Page 18 of To Ride the Wind

After hearing the tales of her aunt’s success, her father had expected to find prosperity in the valleys. And in the early days, her mother had talked of future visits to the Rangmeran capital after Elizabeth turned eighteen. Given the proposed timing, Charlotte had always known what the purpose of such trips would be. But the expected prosperity had been slower to come than expected, and in the years since Elizabeth turned eighteen, there had been no trips forthcoming.

Elizabeth was right that it would be a struggle for any of them to meet a man they might be able to love here. But their father claimed change was just around the corner. It wouldn’t take much of an improvement in their circumstances to allow the promised trips to happen. Couldn’t they be patient just a little longer?

“We will none of us find husbands here,” Odelia said on a sigh, echoing Elizabeth. “Is there even a point to being rich if we have to stay here, away from all society and comfort?”

Their father coughed. “Actually,” he said, “the bear spoke of helping us establish ourselves in Arcadia.” He sounded dispirited at the idea, and Charlotte knew what it would cost him to give up his dreams of forging a new life in this remote region. But he was clearly willing to accept a move for the sake of his family.

“Arcadia?” Her mother couldn’t keep a longing note from her voice. “Everyone talks about what a wonderful kingdom Arcadia is! The people lack the sternness of the Rangmerans and the formality of the Northhelmians, you know. And their royal family has led them to great prosperity. I’ve heard the old king is even thinking of retiring, as King Richard did recently in Northhelm. Everyone adores Crown Prince Maximilian and his wife, Princess Alyssa, and they say they will make excellent monarchs. It is better by far to have someone young and vital on the throne than someone declining in capacity. It seems a most sensible move.”

Charlotte swallowed, trying not to feel betrayed by her mother’s words. She could understand the appeal of riches and a life in Arcadia, but surely her mother wouldn’t sell her own daughter to achieve it?

“Of course if you say no, it is not to be thought of, Charli,” her father said, cutting through her sisters’ excited exclamations.

He met her eyes across the room, and she told herself she was imagining the faintest shadow of disappointment at her resistance. It was merely exhaustion, and she couldn’t blame him for that. Her father, at least, was always on her side.

“I only repeated the offer because I thought it might be of interest to you,” he said, confirming her thoughts. “Someone so rich and powerful would change your life as well as ours, Charli-bear.”

For the first time in her life, Charlotte winced at her old nickname. “I cannot trade love for riches, Father,” she said softly.

He nodded quickly. “I will tell him.”

As soon as he said the words, Charlotte felt a pang. She barely knew the White Bear, and yet she couldn’t help but feel pain at the thought of disappointing him. But she comforted herself with the assurance that he would easily find a better companion than her. Plenty of people would be willing to sacrifice anything for the chance to travel to the Palace of Light.

Her father stepped outside, carefully closing the door behind him. Charlotte already knew it was futile to try to listen through the door, so she hurried to the window beside it and peered outside.

The storm still raged although she had barely noticed the wind and rain since the bear’s arrival. The early darkness of the storm clouds made it hard to see far, but the whiteness of the bear’s fur stood out, even through the driving rain.

She couldn’t hear the words her father spoke to him, but she saw the moment the bear’s demeanor changed, his shoulders slumping in a way that looked strangely human. Her stomach clenched, and she almost wavered. But she shook herself, remembering what was at stake. Something strange and magical was afoot, clearly, and she longed to embrace the strange adventure before her, but she could not sacrifice the chance of love and children and a home of her own one day. Not for adventure and certainly not for riches.

When her father slipped back into the house, unwinding his waterproof wrap, he looked subdued.

“He is gone?” Charlotte asked in a small voice. “I suppose he’s already on his way to ask the next girl.”

Her father shifted uneasily, pausing before answering. “Actually, he refused to give up hope. He said his offer had been sudden, and he could understand your hesitance. He asked me to assure you that he would never harm you and that anything you could wish for will be yours. He said he will return in a week for your final answer.”

Charlotte gulped, her head spinning slightly. It had been a struggle to fight her impulse for adventure and escape, but she had succeeded and thought the matter finished. And now it wasn’t finished after all? She could still prove weak and make a mistake that might throw away her life.

“No, no!” she cried. “You must tell him I do not mean to accept!” She ran to the door and pulled it open, poised to run out into the rain despite her lack of covering.

But there was no longer a patch of white in sight. The bear was gone, and she would have no hope of finding him in the downpour.

She slumped, slowly closing the door. As she turned, her eyes caught on her mother who had joined her older sisters by the stove. Her mother looked uncomfortable—as if caught between conflicting emotions—but Elizabeth and Odelia were openly exultant.

Charlotte’s gut tightened again, but this time it was a dark, squirming feeling as if she might be sick. Her sisters had exclaimed in disbelief and even outrage at first, but the mention of riches had changed their minds completely. If there had ever been any doubt in her heart, she now knew for certain that they would sell her to the bear without a moment’s hesitation.

The discomfort at her mother’s reaction hit hardest, though. Since the wedding, her mother had been doing her best to smooth the way between her daughters, keeping the peace by separating them whenever possible. Charlotte had believed she was doing it for all of their sake because she didn’t want the family marred by disharmony or to be forced to side with one child over another. But looking at her mother now, Charlotte saw her mother’s silences and placating looks as something else entirely. By keeping the peace when Charlotte was being wronged, she had always been siding with her older daughters, even if she wasn’t willing to admit it.

And now, despite her mother’s bustling efforts to finish preparing the table for their meal, she couldn’t hide her true feelings. She might feel guilty for it, but she was almost as tempted as Elizabeth and Odelia. She wanted a different life.

Just as she had chosen peace and an easier life over defending Charlotte in the past, now she was once again tempted to put her own comfort ahead of her daughter. Charlotte knew her mother loved her, but she didn’t love her enough to choose her, and the pain of that constricted her chest.

A shiver ran through her, and she knew she couldn’t possibly sit and eat the evening meal with them all as if nothing were wrong. Her family had shown their true colors, and although she had thought herself inured, it cut deep.

She managed to coax her legs into moving, pausing briefly beside the laden table. Snatching up a piece of bread, a wedge of cheese, and an apple, she hurried to her room.

Her father called after her, but she shut the door on his voice. She felt a pang of guilt for shutting out the only family member on her side, but her emotions were running too high, and the house was too small for all of them. Removing herself was the only way she knew to prevent an eruption.

She would eat, and then she would hide herself in bed. If she hadn’t fallen asleep by the time her sisters came in, she would pull the blankets over her head. She couldn’t face them. Not tonight. Not when she knew what they would say.

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