Hannah wasn’t about to lose the opportunity.Extending her hand to Michael, she sent him a silent signal for coins.Thankfully, he placed a handful into her palm.Hannah slid the money toward Frau Dorfer.“We are planning to visit the Schloss when we arrive in Vermisten.I would be grateful if you know someone who could answer our questions.We would like to seek an audience with the king.”
Frau Dorfer glanced at her husband, who offered a relenting nod.Her hand covered the coins.“I can answer your questions.I used to work in the Schloss as one of the maids before I married Helmut.”Looking uncomfortable, she inquired, “But why do you seek the king?”Her gaze traveled over Michael once more.
“Ask her if she has heard the story of the Changeling Prince,” Michael said.
Helmut exchanged glances with his wife after Hannah translated.Gerda’s face paled, and the pair argued for a moment.
It seemed that Frau Dorfer won the disagreement, for she suggested to Hannah, “Go and speak to the master of the household, BurgGraf Castell.He can advise you and possibly arrange a private audience with the Lord Chamberlain, Herr Schliessing.”She blushed.“He would know what to do.”
After Hannah translated, Michael’s face tightened with frustration.Whether from the information or from his inability to speak, she wasn’t certain.
She thanked Frau Dorfer for the information, and the woman offered them the name of a respectable inn in Vermisten where they could stay.
“And,” Frau Dorfer added, “you would be wise to keep your husband’s appearance hidden, if possible, until you’ve been granted the audience.If anyone sees his resemblance to the king, his advisers may refuse to allow you entrance.”
Hannah nodded her thanks to Herr and Frau Dorfer before turning her attention back to her meal.Michael was eating while staring off into the distance, as if trying to recall the forgotten language.
Hannah kept their conversation in English to remain private.“I don’t believe you should seek a private audience with the lord chamberlain,” she admitted.“It would be too easy for the king to brush you aside, pretending you don’t exist.I think we should make use of your appearance.”
“What do you mean?”
“I believe you should confront them directly.Demand to see the king.Find out if you truly are the prince.”
“It’s dangerous,” Michael pointed out.“They might try to kill me a third time.”
“That’s exactly why it must be true.Someone considers you a threat.And he wants you dead.”
Chapter Fifteen
Theyspenttheremainderof the afternoon in Michael’s own personal version of Hades.Shopping.
He had allowed Hannah to drag him from one shop to the next, while she’d ordered clothes for him.He’d paid for them with the money the Graf had given him.
Hannah was adamant that he be clothed like a member of the royal household.From sports attire to formal evening wear, it seemed she hadn’t missed a single thing.Not even hats, gloves or...undergarments.Michael shuddered at the last shop.Some things weren’t meant to be measured or prodded.
“The Graf was right about this,” Hannah had explained.“It’s about appearances.”
“And we couldn’t have ordered everything at the first shop?”
“Of course not!”She eyed him as though he’d suggested wearing rags to greet the monarch.“You need to be seen by as many people as possible today.Then the king cannot ignore your presence.He’ll have to help you discover the truth.”
It was also a much greater risk.Michael couldn’t abandon his old habits of constantly looking over his shoulder.There had already been two attacks—a third was imminent, and he didn’t want Hannah caught up in it.The threat would come—the only question was when, not if.By then, he hoped to have Hannah escorted back to her cousins’ home.
Glancing at her, he saw her face bright with enthusiasm.She was enjoying the afternoon they’d spent together, though she hadn’t bought a single thing for herself.It struck him as wrong, and he took her to one of the shops so she could choose a new dress for herself.
“There’s no need,” Hannah protested.“Don’t waste a penny on me.I’ll have plenty of gowns once my trunks arrive with the Graf.”
But when he saw her eye drawn to the milliner’s, he sent her to choose a new bonnet.While she was busy with the shopkeeper, he slipped next door to make another purchase.
The gift cost far more than he’d anticipated, but it was something he wanted Hannah to have.Michael used the last of his own savings, instead of money given by the Graf.He hid the gift inside his pocket, wrapped in brown paper, and made it back inside the milliner’s before Hannah realized he’d left her.
Hours later, after dinner when they were back inside their room at the inn, Hannah sank down into a chair.“My feet are exhausted,” she said, unfastening her shoes.“I feel as if we walked twenty miles today.”
He ventured a smile, suddenly feeling anxious to give her the gift he’d purchased.He wanted to see her expression when she opened the parcel.
“Here.”He thrust the box at her without a word of explanation.“This is for you.”
She set her stocking feet back on the carpet, accepting the box.“Now when did you get this?”With a soft smile, she added, “I hope it’s something sweet.”
