She tried to think like a princess. She tried to embrace the outrage that was the only thing she should be feeling. But all she could manage to say was “I’m cold.”
“Your comfort is not—”
“I’m cold!”
Throwing caution to the winds, she raised her chin defiantly. He swore, then marched outside the cell and slammed the barred door shut behind him. The last thing she expected was for him to turn the key in the lock, too.
Chapter Sixteen
HOW DARE YOU KEEP me in here? I will not forget this, Captain.”
Christoph’s anger wasn’t gone yet. Those words kept it high. Where had she gotten the courage to speak so imperiously? No raised voice. Simple calm laced with ice. But her eyes gave her away, not by expression but by shade. The stormy-gray color lightened to a pale gray-blue when she was frightened.
“You have concocted a tale to bamboozle,” he growled at her through the bars of her cell. “But I will have the truth before we are done.”
“You wouldn’t recognize the truth if it kicked you in the arse.”
She uttered that insult in English. He didn’t let her know he understood it when hearing thoughts she didn’t want him to know of might become a useful tool for him. But he couldn’t stay there any longer. Fighting desire and anger, he’d end up doing something he would regret.
He told her in parting, “I will get rid of this anger before I decide what to do with you. But I warn you, this”—he waved a hand at her cell—“is nothing compared to what you will face if you do not start telling the truth.”
He heard her gasp before she turned her back on him. As soon as he’d left the cell, she’d leapt for her gown and had been holding it up in front of her like a royal shield. But he’d just frightened her enough that she didn’t realize she was giving him a fine view of her shapely legs. He left abruptly before he opened that door again.
Her fear mollified him only a little, but enough to make him realize her indignation was partially responsible for his anger. Her situation was too serious. She had to realize she wouldn’t be escaping this plot unscathed unless she actually was innocent. If she’d been lied to so convincingly that she really believed what she was saying, then he could be more lenient. The question was, how to determine that?
He was still angry at himself as well for allowing her to distract him from taking the simple precaution of searching her the moment she made her claim. Men were searched at the gate, women weren’t. That would change after today.
Desire was a dangerous thing. If he hadn’t had a taste of her, it wouldn’t be as powerful as it was now. But he’d made an honest mistake when she’d leaned so close to him to request a private rendezvous in such a sexy tone.
Just last month he’d had to deal with a middle-aged widow who had also kept her business at court a secret until she stood before him and confessed she hoped to wile her way into the king’s bed. She’d even offered herself to him as payment to arrange a meeting between her and Frederick. Christoph hadn’t been tempted. He’d shown her to the gate instead. She wasn’t the first who had come there without researching her subject better. It was well-known in Lubinia that Frederick had been lucky to find love twice, with both his queens, and that there hadn’t been a royal mistress since he’d married his second wife.
With that foolishness last month so fresh in his mind, it was no wonder he’d given in easily to Alana’s temptation—or grasped at that excuse simply because she was young and beautiful and so desirable. Damnation, he’d wanted to be right. He’d wanted her to be exactly what he’d thought she was when he brought her to his quarters.
After giving Boris orders and putting on an overcoat since it had begun to snow again, Christoph went to question the guard Alana had accused of stealing her bracelet. He couldn’t leave that stone unturned before he spoke with the king. He was actually a little disappointed to hear the man deny it, which prompted him to instruct another guard to search the man’s belongings. He didn’t expect the bracelet to prove anything other than that the girl wasn’t lying about everything.
Then he went immediately to seek a private word with the king. His stride was quick. He hoped to reach the royal chambers before the monarchs sat down to dinner. Only emergencies could interrupt that, and his business wasn’t an emergency—yet.
The royals were entertaining, though, and were in the sitting room with their guests prior to dinner. The king and the queen both greeted him warmly, but Frederick didn’t rise immediately to see what had brought him. So Christoph greeted the two guests, with whom he was acquainted.
He wasn’t surprised to see Auberta Bruslan there. Norbert Strulland, the doddering, feeble-looking retainer who served as her escort, sat next to her on a gold-threaded, beige sofa. One was rarely seen without the other. White-haired like Auberta, Norbert should have been retired years ago, but Auberta was too kindhearted to dismiss him.
The former queen was often invited to the palace for royal gatherings or private dinners. Both Frederick and Nikola honestly liked the old lady, who was good-natured and had a lively sense of humor. They were also interested in fostering good relations through her with as much of the former king’s family as possible. Not all Bruslans were opposed to a Stindal on the throne.
“Christoph, how is your grandfather Hendrik, eh?” Auberta asked him warmly. “I haven’t seen my old friend since the sleigh races—it must be ten years ago!”
Christoph smiled. He knew the rumors that Hendrik had been courting Auberta prior to King Ernest’s noticing her, and winning her affections, and making her his queen.
“He doesn’t come to the city as often as he used to,” Christoph replied.
“A shame. I miss his humor. He could always make me laugh. And how is your lovely neighbor Nadia Braune? Have you captured her heart yet? Will we be hearing wedding bells in the near future perhaps?”
Christoph felt like grimacing, but concealed his feelings well. Auberta was no doubt just interested in gossip, but it was too soon after that unpleasant visit from Nadia today for him to answer with anything other than bluntness.
“Nadia and I were merely childhood friends, nothing more.”
Auberta seemed surprised, but her escort actually frowned. Christoph had to allow that Norbert was so old that his mind often wandered, and he might not even be following the conversation. The old lady quickly changed the subject to one of her favorites, directing her comments back to Frederick.
“My grandson Karsten has made me very proud again,” Auberta said. “He’s building up one of the family businesses, creating jobs for the commoners. He’s so loyal and devoted to Lubinia, not like his dissolute parents, who do nothing but travel around Europe enjoying a carefree life. But at least they left Karsten in my care.”
