Page 313 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Anna nodded solemnly. “I won’t call anyone. I promise.”

“Brigitte will bring your breakfast in the morning and help you get ready. I believe my mother has many dresses for you to choose from for tomorrow. She’s been enjoying the secret wedding planning.”

“I hope I can sleep,” Anna said with a yawn, her hand instinctively covering her mouth as her cheeks turned pink. “I’m still tired, though, so I might be able to.”

“The remote to the television should be on the nightstand. Your bags should be in the closet. Call Brigitte if you need anything.”

“You’re going to be at the Manor all night?”

Alex nodded. It wouldn’t be a very pleasant night for him. “I’ll be back in the morning and we’ll go into town together with my family.” He leaned down and kissed her soft lips. He looked forward to kissing her every day for the rest of his life. “I love you, Schatzi.”

Her eyes widened and a smile crept over her face. “I love you too, Alex.”

Alex stared at her, his heart pounding with a mix of emotions. For a long moment, he was unable to move or speak. “You... love me, too?” It was far more than he had expected at this moment. He’d hoped she would eventually grow to love him, but hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Her brows twitched. “Is that okay?”

“Anna, that is the best thing I have ever heard or known.” He kissed her again, his heart soaring in his chest. “I will see you in the morning.”

Alex opened the bedroom door and she walked inside, glancing back at him, her whole face lit up. He beamed at her, then closed the door and sighed in contentment. She was here at last. Safe and sound in his family home. The hard part would be getting into the city tomorrow undetected. But his men were on alert, along with several others that he trusted implicitly.

He turned and walked back to Sebastian. “Is the guard set?” he asked in German.

“Yes. Up on the roof and foot patrols outside. I also sent a few out to the main road.”

“Do you think he suspects anything?” Alex’s biggest fear was Devin finding out. If Devin knew, he would do anything to stop it.

“I honestly don’t know. Her resistance in coming was good for the deception. She begged Devin not to make her go, so he probably assumes she’s still feeling that way.” Sebastian frowned. “Your kiss at the airport was not the wisest of moves.”

“I couldn’t help it.” Alex smiled. “You try not kissing her.”

“I am trying to keep my mind in a fatherly disposition,” Sebastian said wryly. “It is difficult. She is very desirable.”

Alex looked back at the closed door. “She is. Perhaps it’s a good thing that I’ll be at the Schloss tonight.”

Sebastian laughed. “There are multiple reasons why a groom spends the night at the Manor before his wedding. Temptation is one of them.”

“Gretchen hasn’t been opening her mouth, has she? Or Liesl?”

“Surprisingly, they’ve both been cooperative. Liesl may listen to Gretchen about certain things, but she is still your sister and loves you. Gretchen has barely left the house since the baby was born, and she hasn’t said anything on any calls that I know of. She’s jealous and bitter, but she’s behaving.”

“Good.”

“You need to go to your father. I will take care of Anna.”

Alex looked longingly at the door Anna had disappeared through moments before.

Sebastian laughed and pushed him away. “Go. Your father is in the sitting room waiting for you.”

Alex turned and made his way back to the sitting room. His father stared out the window into the dark night. Greta and his mother were nowhere to be seen.

Gretchen sat on the couch near Kurt and Liesl, nursing Otto. She gave Alex a sweet smile as he walked by. “She’s very young. How old is she?”

“Twenty.”

“Eight years is quite an age difference.”

“Anna is more mature than most thirty-year-olds,” Kurt said.

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