“He sounds lovely, your Klemens,” Henni said wistfully. “That must be the dream man. To look like Prince Lucifer, but to have a nicer personality.” She heaved a deep sigh. “He is so much work, His Imperial Highness. What with all these revels. Sometimes, when it has been all too much, I have to help them clean, tiptoeing into his rooms, while they all lie about on the floor, snoring. And once,” she leaned forward as she whispered confidentially, “I’ve had to sneak out a group of half-naked women from his room through the servants’ staircase, without anyone seeing.”
“Good heavens. What were they doing there?” Pippa lifted a hand. “No, wait, don’t tell me. That was a stupid thing to ask.”
Henni nodded. “He’s very wild, that archduke. But somehow…somehow…” Again she sighed. “One can’t help but dream a little every time one sees him. He is such a prince from a fairy tale.”
Pippa’s heart began to pound again. She chewed her fingernail as she watched them approach the Schweizertor.
“Is there a way I could see him closer?” she abruptly demanded.
Henni stared at her with wide eyes. “Are you mad?”
“It is just to verify. I’m certain my mind just played tricks on me. It is most definitely not Klemens, but—” She shook her head in disbelief. “The thought alone is outrageous. But just one more time. I need to see his face closer.”
“But Anna. Even if it were possible, you’d never, ever want to do that! They say no female is safe in his company. No one!”
“Are you certain that’s not just stuff and nonsense?”
She shook her head violently. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It is true.”
“Can you, could you help me get access? I could help you clean. Or we could swap. You take my chores, I do yours.”
Henni’s mouth dropped. “You prefer to clear outchamber pots while I get to sweep the grand staircase? Are you certain?”
Pippa nodded. “I am.”
Henni nodded. “Gladly.”
In the distance, they heard the guards shout, “Present arms!”
Henni’s hands flew to her mouth. “We must hurry! They are entering the palace and if we tarry here longer, we most certainly shall be missed! If Frau Benedikt notices we are gone, we’ll both lose our jobs.”
Pippa nodded. “Let’s go.”
“I know a shortcut. Follow me.”
Henni led the way. Instead of returning the way they came, down the winding staircase, she opened an inconspicuous-looking door. “Not many people know about this,” she told Pippa. “This leads straight to the main staircase. We must wait a little until they have all passed, to avoid running into anyone. Then, we need to cross the hall to the other side, and the door there leads straight to the kitchen. But you save a tremendous amount of time by going this way.”
They took the stairs down, and Henni carefully opened another narrow door in the wall. She opened it a crack and peeked inside.
“I think they all passed. They must all be in the ceremony room now. That means Frau Benedikt is busy with the footmen, and we can safely cross.” She ushered Pippa through the door.
They made it safely back to the servants’ quarters. Just as they heaved a sigh of relief, a dark shadow fell over them.
Frau Benedikt.
Pippa started. Were they about to be reprimanded for having been absent? Had she noticed?
But Frau Benedikt said, instead, “Anna. Henni. Go and clean the carpet on the grand staircase. Make haste.”
“Yes ma’am,” Henni said obediently. “Come quickly,” she told Pippa, “before the guests return.”
She grabbed a pail and a brush and led the way.
Pippa’s mind was so busy ruminating over Klemens, that she barely noticed what she was doing. Her fingers, quite on their own, brushed and cleaned.
Klemens. She felt a hollow pulling in her heart area. How she missed him! He would find it a great lark, indeed, that she thought he resembled Archduke Leopold. How he would love that! He would tease her mercilessly about it. It was almost as though she could hear his teasing voice: “So I look like a prince, you say? But of course I do, with my beautiful features…” He would pull her curl and watch it bounce back. Klemens always teased her. It was never malicious but gentle, and Pippa found it charming. She teased him in return, mercilessly. And he would allow it, good-naturedly. “Ah, Pippa,” he would say, “you always make me smile. What would life be without you?”
Oh, how he would love it!
