“Maybe you could recreate certain situations that might spur her memory on,” Mona suggested. “They would have to be moments of significance. I don’t know. Like a proposal? Or the wedding itself?”
“I’m certain that’s not necessary,” Lena intervened hastily. The last thing she wanted was to reenact their wedding to trigger her memory. How awkward would that be?
“I’ll think of something,” the Duke said.
Mona looked thoughtful. “Since it was the Duke’s gestures which helped you to remember before, it is likely that the same might happen again. The best course of action is that Mama and the Duke spend as much time together as possible and repeat many of those things you did when you courted her, yes? This is the only way to jog your memory.”
The Duke cleared his throat, his eyes flickering to Lena.
A blush crept up her neck. “Yes. I suppose you might be right.” Not knowing where to look, she rubbed her neck and got up. “Well, there is much to do today. I have to meet Emma, and I must go to the market for flour. And eggs. And sugar. Though maybe not, I think there might still be some left in the pantry. Either way, I must see Emma.” She realised she was rambling. “Children, make yourselves useful for the remaining afternoon.” Without waiting for a response, she hurried from the room.
“Shouldn’t he be going with you?” Theo called after her, but she’d already gone. “Strange, I thought we’d just agreed that you two ought to spend as much time together as possible.” Then he shrugged. “Come boys, let’s go see the military parade in the Prater. I hear the King of Prussia, the King of Denmark, Tsar Alexander, and our entire imperial family will be there.”
“Famos!” The boys jumped up and scrambled out of the room.
Mona remained behind, sitting across from the Duke. Her eyes shone with determination as she leaned in closer. “Have you triedflowers yet?”
That evening,Lena sat at her desk, ready to pen her daily missive to Agent August. But tonight, her thoughts wandered, and her pen hovered aimlessly over the paper, splattering ink as she stared out of the window, her eyes unfocused.
Her mind was tangled. He wasn’t the man she’d thought he was. Beneath that gruff, cold exterior lay a surprising kindness. She knew it for a fact. There was that look in his eyes, a fleeting softness that sent a flutter through her stomach every time she caught it. She wanted to understand him, get to know him, peel back the layers and discover the man he was beneath the facade.
She had been trying so hard to remember more, but the memories refused to surface. The only two memories she had of him were vivid, consistent and powerful in their emotions. The first was on St James’s Street, where she had fallen hopelessly in love with him as an awkward fourteen-year old.
It must have been puppy love, of course. She’d been just a child. Lena pressed a hand to her heart. It still lingered there, echoes of powerful longing, the feverish sizzle in her blood. It left her breathless and agitated.
Then, later, the memory of holding the locket she had given him…as an engagement present.
They had been in a rose garden.
Rose garden…she scribbled involuntarily on the paper. Then, as if out of its own volition, her hand moved and wrotetwo more words.
She stared at them.
First kiss.
Where on earth had this come from?
Was the room hotter than it was before?
And what was that feeling again? Overpowering, overwhelming her.
Cedarwood and musk engulfed her.
It was true.
They must have kissed.
Lena’s fingers wandered to her lips.
A dreaminess took hold of her, the same feverish sensation she’d felt as a fourteen-year-old.
Then she shook herself as if to free herself from the sensation.You must compose yourself at once, Helena Arenheim,she scolded herself.These were mere memories. They were in the past. Things were quite different now.
Besides, the rational part of her mind suggested of course they must have kissed. If they were married and Hector was truly his son, they must have done so much more than—merciful heavens!
Don’t think about it, don’t think about it!
Lena jumped to her feet and her chair fell backwards. She fluttered around her room, fanning herself.
