Behind the Mask (49 page)

Consumed with desperation, Cameron scooped his hands into the trunk, as if he could lift its entire contents at once. He clutched the pile of folded dresses to himself as if he could feel closer to her. Then he cried. He cried as if she were dead to him. And when his emotion only deepened, he lifted his face heavenward and howled the full extent of his anguish, like a lost and frightened animal. When his grief finally settled into an even deeper ache, he sat on the floor, absently holding the dress Abbi had worn when they’d exchanged vows. He prayed for strength and forced himself to think good thoughts, if only to find a seed of hope that he could hold onto. He thought of the love they shared, and the reasons she had given him to find hope again. He recalled the dream that had led her to him to begin with. How could he doubt that God was with them? How could he forget the evidence he’d been given that his quest was right and good? Like Joseph of Egypt, he would hold on. And one day, he would see his dreams come true.

Reluctantly putting her things back into the trunk, he was surprised to find the book she’d used for sketching. He’d forgotten all about it. He sat on the floor for another hour, sifting through its pages, touching the images her hand had created. He could see the evolution of their relationship in the drawings of himself. He marveled at her talent and thanked God for leaving him this tangible reminder of the love they shared. He finally put everything else away, but he kept the book out and left it on the bedside table, certain it could help him through the loneliest hours yet to come. Just looking at it kept her closer to him in spirit and helped him believe that they would get through this together, even though they were so far apart.

Abbi was on her way down to breakfast when she met Georg in the upstairs hall.

“Hello,” she said in a tone that expressed her cheerful mood. Just yesterday Georg had told her that Cameron would be coming any day now. But everything inside of her turned cold and scared as she absorbed Georg’s countenance. “What’s wrong?” she demanded.

Georg motioned back toward her room. “I think you’d better sit down.”

“You’re frightening me, Georg,” she said, closing the door. He said nothing as he motioned her to a chair, then he sat in the other one.

Georg cleared his throat and wiped a hand over his face. Abbi could almost hear him telling her that something horrible had happened to Cameron. That he was hurt—or dead.

“Georg!” Her impatience startled him.

“Cameron . . . won’t be able to come just yet.”

Abbi sighed. At least he was all right. Then she absorbed what that meant. “What’s happened? How long?”

“I don’t know how long, Abbi. The entire situation just got terribly ugly. I know it’s difficult for you to wait, but . . . he is so much safer there.”

“But, Georg . . . I don’t . . . understand.” While visions of scandal and shame raced through her mind, she had difficulty comprehending what might be so grave. “I
can’t
wait much longer, Georg. Surely there must be a way to—”

“There isn’t!” he shouted. “You’re going to have to wait, just like the rest of us.”

Abbi reminded herself not to jump to conclusions. “Us?” she asked tentatively.

Georg lifted a cautious brow. “There are many people who . . .”

“Who want to see incriminating evidence against His Grace come to light?” she guessed when he hesitated. “Evidence that Cameron holds.”

Georg looked surprised but answered quickly. “Yes, in essence, that covers it.”

“What exactly is the problem, Georg? I can’t wait forever.”

“Listen to me, Abbi,” he leaned closer, “your impatience does not supersede a man’s life.”

“I realize there is a great deal I don’t know, but if Cameron’s life were—”

“I’m not talking about Cameron!” he shouted again. Something uneasy prickled the back of Abbi’s neck. She’d never seen Georg so upset.

“Who are you talking about, Georg?”

“I think I’ve already said too much,” he stated and moved toward the door.

“Wait!” she demanded. “If I have to put my entire life on hold, I deserve to at least know something of what’s going on.”

Georg swallowed carefully and turned to face her. “I have never known you to be so impatient, Abbi. Is it really necessary to—”

“I have never been pregnant before, Georg.” She heard him suck in his breath before she continued. “Now, I can accept that my ignorance on some counts is protecting me. But don’t expect me to accept that my husband, the father of my child, is trapped on that mountain indefinitely. Do you have any comprehension what will happen if I start looking pregnant and the world believes I’m not married?”

“Married?” he echoed in an astonished whisper.

“We exchanged vows, Georg—as binding as it possibly could be under the circumstances. But I can’t very well announce that publicly, now can I?”

Abbi’s anger melted into tears when Georg’s arms came around her. “Oh, Abbi, I had no idea.” He eased back and looked into her eyes. “Is that why you’ve been ill?” She nodded and he hugged her again.

“Abbi, listen to me.” He took her shoulders into his hands. “I can only do the best I can do. Rumors are spreading that Cameron is alive. We’ve tried to be careful, but . . . it’s impossible to spread the word that we need help and not have it leak out somewhere. Whispers of treason are circulating, Abbi, and we are at the heart of it. We must be very careful. You see . . . there is a man . . . a lieutenant of the Guard. He was one of our greatest assets. He would have done anything to help Cameron. They were friends. But . . . he was executed this morning, Abbi.”

