"I"ll remember," she said, standing still so that he could undo the b.u.t.tons.
He kissed the nape of her neck as he finished his task. "I"ll help you out of it."
This time her hesitation was even more brief. "It"s best if I bend over and you pull it straight off from the shoulders," she said. "I"ll get the b.u.t.tons at my wrists." She set herself to do it.
"When you"re ready," he said.
She shook her hands. "Step back and let me bend over," she said, keeping her back straight as she swung down from her hips.
"You are ready?"
"Go ahead," she said, and straightened her arms to make removal easier. She felt a gentle tug, and then she was standing in her underclothes, a sprink of gooseflesh rising on her arms and shoulders.
He hung her dress on a peg and said, as he kissed her exposed shoulder, "If you turn around, I will attend to your corset."
Stifling a giggle, she did as he asked, all the while reveling in the delightful insouciance of the night so far, and the promise of greater transports to come. As the laces down her back were loosened, it felt as if the whole of her melancholy had been whisked away. "You will be bathing with me?"
"As soon as I undress," he said as he slipped the corset over her head, leaving her wearing only silk stockings, shoes, and underdrawers.
"Well, hurry. I am getting chilly." She laughed, to show this was nothing more than a slight distraction.
He removed his swallow-tail coat, and then his black-embroidered deep-red waistcoat. "I should warn you that I have scars."
"Who does not?" she asked, hugging herself as she sat down to remove her shoes and stockings.
He was unb.u.t.toning his shirt and loosening his sunburst cravat. "Mine are ... somewhat severe." He had taken care not to let her see him in full light, but now he could not avoid revealing his extensive abdominal scars.
"So you"ve said," she reminded him as she put her rolled stockings in her shoes and tucked them under the bench. "I"ve been in field hospitals. I"ve seen some terrible wounds." Admitting this made her a bit queasy, which she attributed to the rich food and wine.
He took off his shirt, hung it up, and unfastened his unmentionables, stepping out of them as he dropped them to his ankles, where they puddled around his thick-soled black boots. Then he opened the chest-of-drawers and pulled out two large Turkish towels and handed one to her. "Wrap this around you; you will be warmer." He managed to keep his back to her.
She took it and swung it over her shoulders. "It is very nice," she said; the smell of damp fir was everywhere, and she sneezed once, as quietly as possible.
"Why not go on into the bath?" he suggested, holding the inner door open for her. "You know the way and the lanterns are burning."
"Will you join me?"
"In a moment," he said, and took her in his arms for another complex kiss, one that evoked longing and need in her.
"Do not be long," she said a little breathlessly as she broke away from him. "I find I am growing hungry for other nourishment." She touched his broad, deep chest before pulling the inner door open.
Left alone, he removed his boots and stockings, then wrapped his towel around his waist, securing it with an expert tuck. Satisfied that the room was secure, he followed her into the bath itself, and found her standing in the large tub up to her hips in hot water, her towel spread on the broad lip of the bath. He came up to the three steps leading down into the tub, and dropped his towel, noticing that she looked away from him as she caught sight of the swath of scar that ran from the base of his ribs to his pubis. Dismissing his failed hopes, he stepped down into the water beside Hero.
She wrapped her arms around him, letting the water buoy her up. "And to think I was near despairing," she whispered before pressing her mouth to his. "You banish despair."
His hands slid up her back and down her flanks, slowly, persuasively, suiting his touch to her response, growing more pa.s.sionate as she felt desire coalesce within her, turning sensuality to something more intensely physical, a convergence of sensations that shook her; she had never before felt such extraordinary pleasure, or to have it triggered in so many ways. From the curve of her neck to the muscles of her calves, her body tingled, adding new arousal as Ragoczy continued to draw out her fervor. Dizzy with far more than wine, and exultant with the delirious freedom her body was approaching, she lay back against the lip of the bath and opened all her flesh to him. Gradually he sought out the core of her excitation, penetrating her with knowing fingers until she sighed and murmured, "Not yet."
"As you wish," he said, and slowed his ministrations so that she could relish every nuance of tantalization that would bring her to ecstasy.
"I want to feel all you can do," she said softly. "I want to find how much you can inspire in me." She lifted one leg and wrapped it around his thigh, then she steadied herself and leaned back so that he could caress her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "This is ..." She could not think of a word that would describe the ardor, the sensitivity, the stimulation that permeated her body and soul. "Everything." With that, she pulled him down into the water, so only their heads were above the surface; the warm water enveloped her, augmenting his embrace, and she succ.u.mbed to the culmination that had been building deep in her body; in a quiet part of her exultant mind, she was relieved that his scars had not blighted her fulfillment.
