When Anna came down to breakfast the next morning, Elsa was waiting for her just outside the door. "Everything all right?" she said quietly.
It took Anna a moment to realise what she meant. "Yes!" she said. "Yes, everything was - fine."
Elsa smiled. "Okay. Good."
"Fine," Anna repeated to herself as Elsa walked away. Fine, although nothing had happened. Tonight, she supposed.
But she was wrong.
The days were busy - there were so many guests still, and things to arrange. But at night she slept alone, and increasingly frustrated. It wasn't that she'd been looking forward to it, as such - but as a week passed, then two, she couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with her.
During the day Felix was perfectly charming, affable, fond even. They went riding together. He was always happy to talk to her, or to take her arm when they walked, and he would kiss her hand or her cheek readily enough. No one watching would have thought anything could be amiss.
But at night he always shut himself in his bedroom while Anna was undressing. If she knocked he would just say 'Goodnight' so after a couple of days she stopped doing that - it was humiliating. But how ridiculous, to be married a fortnight and still a virgin!
Should she talk to Elsa? But that would be even more embarrassing, and Elsa had no interest in anything like that, in men or marriage - that, and her fear of passing on her ice magic, was what made her not want to marry herself. Anna had agreed to take on this burden but she was beginning to wonder if it had all been pointless.
No, Anna would have to talk to Felix, and it was another few days before she found a good opportunity. There were always people around, that was the problem, either in the room or about to come in, and he avoided her at night. Finally, she asked him if he wanted her to show him one of her favourite routes for horse-riding, and he accepted happily.
The day was fine, warm with late spring. They were a mile or more from the city before Anna felt secure enough in their solitude to start the conversation.
"Felix, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why don't you want to - go to bed with me?"
"I thought you'd prefer sleeping by yourself."
His answer was very smooth and she knew he'd been anticipating the conversation.
"That's not what I mean. You know very well what I mean."
He sighed, his lips a straight line. They rode on a short while in silence.
"Don't you like me?" Anna said in a small voice. "Did I do something wrong?"
Felix looked her up and down, then turned his eyes to the road ahead.
"You're lovely," he said, keeping his gaze straight forward. "You're very beautiful. It's not you."
"Then what is it?"
Felix coughed. "This stays between us, you understand?"
"Yes, yes, of course."
Another pause. Then he said "I have a medical problem. I have made many enquiries, believe me, but never found a cure. I'm not sure how much you know about - marital relations."
Anna could feel herself blushing. "I know - enough. I think."
"You know how the male and the female differ in physiology."
Her cheeks were red-hot, now. "Yes."
"I am unable to -" he made a gesture, lifting his arm to hold it horizontal. "It has always been so."
He dropped his arm and they rode on again in silence. Anna's mind was racing. She understood what he meant, or thought she did - she knew enough, from books and from things she'd heard. There was one problem, though.
"But you have two children."
"Ah. That's the sticking point, isn't it." He looked across at her, and now he was smiling. "See if you can work it out."
Anna thought. "But..."
"I'll spare you. My wife had two children. As her husband at the time, I am legally their father."
"Legally."
"Mm."
"But not -"
"No."
She knew her face must be a picture so she looked quickly down at her hands.
"I've shocked you," Felix continued. "But you understand that this must remain a secret? They don't know. No one does."
"No one?"
"Except us two. My wife - and her lover - being no longer with us, of course."
"And you didn't mind?"
"Mind? No. She chose well. They were always very discreet. It was a fine arrangement that made everyone happy."
They were higher up the mountain now, and the road opened out to one side, giving a wonderful view over the valley. They reined in their horses and stopped to admire it.
"I'm sorry," Felix said, "I should have had this conversation with you before. But I confess, I thought a young girl like you wouldn't mind not being bothered by an old man."
"I -" she looked at him. He was watching her face with mild interest. "I didn't mind. And - I want to have children."
"I'm sorry. I can't help you there."
Her face fell. He watched her carefully.
"How discreet can you be, Anna?"
"What?"
"I would not be averse to you having a similar arrangement to Caroline's. With a similar result. If that's what you want."
"Oh, I couldn't! I married you. I couldn't be - unfaithful."
"Think about it. I mean it, I'm not trying to trick you. "
"I couldn't."
"If I am aware, you're not being unfaithful. And if no one else is aware, where is the harm?"
He moved off again, turning to head back down the mountain. Anna followed, her mind reeling. It was wrong, and she knew it was wrong. But Felix was calm. He genuinely didn't seem to mind.
"I don't really know any men," she said without thinking.
He laughed. "Already weighing up the possibilities. No, it's all right. And it's true. Finding the right person may take some time. Perhaps one of my staff - some are planning to return home, their silence will be bought easily enough. Do you want me to find someone for you?"
"Ah - no. Let me think about it some more. I'll let you know."
"There's a girl."
A few nights later there was a ball. Anna wore blue and gold, and when she danced with her husband, he leant in and said quietly "See any possibilities?"
She smiled, then realised what he meant. "Oh! I don't know. I wasn't looking."
"I'm not sure any of these will do, anyway. I only let the finest men father my children." He winked, and Anna blushed. She hoped no one had noticed, then realised how it would be interpreted and relaxed.
"The type of people who come to these things are such gossips, anyway," Felix continued. "Someone from outside the castle is a better bet. A quiet type. Brown eyes, naturally. Know anyone like that?"
She'd never seen him so surprised as when she said "Yes."