“I forbid it. Do not even consider that.”
“But, Your Highness?—”
He lifted a hand.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw a pair of maids, who no doubt were taken by surprise while sweeping the stairs, wearing aprons and bonnets. They turned away, hunched over, in an attempt to merge into the wall.
Klemens’ gaze swept over them, disinterested.
“Do not involve Metternich. It is an order.”
Klemens never considered himself to be autocratic, but lately, he found, he had taken more and more measures in that direction. Heaven forbid he would ever turn out like his father.
He repressed a shudder.
His horse was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. “Send a message to Aldingbourne. I want to meet him.”
“I believe he is expected to be attending the gala dinner tonight. Wouldn’t the best way be if you were to make an appearance as well? Particularly since the emperor’s command is to attend upon the Grand Duchess.” Kovacz suggested. “But I suppose not,” he added hastily, upon seeing his face.
“You are becoming impertinent, Kovacz,” he warned.
“Yes, Your Highness. I mean, no, Your Highness. I mean, I would never dream of it, Your Highness.”
Klemens could not help but utter a laugh.
Chapter Twelve
The remainingday was so busy with work, Pippa had not had time to think about what she had seen. Or maybe it was that she chose not to think of it, for her mind simply refused to take it in.
Only long past midnight, when she finally returned to her chamber, so exhausted that her limbs were shaking, did she dare to address what she had seen that day.
Klemens.
It had, undoubtedly, been Klemens.
His figure, his face, his hair, and his voice.
What hadn’t been Klemens at all had been his demeanour.
He had been, oh, so different! So cold, so arrogant, so proud.
Just like an archduke ought to be.
And he was to marry a Russian princess. How was this possible? It had to be a mistake.
Yes, that must be it.
For how could Klemens ever promise her marriagewhen he was already promised elsewhere? It was not something he would do. Ever.
Pippa’s heart was racing again, but this time painfully. Her heart squeezed tighter and tighter, and she could not breathe, could not breathe, could not breathe.
She pressed her eyes shut and everything tilted.
She would faint.
No. She would not faint.
Pippa never fainted.