Text of an invitation from Wallache Gerhard Winifrith Sieffert von Ravensberg at Ravensberg in Austria, to Saint-Germain Ragoczy, Comte Franciscus at Chateau Ragoczy near Lake Geneva, Yvoire, Switzerland; carried by hired messenger and delivered twenty-three days after it was written.
On this, the 29thof December, 1817, Wallache Gerhard Winifrith Sieffert, Graf von Ravensberg requests the honor of the company of Saint-Germain Ragoczy, Comte Franciscus, on the 29thof March, 1818, and five days thereafter, at Ravensberg, to celebrate the betrothal of his ward and niece Hyacinthie Theresa Katerina Sieffert to Constanz Charles Medoc, scholar of Trier.
The Graf extends the hospitality of Ravensberg to the Comte and his guest, two body servants, and two coachman for the length of his stay. Line stalls for up to ten horses is available for your use. The Graf requests the courtesy of a response.
9.
Augustus Kleinerhoff looked truly abashed. He stood in the entry-hall of Chateau Ragoczy, his heavy cloak flung open, his thick boots shedding ice shards on the carpet, his face so hang-dog that his greeting was more ominous than mannerly. "G.o.d grant I see you well; the brewer"s son has a fever, and we fear it may be typhus: there was so much of it about a year-and-a-half ago, we cannot but worry for him. I am here to speak with the Comte," he said to Balduin.
"Would you like him to treat the boy?" Balduin asked.
"No. At least not now. Perhaps, if he does not improve-" He spoke a little louder. "An escort from Yvoire will be joining me shortly, with an order from the Magistrate, and the Magistrate himself." He coughed, showing equal amounts of embarra.s.sment and officiousness.
Balduin considered his response, affecting a lack of apprehension. "The Comte is busy at present. If I may ask you to wait in the reception room, I will send a footman up to inform him you are here."
"Tell him it"s urgent," Kleinerhoff insisted as he shed his cloak and handed it to Balduin. "I have been sent ahead to inform him of a summons from the Magistrate of Yvoire. He is taking advantage of the good weather to begin his inquiries into the robbers who have caused so much trouble in the region, and he has decided to begin here, where it is believed the criminals have protection from-that is yet to be determined." He cleared his throat. "There have been rumors that he says he could not ignore, for the events of the last year would seem to link the robbers to some form of help in this region." He could not conceal his pride at this honor of announcing the arrival of the Magistrate even as he felt ashamed to do anything against Ragoczy"s excellent reputation; this would be likely to compromise the Comte"s good opinion no matter what the results.
"The good weather should last another day or two," said Balduin, shutting out the brilliant January sunshine as he shut the door.
"Yes. This winter has been much kinder than the previous two, at least so far." This attempt at banter failed. "The road is fairly pa.s.sable just now."
"I see," said Balduin, indicating the way to the reception room. "I"ll have some hot spiced wine brought to you, and a bite to eat, as well."
Kleinerhoff was more confused by this kind offer, but he strove to maintain a proper demeanor. "Danke. Ja, danke. It is most kind of you." He swung around toward the corridor, nervousness making him clumsy; he nearly knocked over a cloak-tree, which he snagged and steadied. "Magistrate Lindenblatt will be here within the hour. You must have preparations to make."
"Very good. I will have the Comte so informed," said Balduin, watching while Kleinerhoff let himself into the reception room; satisfied that Sacre-Sang"s head-man was properly bestowed, he went off to the kitchen, where he found Rogier with Uchtred, making the last efforts to quarter a lamb. He hung the cloak on a drying rod near the open hearth, and said, "Kleinerhoff is here. He needs to see the Count."
Uchtred paused in his cutting free the shanks. "Does he intend to stay to eat?" then added to the young man building up the fire beneath the spit, "Soak this in red wine."
"No, but he should be given hot wine and something-bread and cheese, or sausage. He has come from Yvoire and he must be cold and tired." Balduin paused thoughtfully. "The Magistrate from Yvoire is apparently going to be arriving within the hour. If you could prepare a collation for him and his guard? I"d guess there will be four or five of them in all. I"ll build up the fire in the parlor. Where are the footmen?"
Rogier set aside his knife and rinsed his hands, wiping them dry on a length of soft cotton. "One isn"t needed: I"ll go tell the Comte of all this. Do you know what his purpose is for coming?"
"He"s making an inquiry about the robbers, starting with this household," said Balduin. "According to Kleinerhoff."
Rogier took this in with no visible signs of dismay. "Just so. I"ll attend to the Comte at once."
"Very good," said Balduin. "By the way, where are the others?"
