Across the table, he didn’t take his eyes from her.She recalled the warmth of his lips, wondering if she would taste the sweetness of wine upon his mouth.
“Lady Hannah?”the Graf prompted her.She hadn’t heard a word of his questioning.She took another sip, and managed a smile.
“I’m sorry.What was it you were saying?”
“I was introducing the lieutenant to our dinner companions,” he replied.“This is Lieutenant Michael Thorpe, an officer in the British Army,” the Graf said to the others.
A spoon clattered from a woman’s hand into the soup tureen.Hannah turned in curiosity and saw a dark-haired woman with a large ruby necklace and matching rings upon her fingers.She covered her blunder by pretending as if someone else had dropped the utensil.
“You said you are traveling to Lohenberg?”a stout English gentleman enquired.“My wife is from that country.”He offered a nod toward the woman who had dropped the spoon, then raised a quizzing glass to one eye.“You look familiar to me, somehow.Have we met before?”
“He looks like the King of Lohenberg,” his wife answered.Though she kept a smile fixed upon her face, her answer held a cold tone.
Lieutenant Thorpe’s knuckles clenched upon the spoon.He looked as though he’d rather take a bullet through his forehead than endure this dinner.But he didn’t rebut the woman’s claim.
What was that about?Hannah tried to catch Michael’s attention, but he kept his gaze averted, almost as if he were hiding something.
“Why, you’re right, m’dear.”The stout man beamed and speared a bite of asparagus.To his companions, he added, “I was privileged to have met His Majesty, King Sweyn, when he was visiting Bavaria last summer.Splendid mountains there, I must say.”
The Graf introduced them.“Lady Hannah and Lieutenant Thorpe, may I present Viscount Brentford?”
Lord Brentford greeted her heartily and presented his wife Ernestine and his daughter, Miss Ophelia Nelson.
“I am glad to make your acquaintance, Lady Brentford,” Hannah said.Offering a smile of friendship to the younger woman, she continued, “And yours, Miss Nelson.”
“Delighted, of course,” the matron said, though she didn’t look at Hannah when she spoke.Her wide smile emphasized a double chin, and she added, “Ophelia has just been presented to the Queen and will enjoy her first Season after we return to London.”
Michael didn’t respond, and Hannah kicked him under the table to get him to look at the young woman.He sent her a nod of acknowledgement, but a moment later, Hannah felt his shoe nudge against her stockinged calf.
Mortified, she reached for her water glass and took a deep swallow.Only to find out that it was wine she’d drunk instead.She clamped her mouth shut to keep from coughing, and the spirits burned the back of her throat.
Though the lieutenant didn’t look at her, his foot moved against hers once again.Though it was nothing more than a casual touch, the caress distracted her from the dinner conversation.Like a silent admonition, he touched her the way a secret lover might.
Hannah kept her knees clamped together, pushing her ankles as far beneath the chair as she could.He seemed to sense the effect he had on her, and his lips curved upwards.
The viscount nodded toward his daughter, sending the lieutenant a knowing look.“Ophelia is quite talented and has the voice of an angel.”Hannah supposed the viscount was waiting for someone to suggest that Miss Nelson offer entertainment later that evening.
When neither the Graf nor the lieutenant responded, Lord Brentford continued, “Perhaps she might sing for the King of Lohenberg, if the opportunity presented itself on our journey.If someone were to...suggest it.”The viscount gave a pointed look toward the ambassador.
Miss Nelson turned to the Graf and offered a shy smile.
“I have no doubt that Ophelia will have her opportunity one day,” Lady Brentford interjected.She patted the young girl’s hand and discreetly slid the wine glass away from Miss Nelson’s place setting.“It is my country, after all.”
Without an invitation, the viscountess launched into a dissertation describing the principality.“And of course, the winters are simply enchanting.”
“No, it’s quite cold in the winter,” the lieutenant interrupted.His eyes were distant, as though he’d spoken without thought.
The viscountess stopped short, waiting for him to elaborate.When he didn’t, she continued, pretending that he hadn’t spoken at all.
Hannah caught the Graf’s discerning gaze, and he shook his head discreetly.More and more, she was curious about their journey.She suspected the military orders did not reveal the entire story.
“Forgive me, Graf von Reischor,” Viscount Brentford interrupted, “but I’ve heard rumors, and I wonder if you could verify them.Is it true that Fürst Karl will be crowned king within the next few weeks?”
The Graf set down his fork and regarded Lord Brentford.“King Sweyn has been ill, but we do not know for certain whether or not a new king will be crowned.”
“How exciting,” Miss Nelson breathed.“I suppose there must be many men in line for the throne, even for so small a country.”
“There is only one Crown Prince,” the Graf admitted.His gaze turned to Michael, and Hannah felt an icy chill shiver through her.“And one true heir.”
