“I saw you sneaking around wearing clothes that weren’t yours. Can you blame me for being curious?”
Across the room, boisterous laughter echoed, and a familiar mocking tone caught her attention. Head swiveling toward the direction, she saw Heinrich seated at a card table with his usual pet lords. A buxom blonde bounced on his lap, dragging a pile of silbern and geld toward him. She tossed her head back in throaty laughter, as Heinrich buried his head into her ample chest. Liane clenched her hand into a fist. She’d found Heinrich’s mistress.
She half rose from her seat, ready to confront him, when she noticed Ludwig hovering at Heinrich’s shoulder with his back against the wall. Liane sunk back into her chair to watch. Ludwig had come to meet Heinrich? Surely, he was trying, as she was, to uncover his plot. But then why had he deterred her from investigating? Was he worried she’d get hurt? That’d never stopped him before… Doubt crept in, and she tried to shake it away.
Heinrich rose, excused himself, and signaled for Ludwig to follow before heading up to the next floor.She had to know what they were talking about, and as she stood to follow as well, Erich grasped her forearm, tethering her in place. Liane glared down at him.
“You can’t just rush in, or you’ll be seen,” he said.
There wasn’t a reason to trust him. The logical thing to do would be to say goodbye and chase after Ludwig herself. But as Erich’s large hand wrapped around her wrist, she felt the cracks inside her widening. She was angry and impatient, and he was right. She’d moved without thinking once, and Heinrich had thwarted her; she couldn’t rush in without a plan this time.
“What do you suggest?” she asked.
“Follow my lead.”
With his help, they inched across the room toward the stairs, but on their way, they stopped at card tables, and even lingered by the bar. Their progress was agonizingly slow, but she trusted Erich’s plan. When they reached the foot of the stairs, at last, she heard voices.
“I can’t live off scraps of affection forever, Henny,” a woman whined.
Erich thrust out his arm, blocking Liane before she was seen. From around his impressive bicep, she saw Heinrich, his back to her, and the woman from earlier standing outside an open room door.
“Haven’t I given you enough? An apartment in the city, jewels, and new dresses,” Heinrich said sharply.
“I hate having to sneak around. You said you’d make me an empress. How much longer do I have to wait?”
“Shh,” he hissed. “We’re in public.”
“There’s no one here but the spy,” she said in a cajoling voice as she reached up to stroke his cheek.
Heinrich slapped her, knocking her to the ground, and Liane inhaled sharply. If Erich hadn’t been in her way, she would have rushed up the stairs and slapped Heinrich herself.
“Remember your place,” Heinrich spat.
Erich’s hand clenched into a fist, and this time it was Liane who had to grasp onto his arm to hold him back, even though she’d very much like to see him punch Heinrich. She pulled him toward her, and his body caged her against the wall, the muscled planes of his chest pressing hard against her breasts. Her gaze flicked up to his stubbled chin, his firm lips. Now wasn’t the time, but her body reacted to his proximity anyway with a churning heat that made her breath catch. His molten brown eyes flicked down to meet hers, and for a moment, everything else melted away. His lips were dangerously close. If she leaned forward…
A door slammed, and the woman stomped past them, sniffling pitifully. When she was gone, Liane slipped out from under Erich’s grip and cleared her throat. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then, certain the coast was clear, Liane cautiously climbed the stairs to press her ear to the door the woman had just exited.
“The job is done,” Ludwig said, his tone cold and detached.
What job? The apothecarist? Then Heinrich had ordered it?
“And is everything in place for the Sun Ceremony?”
“It is.”
“But there’s something you’re not telling me,” Heinrich drawled, and Liane clenched her fist, fighting the urge to knock the door down and catch him in the act.
“You’re mistaken.”
“Ludwig. You don’t want the truth getting out, now do you?” Heinrich dragged out each word, his tone that of an adult scolding a child.
Liane’s heavy breathing echoed back at her as she pushed harder against the door. Ludwig wouldn’t betray her; he wouldn’t, he couldn’t.
“It’s inconsequential.”
“That’s for me to decide, isn’t it?”
Her heart thundered in her ears, and a part of her wanted to run away, to pretend she’d never doubted Ludwig, that this had all been a bad dream. But the other side of her needed to know and wouldn’t let her feet move.
