Behind the Mask (9 page)

“Get off,” she protested and he did so reluctantly. She jumped to her feet on one side of the bed, and he stood resolutely on the other.

“What
is
the matter, Abbi?” he asked, baffled.

“Take me back to the ballroom,” she demanded, adjusting her skirts.

“But Abbi, I . . .”

“Take me back now.”

Something in his eyes left her decidedly uneasy as he gave her a hard stare before moving toward the door. Then he stopped and looked down. She watched him bend over to pick up the combs that had fallen out of her hair. As he did, the crown fell from his head and hit the stone floor with a startling clang. Abbi quickly picked it up, fondling it for just a moment, noting that it was only a simple gold band with minimal adornment.

“You mustn’t lose this.” She forced a light tone, attempting to ease the tension.

He snatched it from her and she took the combs from him. “No,” he said with a terseness that increased her uneasiness, “I mustn’t lose this.”

“Perhaps you should have the size adjusted so it fits better,” she teased, attempting to ignore her own aggravation as she turned toward the mirror to smooth her hair. He stood by her side and carefully put the crown back on his head, putting more effort into checking his appearance than Abbi did her own. Her thick curls required little attention and she quickly put the combs in place and moved toward the door. Nikolaus could do little more than accompany her back to the ballroom. He made an attempt at light conversation, following her example to behave as though nothing were wrong. She wanted to feel angry, but more than anything she was annoyed at her own naiveté. The joy of the evening had left her, and she longed for the safety of home.

“Abbi,” Lance called when he caught sight of her. She wondered by his flushed expression if he was angry or just worried over her absence. “Where have you been?” he asked. “I was about to send the Guard searching.”

“Now, Lance,” Nikolaus said with barely masked condescension, “there’s no need to let your position go to your head. I was merely taking Miss Albrecht on a tour of the castle.”

“You might have said something,” Lance added, slightly more calm.

Abbi was saved from any further attention to the situation when the duke’s sisters caught sight of her and came over to join them. Nikolaus unobtrusively moved away. Abbi wasn’t spared totally, however, as Lena said, “I intend to give Nik a good scolding for skirting you off when Magda and I were just getting acquainted with you.”

“He was kind enough to give me a tour of the castle,” Abbi explained, proud of her composure. But she couldn’t help noticing the glance that passed between the sisters.

“I’m sure we will have more opportunities in the future,” Magda insisted.

Abbi found their company refreshing after the appalling behavior of their brother, but the strain of the evening was beginning to tell on her. Noticing that some of the guests were leaving, she asked Lance to take her home. Overhearing Abbi’s request, Lena called for someone to bring around the captain’s carriage.

“Promise you’ll come and visit us soon,” Lena said warmly. “It gets so dull around here, and we have to make up for all the years we should have known you.”

“And remember, Lance,” Magda added, “to tell Ramona hello for us.”

“I will,” Lance promised and a few minutes later his carriage was announced. He helped Abbi inside and sat across from her, remaining completely silent until they were nearly to the house.

“Abbi,” he said, sounding concerned, “I must apologize for Nikolaus’s behavior.”

“Must
you?” she countered, realizing this wasn’t the first time he’d said as much. “I don’t see that Nikolaus’s behavior is any reflection on you, whether it warrants apology or not.”

Lance looked a little startled, then he smiled and said, “You are a very wise young woman, Abbi.”

She made a scoffing noise. “Wise, no,” she said, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit that naive and foolish would be more accurate.

Following more silence Lance added, “I hope you had an enjoyable evening—and I hope that Nikolaus didn’t say or do anything to upset you.”

Abbi willed her expression to hide the truth, if only for the sake of avoiding her own humiliation. Her tone was even as she said, “I’m fine, thank you.” Excluding those few minutes with Nikolaus that had gone sour, it had been an enjoyable evening. She added firmly, “I
did
enjoy myself. Thank you for including me. You’re very kind.”

He smiled as the carriage came to a halt. Still absorbed with her anger toward Nikolaus, Abbi felt irritated when Lance hesitated expectantly at the door of the house. She was almost expecting to have to ward off some kind of advance from him as well, but he only took her hand and kissed it.