Abbi’s throat tightened and she felt weak and nauseous. “Why?”

“He was caught trying to uncover information on the witness that could prove Cameron’s innocence. It is directly connected. He was found guilty of treason. He left behind a wife and three children.”

“Oh, help!” Abbi muttered and pressed a hand over her mouth as she sank onto a chair. “Does Cameron know?”

“Yes,” he said and she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could be there to console him.

“Forgive me, Georg, for being so selfish.” She looked into his eyes as he took her hand. “I would gladly suffer any amount of scandal and shame if it meant having a life with him.
Any
life with him.” She sighed. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Just . . . be patient, and . . . pray.”

“I’ve been praying, Georg.”

“So have I. We’ll just keep doing it. Good things don’t usually come easy, you know.” Abbi nodded and he asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Abbi shook her head. “I’m fine. Just . . . tell him I love him.”

“Does he know about the baby?” Georg asked.

Abbi shook her head. “I want to tell him . . . when I see him.”

“I understand,” he said, then stared at her with a penetrating gaze.

“What?” she asked.

“It’s just . . . difficult to believe. You and Cameron. I never would have dreamed . . . yet it feels so right to imagine the two of you together.”

“It
is
right, Georg. Do you remember when I first told you . . . about my dreams?”

“Of course.”

“It was you who said my gift would lead me to my destiny, right after I dreamed that Blaze would lead me to great happiness. Do you remember?”

“I do,” he said breathlessly, his eyes showing enlightenment.

“You’ve known Cameron a long time,” she said, intrigued with the deep connections they shared.

“Since we were young children,” Georg said. “We had a lot of good times together while we were growing up.” He moved to a chair, at ease as nostalgia overtook him. “I’ve missed him these past years. There have been times when I wondered if I would ever see him again. Even when I found a possibility to prove his innocence, he discouraged my pursuing it.” Georg smiled at Abbi. “But you changed him, Abbi, and I’m grateful. I owe that man my life,” he said thoughtfully. “I’d have either drowned or frozen to death if he’d not been around.”

“So, that was you.” She smiled. “He told me about that, too. Just who was it that pushed you in the water?”

Georg wondered if he should tell her. Deciding it could do no harm, he proceeded. “I think it was Lance Dukerk.”

“You and Lance grew up together?” she asked, realizing how very little she knew of Georg’s life.

“In a roundabout way. We were part of a strange group of friends. My father worked at the castle before he died; we actually lived there at the time. Lance’s father was a military man, and his family lived there, as well. Children of the royal family were schooled along with many of the servants’ children. Lance’s family had especially strong ties to the royal family. He and Nikolaus du Woernig were always together. And they were both obnoxious children.” He chuckled. “I’m glad to say that Lance has mellowed through the years. I wish we could say the same for Nikolaus.”

“What trouble those two must have stirred up,” Abbi said, not wanting to think about Nikolaus any more than that. “Would that have anything to do with what you named the dogs? It was you who named them, wasn’t it?”

Georg laughed. “Yes, it was me. And yes, you’re absolutely right. I thought it was rather funny myself.”

“Indeed,” Abbi said.

They talked a while longer and then Georg gave her another reassuring hug before he left the room.

Days passed into weeks while Abbi endured the effects of her pregnancy and attempted to cope with her loneliness. The worst part was that she couldn’t let on to her true feelings except with Georg and Elsa. But at least she had them, she reminded herself. Cameron had no one. She didn’t know what she would have done without the opportunity to spend hours talking to Georg about her experiences on the mountain. And with Georg’s permission, she had given Elsa a minimal explanation that would help her understand why Abbi was making no effort to rectify being pregnant with an illegitimate child. Of course, to Abbi, it was legitimate. But her marriage was not legal, and it wouldn’t be until Cameron returned.

Prone to crying easily, Abbi spent hours each day alone in her room, doing just that. Dr. Furhelm had assured her that emotions became more sensitive with pregnancy, but knowing that didn’t make the emptiness go away.

Georg looked at the message in his hands and felt something stab at him. It wasn’t so much the words written there, as an underlying tone that felt all too familiar. Cameron was deeply discouraged. Georg had seen through his messages in the past how discouragement had ebbed into despair, and then to a complete loss of hope. It had taken Abbi months to get through the walls he’d created around himself, but Cameron’s spirit was still vulnerable, and Georg feared for him. If he didn’t stay strong and determined, they would never accomplish what lay before them.

Through the following hours Georg thought deeply on the situation, wondering what might be done. He prayed fervently over the matter, not wanting to do anything that would jeopardize anyone, especially Abbi. By nightfall he had a plan that felt comfortable, and he went to Abbi’s room with confidence, knowing it would take little to talk her into what he wanted to do.

The following morning Abbi stood up after finishing her breakfast and announced, “I’ll be leaving the country for a few days.”