Page 38 of The Beautiful Pretender

Avelina rubbed her face. “What do you hear?”

She sat up in her small bed. “I hear that Lady Dorothea is in love with her father’s knight and is with child.”

“For all the angels in heaven’s sake, Irma, keep your voice quiet.”

Irma went on in a loud whisper, “And that Lord Thornbeck took you and Lady Magdalen on a picnic, just the three of you.”

“That is a lie. Odette Hartman went with us, as did several servants. They were with us the whole time.”

“Ach, well, some of the ladies were very jealous.”

“Who have you been talking to? Who told you all that?”

“Gerhaws. She knows all the gossip. And there is talk of you and Lady Magdalen being his favorites.”

“I fully intend that he shall choose Magdalen to marry, as well he should. She is by far the most suitable lady for him.” But even as she said the words, a voice rose up inside to accuse her.You think he would be happier with you. You wish he could marry you.But Avelina shoved the voice away.

“Just be careful he doesn’t end up choosing you,Lady Avelina.”

“You know you should not call me that.” And wasn’t she doing all she could to make sure Lord Thornbeck did not choose her? She discouraged his conversing with her, and he had started showing a preference for Magdalen, she was sure of it. What did Irma and those servants know? They weren’t there with them at the picnic or when Lord Thornbeck brought Magdalen her necklace.

No, the margrave was going to marry Magdalen.

“Irma, I want you to be extra careful around those other servants. Do not say anything about me, anything at all. You know what danger we are in if anyone discovers . . . And please don’t get drunk anymore. You might let our secret slip—”

Irma’s lip curled and her eyes narrowed. “Look who thinks she’s an earl’s daughter. Just because you wear fancy clothes, you cannot tell me what to do,” Irma hissed. “So don’t forget that we are equals, you hear me? Equals. And I will do as I please when I am eating and drinking with the other servants, which is what you’ll be again, soon enough.” Irma flopped down on the bed and turned over to face the wall.

Avelina stood there, motionless for several minutes, except for her chest rapidly rising and falling.

I am only a servant, nothing more. Not a lady. Not the daughter of an earl. Only a servant.But she could make the margrave fall in love with her if she wished. She could. She felt it in the way he looked at her and spoke to her. And what was just as bad was, she could fall in love with him too.

14

“CHOOSING A WIFEthis way is humiliating.”

What was supposed to be a calm evening of playing games turned into six ladies all vying for his attention and nearly coming to blows. Four of the ladies had gone off and played games between themselves, including Lady Dorothea and Lady Magdalen, but the six who were left crowded around him, asking to be the next to play with him and commenting on every move he and his opponent made. Lady Fronicka was the most vocal.

Reinhart rapped his cane on the floor. “I should much rather be doing something more productive, like ridding the forest of wolves.”

Odette was quick to say, “There is nothing humiliating about choosing a bride by getting to know her first.”

“It will all be well in nine days, after you make your choice.” Jorgen sent him a hopeful expression.

“I think I must inform you, my lord,” Odette said, “that someone placed something very disgusting in Lady Dorothea’s bed last evening.”

Reinhart stared at her.

“Horse manure.”

His chest tightened. “How did such a thing get past the servantsand guard?” He gripped his cane and gave in to the urge to bang it on the floor again. “This should never . . .” Steam seemed to rise into his forehead.

“No one will tell who did it.” Jorgen frowned.

He clenched his teeth. When he could trust himself to speak, he said, “Have a guard assigned to watch Lady Dorothea and Lady Magdalen’s corridor. No one is to go in or out of any of the ladies’ bedchamber doors besides their maidservants.”

“Yes, my lord,” Jorgen said. “I shall see to it.”

“And ask Lady Dorothea if she would like a different bedchamber.”