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Relief rushed over me. He wasn’t gone, not for long.
Wendel had written the note in English. His handwriting had a sharp, precise quality to it, which suited him.
I showered, dressed in a bathrobe, and stood by the window. The glittering splendor of Vienna outshone the stars in the sky. Standing here in the hotel, looking down at the city, a curious sense of longing ached inside me.
I wished I belonged here.
A key clicked in the lock before the door swung open.
Wendel strode into the room with a bottle of green liquor. He held it high triumphantly. “I have returned victorious.”
I took the bottle and stared at the ornate golden label. “Absinthe? How much was this? It looks like it cost a fortune.”
He pinched the air between his fingers. “A tiny fortune.”
I sloshed the absinthe in its bottle. “Let’s not drink any on an empty stomach.”
“I already ordered dinner for us both.”
“Ordered? Where?”
“In the hotel restaurant,” he said, as if this were obvious. “Don’t worry, I asked the concierge if they could deliver it all to our room.” He smiled. “Which means you don’t even have to get dressed for dinner.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m keeping the bathrobe on.”
His smile turned wicked. “You look your best in nothing.”
I blushed at his flattery. “You’re persistent, aren’t you?”
Someone rapped on the door. “That should be dinner.”
“Already?”
“Unless I missed a stray assassin.”
How could he joke about such a thing? Though I supposed being hunted by assassins had become an everyday occurrence for him.
Wendel opened the door. “Yes?”
A waiter in a hotel uniform stood outside. “Your dinner, sir.”
After Wendel swept open the door, the waiter wheeled in a trolley laden with covered platters and more than enough silverware and china for two. The waiter bowed stiffly and revealed each of the platters.
“We have lamb in mint sauce and grilled flounder in chervil butter. Followed by ragout of venison with butter dumplings, red cabbage with glazed chestnuts, and finally rhubarb cake with cream for dessert. Upon request, I took the liberty of bringing absinthe paraphernalia from the bar.”
My mouth watered. It all looked delicious.
“Thank you.” Wendel tipped the waiter with a generous handful of silver koronas.
“Most welcome, sir.”
After the waiter bowed from the room, Wendel locked the door behind him. He took the bottle of absinthe from me.
“Did you order half the menu?” I asked.
“Possibly.”
The luxurious food lured me over. “Are you rich?”
