“I hand them to a footman, who passes them on. But never fear. Thus far, my reports have been of no consequence. Today’s report will consist of a list of negligible activities that the Archduke has done, starting from washing his face in lukewarm water to reading theWiener Abendblatt.”
“Not to mention tormenting my maid and watching her clean things that need not be cleaned.”
She glared at him.
“Very well.” He tapped his fingers on the armrest. “Then we shall proceed as follows: continue the game. Considering your circumstances, it is best you to remain here, near me, where I can keep an eye on you. Continue in the guise of Anna Braun; it is a good one. No one will suspect your true identity. Feed the secret police whatever nonsense you like. I care not what you tell them. After the congress is over, we return to our original plan. “
Pippa looked up. “Original plan? What plan?”
“Getting married, of course.” He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Pippa pushed against his chest and scrambled from his lap. Clenching her hands, she stood before him. “That is a cruel thing to say.”
He sat up. “Cruel? To marry you? Why?”
She shook her head vehemently. “You know as well as I that it is impossible. You know as well as I that it is a dream that neither of us is allowed to dream.” She drew a sharp breath. “You know as well as I that a union between us is forbidden.”
“Nonsense.” He scowled. “Nothing is forbidden. Least of all for an archduke.”
“Don’t you see?” Pippa’s voice rose. “This is precisely the problem. It is because of who you are!”
He shrugged. “What does it have to do with anything?”
Was he stupid? Or wilfully cruel? Or both?
“It has everything to do with everything! It is the very reason we, you and I, cannot be. Not ever.”
“Not unless I have anything to say in the matter.” He crossed his arms. “My background never mattered to you before. You never questioned it. Neither did your father. Why should it matter now?”
“I never truly knew who you were. Had I known... had I known...” Her voice trailed off.
His jaw clenched. “Do you really think that it would have changed anything if I had told you?”
“Do you not see? There is no ‘we’. There never was. It was all make-believe.”
He dropped his hand. “What do you mean?”
She shook her head. “Vows that were made without the other party knowing the full truth are not vows. Whatever they were, they were not sincere. And even if they were—” She looked up, eyes full of sadness. “We both know it is futile to pretend we could ever be more than what we are.”
“And you would give up like that? Never even try?”
She shook her head and took a step back. “There is no us. There never was.”
“Pippa. Look at me.” His voice was sharp.
“I am. I am looking at you!” Her chest heaved. “I havebeen looking at you since you strolled into our village. I have done nothing else! I thought I saw a student, but now? What do I see? A prince. An archduke. What good does that do me? Or you? You, you look at me!” She thumped her chest. “Really, look. What do you see? I was born a gentlewoman, yes, but what does it matter now? Who am I now? A chambermaid. A prince and a chambermaid can never be.” Her shoulders slumped.
“You must trust me,” he said quietly. “We will make it work.”
That was at the heart of the matter. She no longer trusted him.
She looked at him sadly. “And the Grand Duchess?”
“I—” He faltered.
“So you see. Despite all your promises, this is the reality. You are the youngest son of Emperor Francis. You are to marry the Grand Duchess of Russia. And I shall remain but a simple, humble maid.” She made a small curtsy, turned, and quietly slipped from the room, leaving Klemens staring after her with a stony face.
Chapter Eighteen
