Vlad closed the door to Government House as the Frosts, Major Forest, and Owen Strake left. Count von Metternin had headed out to find Colonel Langford, leaving him and Gisella alone save for servants. The Prince turned to her and bowed deeply.
"I cannot thank you enough, my dear. You made this evening delightful."
She moved to his side and slipped her hand inside his right elbow. "Though the social niceties were never of much interest, I am not ignorant of them. Your man, Chandler, has an excellent grasp of protocol. The rest is in making people feel important and, as you said, welcome."
"You do it very well."
"You are very kind." She paused, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "And I notice a relief in you that has been absent since I first met you. Do I no longer make you nervous?"
"I think you always shall. No, my dear, I do not mean that in any bad way." Vlad glanced down, blushing. "When I see you, when you smile, I get that same flutter in my stomach that I did when we first met. And I feel hollow when you are away from me. That is a case of nerves, certainly, but one I would not be without."
She squeezed his arm, and his stomach fluttered.
"As for my relief, my darling," he continued, "it is because of Major Forest and your own Count von Metternin. Forest pointed out a way to take the fortress. The fact that it uses tactics you'd never see on the Continent means it could take du Malphias by surprise."
"But Rivendell will not approve." Gisella shivered. "He is an awful little man, your Johnny. He thinks you are a fool, but he is the fool. He did not even read your report. Please, Vladimir, promise me we shall no more have to entertain him."
"I wish I could." Vlad shook his head. "By the end of the month Duke Deathridge will be here with his troops."
"And Owen's wife."
"Yes. And we shall have to invite them, and Lord Rivendell, for dinner. You know this."
"Yes. I had just hoped it would be otherwise. I shall do all required to make the dinner successful."
"I am gathering this is a trait among those from Kesse-Saxeburg, and one I like. Your Count von Metternin is off planting the seed that will ensure Lord Rivendell believes Forest's plan is his own. A dangerous man, the Count."
Gisella laughed lightly and rested her head on Vlad's shoulder. "He is like me, not one who fits in at home. Here, he too is more relaxed. Had his duties not required him to attend me, he would have joined Prince Kamiskwa and Mr. Woods on their last expedition."
"I should like, very much, for him to accompany the mission to the fortress. You can attach him as an advisor to my command."
Gisella stopped and came around to face him. "You did not tell me you would be going." Her expression deadened. "I did not think you would abandon me."
Vlad reached out, resting hands on both her shoulders. She's trembling. "I have no choice, darling."
"You have Major Forest to lead them."
"I do, but he does not have the standing to be present as things are planned."
"Count von Metternin can speak for him."
"He could. I have no doubt he will, but I need to be there as well. No, please, my darling Gisella, do not look at me that way. You know me better. You know I do not desire glory."
She stroked his cheek. "My dearest, I know you do not seek military glory, but your mind seeks answers. Do you not think I know of the experiments you have been conducting with Mugwump? I marvel at your genius, but I fear for you. What you would see as just another experiment might put you in harm's way. I love you, I truly do, and I would not have you hurt for anything."
"And I have no desire to be hurt. But I do have responsibilities. The Crown may not recognize how important this is. Rivendell will not use our troops because he is stupid. I need to convince him that he must. For that I must go."
She slowly shook her head. "I understand your reasoning, but I also know you seek the adventure. Not of war, but of seeing places you have not seen. You have showed me the jeopard; Nathaniel shot it, but only after you missed, my darling. It was coming for you. And in all the times I have heard you tell that story, you marvel at the beauty of the beast, never mentioning the danger you were in. I love you for this, but I fear for you because of it. You will put yourself in a place where danger can find you."
"And if I promise you I will not? If I have the Count swear he will not let me do so?"
Gisella laughed. "You are both men. He will promise. You will plan. He will protest, but not too much, then join you. I know this. And, alas, I know there will be no gainsaying you."
Vlad pulled her to him. "And you will worry, and I would do anything to prevent that."
Her hands came up around his shoulders, one sinking into his hair. She looked up and kissed him softly. "If you were to do that, you would not be the man I love."
Chapter Forty-Nine
May 19, 1764
Temperance
Temperance Bay, Mystria
T o Owen's surprise, Bethany Frost slipped her arm through his as the six of them started the trip back to the Frost home. Bethany had slowed her pace so that her parents, uncle, and brother drew ahead of them. "You are completely lost in thought, Captain. What is it?"
"I don't think you want to know, Miss Frost."
"I should not have asked if I did not."
Owen sighed. "Would you think me a coward if I told you I feared returning to du Malphias' fortress?"
"No, Captain. I should think you very intelligent and brave, because I know you shall go regardless."
"You're very kind."
She looked up at him, her blue eyes flashing. "I read your journal. I know exactly how brave you are, both from what you wrote, and from what others have said."
He shook his head. "Mr. Woods exaggerated."
"Of course he did, but I could see the truth."
"When I think of du Malphias-and he invades my nightmares far too often-I see his face lit by the pistol backflash. He shot me cold-bloodedly. It wasn't that I was an enemy. I was just an experiment. If I lived or died, it meant nothing. The man's expression revealed neither anger nor pity. He showed no emotion whatsoever. He was wholly inhuman and I am not certain we know of a way to defeat such."
"He was arrogant, and his arrogance, then, will prove his downfall."
"I shall trust in your wisdom."
"Trust more in the humanity of your companions. He is a man surrounded by the dead. He is alone, and together you shall defeat him."
Bethany stopped at the crossroads of Diligence and Virtue to call out to her parents. "The night is pleasant. May Captain Strake escort me on an extended walk?"
Her father nodded his assent. Bethany directed him toward the west, along Virtue. "I hope you don't mind, Captain."
"Not at all."
"Good, because I need to speak with you." She looked up again, a kind smile on her face, but her eyes looking sad. "I fear this is the last I shall be able to walk with you."
Owen looked straight ahead. "I never meant to lead you on, Miss Frost."
She laughed. "You will do better, sir, to listen with your ears, rather than your mouth. You did not lead me on. You have been very direct, from the first, that you are married and you love your wife. I have known this from things you said about her, and things you have not said. I know you love her from things you wrote in your journals, and the letters you had me write for you during your convalescence."
"Miss Frost…"
"No, Captain, I beg you. Let me say my piece directly, or I shall never get through it."
"Very well."
She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. "I am neither silly nor stupid. When you first came to stay with us, I knew you were different from the others. I enjoyed your company. I enjoyed seeing you argue with my brother and discuss with my father. I felt very much at ease around you. I had not known that sense since Ira had been taken from me. I thought certain I had made a fool of myself and I was pleased when you left with Nathaniel, as it gave me a chance to recover my dignity.