not above showing it, he frowned and resumed his seat. Glancing across the table, he took in the smile wreathing Esme’s face. She was utterly delighted.
“What game are you playing?” His growled question only made her smile more brightly.
“I’m not playing at all, dear boy. In this, I’m merely an observer.”
He humphed. “You could at least help.”
“You know, I don’t think I can. This is one of those challenges one has to manage without assistance. I did tell you it wouldn’t be easy.”
His response was a distinctly unencouraging look.
She grinned, laid down her napkin, and rose. “Admit it, if it were easy, there would be no thrill in the chase—you’d grow bored.”
Rising again, he just grunted.
She was right, on all counts. But he didn’t have to like it.
It was afternoon, and the boat was slowing to come alongside the docks in Pressburg; Rafe was on his way up fromthe cabins to join the rest of the passengers on the observation deck when the captain hailed him.
“We have cargo to put ashore here, and some to take on. It is likely we will remain at dock for the next twenty-four hours.”
Rafe inclined his head. “Thank you for the warning.”
The captain wryly smiled. “It is not only that we will be tied up, you understand, but that the ladies will wish to go sightseeing.” He tipped his head toward the observation deck. “I have heard them talking.”
Rafe inwardly groaned. “Again, thank you for the warning.”
With a salute the captain went on his way. Rafe paused, marshaling the arguments most likely to succeed in keeping Esme and her great-niece safely on board, then continued up the stairs.
Emerging onto the observation deck, he located Esme and Loretta, their maids behind them, standing with all the other passengers at the starboard rail, all pointing and exclaiming at the sights as the boat angled to come alongside the wharf.
He hadn’t spoken to Loretta since she’d left him at the breakfast table. He was fairly sure she was avoiding him. Given how he felt over her attempt to dismiss the kiss they’d shared the previous night, that wasn’t perhaps surprising. He felt like glowering at her; in response, she seemed determined to keep her nose in the air whenever their paths crossed.
They were doomed to cross now. Steeling himself for the anticipated battle, he walked over to join her and Esme.
“I can’t believe it’s in such a sad state.” Loretta stared at the ruins of the castle that, according to the guidebooks, stood proud and tall on a plateau above the river, dominating the town at the plateau’s base. “There’s nothing but rubble left.”
“It used to be magnificent.” Frau Gruber, wrapped in shawls, nodded at the ruins. “Queen Maria Theresa used to hold court there. When I was a girl, I was lucky enough tosee inside. So much gilt and enamel, and wonderful carving! It was a beautiful palace.”
“What happened to it?” Esme asked. “Napoleon?”
“No. It was a fire. An accident, I heard.” Frau Gruber shrugged. “These things happen.”
Loretta stared at all that was left of such magnificence; she felt so deflated it was difficult not to sag. “I was so looking forward to seeing it.”
“Never mind.” Esme patted her arm. “There’s still a great deal to see here. The town has a wonderfully rich history.”
“I suppose there’s still the Grassalkovich Palace, and the Archiepiscopal Palace as well as the cathedral.” Loretta continued to stare at the ruins above the town. “But I was so set on seeing a castle of such longevity, one that still functioned.”
She’d hoped to use it as the centerpiece for a vignette. She’d managed to send three installments off to her agent from Buda, but her editor wanted more; she would need to send at least two more from Vienna, their next stop.
Re-sorting the various topics that had occurred to her, looking for another that might resonate with what remained in Pressburg, she was
“What game are you playing?” His growled question only made her smile more brightly.
“I’m not playing at all, dear boy. In this, I’m merely an observer.”
He humphed. “You could at least help.”
“You know, I don’t think I can. This is one of those challenges one has to manage without assistance. I did tell you it wouldn’t be easy.”
His response was a distinctly unencouraging look.
She grinned, laid down her napkin, and rose. “Admit it, if it were easy, there would be no thrill in the chase—you’d grow bored.”
Rising again, he just grunted.
She was right, on all counts. But he didn’t have to like it.
It was afternoon, and the boat was slowing to come alongside the docks in Pressburg; Rafe was on his way up fromthe cabins to join the rest of the passengers on the observation deck when the captain hailed him.
“We have cargo to put ashore here, and some to take on. It is likely we will remain at dock for the next twenty-four hours.”
Rafe inclined his head. “Thank you for the warning.”
The captain wryly smiled. “It is not only that we will be tied up, you understand, but that the ladies will wish to go sightseeing.” He tipped his head toward the observation deck. “I have heard them talking.”
Rafe inwardly groaned. “Again, thank you for the warning.”
With a salute the captain went on his way. Rafe paused, marshaling the arguments most likely to succeed in keeping Esme and her great-niece safely on board, then continued up the stairs.
Emerging onto the observation deck, he located Esme and Loretta, their maids behind them, standing with all the other passengers at the starboard rail, all pointing and exclaiming at the sights as the boat angled to come alongside the wharf.
He hadn’t spoken to Loretta since she’d left him at the breakfast table. He was fairly sure she was avoiding him. Given how he felt over her attempt to dismiss the kiss they’d shared the previous night, that wasn’t perhaps surprising. He felt like glowering at her; in response, she seemed determined to keep her nose in the air whenever their paths crossed.
They were doomed to cross now. Steeling himself for the anticipated battle, he walked over to join her and Esme.
“I can’t believe it’s in such a sad state.” Loretta stared at the ruins of the castle that, according to the guidebooks, stood proud and tall on a plateau above the river, dominating the town at the plateau’s base. “There’s nothing but rubble left.”
“It used to be magnificent.” Frau Gruber, wrapped in shawls, nodded at the ruins. “Queen Maria Theresa used to hold court there. When I was a girl, I was lucky enough tosee inside. So much gilt and enamel, and wonderful carving! It was a beautiful palace.”
“What happened to it?” Esme asked. “Napoleon?”
“No. It was a fire. An accident, I heard.” Frau Gruber shrugged. “These things happen.”
Loretta stared at all that was left of such magnificence; she felt so deflated it was difficult not to sag. “I was so looking forward to seeing it.”
“Never mind.” Esme patted her arm. “There’s still a great deal to see here. The town has a wonderfully rich history.”
“I suppose there’s still the Grassalkovich Palace, and the Archiepiscopal Palace as well as the cathedral.” Loretta continued to stare at the ruins above the town. “But I was so set on seeing a castle of such longevity, one that still functioned.”
She’d hoped to use it as the centerpiece for a vignette. She’d managed to send three installments off to her agent from Buda, but her editor wanted more; she would need to send at least two more from Vienna, their next stop.
Re-sorting the various topics that had occurred to her, looking for another that might resonate with what remained in Pressburg, she was
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