Page 13 of The Beautiful Pretender

Avelina shook her head.

“Is there someone else you wish to marry?”

“No, not at all.” She should not have said that. How would she explain? “As you said, he is a little frightening, that severe lookon his face, as if he is always angry. I should like to marry someone with more of a gentle, romantic expression, a man of poetry and learning.” That was true, at least, however unlikely it was.

“How do you know Lord Thornbeck is not a man of poetry and learning?”

“He used to be a knight.” Avelina shrugged, trying to think what Dorothea might say. “Most knights I know are rough and like to fight.”

Magdalen smiled. “I might feel the same, except I know my mother is hoping the margrave will choose me. It would solve so many problems for my people and ensure them the protection they need.”

Avelina decided immediately: If the margrave seemed to be a good person, she would try to turn his attention toward Magdalen and convince him to choose her. Magdalen was a deserving person, and it would make her happy to be able to help her people. And anyone he married who was not Fronicka would benefit Avelina. Yes, the margrave should marry Magdalen.

As soon as the midday meal was over, the beautiful blonde wife of the margrave’s chancellor approached Avelina.

“Lord Thornbeck is ready to speak with you now, Lady Dorothea.”

Avelina nodded. Somehow, after deciding to champion Magdalen, she felt much less afraid of the margrave. She had a plan.

She followed the servant through the Great Hall—accompanied by the stares of the other guests. Fronicka was smirking at her.

Avelina smiled back at her and winked. Perhaps it was not a wise thing to do, but she was looking forward to the margrave choosing Lady Magdalen and erasing the annoying smirk off Fronicka’s face.

5

REINHART WAITED INhis library for the last of the ten ladies to come so he might ask her questions.

Odette’s quiet steps alerted him to their arrival only a moment before his chancellor’s wife appeared in the doorway, followed closely by the last of the noble maidens who had come to his party.

“Lord Thornbeck.” Odette Hartman curtsied. “Lady Dorothea, daughter of the Earl of Plimmwald.”

Reinhart nodded to her.

Odette sat near Jorgen and smiled at the young lady.

He forced himself to say politely, “Lady Dorothea, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Thornbeck Castle. Frau Hartman, who brought you here, will stay in the room so you might feel more comfortable, while my chancellor, Jorgen Hartman, will record our conversation. You may sit.”

He hated formality and pretense. People should say what they wanted instead of hiding behind hypocrisy. He had allowed Jorgen and his wife to teach him a few of the niceties that others of the aristocracy would expect of him. But the woman he married must realize that he could not abide insincerity, and he would always be forthright himself.

He might as well get these questions over with. At least shewas the last one. “Lady Dorothea, in your opinion, what is a lady’s most important task?”

The lady, quite pretty, with brown hair and blue eyes, looked as though she might faint as the blood drained from her face.

“Lady Dorothea? Are you well?”

She nodded, visibly swallowing.

She did not have to say anything brilliant. He came up with the questions as a way to discover a bit about them, to get an idea about their temperaments and character, since he was not so interested in his wife having strong opinions. A simple maiden who was not too opinionated would suit him.

But he was not so sure this one could even speak.

Avelina’s breath traitorously left her. She tried to think what she might be expected to say. She did not want to impress the margrave, but she didn’t want him to suspect that she knew nothing at all about being a lady either. She should say whatever Lady Dorothea would have said. But Lady Dorothea probably would have said something about looking beautiful so as to bring her husband the most praise, and Avelina could not bring herself to say that.

“Lady Dorothea?” The margrave was looking at her as if he was afraid she had gone deaf. The chancellor’s fair wife who had led her into the room was also staring at her, along with her young, handsome husband, who sat with his quill pen poised to write.

With so many thoughts swirling in her head, she was too confused to think of anything other than the truth. “In my opinion, a lady should take care of her people, first and foremost. They are dependent upon her and upon their lord for their well-being, and therefore a lady should consider them in everything she does andevery decision she makes.”Something the real Lady Dorothea had utterly failed to do.

She studied Lord Thornbeck’s expression, but he was unreadable. Frau Hartman, however, widened her eyes and glanced at her husband, who was too busy writing to return her gaze. Was her answer surprising? She must be more careful.