“I’ll be leaving the country for a few weeks,” he said. “Maneuvers with the Guard, you see.”

“I’ll see you when you return,” Abbi said in a conscious effort to be polite.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

She went inside, engulfed with a wave of confusion. Rushing to the refuge of her room, Abbi willed herself not to slam the door and alert her aunts that she had returned. They would no doubt be anxious to hear about her evening, and the thought of having to talk about it tonight would be intolerable.

Scornfully, she pulled the jade combs from her hair and threw them to the dressing table. She nearly tore the gown in her efforts to remove it, thinking that only hours earlier it had held the promise of excitement and adventure. Now it only meant the memory of Nikolaus attempting to have his way with her, and she threw it with contempt to the bottom of the wardrobe. Elsa entered the room just as Abbi sat in front of the mirror and began to brush through her hair.

“I could have helped you out of your dress,” Elsa said cheerfully, but her expression darkened when she saw the wad of green silk on the wardrobe floor. Her concern was evident as she picked up the gown to shake it out.

“I wonder if it isn’t a waste of effort,” Abbi said tersely, “or if I even have what it takes to be any part of society.”

“I take it things didn’t go well.”

“I guess you could put it that way. But only because I’m a naive fool who—”

“Don’t even say it, Miss Abbi.” Elsa put her hands on her slim hips. “If anything, you’re too good for them.”

“You’re sweet, Elsa.” Abbi’s tone turned wistful. “But all the way home I could only think how much I miss Papa. He was often criticized for the way he raised me, but I was always happy. I didn’t realize until tonight just how naive I am. Perhaps the aunts are right. Perhaps Papa did me a disservice in keeping me so sheltered.”

“I’m sure your grandfather meant well, Miss.”

“My aunts are certainly making up for lost time.”

“You’d not have met the captain and the duke if not for them,” Elsa offered in a positive voice. But Abbi felt her face go warm at the mention of Nikolaus. She wasn’t ready to discuss that yet—not even with Elsa.

“You look tired, Miss,” Elsa said. “You change into your nightgown and I’ll get you a glass of warm milk.”

Abbi smiled her thanks, and once alone, her mind drifted back to the incident with Nikolaus. She felt hot with shame to recall their encounter, and wondered if his only motive in offering to give her a tour of the castle was to get her alone and take advantage of her. Common sense told her there was a better way. Did Nikolaus suppose that being the duke gave him the right to treat a woman as though she were already his? And yet the memory of his kiss made her feel weak with longing in spite of his appalling behavior. The contradictions within herself were perhaps most disconcerting of all.

Nikolaus was undoubtedly handsome and charming. And though Abbi had been raised with an indifference to social distinction, if she were honest she had to admit that it was flattering to be courted by the Duke of Horstberg. But duke or not, he would have to court her properly or not at all.

Lance, on the other hand, had been straightforward about his intentions. His offer certainly seemed honorable, but to Abbi it held no intrigue. Could it be her feelings for Nikolaus that stood in the way? She felt as if her mind would burst at the confusion. If only Papa had prepared her for such things!

Determined not to dwell on it any further, Abbi was grateful to have Elsa return with her milk. “This should help you relax,” Elsa said, “and if I may say, Miss, please don’t worry. Things do have a way of working themselves out.”

“I’m sure you’re right, Elsa.”

“Is there anything more I can get you before I go to bed?”

“No, thank you,” Abbi replied distantly.

Elsa went to leave and then turned back. “Oh, I almost forgot. I found some odd papers of some sort among your grandfather’s things that you asked me to go through, and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. They aren’t marked or anything, so I left them on your bureau.”

“Thank you. I’ll take a look at them.”

When Elsa was gone, Abbi turned her attention to the mysterious papers. She idly picked the packet up from the bureau and a formless ache seeped into her. She pulled open a drawer and pushed aside her nightclothes to reveal an identical packet of documents. Holding one in each hand, they no doubt looked and weighed exactly the same. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d even given a thought to these, but now she realized that her father had apparently given an identical packet of documents to Papa. She wondered why such a precaution might have been necessary. But as always, speculating over the circumstances only left her frustrated by her ignorance. Putting both packets together, Abbi wondered if the day would ever come when it might be necessary to carry out her father’s instructions.