Uchtred glanced about nervously. "I sent them out to gather eggs and mushrooms, and to bring in a couple of rabbits from the hutch in the barn. Everyone wanted a chance to go outside; we"ve all been cooped up for well over a week, and this is the first decent day since the sky cleared. Steffel is cleaning out the ashes in the bake-house oven. Hochvall is supervising the farrier in the stable and organizing a mucking and rebedding for the stalls; Clement has put the grooms to cleaning harness and tack. Fraulein Wendela and Frau Anezka are in the side-yard, airing the blankets. Peder is repairing the leak in the stable"s cistern. The weather won"t hold, and I thought-along with the rest of the staff-that we should make the most of it."
Balduin, who had been preparing the annual household inventory, said, "It is wise to make the most of these opportunities-they are so few."
"No doubt," said Rogier as he took off the butcher"s ap.r.o.n he was wearing and reached for his coat. "If you will take refreshments to Herr Kleinerhoff?"
"I will," said Balduin, and went to take down a silver tray, and a smaller painted ironstone one. "The silver for Magistrate Lindenblatt. I"ll set with porcelain and silver for him, of course."
"Of course," said Uchtred, and began to put the sectioned lamb into a large metal container. "I will attend to this directly. I have brandied fruit that I can serve with honey-rolls, along with monk"s-head cheese; I"ll serve that to the head-man as well, with pickled onions. I"ll work out a center-dish for the Magistrate shortly." This last was more thinking aloud than announced purpose.
Rogier went up the backstairs and hastened to Ragoczy"s laboratory. He stopped outside the main door to the laboratory and waited to compose himself, then he knocked. "My master?"
"Come in, Rogier," said Ragoczy, pulling himself away from the mounted magnifying gla.s.s and the notes he was making in the opened journal beside it.
"Kleinerhoff has come. It seems that you are to expect a visit from Magistrate Lindenblatt."
"Magistrate Lindenblatt? Why should the Magistrate of Yvoire be coming here?" Ragoczy held up his hand. "I know what it must be; someone has accused me of supporting the robber-bands in the mountains around Sacre-Sang."
"Are you certain?" Rogier asked.
"At this time of year, what else could it be? There have been hints and speculation about the robbers" connection to me for months. My taxes are current, my land is maintained, and my staff has been paid, so there can be no complaint on those accounts. Therefore I a.s.sume he is beginning an inquiry with a foreigner of position so that other landholders will a.s.sist him more readily."
"Kleinerhoff said it is an inquiry about the robbers, according to Balduin. There are no particulars that I am aware of."
"Just the rumors that have filled the region, and the disinclination of officials to impose upon one of their own." Ragoczy shook his head. "How petulant that sounds. I apologize, old friend."
"You have good reason to be wary of officials, although Magistrate Lindenblatt isn"t Telemachus Batsho."
"All forgotten G.o.ds be thanked," said Ragoczy. "Nor is he Filipo Quandt."
"Who was Swiss, like the Magistrate: more to thank your forgotten G.o.ds for." Rogier paused.
"We must hope that Lindenblatt is not of Quandt"s inclinations," said Ragoczy. "It would be very useful to have Gutesohnes return before the next storm. He will be needed shortly. As capable as Rand may learn to be, he is not ready to carry messages any distance, especially not in storms." The fifteen-year-old had been hired the previous November to carry messages to Yvoire and to posting inns less than half a day"s ride from Sacre-Sang.
"Truly; he is too young, as well." Rogier agreed, then asked, "Speaking of those absent, Madame von Scharffensee is-?"
"Out," said Ragoczy. "She"s gone to the horse-pasture to sketch. She said she would be back by four."
"When the light fades," said Rogier. "Is anyone with her?"
"Fraulein Serilde is with her. They will not dawdle once the sun sinks below the peaks, and with the wind increasing." Ragoczy glanced toward the shining windows. "I should change my coat since the Magistrate is coming. He will expect suitable regard for his presence." He thought for several silent seconds, "And I should probably write a note to Kreuzbach; I may need an advocate before this is over."
"Will you want to dispatch a messenger to him?" Rogier asked.
"Not just yet, and not with the weather about to change." He indicated the shining sky outside his unshuttered windows. "You can see how it is moving those thin ribbons of clouds."
"You"re certain of that?" Rogier asked, squinting at the windows and the vista beyond. "Thin clouds are common enough in winter."
"As much as I am of anything so ephemeral as weather. The wind has shifted to the north-east and the ice on the pond is thicker. This sunshine is just an intermission between storms." Ragoczy reached over and closed his journal. "I will change, see Kleinerhoff, and then go on to my study. You will find a note to Kreuzbach in my secretary-desk; if you decide to send it-"
Rogier nodded. "If you need his advice, I will find someone to carry it to Speicher, someone reputable."
