“This is Duke Licht; the empress asked me to introduce you.” He jabbed a thumb toward the greasy man.
Liane did a double take. This was her fortuitous encounter? Either Mother had never met the man, or she thought little of her tastes. Why had it not occurred to her that he’d be arranging this meeting? If she could call it that. Knowing Heinrich, he owed this man a gambling debt, and an introduction would lessen it.
“Your majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Duke Licht bowed, his gaze lingering on her chest.
Delightful. At least she could make this quick.
“The pleasure is all yours,” Liane said with a false laugh.
The man frowned and laughed along as if he got the joke.
“I’ll leave the two of you to get acquainted then.” Heinrich nodded and faded back into the crowd.
Standing side by side, neither of them spoke as the music thrummed in her ears, and the crowd flowed around them. Liane fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve and looked anywhere but at Duke Licht. If he didn’t say anything soon, when the song ended, she would excuse herself and go find Ludwig.
“A lovely evening...” he said.
“It is.”
A long, painful pause stretched out
“Have you ever been toGreadorf?”
“No. I haven’t.”
“That is where I am from. We grow grapes for wine.” He gestured toward his mask.
“I see.”
The first song ended, and Aristea and Mathias stepped off the dance floor, but Mother and Father were still dancing. Heinrich approached Aristea, but she wouldn’t look at him.Good, give him the cold shoulder, she thought. Time to make her exit.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Duke Licht, but if you’d excuse me.” Liane made a move to walk away, but he caught her by her upper arm.
“Shall we go outside where we might speak more freely?”Duke Licht leaned into her personal space to whisper into her ear.
“I’d rather not.” Liane reeled back, yanking her arm from his grip, and turned to weave through the crowd.
He followed. She felt his hot, sour breath on her neck, and she quickened her pace, but the press of bodies forced her into a darkened corner, and he blocked her escape.
“You don’t have to be coy with me. I know you’re not a maiden,” he said, inching toward her with a lascivious smile.
It was true; she’d taken lovers: courtiers and commoners. It wasn’t a secret, and she knew courtiers loved to gossip about her, but no one dared say it to her directly.
“How dare you.” Liane seethed and raised her hand to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist stopping her mid-swing.
But instead of being angry, he looked pleased. No, not pleased, eager…
“He said you’d be difficult, but I like a challenge,” he said, taking another step toward her.
“I think you’re forgetting whom you’re addressing,” Liane said, yanking her arm free.
“You should be grateful for my interest. What man would have you at your age and reputation… But I don’t care if you’re as barren as your sister. I already have three sons.”
Seeing red, she slapped him across his disgusting face. “Say what you will about me. But you may never speak ill of my sister.”
The slap drew the attention of nearby courtiers, who didn’t move to intervene but whispered behind their hands, turning sad gazes to her. Chest heaving, she sought an escape, but he grabbed her as she struggled against him. They turned away as if they didn’t see. There was nothing to gain from Liane, so they didn’t care.
“I wasn’t finished speaking,”Duke Licht said against her neck, making her want to retch.