Closing the drawer, Abbi rubbed her arms to soothe a chilling tingle. She recalled her father saying that lives were at stake. And now Abbi could almost feel some unseen power pleading for her assistance on their behalf—whoever they might be. Her father, of course. But who else? And why? She could easily imagine some distant voice asking her if she knew the significance of what was written on these documents that she held in her possession.

Abbi crawled into bed, forcing thoughts of her father away. She could do no more to help him than she was already doing. And she knew well enough that feelings of helplessness prompted discouragement. With no warning, her thoughts were drawn to the man on the mountain, but thinking of him only discouraged her further. Just as with her father, she felt somehow that she was in a position to help him, but her hands were tied. She had promised him that she would never go back there, just as she’d promised her father that she would heed his instructions to the letter. It was as tempting to open those documents and see what they held as it was to ride back up through that mountain ridge and demand of this strange man his reasons for haunting her. But what could she possibly do to help some mountain hermit who wanted nothing to do with her? Even
if
it were in her power to help him, he’d made it clear that he wouldn’t let her. How could she ever forget his anger as he’d insisted that she had to stay away?
Lives are at stake,
he’d said.

“Oh, help,” Abbi muttered and rolled deeper into her bed, as if it might ease the chills that consumed her as she recalled the man on the mountain saying the exact words she’d heard from her father.
Lives are at stake
. Surely it was a coincidence. Wasn’t it?

Exhausted, Abbi finally slept. But her dreams were invaded by the mysterious documents, leaving her with a feeling that they held some threat for Nikolaus du Woernig, and a formless hope for the man on the mountain. She found peace only in her certainty that such a dream was simply a montage of her own feelings that had found release in her sleep.

Abbi woke late and hurried out to the stable to find Georg just returning from town.

“How was your evening at the castle?” he asked.

Abbi didn’t even want to answer the question as she recalled how Nikolaus’s brashness had destroyed what should have been the social event of a lifetime.

“Well?” he insisted when she said nothing. “How was it?”

“It was awful,” she replied, and he blinked in surprise.

“Is Lance really so bad?” Georg asked with a little smirk.

“Oh, Lance was a perfect gentleman,” Abbi said. “It was Nikolaus du Woernig who . . .” Georg lifted his brows in surprise. “Oh, never mind. It’s not worth discussing.”

“Come now, Abbi,” Georg chuckled, leading his horse to a stall to remove the saddle. “I can’t help wondering what His Grace might have done to stir such contempt.”

“I’d rather not talk about it,” she stated in a tone that she hoped would put an end to the conversation.

“Well,” he said lightly, “our beloved duke can often be a . . . I shouldn’t say.” His subtle sarcasm turned to something hard.

“Why not?” Abbi asked, curious to know Georg’s opinion.

“It’s treason to even speak against him,” Georg said, “and I’m certain he’d love to see me executed, given half a chance.” Abbi felt startled by such a comment but he smiled and quickly added, “So, your evening at Castle Horstberg was a total loss?”

“Not really, I suppose.” She sauntered over to Blaze and nuzzled against his neck. “I did get to see the castle. It is magnificent.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“And I met the duke’s sisters. They’re really very nice—nothing like Nikolaus,” she added tersely. “They actually invited me back.”

“Magda and Lena?” he asked, and Abbi felt surprised.

“You know them?” she questioned.

“Abbi,” he nearly laughed, “everyone knows the princesses’ names. It’s common knowledge.”

His statement brought a recently discovered reality to light, and Abbi felt disheartened. “Everyone knows,” she said with a trace of bitterness. “Everyone except me. It seems I don’t know anything.”

Georg gently put his arm around her. “You know all you need to for now. The world out there is not so great.”

“I suppose I can depend on your knowledge.” She smiled up at him.

“Forever.” He smiled in return.

Abbi was grateful as always for the way Georg looked out for her, and she wondered what she would ever do without him. While he saddled Blaze, her mind was drawn back to the second set of documents Elsa had discovered.