Lise considered this plan.In her heart, she didn’t think it had much merit.A letter would take too long and be easily lost or dismissed.Friedrich’s family was also an old one.What’s more, he now lived in the same city where Jonathan was being held.Perhaps he’d developed an association of some sort with the French there.
It was a gamble, but it seemed better than waiting for her father to return in a week from Grünbek and then send a letter.By then, Jonathan could be —
Stopping her racing thoughts, she asked her brother, “How long can you stay?”
“No time at all,” he replied.“My captain gave me only the leave to ride here, deliver my news, and return to my detachment.They’re due west, toward Plön.If they move on, I might lose them.”
“What are you and the others doing?”she dared ask.
He shrugged.“It feels like we are doing nothing but lying low and waiting for orders.That’s not true, though.We’re tracking French troop movements all over, while identifying supply depots, forage zones, and choke points.We’re even watching ports and traveling up and down the coasts reporting French naval movement.To be honest, Lise, it looks like we’ll be in a battle in Spain or Portugal before we do battle here at home.Wherever we confront the French, when the time comes, we will rise up and whip their asses, I promise you.”
It sounded like her hope that everything would go back to normal soon was as impossible as running away with Jonathan.She startled when the notion entered her head.If it weren’t for her parents and Henrik, her most fervent wish would be to go to Britain, if that was where he wanted to live.
But first, he needed to be rescued from his detainment in Lübeck.
“Lise, I’m sorry,” Henrik said, “but I have to leave.Tell Papa as soon as you see him.Maybe send Hans to Eutin with a note to the Albrechts.A messenger could be there in four hours.It’s all we can do.”
She nodded, even as a wild thought began to flit through her brain.By the time she’d hugged him goodbye and sent him off with provisions and her prayers for safety, she had a plan.
Her mind raced ahead to what she must do.She couldn’t wait a week for her parents to return and then trust a letter that might never reach the right hands.And she certainly couldn’t rely on Friedrich’s brother to send his troops, having already refused Henrik’s request.
Friedrich himself, though, he was another matter.With a house in Lübeck, and the way he came and went freely in occupied territory, even bringing them expensive gifts, she knew he was not worried about the French.Her betrothed might be able to help her free the man she loved.
For as sure as God made little green apples, she had fallen hard for Jonathan and was freely admitting the situation to herself.
Be that as it may, she didn’t feel guilty asking Friedrich for his assistance.He was her betrothed.She would hold up her end of their agreement, marry him, and bear his children despite her heart belonging to another.Surely he would do this one thing for her, especially if she asked him properly.For the sake of Henrik, she would say, and for the way Lord Bowen had honored the KGL when they were in London.
The decision crystallized in an instant.She would go to Lübeck herself.
Moving quickly before reason could overtake her, Lise dashed upstairs and donned a blue riding habit and cloak.At the last moment, she snatched up a spare shift and stockings, a lightweight day gown and her comb, stuffing all of it into a pillowcase, because she could hear her mother’s voice, “Don’t ever go any long distance without a change of clothing.”
Then she hurried along the hallway, locating their housekeeper dusting her father’s study.
“Frau Kemper, I am going riding.I’ll see you anon.”Lise could hear the woman calling after her about needing her parents’ permission and French soldiers, but she was already hurrying downstairs to the kitchen.
“Don’t worry,” Lise told the cook while packing a small sack of food similar to what she’d given Henrik.“It’s just a little snack for myself.”But when Anna came in from the garden, Lise knew instantly she must take her along.It was the only way to avoid utter ruin.
Again, she didn’t ask permission, nor did she allow for an argument.“Anna will accompany me on my ride,” Lise said, adding another apple to the sack.“With my parents away, there isn’t as much work for her to do anyway.”
As soon as she got the maid alone, she swore her to secrecy, gave her the barest facts of what they were going to do, and sent her to dress for the journey.
“Meet me in the stable,” Lise ordered, “as soon as you are ready.”
Jacob was mucking out the stalls.His expression changed from a smile of greeting to a confused frown when he saw her arms were full.
“Hurry,” she told him.“Saddle my horse, as well as my mother’s mare.”She counted herself fortunate that her parents had taken the cabriolet, drawn by only her father’s large horse.
Jacob did as she asked while she found a cantle bag and stuffed the pillowcase inside it.
“Tie this securely to the back,” she told him, giving him the leather bag.
The boy’s eyes widened.“But Fräulein Lise, your father said —”
“My father isn’t here,” she said firmly.“And this is urgent.Please, Jacob.”
He hesitated only a moment before nodding and securing the cantle bag to the rear of her side saddle, while she tied the food sack to her pommel.
“Where are you going, Fräulein?”he asked as she mounted from the block.