"I need not have asked, old friend." He stopped at the door and rocked back on his heel. "We would do well to go carefully. Tell the staff to be helpful to the Magistrate, and to take care to answer any questions he may put to them."
"If that is what you want," said Rogier.
"It is what is needed," said Ragoczy as he opened the door. "I heard wolves last night."
"As bad as last year?" Rogier asked.
"No, nor as bad as the year before. But they are proof that spring is still some weeks away. All the livestock must be in folds and pens tonight." He rubbed his chin. "The shave is still good enough. I have another four or five days left before the next one."
"That"s so," said Rogier.
"I take it you have ordered refreshments?"
"And left Uchtred attending to their preparation."
"Thank you, old friend. I will be in my study in twenty minutes or so." He went out the door and started down the hall toward the stairs, pausing only when he heard a door on the floor below being quietly closed; it sounded as if it might be the library or the music room. Who, he asked himself, was still in the house and might be on this floor? And what would anyone be doing in the library or the music room? Almost at once he chided himself for being too ready to see enemies in the woodwork: this was not China or Peru or Delhi or Russia, and although he was a foreigner, he was not without position in the region. He continued down to his private apartments and let himself in to his outer chamber where his elegant armoire stood along with three commodore chests and a handsome marquetry chiffonier. Lacking a reflection, he paid no attention to the fine pier mirror of Venetian gla.s.s that stood next to the closet; pulling off his coat, he left it over the largest chest and went to the armoire to select one of more formal cut: he settled on a new, double-breasted claw-tail coat of black Florentine wool, the revers finished in black-silk twill. This he pulled on and began to check the folds of his silken cravat; nothing felt obviously awry, so he b.u.t.toned his coat, tugged at the hem of his waistcoat, and left the room to go down to discover what Herr Kleinerhoff had to tell him, taking the servants" stairs so that he could see what the state of preparation was in the kitchen before seeking out his visitor.
Rogier was back in the kitchen when Ragoczy walked into it; he perused Ragoczy"s change of clothing and very nearly smiled. "The Magistrate will be impressed. Just elegant enough to remind him you are of higher degree than he."
"So long as he is willing to listen to me, then all should be well," said Ragoczy. "Uchtred is-"
"In the creamery. The b.u.t.ter should be churned by now, and he is also getting cream to whip."
"The Magistrate should enjoy that," said Ragoczy. "And where is Herr Kleinerhoff?"
"In the reception room. I have just taken a tray to him."
"Excellent," said Ragoczy, then added, "Perhaps it might be prudent to warn the household of our impending visit? They might be alarmed if they stumble upon the Magistrate and his escort unprepared."
"I"ll attend to it," said Rogier, nodding to Uchtred as he came back into the kitchen with two large wooden containers in his hands. "He is going to make an omelette for the Magistrate, and offer the brandied fruit with this morning"s bread. Brandy and wine, of course."
Uchtred set down the cream and new b.u.t.ter. "I should be ready to crack the eggs in half an hour."
"That should suffice, but delay your omelette until the Magistrate is safely through the door," said Ragoczy, and continued on through the kitchen toward the front of the chateau. He tapped once on the reception room door and stepped inside to find Herr Kleinerhoff biting into a curl of monk"s-head cheese. "How good to see you again, head-man. I understand you come with tidings."
"Comte," Kleinerhoff sputtered as he struggled to get his mouth around the frill of cheese, his eyes boggling. Belatedly he shoved himself to his feet. "I ... Comte, I ... you must excuse-" Tall and bulky as he was, his size made little impression on Ragoczy.
"You may sit down and finish your morsel," said Ragoczy, indicating the tray atop the whatnot near the Dutch room-stove.
Kleinerhoff sank into his chair and muttered his thanks around the cheese. He reached for one of the pickled onions to help moisten the cheese so he could swallow it.
"I surmise you have come in advance of the Magistrate for some purpose other than to warn us? If the Magistrate intends to catch us unaware, this is not the way to accomplish his end." Ragoczy drew up one of the two other chairs in the room and sat down.
"He does not suspect you, Comte, although some of the landholders in the vicinity do." He stared at Ragoczy, not daring to take anything more to eat; his second swallow cleared his mouth.
"That is something, at least," said Ragoczy.
"Yet we all agree that they have remained somewhere in the local mountains since their thefts continue." Kleinerhoff waved his hand to address all the region beyond the chateau. "They would not be remaining here if they didn"t have some a.s.surance of security, or so the Magistrate believes, which makes it likely that they have help from someone. Therefore an inquiry must be made."
"Very sensible," said Ragoczy. "Certainly the landowners in the region have reason to worry. Merchants, as well, have been discommoded by the highwaymen."