“It is beautiful,” he heard himself say.
As the last note lingered in the air, so did the memory, refusing to let go.
Chapter Thirty-Two
It wasn’teasy being a duchess.
Certainly, there were advantages. Her spectacularly beautiful new wardrobe and the jewellery the Duke had given her: an emerald necklace that matched her sage green dress perfectly. Her hair was expertly pinned up and a green ribbon woven through it, with several longer curls allowed to fall over her shoulder.
As she descended the stairs, the Duke had given her a long, lingering look that had made her blush.
Unfortunately, Mona was feeling unwell with a head cold and had to stay in that night. It was a pity, for there was a grand ball at the Imperial Palace to which they had been invited.
“It’s a shame,” she said, with a stuffy nose. “But if I go, I will sneeze all over the Emperor and that would not be good, would it?”
Lena had tucked her in tightly. “It would have been nice if you could have joined us, but your health is more important now.”
She had been immediately awed by the glitter and glamour that greeted them. She tightened her grip on Julius’s arm.
“Never fear,” he murmured, noticing her nervousness.
“I won’t know a single soul here,” she muttered as the footmen opened the wide doors for them.
“You know me,” Julius replied.
Metternich descended the stairs, saw them, and headed straight towards them.
“And him,” Julius groaned.
“What a pleasure to see you here,” the Prince said, kissing her hand effusively. “Your Grace. Your presence brightens the place.” He said that with such sincerity and charm that she smiled. Suddenly Lena understood why he was so popular with the ladies.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she replied, “but I dare say the hundreds of chandeliers do a better job of it than I do.”
He threw back his head back and laughed. “Not only beautiful but witty. You are to be envied, Aldingbourne.”
The Duke smiled a cool smile that did not reach his eyes. “Your purpose has been accomplished, Highness. You have her attention, and she seems jealous.”
Metternich’s smile did not falter. “Is she, indeed? A little longer, if you don’t mind.”
Lena’s head swerved from one to the other, slightly tilted, trying to understand what they were talking about.
“But I do mind.” Julius clasped his hand over Metternich’s and removed it from Lena’s. “I believe your own wife is waiting for you at the door.”
Metternich laughed softly. “Always the jealous husband, I see.”
He bowed and strolled to the door, where his wife, a tall, thin woman with a kind but anxious face, awaited him.
Julius took Lena’s hand firmly and led her up the stairs. Halfway up the staircase stood a gorgeous creature in white and silver. She had a round, expressive face framed by tiny, dark curls, and looked at them with open curiosity.
Julius nodded curtly at her. “Duchess.” He swept past her, not pausing to introduce Lena.
“That was the famous Duchess of Sagan,” he murmured in her ear. “The one who broke Metternich’s heart.”
“Oh!” Lena turned to look at her again, but she had slowly descended the stairs and uttered a sound of delight as she hurried towards a uniformed man who had just entered.
“Her new lover. Or old lover.” Julius explained. “Depending on how one sees it.” His forehead puckered to a frown. “Metternich was just trying to use you to make her jealous. With his wife standing at the door, watching.”
“Dear me. His poor wife! How complicated everything is.” She shook her head.
