lifetime wedded to a woman who didn’t return my regard."

She smiled at him and his heart leapt in hope. Then she asked, “Are you rushing the cannons again, Herr Von Rosen?"

Her question confused him. “What do you mean?"

“A confident man wouldn’t need to ask at all. A clever man would believe in his abilities to convince me in time. But you? You risk all."

“Are you saying I’m neither confident nor clever?” He really should have the good sense to be insulted, but he couldn’t be while she smiled at him thus.

She rested her palms on his cheeks. “Of course you are both confident and clever, but more so you are bold and brave. Perhaps that is why I lost my heart to you? I’m not quite sure. But I do love you, Hans. More than I knew was possible."

He pulled her close. “So you 
do
 want to be married today?"

“Before your parents can talk you out of it? Yes."

“Now who is lacking confidence?"

“I’ll just say it’s not something I’m willing to risk."

He kissed her soft, sweet lips. “Happy Christmas, Krystyna."

“Happy Christmas, Hans."

EPILOGUE

Hans received something of a surprise when Erich arrived at the Rokiczana mid-morning with a letter from Henry. Upon returning to the estate his valet had found the letter, and then made the trek back across the continent to deliver it. It seemed his brother had been, of all places, in London for some months and was writing to Hans for the discreet delivery of funds, which meant that he had outspent his allowance yet again. The sum he requested was staggering, even for Henry’s ability to run up debts. But to have even one of his family in attendance at the wedding would be a miracle, so he and Casimir immediately tracked down the rapscallion known as his youngest sibling. Henry was perfectly happy to stand as best man if Hans would visit the bank on the morrow, even offering to let them stay in the inn’s best suite for their wedding night, as though he had a right to do so.

All of Hans’ concern for his rakish little brother fled his mind, though, when Krystyna entered the church. She wore a white gown with a deep red sash and matching overdress trimmed in white lace.
She was a vision. Her natural poise combined with the dress was stunning.

He heard his brother 
sotto voce
 behind him. “
She
 came looking for me? This may be the first time I regret not being at home."

Hans decided he could wait until later to explain to his brother, with fists if necessary, that his wife was off limits. It was fairly certain that he could rely on Casimir to enforce the same. The young Polishman was all smiles as he escorted his sister to the altar. Krystyna had worried over their marriage being in an English church, but Casimir waved away her concerns. Now it seemed they would be lucky if her brother didn’t commence dancing before the ceremony was finished. Although it gave Hans some pause that Casimir should seem so delighted by the proceedings, it barely dimmed his own enthusiasm. Regardless of what her brother’s ultimate goals might be, Hans would never regret having Krystyna as his wife.

Holding her hand at the altar he impatiently waited for the time to speak his vows.

* * *

Krystyna spent the day in a warm haze of happiness. When she saw Hans’ brother standing behind him, it was immediately clear that the two were different enough that her confusing them had caused Hans no end of amusement. Henry seemed a rogue, indeed, winking at her as she joined them at the altar!

Their party was small, with George serving as her attendant and only Wladek and Erich as ‘guests’. But none of it mattered, because all she cared about was Hans. With that in mind, she floated from preparation to vows and then through the small wedding supper at her brother’s house. Hans whisked her away to a room at an inn, provided by his brother.

The mysteriously appearing Henry, as she still didn’t know how or why he was in London, had shown them to a lovely room that was decorated for the season.

“Oh Hans, a tree!” She clapped her hands together in joy. A small evergreen had been set in the corner near the hearth, and was decorated with treats and a few candles.

“That’s my brother, flirting with a woman when he’s not even in the room."

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m sure this was as much or more for you."

Hans pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “Perhaps a bit.” They stood there, watching the dancing lights of candles and the fireplace, a sense of peace throughout the room. Hans finally spoke again, “I thought that on the way home we might stop at that inn for a week or two."

“Which one?” Krystyna asked, assuming he was most likely referring to the fanciest one, in Calais.

“The one where we were snowed in, of course. Where I realized I was in love with you."

“It took you that long?"

“Says the woman who still intended to marry another man until yesterday."

“Believe me when I say that it was something I regarded with a much heavier heart after meeting you."

“I suppose I have the comfort of knowing that with your sense of honor, you will be a dutiful wife."

“Oh do you?"

“Obedient. Biddable, even.”

“If that’s what Casimir told you, you’ve been sold a bad bill of goods."

Hans chuckled and held her closer. “You know me, my love. I’ve never seen a cannon I didn’t want to charge towards."

“Silly man, I’m not a cannon, I’m a highwaywoman."

He tugged on a lock of her hair. “I suppose it will be hard to have a better Christmas than the one where I had a highwaywoman beneath my tree."

She grinned at him. “I suppose it will."