“Is it?”His voice rose suddenly, making her flinch.“You ride to me in desperation, pleading for this spy’s life, and I’m to believe there’s nothing between you?”
“He’s not a spy!He’s a surveyor.”
“He’s whatever the French say he is!”Friedrich shouted, then seemed to collect himself with visible effort.When he spoke again, his voice was lower but no less menacing.“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?Associating in your own home with an enemy of France, then coming here, pleading on his behalf?”
She knew whatever she said would make things worse, so she said nothing.To her astonishment, he drew even closer and pressed his mouth to hers.
She tried to protest, but couldn’t speak, nor could she lean back as the high-backed chair enclosed her.When she turned her head, trying to escape him, Friedrich took hold of her face between his hands.Holding her still, he continued his assault on her mouth with the bruising kiss, grinding her lips painfully against her own teeth.
Until, at last, he stopped.
“Do you see?”he asked.“This is what you’ve reduced me to, worrying that I’ve lost you.You’ve made me behave out of character.I’m furious with you.”
He turned away, put distance between them.
Still shocked, she covered her mouth with her hand, at the same time, trembling in the chair.He kept his back to her.His hands were fisted at his sides before he finally turned and faced her.
“I’m going home,” she said, changing tack.“I’ve imposed on your hospitality long enough.Anna and I will leave within the hour.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
The finality in his tone made her stomach drop.“What do you mean?”
Friedrich moved to the window, his hands clasped behind his back.“You’ve been here two nights, Lise.Unchaperoned, save for a maid.Everyone knows a servant is not sufficient protection, because they can be ordered or bribed to say that nothing happened.”
“But nothing did happen,” Lise pointed out.Apart from that frightening kiss.
“Regardless, you cannot go home as though this silly journey of yours never took place.You said yourself that you spoke to someone, asking directions, naming me.Do you understand what that means?”
“My parents will believe me when I tell them —”
“Not the point!”he interrupted.“For the sake of your reputation and mine.For the propriety of our future, we must marry.Immediately.”
The room tilted, and she grabbed hold of the armrests again.
Turning to face her, he added, “I have friends among the Lutheran clergy.For the right price, Pastor Müller will expedite the process.We can be wed within days rather than weeks.”
“No.Friedrich, we have an understanding.”She took a deep, steadying breath.This wasn’t the Middle Ages.He wasn’t going to drag her into a church by her hair and force the marriage.
“The date has been set,” she reminded him, keeping her voice calm.“And my parents and brother wish to be at our wedding, as do yours.Besides, the contract specified —”
“The contract is irrelevant now.”When he moved toward her, this time she jumped to her feet and backed away toward the door.His kiss had been an ugly and brutal imitation of what she knew a kiss could be, when both parties were willing.And she would fight him tooth and nail if he tried to do it again.
“Don’t walk away from me, Lise.That is not how I shall run our household.”
He was precisely the bully she remembered from childhood, after all.Except now he was a grown man, strong and powerful, and scaring her to her core.
“The situation has changed,” Friedrich said, as she dithered in the doorway, ready to flee if he got any closer.“We no longer have the option to wait to marry.Surely you can see that.”
“The only thing I see is the immediate need to go home.”
He sighed.“It’s too late for that.”His voice was almost gentle now, which somehow made it worse.“Your reputation, my future as the husband of a trustworthy, moral woman, your family’s standing.All of it depends on us marrying quickly and quietly.Thus, you may not leave.”
“You’re holding me prisoner?”Lise whispered, the truth of it crashing over her.
“I’m protecting you.”Friedrich reached for her hand, but she snatched it away and held it close against her stomach.“Lise, be sensible.This Englishman has complicated everything.The French are asking questions.If they discover your family harbored him ...”
He let the implication hang in the air.
