“Oh.”
Alex raised his glass. “Prost!” He glanced down at Anna with a grin. “It means ‘cheers.’ Like a toast.”
“Prost!” everyone else responded, raising their glasses in the air and then drinking.
Anna took a sip of the bubbly drink. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it was sweeter than she’d thought it would be. The only time she’d had alcohol before was with Devin. But she liked this better.
Alex hugged her to his side and she leaned her head on his chest. Laughter and talking filled the room.
After about ten minutes of chatting with Alex’s friends and family, Wilhelm approached and spoke in a soft voice. “Alex, you should show Anna to her room, and then we need to leave.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Where are you going?” She hadn’t even finished her champagne and he was leaving?
Alex kissed her head. “I have to go to the Schloss to prepare for tomorrow.” He smiled and stroked her cheek. “Don’t worry. Sebastian will stay with you. His room is right next to yours.”
Alex took her hand and led her up to the third floor, down a hallway, past several doors, and around a corner to a door at the end of a short hallway. “I hope you like it. It’s only for the one night.”
Alex opened the door to a large bedroom, decorated beautifully in cream and pale green. The dark wood floor was covered in several large pale-green rugs, and the cream-colored walls made the room bright and cheery. Directly across from the door was a large window covered in heavy, pale green-and-cream brocade curtains. The canopy bed had matching curtains and bedspread.
“You will have a wonderful view in the morning,” Alex said.
“It’s beautiful,” Anna said, turning to him with a smile.
“I want to show you something before I leave.”
Alex took her hand and led her back out into the hallway to a narrow staircase a few feet away.
He motioned to the stairs, and she walked down. “Where are we going?”
Alex didn’t answer, so she followed the stairs down two floors where it stopped at a narrow doorway. Alex reached around her and opened it. She stepped into a large, dark paneled room.
“Oh!” She clasped her hands over her mouth as she turned around, taking in the two floors of book-lined walls. “Oh, Alex!”
“This is our library. I thought you might like to see it.”
An enormous fireplace took up a large portion of one wall. Two narrow wrought-iron spiral staircases on either side of the room led to an upper balcony. Red velvet and dark wood furniture made up several cozy reading areas. Tall inset windows made Anna want to grab a book and fall asleep reading on the windowsill.
Anna walked over to a table with a chair next to it. She ran her fingers along the smooth surface, remembering her vision. “This is where you were when I saw you in August, isn’t it?”
“Ja. I have spent a lot of time in that chair since I got home.” He smiled. “And ever since I saw you, I would find myself staring at the spot you had been standing, wishing you would come again.”
Alex leaned against the table, pulled Anna in front of him, and hugged her close. “I am so glad you are here, Schatzi.”
“Me too.” Anna wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his hard chest. His heartbeat was soothing.
All too soon, Alex sighed. “I should take you back to your room so you can rest. It will be a long day tomorrow.”
“A good day, I hope.”
“I am sure it will be. We are getting married. No day will ever be better than tomorrow.” He kissed her hand, then straightened and led her back upstairs to her room.
Sebastian was waiting in the hallway, a disapproving expression on his face. “Your father is looking for you.”
Alex frowned. “I was showing Anna the library.”
A radiant smile lit Anna’s face as she gazed up at Alex, her eyes sparkling with happiness. It warmed his heart to know that he was the one responsible for bringing such joy to her.
Alex took her hand and walked her to her bedroom door. “If you need anything, ask Sebastian, or there is a button on the nightstand you can press. Brigitte will attend to you, and she’ll come and get you whatever you need.” He took both her hands in his. “Anna, please do not call anyone at home until after we’re married. If you do, Devin is likely to hear about it and... it wouldn’t be good. Do you understand?”