He nodded at her and left before the ladies saw them together, and Pippa fled in the opposite direction, afraid that the tears gathering in her eyes would spill over.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Pippa had thoughtthat being a companion to the Archduchess would give her more free time, but that was not so. It appeared to her that she had even less free time than she had when she was a maid. Now, she had a pretty but narrow room in the antechamber to the Archduchess’ bedchamber, which meant that she was required to be available at all hours, even at night. Cleaning had allowed her to be on her own and to ruminate on her own thoughts.
Now, she was constantly in someone’s company; if not the Archduchess’, then with her guests. She not only helped the Archduchess with her toiletry and wardrobe, but with everything else that occupied her during the day, whether that was reading, embroidering, playing music, or visiting. Pippa was fetching and running, and giving orders, as suddenly the servants she’d been intimidated by were beneath her. The entire hierarchy had been put upside-down.
That included Frau Benedikt.
That woman was nothing short of extraordinary, Pippa concluded. One morning, she’d appeared in the Archduchess’ rooms, standing tall and silent in front of them, giving Pippa such a fright she nearly jumped out of her skin.
The woman gave not a single sign of recognition, not even a blink.
Instead, she gave Pippa a half-bow. “I would like to confirm with Her Imperial Highness the menu for tomorrow’s supper,” she said, adding formally, “Fräulein Cranwell.”
The address was so unexpected that it threw Pippa off balance entirely. She stuttered that she would have to enquire with the Archduchess first, but Her Imperial Highness was still sleeping.
Frau Benedikt nodded. “I shall await your message, then.” She turned to go.
“Frau Benedikt.”
“Yes, Fräulein.”
“I wanted to enquire how Henni is doing.”
A fine eyebrow rose. “She is doing fine, Fräulein.”
If the girl were dying on her deathbed, she would say the same.
Pippa thought quickly. “Her Imperial Highness has a need for staff, and I was wondering whether Henni might be transferred here to her service. Would it be possible?”
“One would have to consult with theObersthofmeisteramtabout whether that is a possibility, Fräulein. Given the current lack of maids in the palace, and the increasing festivities as Christmas approaches, I do not believe it is possible for us to release yet another maid.”
The pointed emphasis was not lost on Pippa. “Whether a regular palace maid can join the personal household staff of an archduchess, that needs to be confirmed by Her Imperial Highness herself.”
“But I too was a regular palace maid,” Pippa argued.
Frau Benedikt regarded her steadily. “If I may say so, Fräulein Cranwell, you were not.”
Pippa blinked, confused. “No?”
“It is no secret you were sent from the secret police. Also, your background is not that of a regular commoner, but that of the daughter of a well-known professor.”
“You knew?”
She raised a fine eyebrow. “Naturally. It is my duty to know such things. Now, Fräulein, if you will excuse me, I must return. I shall await your message regarding the Archduchess’ meal requirements.”
She left, leaving Pippa staring after her.
One major advantageof being the Archduchess’ companion was that Pippa was sent on errands outside the Hofburg. Whether it was to fetch a bag of sugar confections from Demel, a pair of silk stockings, or a newly trimmed bonnet, she enjoyed those brief excursions immensely and frequently made detours to extend her liberty. She had never had the chance to see the sights of Vienna properly, to take a turn in the Prater or explore the parks on the Bastei. Today, the Archduchess had sent her to the Kohlmarkt to collect freshly roasted chestnuts from the street vendors, along with a selection of ribbons and lace from the haberdashery.
“It isn’t the same when they are roasted in the palace kitchens,” she claimed.
Pippa was inclined to disagree.
Before she did so, Pippa had another obligation to fulfil. One for Metternich.
She walked briskly across the Josefsplatz toward the Augustinerkirche. The heavy door yielded to her push, and she slipped inside.
