Page 39 of The Beautiful Pretender

“Yes, my lord.” Odette and Jorgen were looking to him.

“And set up the hunt for this afternoon. Have the huntsmen make sure the dogs are ready, and the stable workers should have the horses saddled. Notify all the guests and get a count of how many intend to go. That is all. You may go.”

How dare someone inflict cruelty on Lady Dorothea in Reinhart’s own castle. If he found out who was responsible, he would expel them immediately.

The next day was Sunday, and Avelina and Magdalen walked to the chapel together.

Lord Thornbeck was already there, kneeling near the front of the nave, which quickly grew crowded with the guests, all the servants of the guests, and Thornbeck Castle’s servants and workers. Even many of the margrave’s guards were there, kneeling before the chancel, bowing reverently, or gazing up at the large crucifix over the altar.

The early morning sun was shining through the stained-glasswindows in brilliant colors. A yellow bit of glass was lighting up Lord Thornbeck’s head like a halo. But Avelina bowed her head and closed her eyes to block out his image.

After silently reviewing her sins from the past week, Avelina prayed for her father, brother, and sister in Plimmwald, that she would get through the next eight days without having to lie, and that Lord Thornbeck would choose to marry Magdalen.

After Holy Eucharist and Communion, some hymns sung by a boys’ choir, and a brief homily from the priest on the importance of showing kindness as Jesus did, everyone filed out of the chapel and headed to the Great Hall, where they would all break their fast.

Lord Thornbeck’s voice came from just behind Avelina and Magdalen. “I hope you found an interesting way to spend your day yesterday during the hunt.”

“Yes, my lord,” Magdalen said. “We talked and read.”

“Talking and reading.” He nodded. “That can certainly be interesting.”

Avelina peeked over her shoulder to see if he was being sarcastic, and he was looking straight at her. Other people were all around them, but they seemed to mostly be having their own conversations.

“Yes, Lady Magdalen read your book and enjoyed it. Did you do well on your hunting trip?”

“We did not do as well as we’d hoped. There seems to be a shortage of deer just now.”

Someone coughed on the other side of Lord Thornbeck. Avelina turned her head and saw his chancellor, Jorgen, and Odette walking beside him. Odette wore a look of chagrin and Jorgen was trying to hide a smile behind his hand.

They walked together—Lord Thornbeck with Magdalen and Avelina—and talked until they reached the Great Hall. LordThornbeck indicated that they should sit beside him, but Avelina purposely placed Magdalen by the margrave’s side and she sat on the other side of Magdalen.

During the meal, Lord Thornbeck said to Magdalen, “I was sorry you did not join us for the hunt.”

Avelina’s heart fluttered. That certainly indicated interest in Magdalen.

“Please forgive me, but Odette said it would not be taken amiss if I did not go. I simply do not like the hunt.”

“There is nothing to forgive. You were not obligated to go. But if you do not mind me asking, why do you not like the hunt?”

Magdalen explained that she had cried on the first—and last—hunt she had ever gone on. “I did not want to ruin anyone else’s enjoyment of the hunt yesterday.”

“Lady Dorothea,” he said, looking past Magdalen. “You told me you would not be going on the hunt. Was it because you do not shoot a bow?”

“It was because I do not ride well.” She had told him that her first day in Thornbeck.

“Perhaps it is because you were thrown as a child?” He raised his brows.

“No, I—” She stopped herself before saying it was because she had never owned a horse. “I’ve just never had a liking for horses.”

He stared at her, as if thinking of something else. Then he turned back to Magdalen. “Do you like horses, Lady Magdalen?”

“Oh yes, I like animals of all kinds. I had a pet dog as a child. When he died, I couldn’t bear to get another one.”

Avelina pretended great interest in her food as she listened to their conversation. But when Lord Thornbeck leaned toward Magdalen and said something low in her ear, too low for Avelina to hear, her heart thumped harder.

When the meal was over, Lord Thornbeck bid them a good day. As soon as Avelina and Magdalen stood and left the table, several other ladies, including Fronicka, crowded around Lord Thornbeck. One young lady actually asked his opinion about her dress.

Avelina hurried Magdalen away. As soon as they were in the wide foyer at the junction of the stairs and the grand ballroom, Avelina whispered, “What did Lord Thornbeck say?”