He took his pocket watch out of his forest-green vest and flicked it open.
“A little after eight.”
“I must have drifted off at some point,” she said.
Four days wasn’t long enough for the Swedish contingent to capitalize on their plans and maximize the impact of the engagement ball on the treaty negotiations, but they did what they could. Erika and Baroness von Rehausen had spent hours working through the guest list after it had arrived from the Prince Regent’s private secretary.
The work the two women put in to noting who was who in London society was worthy of a battle strategy. By late Wednesday night, they had given Christian detailed briefings on the most important people he was to meet at the ball, noting those who would be involved in the trade talks.
Erika had bid the baroness good night then returned to the dining room intending to finish writing up some notes, but instead she had fallen asleep.
A crick in her neck had formed while she’d been slumped over the table. Lifting her head and moving it from side to side, she tried to release some of the tension.
“Here, let me help you.” He came and stood behind her chair.
“Hmm?” What did he mean?
His warm, masculine hands gave her all the answers she would ever require. Erika closed her eyes as Christian began to work wonders with his fingers, slowly releasing the knot of tension. If she had been a cat, she would have purred. “That is so good. You have magic hands, Christian.”
He chuckled deeply. Knowingly. Far too wickedly. Heat pooled in her loins at his masterful touch. If only he could do to the rest of her body what he was doing to her neck.
Don’t stop. I could sit here forever.
“You need to take better care of yourself. We cannot have you arriving at the ball tomorrow night with dark circles under your eyes,” he said.
Erika snapped back to the now. This was not the time for her to be lost in a fantasy that would never eventuate. She had a job to do. A serious one that had grave repercussions for her country if she and Christian failed. “I will make sure to take a nap this afternoon after Baroness von Rehausen and I have finished going over the guest list one last time,” she replied.
A mewl of disappointment escaped her lips as Christian released her from his attentions. He dropped into the chair next to hers. “I am serious. Your health is important. And you have to let me shoulder more of the burden of preparation as well. The list you ladies have put together is invaluable. I sat up late last night going through my copy, doing my best to get a mental picture of who is who in my mind. But you must remember, people are coming tomorrow night to see the blushing beauty from the north. We can’t have you looking tired and haggard.”
She batted him on the arm. “Fräcka djävulen!”
He gave her a naughty wink, then wagged his finger at her. “English please. We must practice at every opportunity.”
“Alright then. You are a cheeky devil.”
The grin he gave her in reply set her heart racing at a fast clip. He was such a lovely man. Handsome but also with a kind soul.
There were so many things about Christian she would sadly miss when their time together was over. But soon enough she would be getting on the boat and traveling back to Sweden, leaving him behind once more.
Only this time it would probably be forever.
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Chapter Nineteen
Christian had come to the conclusion that English was probably the most difficult language a non-native speaker could attempt to master. He had been taught quite a number of its rules, but unlike French or Latin there appeared to be an inordinate amount of exceptions to them. Consistently speaking and writing it seemed the only way to make progress.
He learned quickly to quietly and patiently accept Erika’s corrections when he got things wrong. But his English was improving and every day he was feeling more comfortable.
If only he could say the same for his obsession with Erika. He thought of her constantly, found often frivolous reasons to seek her out and then spend time with her.
His frustration grew daily. While she was doing everything to help ready him for the treaty negotiations, it was always at a polite distance.
If only you weren’t so damn good at focusing on the task at hand. Then I might stand a chance to just sit and stare into your blue eyes and perhaps make you think differently about me.
“Are you ready to leave?”
He stirred from his musings as Magnus stepped into the foyer of the house. Christian’s gaze lingered on the count for the briefest of seconds before it settled on the woman standing next to him.
